A CAMP ON BREAST FEEDING AND WEANING

Submitted to Submitted byMrs. Urmila Bhardwaj Farha UsmaniAssociate professor Bharti ChauhanR.C.O.N Anupam Ummi Hamza

INTRODUCTION

Breast feeding is exclusive for first six months and continued for two or beyond. Human breast milk is the healthiest form of milk for human babies. Breast feeding is the best way to feed an infant. It greatly improves quality of life by providing adequate nutrition, resistance to infection, mental and emotional satisfaction. Breast feeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease, and reduces health care and feeding costs. Artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhea in infants in both developing and developed countries. It helps in building healthy relationship between the mother and the child and spacing between two children. Breast feeding also helps to reduce anemia in the mothers and the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To provide know about exclusive breast feeding to the mothers. To determine the attitude of the mothers regarding breastfeeding. To encourage the mother to avoid malpractices and superstitions about breastfeeding.

PROJECT REPORT

We M.Sc nursing students as a part of a speciality requirement conducted a health camp in connection with Breast Feeding Week on August 7, 2014 ,at

from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm .

For the fulfillment of programme , we organized a committee as given above. The programme was

supervised by Mrs. Jamal Fatima ,tutor of Rufaida college of nursing. Around 50 people attended the

camp. The camp began with an introduction speech given by Miss . Parveen,followed by a skit which

depicted a comparison between 2 children of different families among which one was properly breast

fed and other not.

Health talk was given about the importance of breast feeding to the group by Ms .Linta and

Ms .Liji .The conclusion speech and vote of thanks given by Ms . Parveen. Refreshment was provided to

the group.

The following charts were displayed on the camp;

International breast feeding symbol

BREASTFEEDING is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breast(I . e.via lactation) rather than from a baby bottle or other container babys have a sucking reflex that enable them to suck and swallow milk.

Human breast milk is the healthiest form of milk for human babys .brest feeding promote health , helps to prevent disease,and reduces health care and feeding cost.experts agree that breast feeding is beneficial,but may disagree about the length of breast feeding that is most beneficial, and about the risk of using artificial formulas.

The world health organization and the American academy of pediatric emphasis the value of breast feeding for mother as well as children both recommended exclusive breast feeding far the six monty of life and then supplemented breast feeding for atlast 1 year and upto 2 years and mores.

BREAST MILK

not all the properties of breast milk are understood, but its nutrients content is relatively stable. Brest milk is need fromnutrients in the mothers blood strean and bodily stores. Brest milk have just a right amount of fat, sugur water and protein that is needed for the babys growth and development. Because breastfeeding uses and average of 500 hundred calories a day it helps mother loose weight after giving birth. The quality of mothers breast milk may be compromised by smoking , alcoholic beverages , caffeinated drinks, heroins, metha done.

BENEFITS FOR THE INFANT

W.H.O. has found many benefits to breast feeding for the infant .these include;

GREATER IMMUNE HEALTH

During breast feeding ,antibodies pass to the baby this one of the most important feature of cholestrum, the breast milk created for newborns. Breast milk contains several anti-infective factor such as bile solt stimulated lipase (protective againstameobic infection), lactoferrin which binds to iron and inhibit the growth of intestinal bacteria and immunoglobin A protecting against micro organism.

FEWER INFECTIONSAmong the studies showing that breast fed infants have a lower risk of infection than non breast fed infants.

1. In a 1993 universities of Texas medical branch studies, a longer period of breast feeding was associated with shorter duration of some middle ear infection ( otitis media with effusion) in the first two year of life.

2. In 1995 study of 87 infant found that breast fed baby had half the incidence of diarrhoeal illness, 19% fever cases of any otitis media infection, and 80% fever prolong cases of otitis media than formula fed baby’s in the first 12 month of baby’s life.

3. Breast feeding appear to reduce symptom of upper respiratory tract infection in premature infants up to 7 months after release from hospitals in a 2000 study of 39 infants.

4. A 2000 case-control study found that breast feeding reduced the risk of aquiring urinary tract infection in infant upto 7 month of age with the production strongest immediately after the birth.

