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How to ensure adequate nutrition for newborn? - Dr. Suresh Gowda

How to ensure adequate nutrition for newborn? -  Dr. Suresh Gowda Most of the new parents are subjected to contradictory advice about infant’s nutrition. First year of life is the prime time of growth changes in the body. What we eat as infants strongly affects the long term body weight, health, metabolic programming immune system and overall ageing the first 6 months of life mothers feeding is the best for mother and baby. Mother’s milk makes the optimum nutrition for the infants. It is full of good things like antimicrobial enzyme, and anti-inflammatory factors along with fatty acids which help optimum brain development. It helps in baby’s development, helps infants fight infection. It also stimulates the formation of beneficial hormone such as oxytocin and prolactin and helps mother to lose weight and bond with the baby. If a mother is facing difficulties in feeding she should suggest a lactation consultant or a midwife. At the same time don’t feel guilty if you are not able to feed the baby mother’s milk. Mothers milk can’t be given in case if you have any health problem or taking any particular medicine. Mother’s milk has all the essential nutrients but some infants may need some supplementation like Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, iron and probiotics. For a baby who has been fed exclusively only on mother’s milk, we have to introduce solid food. Until about 4 to 6 months infants are not able to digest most foods. Infants are ready for solid foods once they are double their birth weight, providing they can hold their head up sit on a high chair and open their mouth when food is presented. This usually occurs around 6 months old. At first introduce solid milks. If you notice any negative reaction once the solid food is introduced such as respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal, wait for 1 to 3 months before trying that food again. You can introduce rice, cereal, vegetables, fruits and higher protein foods as solids. for an infant who is 1 2 months and older you can add a pretty good roster of foods. Shell foods, peanuts, cow’s milk should be introduced with caution. They can cause reactions. Look for reaction when you introduce potatoes, tomatoes, peppers. Most kids will be fine with many of these foods. If your baby refuses to eat a particular food, this might be most often vegetables, you can come back to it. If baby is eating various other food s with nutrient intake, then it is fine lead the baby lead the way when it comes to solid foods. Some babies are fast gainers and some are slow gainers. Some will gain fast and then stabilise. Others will catch up, but again appetite will vary day to day. Don’t panic if your baby doesn’t seem to be sticking to a steady weight gain or a schedule.

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