GIVE YOUR BABY THE BEST START IN LIFE
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GIVE YOUR BABY THE BEST
START IN LIFE - extracted text
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SDA-RF-CH-1.24
G8VE YOUB BABY THE BEST
STARJT IN LIFE
1.
Should. I breastfeed my baby?
Yes, every’ mother should breastfeed her baby.
Breast milk is nature’s first gift to your baby, and
there is no other substitute for it. For the first 4.to 6
months, breast milk is your baby’s best and
complete food. Do not be misled by people who
suggest powdered milk ‘in case you think you do
not have enough milk’. It has been found that
almost all mothers are capable of producing more
than enough milk for their baby’s need.
Nature in all its wisdom has ensured that you can
breastfeed successfully. All you need is the deter
mination to breastfeed, and faith in your own ability
to breastfeed successfully. Remember that breast
milk has many qualities which make it unique from
all other artificial milks available.
2.
Will I be able to breastfeed successfully?
A common reason mothers give for stopping
breastfeeding is the fear that they do not have
enough milk, and so they introduce their babies to
artificial feeds in the first few days after birth.
Research shows that in practice, almost every
mother can breastfeed successfully. Rarely is there
any physical reason for being unable to feed the
baby naturally. The most important thing to
remember is that the mother must want to breast
feed, have confidence in her ability to breastfeed
successfully and must not lose hope.
Further, studies have shown that women who want
to breastfeed actually produce more milk than
those who don’t want to. or are indifferent about
breastfeeding their babies. Many women fail to
breastfeed successfully, even though they wantto,
because they believe, incorrecdy, that they do not
have enough milk for their baby’s need. The truth is
that almost all mothers are capable of producing
more than enough milk for their baby’s need.
3.
What is Colostrum? Is it important for my
baby?
For the first day or two, the milk that flows from the
breast is called colostrum. This first milk is extreme
ly nourishing for dte newborn. What makes
colostrum even more special is the fact that this
first milk is full of antibodies produced by the
mother. These antibodies protect the newborn
against some diseases and infections at a time when
the baby is particularly vulnerable. Later milk also
contains these antibodies, but not as much as the
first milk. In addition, colostrum also has certain
properties that prevent allergic diseases like
asthama and eczema which are more common in
bottlefed babies.
Traditionally, in many Indian homes, colostrum is
thrown away. Today we have learnt that in actual
fact, colostrum is extremely valuable to the new
born. Throwing away the colostrum deprives the
newborn of the best possible nourishment avail
able, as well as the protection that it offers against
disease. Colostrum is very rich in proteins,
minerals and vitamins. In fact, colostrum is just
what the newborn needs soon after its birth.
No matter where a mother delivers her baby, at
home, hospital or the nursing home, she should
insist that the baby is kept with her in the same
room. This way she can ensure that her baby gets
the benefits of colostrum. Put the baby to the breast
soon after birth. The sooner the baby starts suckl
ing the breast, the sooner and better the milk will
flow. In addition, it will receive the benefits of
colostrum which flows only for the first day or two.
According to many doctors, colostrum has life-long
health preserving benefits.
4.
How often should a baby be breastfed in a
day?
Babies usually cry when they are hungry. Put your
baby to the breast each time it cries for a feed. This
demand feeding is a better way to feed your babt
instead of fixed schedules.
Babies could also cry for some other reasons, such
as if their nappy is wet or if the clothes are too tight.
Having checked that none of these is the source of
trouble, you should interpret the baby’s cry as its
demand to be breastfed.
Your baby is a special person, an individual unlike
other babies. It is not just a hungry stomach to be
filled at regular intervals. Once you accept that the
baby may ask for a feed at different times, depend
ing on when it is-hungry, you are well on your way
towards breastfeeding successfully. If you worry
each time it cries for a feed too soon, you are more
likely to lose your milk. This happens because
worry can interfere with the ‘let down’ of the milk
from your breasts.
While some babies setde down to a routine of
demand feeding after a few weeks, others don’t. So
do not compare your baby with other babies. Just
breastfeed your baby when it cries for a feed.
As the baby grows it may ask for fewer feeds and
may settle down to a regular demand routine, every
two, three or four hours. Sometimes your baby may
demand a feed more often than other times. This
could be for many reasons: the baby may be extra
hungry, growing rapidly, teething or is just upset. If
the baby needs extra feeds, your own milk supply
will adjust to its needs if you let the baby suckle as
much as it wants to and whenever it demands a
feed.
5.