PROTECTION FROM SIDS Breast feed baby has better arousal from sleep at 2-3 months. This coincides with the peek incidence of SIDS. Breast feeding halfed the risk of SIDS injuired upto age of one.

HIGHER INTELLIGENCEStudies examining whether breast feeding in infant is associated with higher intelligence later in life include:

1. Horwood, Darlow and Mogridge(2001) tested the IQscore of 280 low birth weight children at 7 or 8 years of age. Those who were breast fed for more than 8 months had verbal IQ score 6 points higher than comparible children breast fed for less time. They concluded “These finding at to a growing body of evidence to suggest that breast milk feeding may have small long term benefits for child cognitive development”.

2. The 2007 review for the WHO “suggest that breast feeding is associated with increase cognitive development in childhood.”

3. To initial cohort studies published in 2007 suggest baby with a specific version of the FADS2 gene demonstrated an IQ averaging 7 points higher if breast fed compare with babies with a less common version of the gene who showed no improvement with breast feeding.

LESS DIABETES

Infants exclusively breast fed have less chances of developing diabetes mellitus type1. breast feeding also appear to protect against diabetes mellitus type2.

LESS CHILDHOOD OBESITYBreast feeding appear to reduce the risk of extreme obesity in children aged 39 to 42 months. The protective effect of breast feeding against obesity is consistent, though small, across many studies, appear to increase with the duration of breast feeding.

LESS TENDENCY TO DEVELOP ALLERGIC DISEASES( ATOPY)In children who are at risk of developing allergic diseases , (defined as atleast one parent or sibling having atopy), atopic syndrome can be prevented or delayed through exclusive breastfeeding for four month, though these benefit may not be present after 4 month of age. However , the key factor may be the age at which non breast milk is introduced rather than duration of breast feeding.

Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, can be reduced through exclusive breast feeding beyond twelwe weeks in individuals with the family history of atopy,bu when breast feeding beyond twelve weeks is combined with other foods incidents of eczema rise irrespective of family history.

LESS NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN PREMATURE INFANTSNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acute inflammatory disease in the intestine of infants. Necrosis or death of intestinal tissue may follow. It is mainly found in pre mature births .in one study of 926 preterm infants NEC developed in 51 infants (5.5%).

A 2007 meta-analysis of for randomized controlled trials founds “in marginally statistically significant associatioa’’ between breast feeding and a reduction in the risk of NEC

OTHER LONG TERN HEALTH EFFCTSIn one study , breast feeding did not appear to offer protection against allergies. However,another study showed breast feeding to have lowered the risk of asthma, protect against allergies and provide improved protection for babies against respiratory and intestinal infection .

A review of the association between breast feeding and celiac disease (C D) concluded that breast feeding while introducing gluten to the diet reduced the risk of CD .

Breastfeeding may decreased the risk of cardiovascular disease in laterlife,as indicate by lower cholesterol and C –reactive protein levels in adult women who had been breastfed as infants . although a 2001 study suggested that adults who had been breastfed as infants had lowered arterial dispensability than adults who had not been breastfed as infants , the 2007 review for the WHO concluded that brestfed infant “ experienced lower means blood pressure” later in life.nevertheless,2007 review for the AHRQ found that “the relationship between breastfeeding and cardiovascular disease was unclear”.

BENEFITS FOR MOHER

Breastfeeding is a cost effective way of feeding an infants ,providing nourishment for a child at asmall cost to the mother. Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility through lactational amenorrhea , though breastfeeding is an imperfect means of birth control .during breastfeeding beneficial hormones are relesed into the mother’s body and the maternal bond can be strengthened .breastfeeding is possible throughout pregnancy, but generally milk production will be reduced at some point.

BONDINGHormones released during breastfeeding help to strengthen the maternal bond.teaching partners how to manage common difficulties is associated with higher breastfeeding rates. or a mother while breastfeeding can assist in familial bonds and help build a paternal bond between father and child.

If the mother is away , an alternative caregiver may be able to feed the baby with expressed breast milk. The various breast pumps available for sale and rent help working mothers to feed their babies breast milk for as long as they want. To be successful , the mother must produce and store enough milk to feed the child for the time she is away, and the feeding caregiver must be comfortable in handling breast milk.

