Milk
and Brest Feeding
Breast
Feeding is the Best for first six months.
Every
mother has the right to choose breast feeding or bottle feeding.
Breast
feeding depends what the mother eats and her general health.
The
nutritional requirement of a breast feeding mother is more than when
she is pregnant.
Mother
should avoid taking drugs, medicine and smoking.
Demand
feeding is the best approach.
Weaning
is not recommended before six months.
If
weaning is intended it should not be delayed beyond 5 to 6 months.
The
breast milk substitute should be an infant formula Highly modified
(humanized) cow’s milk.
Goat
milk has no place in infant feeding.
Infant
formulas are two types.
Whey
Based;
Low
in protein
Low
in salt.
Low
in calcium.
High
in fats
Casein
Based;
High
in protein
High
in salt
High
in calcium
Low
in fats
Infant
formulas have added vitamins.
Cow’s
milk is not recommended for infants.
Cow’s
milk is high in salt, protein and calcium.
Infant
formula generally recommended is whey based.
Follow
on formulas have different composition.
They
are cheaper than the whey based highly modified (humanized) infant
formulas.
Milk
alone is not sufficient after 6 moths and careful weaning should be
introduced.
May
be introduced between 12 to 18 months.
Milk
should be prepared according to correct instructions. Concentrated
milk can cause dangerous hypernatraemia.
If
there is a family history of asthma and eczema continue breast
feeding at lease for 12 months and the mother should avoid all
potential allergenic foods during breast feeding.