How long should each breastfeed last?
Let your baby tell you how long it needs to suckle
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your breasts to get its fill. A hungry' baby will cry for
milk. The old rule of 10 minutes on each breast was
created because that was roughly the average time
that a baby takes to feed. But each baby is different.
So while some babies take less than 10 minutes to a
side to get their fill, others may take longer.
During the first few months, vou may find that your
baby wants a feed very frequently. This is not un
usual and is the baby’s way of increasing your milk
supplv to suit its growing needs. People mav tell
vou that a baby gets all the milk that it needs in the
first few minutes-at each breast. But all babies are
not alike. A lot will depend on how vigorously the
baby suckles, the strength of your ‘let down’ reflex
and the time taken for the ‘let down’ or start of the
milk flow.
Remember that some babies enjov suckling even if
they have had their fill. There is no reason to stop
this unless you have some other work to do, or if
you have sore nipples. This ‘comfort suckling’ is
considered bv many experts to be an important
factor in the child’s emotional development.
When your babv has had its fill on one breast, in
other words, when it loses interest in feeding,
change it to the other side. Let the baby continue
feeding on the other breast as long as it wants to.
There are times when the baby will feel less hungry,
is sleepy or just tired and may not want to suckle
ven' long. Don’t worry about this, and don’t force
the baby to feed. Just offer your breast after a little
while.
6.
How does a mother know if her baby is getting
enough milk?
It is true that when you breastfeed you cannot
actually see how much milk the baby drinks.
However, if your baby sleeps well, is healthy, active
and playful when awake and gains weight steadily
each month, then you can be sure that your baby is
getting enough milk for its nourishment and
growth.
7.
How can I increase the flow of milk in my
breasts?
The baby’s suckling is the best way to start and
increase the flow of milk in your breasts, and the
sooner the baby is put to the breast, the sooner and
better will be the flow of milk. Let the baby suckle as
frequently as possible because the more often a
baby suckles the breast, the better it stimulates the
breast to produce more milk. This is Nature’s secret
to start and increase the flow of milk to meet your
baby’s growing needs.
Sometimes emotions like embarrassment, tension,
or fatigue can also interfere with the ‘let down’ of
the milk. A mother should therefore, relax and sit
comfortably when she feeds her baby.
'When the baby suckles, it stimulates two hormones
which are released into the mother’s bloodstream.
One of these hormones stimulates a strong flow of
blood through the breasts and activates the milk
making tissue. The other hormone causes the
breasts to push out or‘let down’ the milk from the
breasts. This is generally felt as a ‘pins and needles’
sensation or a full feeling in the breasts. If the milk
doesn’t 'let down’, your baby will hot get all the
milk that is available in the breasts. Fortunately
Nature has ensured that when the baby suckles
frequently, the ‘let down’ reflex works well.
8.
What should I eat to increase the flow of milk in
my breasts? Are there medicines to increase this
flow?
There are no special foods or medicines to improve
the quality and quantity of breast milk. To breast
feed successfully and to maintain her own health, a
nursing mother should eat slightly more of the food
she normally eats. There is no need to eat anything
special. An extra helping of rice or chapati, dal,
green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits will give the
nursing mother all the nourishment she needs to
produce enough milk for her baby and to maintain
her own health. Eggs, fish and meat are also good.
What is important is to eat slighdy more of every
thing that she normally eats, rather than eating
anything special while nursing her baby.
Finally be assured, you can increase your milk
supply. Nature has made sure that when the baby
suckles the breast frequently, the milk will flow
well. All you need is the confidence in your natural
ability to breastfeed successfully. Eat and rest well.
These early months can be a challenge, demanding
much patience and determination on your part. So
do relax and enjoy your baby. Remember that not
only is your baby receiving the best food available,
but also both your baby and you are building a
happy and secure relationship during this period.
9.
How should a mother hold the baby while breast
feeding?
There is no ideal position to hold the baby' while
breastfeeding. The main thing is to make yourself
comfortable because you will be in that position for
some time, and try to make the baby comfortable.
Pain and discomfort can reduce the ‘let down’ of
milk.
Support the baby’s weight with a pillow on your
lap. Another pillow under the arm supporting the
baby will also help.If you are sitting, it is easier to
feed if you sit upright and lean slighdy forward.
Hold the baby with its chest and stomach against
you, so that it doesn’t have to turn its head around
and can feed comfortably. Some babies like to have
somediing to hold on to while feeding—give the
baby your finger to hold onto. At night, lie on your
side and breastfeed the baby.