HORMONE RELEASE

Breastfeeding releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that relax the mother and make her feel more nurturing toward her baby. Breastfeeding soon after giving birth increases the mother’s oxytocin levels , making her uterus contract during and after labour , is structurally modeled on oxytocin.

WEIGHT LOSS

As the fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended breast feeding at least 6 months can help mothers lose weight. However , weight loss is highly variable among lactating women;monitoring the diet and increasing the amount/intensity of exercise are more reliable ways of losing weight. The 2007 review for the AHRQ “The breast feeding in mothers on return to pre pregnancy weight was negligible, and the effect of breast feeding on post partum weight loss was unclear.

NATURAL POSTPARTUM INFERTILITY

Breast feeding may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation. A breast feeding women may not ovulate, or have regular periods, during the entire lactation period. The period in which ovulation is absent differs for each women. This Lactational amenorrhea has been used as an imperfect form of natural contraception, with greater than 98% effectiveness during the first six months after birth if specific nursing behaviors are followed. It is possible some women to ovulate within two months after birth while fully breast feeding .

LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECTS

For breast feeding women long term health benefits include :

Less risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. A 2009 study indicate that lactation for at least 24 months is associated with a 23%

lower risk of CHD. Brest feeding diabetic mothers require less insulin. Reduced risk of postpartum bleeding.

ORGANIZATIONAL EDORSEMENTS

WHO The WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life, after which “Infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complimentary foods while breast feeding continues for upto two years of age.AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICSThe AAP recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life. Further more “Breast feeding should continued for at least first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.

EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as “ an infant‘s consumption of human milk with no supplementation of any type except for vitamins ,minerals , and medications.”National and international guidelines recommend that all infants be breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. Breastfeedig may continue with the addition of appropriate foods, for two years and more. Exclusively breastfeeding has dramatically reduced infant deaths in developing countries by reducing diarrhea and infectious diseases. It has also been shown to reduce HIV transmission from mother to child , compared to mixed feeding.Exclusive breastfeeds infants feed anywhere from 6-14 times a day. Newborns consume fro 30-90ml per feed. After the age of 4weeks babies consume about 120ml per feed. Each baby is different , but as it grows the amount will increase. It is important to recognize the baby’s hunger signs. It is assumed that the baby knows how much milk it needs and it is therefore advised that the baby should dictate the number, frequency and length of each feed. The supply of milk from the breast is determined by the no. and the length of these feeds or the amount of milk expressed. The birth weight of the baby may affect its feeding habits and mothers may be influenced by what they perceive its requirement to be.

Breast milk while not physically breastfeeding. This may arise because her baby is unable or unwilling to latch on to the breast. With good pumping habits, particularly in the first 12 weeks when the milk supply is being established, it is possible to produce enough milk to feed the baby for as long as the mother wishes.

It is generally advised to delay using a bottle to feed expressed breast milk until the baby is 4-6 weeks old and is good at sucking directly from the breast. As sucking from a bottle takes less effort, babies can lose their desire to suck from the breast. This is called nursing strike or nipple confusion. To avoid this when feeding expressed breast milk (EBM) before 4-6 weeks of age, it is recommended that breast milk be given by other means such as feeding spoons or feeding cups. Also, EBM should be given by someone other than the breast feeding mother, so that the baby can learn to associate direct feeding with the mother and associate bottle feeding with other people.

Some women donate their EBM to others, either directly or through a milk bank. The transmission of some viral diseases through breast feeding can be prevented by expressing breast milk and subjecting it to Holder pasteurization.

MIXED FEEDING

Mixed breast feeding means feeding breast milk along with infant formula, baby food and even water, depending on the age of the child. Babies feed differently with artificial teats than from a breast. With an artificial teat, an infant will suck as long as there is milk flowing and it is easy to overfeed with a bottle. When using a bottle it is important to use the slowest flow the baby will accept and feed in a paced manner. Bottle feeding should take as long as breastfeeding does. Fast feeding can easily result in overfeeding.

TANDEM BREASTFEEDING

Feeding two children at the same time is called tandem breast feeding. The most common reason for tandem breast feeding is the birth of twins. As the appetite and feeding habit of each baby may not be the same, this could mean feeding each according to their on individual needs, and can also include breast feeding them together, one on each breast.