Don’t push the baby’s mouth onto your nipple.
This could frighten the baby. Instead, stroke the
side of its mouth with your nipple. If your breast is
very full, you may have to hold it back so that the
baby’s nose is not smothered. But don’t bother to
hold your nipple or breast once the baby starts
suckling. Expressing a little milk from a full breast
will soften it enough to enable the baby to hold on.
When breastfeeding, part of the areola (the dark
area around the nipple) should go into the baby’s
mouth as the milk reservoirs are under the areola
and need to be emptied by the baby’s suckling. If
only the nipple goes into the baby’s mouth, not
enough milk will flow out. The baby would have to
suckle extra hard and this could lead to sore
nipples. If you have an extra large areola, hold it
between the finger and thumb and squeeze them
together. This will make the areola flatter and easier
for the baby to take in its mouth.
You may notice that at times your baby stops
suckling and looks around. This happens because
the ‘let down’ causes the milk to be spurted in an
uneven flow. Several spurts of milk come out, and
then there is a short pause before the milk flows
again. Your baby is adapting to the flow of your
milk and its breathing pattern is also altered to fit in
with this drinking pattern.
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10.
How should a mother stop a feed?
Some babies simply let the nipple go when they
have had enough to drink, while others have to be
gently removed from the breast. Some babies also
like to suckle even after they have had their fill. This
is called ‘comfort suckling.’ According to many
doctors, this should be encouraged because it helps
the emotional development of the baby.
Do not abruptly pull the baby’s mouth away from
your breast while it is feeding. The force could
damage the nipple and the areola, apart from
frightening the babv. Instead, put the tip of your
little finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth and
gently draw the baby away.
11.
How can I tell when the baby has had enough
milk?
Babies often show they have had enough milk
simply by falling asleep. But before they go to sleep,
they may unclench their fists, smile, refuse to drink
anymore or just arch their back. Don’t force the
baby to feed anymore if it doesn’t want to. Learn to
accept your baby’s judgement about when and how
much it wants to feed.
12.
Can a woman with small breasts produce enough
milk?
Some women with small breasts worry about their
capacity to produce enough milk for their baby’s
need. The size of the breasts have no relation to their
capacity to produce milk. Women with small
breasts can and do produce more than enough milk
for their babies. Worry will only reduce the flow
of milk. What is important is not die size of your
breasts, but allowing your baby to suckle frequendy.
Frequent suckling will stimulate your breasts to
produce more milk. This is the secret to successful
breastfeeding.
13.
Can a mother breastfeed while having her
periods?
There is no reason why a mother should not breast
feed during her periods, since this will not harm
her or the baby. Some mothers say that their babies
are temperamental when they have their periods.
This is quite likely due to the mother’s own
menstrual tension being communicated to the
baby. There is no difference in the mother’s milk,
4'
during her periods.
14.
Can a mother breastfeed even when she is
ill?
Yes, a mother can continue breastfeeding her babv
even while she is ill, without harming the baby. In
most cases, the babv will get the protection against
the mother’s illness from the antibodies present in
breast milk.
Most medicines taken for illnesses do pass into the
breast milk but in such small quantities, that they
are unlikely to harm your baby. Consult a doctor
who will prescribe medicines which are less likely to
harm the babv. The doctor will also advise the
mother to continue breastfeeding.
However if the mother has high temperature,
jaundice or septacaemia, the doctor will advise her
to discontinue breastfeeding until she recovers. A
mother who has been advised to stop breastfeeding
during an illness should however, express her milk
regularly and throw it away until she has fully
recovered from the illness. This practice will ensure
that her flow of milk is not reduced. On recovers’
she should resume breastfeeding the baby.
During the period when she has been advised to
discontinue breastfeeding, the mother can give the
baby fresh cow, goat or buffalo milk or even milk
from the local dairy centre. Do not dilute this milk.
Generally speaking in most common illnesses, a
mother can continue breastfeeding without any ill
effects on the baby.
15.
Should
ill?
a
baby
be
breastfed
even
when
Yes, your baby can certainly be breastfed even when
it is ill. In fact it is very important that you continue
breastfeeding while the baby is ill because your milk
will provide the baby with antibodies to protect it
from other illnesses which can set in when it is
already weak. Breast milk will also give the baby the
nourishment and strength to recover from the
illness.
Do not stop breastfeeding when the baby is ill,
unless your doctor advises you to stop. But this is
rare. Unless your baby is so ill that it is not allowed
milk, the baby will do better drinking breast milk
than any other milk. Breast milk is much easier for
the baby to digest. Besides, the baby will recover
faster from vomiting, diarrhoea and dysentry if it is
given breast milk.
16.
Can a mother
pregnant?
breastfeed
when
she
is
Yes, a mother can certainly continue to breast
feed her baby all through her pregnancy without
any ill effects on either the breastfed baby, the baby
in the womb or herself. However, a pregnant
woman who is breastfeeding her earlier child
should cat slightly more for the sake of the breast
fed baby and herself as well as for the baby growing
in her womb. All three require good nourishment
during this period.
17.
Is it possible that breastmilk may not suit my
baby?
Babies are rarely allergic to breast milk. Nothing
could be more suitable than what Nature intended
to feed your baby. In fact animal milk and powder
milk are unnatural for the baby’s system. Il has
been found that bottle fed babies are more likely to
suffer from allergies like asthama and eczema.
Bottle fed babies are also more prone to diarrhoea.
Do breastfeed your baby. Breast milk is the safest
and most nourishing food available for your baby.
18.
What should a mother do about breastfeeding
if she has had a caesarian operation?
Except in rare cases, there is no reason why a
woman who has had a caesarian operation cannot
breastfeed as successfully &s die woman who has
had a normal delivery. However, after a caesarian
operation you are bound to be in pain. If you are
determined to breastfeed, then you would have to
put your pain and discomfort aside and insist that
your baby be brought to you as soon as you are
awake. As a bonus, breastfeeding your baby will
help to compensate for some of the disappoint
ment you may feel not having experienced a
normal childbirth.
Unlike a mother who has had a normal delivery,*
you will not be able to breastfeed immediately after
childbirth as you will be under the effect of
general anaesthesia. However, insist that your baby
be brought to you as soon as you are awake and
kept with you. Also you should insist that you do
not want your baby to be bottle fed. Put the baby to
the breast whenever it cries for a feed, instead of
feeding it at fixed schedules. It is vital that you put
the baby to the breast as soon as you arc awake, so
that your baby is not deprived colostrum. Frequent
suckling will stimulate your breasts to produce
more milk. In a day or so, your milk supply will
settle down to suit your baby’s need.
At first you may face a problem deciding on a com
fortable position to breastfeed. Sitting up after a
caesarian operation can be painful. However, don’t
let this problem put you off breastfeeding. Lie on
your side and let the baby suckle your breasts. After
the baby has had its fill on one side, ask someone to
help you turn to the other side and continue
breastfeeding from the other breast.
Remember breast milk is the best and complete
food for your baby, besides being the safest and
most hygienic. For your baby’s sake, put your pain
and discomfort aside and insist on breastfeeding
your baby as soon as you are awake. Do not let
people discourage you from breastfeeding. After
all, as a mother, you would not like to deprive your
newborn of the best food available.
19.
Should a baby be kept with the mother while
she is still in the hospital or nursing home?
Every mother should insist that her newborn is kept
with her in the same room, no matter where she
is—at home, hospital or the nursing home. This is
called ‘rooming in’.
Many hospitals and nursing homes keep the
newborn separately for the first few days. Al
though a nurse will bring the baby to the mother
in the course of the day, she may give the baby an
occasional ‘top’ or bottle feed. Even a single botde
feed of milk powder can disrupt the formation of
the normal suckling habit and reduce the mother’s
milk supply.
This happens because suckling the mother’s nipple
requires greater effort on the baby’s part. Nature
intended it to be this way. This extra effort by the
baby helps to stimulate the breasts to start and
increase the flow of milk. On the other hand,
suckling the feeding botde is much easier. If your
baby gets used to suckling from a feeding bottle, it
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will not exert much pressure while suckling your
breast. If the baby doesn’t suckle hard enough, it
will not stimulate the breasts enough to produce
more milk. This can reduce the flow of milk from
your breasts. Therefore it is vital that even' mother
insists that her baby is kept with her soon afterbirth
and is exclusively breastfed. Not only would the
baby get colostrum that flows for the first day or
two, but frequent suckling whenever the baby cries
for a feed will ensure a good flow of milk.
20.
How can a working mother continue breast
feeding after she returns to work?
Most working mothers are entitled to three months
maternity leave. A mother who is keen to breastfeed
her baby should take as much of this leave after
deliver)'. This will ensure that at least for the first
three months of life, her baby is exclusively breast
fed while she is at home. During this period, do not
make the mistake of getting your baby used to
bottle feeds before you return to work. Just because
you have to return to work, does not mean that
bottle feeding is the only answer to feeding your
baby.