In case of triplets or more it is a challenge for a mother to organize feeding around appetite of all the babies. While breasts can respond to the demand and produce large quantities of milk, it is common for women to use alternatives.

Tandem breast feeding may also occur when a women has a baby while breast feeding an older child.

Brest feed should be continued in commonly encountered illness in the mother or the baby. It is very useful for babies have diarrhea.

Breast milk is particularly important for preterm and low birth infants.

EBM should be given by cup to the babies who cannot breast feed by sucking.

May wean due to the change in taste or drop in supply. Feeding a child while being pregnant with another can also be considered a form of tandem feeding for the nursing mother, as she also provides the nutrition for two.

DURATION OF BREASTFEEDING

In the united states a study published by the centre for Disease Control and prevention found that 75 percent of mothers began breastfeeding.However, by 6 months, the rate fell to 43% and was just 22% after a year. Breastfeeding rates vary across the country, from nearly 90% initiating breastfeeding in Utah to 52.5% in Mississippi. The health care law now requires large employers to provide breast-feeding mothers with breaks and a private space-not a toilet-to express milk.

EXTENDED BREAST-FEEDING

Extended breast feeding was at one time a very common practice worldwide. Dr. Martin Stein wrote in Parental Concerns about Extended Breastfeeding in a toddler that “ The discussion about extended nursing is similar to that of co-sleeping.They are both charecteristics of child rearing that are closely linked to time and place.In most cultures before the 20th century, both practices were the norm. Changes in social, economical and sexual expectations altered our views of the meaning of breastfeeding and bed sharing. “Extended breastfeeding was encouraged in Ancient Greek, Hebrew , and Muslim culture. The Koran , the Talmud and the writings of Aristotle all recommended breastfeeding for 2 to 3 years. In breastfeeding beyond six months : mothers perception of the negative and positive consequences, Dr. S.B.Reamer states that “Over the past hundred years of American history, the acceptance of unrestricted nursing decreased and the age acceptable for weaning dropped dramatically , until the average weaning age was 3 months in the 1970’s.” The current average weaning age in America is 12 months .

GLOBAL PRACTICES

While breastfeeding beyond Year of age is considered extended breastfeeding in United States experts say that the average of weaning worldwide is 4 years. IN Guinea-Bissau, west Africa , the average length of breastfeeding is 22.6 months and in India , mothers commonly breastfeed their children until 3-4 years of age. Stein says that “ In India, women often wean their 3 or 4 year old by putting the juice of a bitter gourd or melon on their nipples.” Although the American academy of pediatric stated in 1997 that “It is recommended that breastfeeding for at least 12 month, and their after as mutually desired”, the World Health Organization recommends breast feeding for at least for 2 years.

WESTERN PRACTICES

Elizsabeth Beldwin says in extended breast feeding an the law , that “because our culture tends to view the breast as sexual, it can be hard for people to realize that breast feeding is natural way to nurture children .” In western countries such as The United States of America, Canada, and Great Britain extended breast feeding is the very taboo act . It is difficult to obtain accurate information and statistics about extended breast feeding in these countries because of the mothers embarrassment. Mothers that nurse longer that the social norms some times hide their practices from all but very close family member and friend . This is called “closet nursing”. There are several organizations in place to support mothers that practice extended breast feeding . These organization include the International Childbirth Education Association and La Leche League International. In a study published by the Journals oif tropical pediatrics , 24% of mothers nursing past 6

months felt social hostility towards them. This number grew to 42% when mothers were nursing after 1 year of age. Also , 10% of mothers claimed embarrassment when more mobile , verbal toddlers made known in public the fact that they were nursed.