The problem of breastfeeding arises during the
working hours when the mother is away at work.
However, if she is determined to breastfeed, she
can hand express her breasts in the morning before
leaving for work. Store this expressed milk in a
clean covered container which has already been
properly sterilized in boiling water. This pre
caution would ensure that no germs enter the
baby’s body. Breast milk can be stored in the
refrigerator for a few hours, and reused while the
mother is away. Do not warm expressed milk
direcdy over the fire. To warm this milk put the
container in a bowl of hot water. A family member
who stays at home with the baby can give the feed,
using a clean spoon.
Once the mother returns home, she can breastfeed
her baby. A working mother who wishes to breast
feed should follow this practice: breastfeed the
baby before leaving for work; hand express your
milk and store this milk which can be reused in
your absencei and resume breastfeeding when you
return. This will ensure that your baby is not
deprived of your milk during these crucial months
of life. Expressing your milk everyday before leav
ing for work acts as a double bonus. Besides
6
providing the baby with the best nourishment
available, it also prevents your milk flow from
reducing.
Some mothers may complain that expressing
breast milk even,’ morning would involve much
time and effort, just when she Vias.so many other
household chores to finish. But il you balance the
benefits of continuing breastfeeding with this extra
effort and time, you will be convinced to make
the right decision—to continue breastfeeding. You
trill also have the satisfaction that your baby is getting
the’ best possible nourishment. After all, breast
milk is the best and complete food for the baby
during the first 4 to 6 months of life. Remember,
there can be no other substitute for it.
21.
How do I express milk from my breast?
Wash your hands before you express the milk. Use
both hands to squeeze gently from the base of the
breast towards the areola (the dark area around the
nipple) and the nipple. Then squeeze the breast
and the areola between the fingers and the thumb
till the milk flows out.
Collect this milk in a clean cup or container which
has been boiled previously. Cover the container
and store the milk in the refrigerator. Expressed
milk can be stored in the refrigerator and reused
within a few hours. If there is no refrigerator in your
home, store the expressed milk in a cool place. Milk
which is kept outside a refrigerator must be used
within 2 to 3 hours after being expressed.
To warm the milk, put the container in a bowl of
hot water. Do not warm expressed milk directly
over the fire. Use a clean spoon to feed the baby.
22.
What should every nursing mother know
about cleanliness and care of her nipples and
breasts?
Every morning while having a bath, wash your
nipples and breasts with plain water. Avoid using
soap on your breasts and nipples as this would
remove the natural oils secreted by your breasts to
keep them from cracking. While you do not have
to wash your breasts and nipples before a feed, do
remember to wash them after and dry them well.
This precaution will prevent your nipples from
cracking. Cracked or sore nipples can be painful.
The important thing to remember is to wash your
breasts and nipples with water and keep them dry
between feeds.
2J. What should a nursing mother eat to maintain
a good flow of milk?
There is no evidence that any food, drink or
vitamins will increase or decrease the flow of milk,
as long as you eat enough of a variety of foods.
However to produce enough milk for the baby and
to maintain your own health, you should eat a litde
extra of whatever you eat normally. An extra
helping of rice or chapati, dal, fresh green leafy
vegetables, fish, eggs, meat and fresh frtlits will give
you all the nourishment that you need to produce
more than enough milk for your baby and will help
you maintain your own health.
It is sensible to eat according to your appetite and
try not to lose weight—the fat stored in your body
during pregnancy will slowly be lost when you
breastfeed. Avoid overeating. A mother who eats
sensibly will not only provide her baby with plenty
of milk, but will also ensure that her own body isn’t
being drained of food resources to meet her baby’s
need.
Even poorly nourished mothers manage to breast
feed their babies adequately for the first 4 to 6
months before extra food is required for the
normal growth and development of the baby.
However, these mothers breastfeed at the cost of
their own bodies—their bodies lose calcium and
proteins. The more babies these women bear and
feed, the poorer their health becomes.
How much extra should you eat while nursing?
You should eat slightly more than you do when you
are not pregnant. Is there anything you should eat
more of when feeding the baby? No. Assuming that
you are eating a variety of food in your normal daily
diet, just eat slightly more of everything. This will
provide enough nourishment both for your baby
and you.
24.
Is it true that vegetarian mothers cannot
produce enough milk and so should not breast
feed?