HEALTH EFFECTS

Priscilla Colletto stated in Beyond Toddlerhood: The Breastfeeding Relationship Continues, “ The adverse health effects of weaning of a child before or during toddlerhood are well documented for Third World countries such as Guinea-Bissau, where children who were no longer breastfed at ages 12-35 months had a 3.5 times higher mortality rate than did their peers who continued to breastfeed.” Dr. Laurence Grummer-Strawn observed that breastfeeding is protective against diarrheal diseases and other infections, breastfed children aged 12 to 36 months in Indonesia have much greater mid- arm circumference than children who have been weaned, and the incidence of malnourishment in breastfed Indonesian children are 3-5% less common than generally encountered in Indonesian clinics . Studies suggest that extended breastfeeding may reduces chances of otitis media allergies , leukemia and lymphoma for the toddler and premenopausal breast cancer in mother. This is attributed to the fact that the levels of lysozyme , lactoferrin , and secretoty igA are stable and even increase in the breast milk of mothers who are breastfeeding for over 1 year. (Stein 1507). In one study , artificially-fed infants had 2 to 3 times as many episodes of significant illness (defined as otitis media , lower respiratory disease , significant vomiting or diarrhea , and any illness requiring hospital admission). However , there are also some studied risks involved in extended breast feeding. Breastfeeding could impair a child’s growth if they are not taught to eat other food as well . Breast milk alone is not enough for children over six month of age and some have observed that children that have been breastfeed longer than the norm have less often appetite for added foods . Stein says that “As long as a toddler is eating a variety of grains, vegetables, fruits, and foods or supplements that provide adequate iron and vitamin-D , nutrition will be adequate and appropriate growth and development will be ensured.”

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

In a Time to Wean by Katherine Dettwyler , it states that “Western , industrialized societies can compensate for some (but not all) nof the immunological benefits of breastfeeding with antibiotics , vaccine and improved sanitation. But physical, cognitive , emotional need of young child persist.”Many children who are breastfeed into their toddler years used the milk as a comforting bonding women with their mothers. In a 1974 survey of 152 mothers , 17% said that the security their toddlers obtained through extended breastfeeding helped them become more independent, 14% said that extended breastfeeding created a strong mother child bond and 14.6% said that extended breastfeeding strengthened their abilities as a mother. Four mother said that they felt their child wad to dependent and one mother considered her child a poor eater. Dr. Stein said

that “A mother in my practice who breastfeed to children until 2 years of age explained that she would slow down and giver her undivided attention to her child several times each day when breastfeeding . Her children knew that she always had time for those movement each day . This time was also important to the mother for relaxing and unwinding…For many nursing toddlers, the breast comes to serves the save function as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal in providing comfort and a sense of security.” One issue with extended breast feeding is the ability of mother and the child to separate . Some say that the desire of extended breastfeeding comes from the mothers inability to let go of “her baby”. Baldwin refutes this statement , saying that the child is the one who chooses when they are weaned as it is very difficult to force a child to breastfeed .

LEGAL ISSUES

There have been several cases where children have been taken away from their mothers care because the courts found the Mothers extended breastfeeding to be inappropriate. In 1992, a New York mother lost custody of her child for a year. She was still breastfeeding the child at age 3 and had reported experiences of sexual arousal while breastfeeding the child .The authorities took the child from the home in the fear that the mother might sexually abuse the child .Later, the social service agency that took over the case said that there was more to the case than could be released to the press due to confidentiality laws In 2000, an Illinois child was removed from the mothers care after judge ruled that the child might suffer emotional damage because of not being weaned. The child was later returned to the mother and the judge vacated the finding of neglect. A social service agency in Colorado removed a 5 year old child from the mother, because she was still breast feeding, but the court ordered the child returned to its family immediately.

SHARED BREASTFEEDING

It used to be common worldwide. Still is in developing nations such as those in Africa, for more than one women to breastfeed a child. Shared breastfeeding is a risk factor for HIV infection in infants. A women who is engaged to breastfeed another baby is known as a wet nurse. Islam has codified the relationship between this women and the infants she nurses, and also between the infants when they grow up ,so that milk siblings are considered as blood siblings and cannot marry (mahram).shared breastfeeding can incur strong negative reactions in the Anglosphere; American feminist activist Jennifer Baumgardner has written about her experiences in New York with this issue.

WEANING

Weaning is the process of introducing the infant to other food and reducing the supply of breast milk. The infant is fully weaned when it no longer receives any breast milk . Most mammals stop producing the enzyme lactase at the end of weaning, and become lactose intolerant. Humans often have a mutation, with frequency depending primarily on ethnic

background, that allows the production of lactase throughout life and so can drink milk – well beyond infancy. In humans , the psychological factors involved in the weaning process are crucial for both mother and infant as issues of closeness and separation are very prominent during this stage.