No, this is not true. A vegetarian mother can
breastfeed successfully and produce enough milk
for her baby. Traditionally in most Indian homes
people eat a vegetarian diet, and women through
the ages have lived and reared their children while
eating a vegetarian diet. As long as the nursing
mother eats slightly more than what she eats
normally when she is not pregnant, she will
produce more than enough milk for her baby.
There is absolutely no reason to fear that a woman
eating a vegetarian diet will deprive her baby of
adequate nourishment. A vegetarian diet which
contains a variety of foods like rice or chapati, dal,
fresh green leafy vegetables, ‘paneer’, curd and
fresh fruits will provide enough nourishment both
to produce enough milk and to maintain the
mother’s own health.
25.
Should a nursing mother drink extra water so
that her milk is not too thick and is easy for
the baby to digest?
The amount of water that a mother drinks has no
relation to the consistency of breast milk, which
differs from person to person. Some mothers fear
that their milk is too watery, while others feel their
milk is too thick for the baby to digest. The truth is
that the consistency of breast milk has nothing to
do with its quality. Breast milk, whether thin or
thick is perfect for your baby.
In summer, a nursing mother finds herself very
thirsty. This is hardly surprising, considering that
the baby is taking a great deal of milk from you
everyday. Don’t force yourself to drink extra water,
just drink as much as you wrant to.
26.
Will breastfeeding spoil my figure?
No, breastfeeding will not spoil your figure. On the
contrary, breastfeeding is Nature’s way of restoring
your figure. During pregnancy a woman’s body
stores up fat in preparation for nursing the baby.
This extra fat is used up when the mother starts
breastfeeding. In fact, breastfeeding helps the
mother lose the extra weight she gains during
pregnancy. In addition, the womb which has
stretched to hold the growing baby, also regains its
normal size when a hormone is released during
breastfeeding.
Is breastfeeding effective in delaying the next
pregnancy?
It has been found that frequent and regular breast
feeding may help to delay the next pregnancy.
Breastfeeding alone, however, will not provide
27.
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complete protection. A mother who breastfeeds
should also take some other precaution to avoid
pregnancy.
28.
When should a breastfed baby start eating
softfoods? What should it eat and how do I start
my baby on these foods?
For the first 4 to 6 months, breast milk is your
baby’s best and complete nourishment. After this,
its growing body needs additional nourishment.
You don’t need to buy special foods for your baby.
You can prepare them at home inexpensively from
the same things you use for the family meal.
However, your baby still needs breast milk in
addition to its new diet, so continue breastfeeding
as long as you can.
After the first 4 to 6 months, your baby must also
get a share of the family foods. Give the baby one
type of food at a time until it learns to enjoy a variety
of foods. Start with small quantities and gradually
increase them to suit its age and appetite. Feed the
baby frequendy.
Your baby will grow well on foods like kichari,
dalia, dal mixed with rice orchapati, lightly cooked
fresh green leafy vegetables, half boiled eggs and
fish. Fresh fruits like papaya and banana along with
fresh orange, musami or lime juice are also good
for the growing baby.
Mash the food well to make it easy for the baby to
swallow and digest. Add a little ghee, butter or oil.
This makes the food tastier amd gives extra
energy.
Soft foods should be given between breastfeeds.
Encourage the baby to feed itself with its fingers.
This is part of its growing and learning experience.
By one year, your baby is ready to eat the food you
prepare for the rest of the family.
29.
Should a breastfed baby also be given extra
vitamins and juices? At what age should these
be given?
As long as the nursing mother is healthy and eats
enough ofa variety of foods, there is no need to give
extra vitamins and juices to a breastfed baby for the
first 4 to 6 months of life. Breast milk will give the
baby all that it needs during this period.
Once the baby is 4 to 6 months old, its growing
8
body needs additional nourishment. Your baby is
now ready to eat soft foods. You can also give the
baby fresh orange, musami or lime juice.
30.
What precautions should I take when preparing
a meal or feeding my baby?
Most mothers know the importance of hygiene. But
often a busy mother may overlook some details of
cleanliness. Can any mother afford to take this risk?
The hidden dangers—germs that you cannot see—
can lead to illnesses in the family. A baby is more
likely to fall ill. You need to be extra careful if there
is a baby at home.
Keep your home and surroundings clean. Germs
breed in dirt and contaminated food and water,
causing diarrhoea, and spreading diseases like
cholera, dysentry and gastroenteritis. Drinking
water must be strained through a clean cloth,
boiled and cooled. Store this water in a clean
covered container. Give your baby food which is
freshly prepared. Wash your hands before you
cook the meal or feed the baby. Keep utensils clean.
Wash them well before and after use, and rinse
under running water.
31.
Are special baby foods available in the
market better than soft foods prepared at
home?
Special foods for babies available in the market are
based on a mixture of powdered milk with some
carbohydrates like wheat and rice. These foods
which are cereal and milk based are expensive. On
the other hand, a wise mother can provide her
growing baby with all the nourishment it needs
with the same things she uses to make the family
meal. Instead of spending large sums of money on
tins of baby foods, she can buy good wholesome
food for the entire family, including the baby. Soft
foods prepared at home give the baby a better
variety of foods, in addition to providing all the
nourishment it needs.
32.
Should I give soft foods before or after a breast
feed?
Soft foods should be given between breastfeeds,
preferably a couple of hours after a breastfeed. This
is advised because a baby will not make an extra
effort to eat soft foods when it is very hungry. This is
because suckling the mother’s breast comes naturally
to a baby, whereas it has to learn to eat soft foods. A
hungry' baby will be less interested in eating soft
foods on an empty stomach. Having had a breast
feed a couple of hours earlier, the baby will not be
too hungry when offered soft food and may show
more interest in this food than otherwise.
On the other hand, if you offer the breast im
mediately after it has been fed soft food, the baby
will not suckle the mother’s breast strongly since it
is not hungry' at that moment. When the baby fails
to suckle strongly, it will not stimulate the breasts to
produce more milk. Eventually the flow of milk
may reduce. Therefore, breastfeed your baby and
offer it soft foods a couple of hours later. Give the
next breastfeed a couple of hours after its last meal
of soft foods. In this manner the baby will continue
to get the double benefits of its mother’s milk as
well as soft foods.
33.
Should a mother continue soft foods when the
baby is ill?
It is incorrect to stop feeding a baby when it is ill. In
fact the baby needs nourishment even more so
to recover from its illness. Food will give it the
strength to fight other illnesses which can set in
when the body is already' weak.
Soft foods like kichari, dalia, rice or chapati mixed
with lightly cooked dal and vegetables will not harm
the baby. Sometimes when the baby is ill, it does
not feel hungry or may prefer to eat food other than
what it normally eats. While recovering from its
illness, the baby’s appetite will improve. Give the
baby slightly more than what it normally eats
because it needs additional nourishment to regain
its health.
34.
Why does my baby have diarrhoea while teething?
Is it because it is teething, or the fact that I have
started giving it soft foods?
Often mothers tend to associate teething with
diarrhoea. This is incorrect. Diarrhoea occurs
when the baby eats contaminated food or drinks
water which is contaminated. Moreover when a
baby is teething, it tends to pick up things lying
around the house and chew on it. These objects
can carry germs into its body and cause diarrhoea.
If you prepare soft foods hygienically, there is no
reason why the baby should have diarrhoea.
Introducing soft foods will not cause diarrhoea, as
long as they are well prepared. Wash your hands
before you make the meal or feed the baby. Use
fresh food. Use clean drinking water. Keep the
utensils clean. These precautions will help to
prevent diarrhoea.
35.
What is diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is not a single disease. It is a symptom
th at accompanies intestinal disorders. When a baby
has diarrhoea, it passes frequent watery stools
which may be foul smelling. Diarrhoea causes loss
of vital body' fluids and salts. In somes cases, the
stools may' also have blood and mucus.
36.
Is diarrhoea dangerous?
Yes, diarrhoea can be dangerous especially for
babies and young children below two years. If you
fail to replace the fluids and salts that a baby' loses
during diarrhoea, it can lead to a dangerous
situation called ‘dehydration’. Remember pro
longed diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and even
death. Do not take diarrhoea lightly. Unfortunately
some mothers think diarrhoea is not serious. This is
not true. Diarrhoea can become very serious if you
neglect it.
37.
Is it true that breastfed babies have less chance
of getting diarrhoea?
Yes, it is true that babies who are breastfed
exclusively rarely have diarrhoea. Breast milk is not
only free of germs but also helps to prevent the
growth of those germs that cause diarrhoea. It has
been found that bottle fed babies have diarrhoea
six times more often than breastfed babies. This is
because the feed is not prepared hygienically. For
a bottle feed to be safe, you need to take many pre
cautions, like sterilizing the feeding bottle and
nipple and boiling the water to make the feed.