In the past bromocriptine was in some countries frequently used to reduce the engorgement experienced by many women during weaning . This is now done only in exceptional a case as it causes frequent side effects, offer very little advantage over non-medical management and the possibility of serious side effects cannot be ruled out. Other medications such as cabergoline, lisuride or birth control pills may be occasionally used as lactation suppressants.

HISTORY OF BREASTFEEDING

For hundreds of thousands of years, humans, like all other mammals, fed their young milk. Before the twentieth century, alternatives to breastfeeding were rare. Attempts in 15th

century Europe to use cow or goat milk were not very positive. In the 18 th century, flour or cereal mixed with broth was introduced as substitutes for breastfeeding, but this did not become widespread until after WWII. As the superior qualities of breast milk became better-established in medical literature, breastfeeding rates have increased and countries nave enacted measures to protect the rights of infants and mothers to breastfeed.

Sociological factors with breastfeeding

Researchers have found several social factors that correlate with differences in initiation, frequency, and duration of breastfeeding practices of mothers. Race, ethnic differences and socioeconomic Status and other factors have been shown to affect a mother’s choice whether or not to breastfeed and how long she breastfeed her child

Race and culture Singh et.al. also found that African American women are less likely than white women of similar socioeconomic status to breastfeed and Hispanic women are more likely to breastfeed. The Center of Disease Control used information from the National Immunization Survey to determine the proportion of Caucasian and African American children that were ever breastfeed. They found that 71.5% of Caucasians had breastfeed their child while only 50.1% of African American had. At 6 month of age this fell to 53.9% of Caucasian mothers and 43.2% of African American mothers who were still breastfeeding.

Income Deborah L .Dee’s research found that women and children who qualify for WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for children were among those who were least likely to initiate breastfeeding. More highly educated women are more likely to have access to information regarding difficulties with breastfeeding, allowing them to continue breastfeeding through difficulty rather than weaning

early. In edition women who are unable to take an extended leave from work following the birth of their child are less likely to continue breastfeeding when the return to work.

Other factors other factors they found to have an effect on breastfeeding are “household composition ,metropolitan/non-metropolitan residence, parental.

Breastfeeding is an exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for 2 or beyond.Breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant.It greatly improves quality of life by providing adequate nutrition,resistance to onfectio, mental and emotional satisfaction.It helps in building healthy relationship between the mother and child and spacing between 2 children.

STARTING TO BREASTFEED.

After the baby is born baby should bedried and immediately given to the mother in the first half an hour.He or she should be placed”skin to skin”with the mother and offered the breast within the hour after birth.Starting early to breastfeed is important because

Babies are most alert and active during 30-60 minutes. Sucking reflex is most at birth. It increases success for exclusive breastfeeding. It promotes emotional development between the mother and child. It helps in developing a loving relationship between the mother and the baby. It prevents bleeding after child birth. It ensures intake of first milk from the breast which is thick and yellowish in color

as the first feed which also provide protection against infection.

EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING FOR FIRST SIX MONTHS.

Exclusive breastfeeding means the infant receive only breastfeed and no other liquids, not even water complementary food with the exception of undiluted vitamins minerals drops and syrup.

Babies should be exclusively breastfeed for first 6 months because;

Water supplementation even in hot whether unnecessary and leads to reduced desire to suckle and is a dangerous source of infection as well,

Giving other supplements also reduces breastfeeding success. Babies growth normally for 6 months with breast milk alone. It contributes to better intelligence development for the baby. Babies have lesser infections, asthma, allergies and eczema.

It helps in birth spacing. It provides 98% protection for a women who meets three condition, baby is exclusively breastfed baby is less than 6 month old, women menstrual period has not resumed.