Breastfeeding takes care of all this trouble. Breast
milk is the safest and most hygienic way to feed
your baby. Breastfeed as long as you can, even
when the baby has diarrhoea. Breast milk will give
the baby all the nourishment it needs to recover,
besides being easier for the baby to digest. In
9
addition, antibodies in your milk will protect the
babv from other illness which can set in when the
baby is already weak from diarrhoea.
38.
What should I do when my baby has diar
rhoea?
There is a simple and inexpensive treatment that
every parent can administer at home. Start the
treatment at the first signs of diarrhoea.
In a glassful of boiled and cooled water, add a pinch
of salt (14 teaspoon). Make sure this solution is not
saltier than your tears. Then add two teaspoons of
sugar or ‘gur’ and dissolve it well. The baby may
refuse to drink this solution, but insist on giving the
solution frequently in small quantities.
It is important that the baby drinks a glassful of this
solution everj’ time it passes a watery stool. This is
approximatelv the amount of liquid it loses every
time it passes a water)’ stool. So make sure that you
replace the fluids it has lost. Continue giving this
solution until the baby stops passing watery stools.
Plain water which is boiled and cooled, rice kanji or
coconut water can also be given in addition to the
salt and sugar solution. Remember to continue
breastfeeding and normal feeding during diar
rhoea. If the baby’s condition doesn’t improve
within two days, contact your doctor immediately.
39.
What is ORS?
ORS stands for oral rehydration salts. These salts
are specially prepared to deal with the loss of vital
salts from rhe' body. Mixed with boiled and cooled
water, this ORS solution becomes a good rehydra
tion fluid. They come in packets and are available at
a chemist. Follow the instructions on the packet to
make the solution.
Give the home prepared salt and sugar solution or
the ORS solution every time it passes a water stool.
Continue giving this solution until it passes normal
stools. Some mothers simply stop feeding their
babies during diarrhoea. This is not good for the
baby for it needs nourishment. Give the baby
lightly prepared foods like kichri, dalia or rice and
curd.
41.
Diarrhoea is caused by germs which breed in
contaminated food and water, dust and unsanitary
surroundings. These germs enter the baby’s body
through contaminated food or water.
There are simple measures that you can take to
prevent diarrhoea. Keep your home and sur
roundings clean. Drinking water must be strained
through a clean cloth, then boiled and cooled.
Store this water in a clean covered container. Keep
your utensils clean. Wash them before and after use
and rinse under running water. Give your baby
freshly cooked food. Wash vour hands before you
cook the meal or feed the baby. All clothes includ
ing undergarments and bed linen must be clean
and fresh. Finally continue to breastfeed your baby
as long as you can, even when the baby has
diarrhoea. Breast milk is the safest and most
hygienic way to feed your baby.
42.
Should I give tonics or special foods when the
baby has diarrhoea?
You don’t have to give a tonic or any special kind of
food when the baby has diarrhoea. Just make sure
that it drinks plenty of liquids and eats well when it
has diarrhoea. When the baby has diarrhoea, you
need to replace the fluids it loses. It also needs
good nourishment to regain its strength both to
recover and to fight against other illnesses which
can set in when it is already weak.
10
Would a breastfed baby catch a cold ifthe mother
drinks cold water?
No, this is not true. Breast milk comes at the right
temperature to suit the baby, irrespective of the
cold or hot drinks the mother consumes.
43.
40.
What should I do to prevent my babyfrom getting
diarrhoea?
Since breast milk contains antibodies, does this
mean that a breastfed baby does not require
immunization against common childhood
diseases?
Although antibodies present in the mother’s milk
do give immunities to some common childhood
diseases, every baby should be immunized
regularly to completely eliminate the risk of these
diseases. Table 1 gives the immunization schedule.
Remember that immunization is effective only
when a regular and complete dose is given. The
baby should not be ill at the time of immunization.
Breast milk contains mother’s natural immunities to
protect the baby against illness. Breastfeed your
baby as long as vou can. In addition follow die
immunization schedule to completely eliminate
the risk of common childhood diseases like tuber
culosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,
poliomyelitis and measles.
TABLE 1 IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE
WHEN
WHAT
3-9 months
BCG vaccine
protect against tuberculosis
3 doses of DPT and Polio vaccine protect against diphtheria, whooping
at intervals of 4-6 weeks each
cough, tetanus & poliomyelitis
Measles vaccine
protect against measles
1st booster for DPT and Polio
DT booster
protect against diphtheria & tetanus
3-9 months
9-12 months
years
5-6 years
WHY
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND
73 LODI ESTATE, NEW DELHI - 110003
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