PRELACTEAL FEEDING AND PACIFIERS

Prelacteal feeds or pacifiers should not be given because;

Giving prelacteal feeds such as sugar water ,honey , water or butter etc. Lead to sickness in the baby and interfere with the breastfeeding success as these reduce baby’s desire for feeding and

Pacifiers interfere with the success of breast feeding due to “nipple confusion” as sucking on rubber nipple and breast is quite different

BREAST FEEDING IN THE CORRECT POSITION

BODY POSITION: The mother should feed her baby in any comfortable position such as lying or sitting with good eye contact. Good and bad position are

Face to Face attention from the mother

Baby’s head and neck is straight or bent slightly back Baby’s body is turned towards the mother. Baby’s body is close to the mother facing breast. Baby’s whole body is supported. Mother baby eye contact is there.

SUCKING POSITION

Babies should be feed in correct sucking position at the breast to ensure effective milk supply from the mother to baby. Signs of correct good sucking position at the breast include:

Baby’s chin is closed to the breast Baby’s mouth wide open and the lower lip turn outward much of areola is inside

the baby’s mouth There is no pain at the nipple site while sucks baby.

IT ALSO HELPS BY: Reducing incidence of sore nipples and swelling in breast Ensuring adequate supply of the breast milk to the baby.

FREQUENT BREAST FEEDING AND BREASTFEEDING IN DEMANDBaby should be fed on demands from both breasts many times a day Normally breasts are ready for the next feed in one and half hour,hence,demand feeding can be done is less than two hours interval.

Some babies may like to breast feed less and some more ,and those who are reluctant should be encouraged to feed more frequently but not pushed. The mother should practice frequent and demand breast feeding including night feeds because;

The more mother breast feeds, the more will be the production of breast milk

Breast feeding at night is particularly helpful as the milk producing hormone, is secreated more during night and it privides relaxing effect to the mother.COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING.Complementary food means any food, whether manufactured or locally prepared, suitable as a complement to mothers milk, when it becomes insufficient to satisfy the growing nutritional requirements of the infant offer six months of age.INTRODUCTION OF COMPLEMENTARY FOODTimely introduction of complementary foods in addition to breast milk at a right time after a baby is six months old is necessary because;

Nutritional and energy requirements of the baby cannot be met with breast milk alone after age of six months

Complementary foods given before 6 months do not result in improved growth ,but replace milk.

Health risk especially the risk of loose motion is 3 to 13 times higher in those babies who are introduced complementary foods earlier than the age of 6 months, and

Starting of complementary foods late leads to reduction in available energy and later leads the baby to be under weight.

FREQUENCY OF COMPLEMENTARY FOODComplementary foods should be given 2 to 3 times a day when babies are 6 to 9 months old and 3 to 5 times a day when babies are 9 to 12 months of age.HOW TO FEEDMothers should use spoons and katoris/cup tofeed the baby.Babies should be allowed to handle spoon themselves at the age of 10 to 12 months .APPROPRAITE COMPLEMENTARY FOODS; Provide sufficient quantity, nutritionally adequate, hygienically prepared and fresh home made foods to implant and young children because;

Children adapt better to the home made food which is from the family diet , Thin complementary feeds made of cereals and pulses in watery forms are

in adequate source of nutrition and calories .

Intially only one or two semi solids should be given and gradually the number of feeds can be increased .

Semi solids which are given the baby should be easy to digest and have high energy value. Provide nutritious food like suji, dalia, kheer, ragi ,rice preparations mixed with milk. Increase the amount and thickness of food gradually. Cereals with add oil , pulses, meat, eggs and fish and cereals with added milk alone.

Vegetables and fruits have an energy value similar to or lower than that of milk .

Mixing home made food with expressed breast milk in the beginning will help in increasing nutrient value and baby will also accept the tests .

Food should not be pushed into baby’s mouth but should be allowed to practice active feeding i-e allowed to eat him or herself .

Mother should actively encourage and help the child to eat himself/herself . It helps develop better co-ordination . parents/care givers should interact with the children to tell new concepts and words while feeding as this helps in better mental development.

CONTINUED BREASTFEEDING

Continue frequent breast feeding up to 2years and beyond along with appropriate complementary feeding because it;

Increase energy intake . Lessens the risk of being under weight and reduces the chances of infections. Help in emotional bonding.

CONCLUSION

The Breast feeding week celebrated by us in a form of small programme on 10 th August, 2011 was marked very successful. The project was based on two main current topics.

Breast feeding Weaning

The camp was very awesome. We enjoyed well.