Nutrition
Infant nutrition
What are the benefits of giving breastfeeding to a baby with a cleft in comparison to bottle-feeding?
Human milk or breast milk is the natural and complete form of nutrition for infants. Breast milk contains exact the right nutrients the baby needs to grow, develop and to keep him healthy. There are numerous benefits of breast milk in comparison to breast milk substitutes such as infant formula. As well for the baby and the mother. There are also economic benefits (Allen & Hector, n.d) (Voedingscentrum, 2012).
10 facts about (breast) feeding a baby:
1. Mother milk contains exact the right nutrients for the infant (Ford 2012).
2. Mother milk can protect the baby against infectious diseases, such as gastrointestinal illness, respiratory tract infections s well during as beyond the infant period (Allen & Hector, n.d) (Multidisciplinaire richtlijn borstvoeding, 2012).
3. Mother milk can contain harmful substances from the environment, for example dioxins derived from waste incineration plants, but also substances from cigarette smoke and drugs (WHO, n.d) (ABA, 2012).
4. Mother milk can prevent against overweight and obesity. It also provides opportunities for the primary prevention of all aspects of the metabolic syndrome (WHO, 2012) (Allen & Hector, n.d) (Multidisciplinaire richtlijn borstvoeding, 2012).
5. Mother milk is easier to digest for most babies, and especially for premature babies (Nestle Canada, 2013) (Womenshealth, 2010).
6. Mother milk is free.
- No or reduced costs for a mother milk substitute; infant formula.
- No or reduces costs for the equipment, storage and preparation.
But also it helps to avoid medical bills during the life because it helps equip the baby to fight to diseases and infections (Allen & Hector, n.d) (Voedingscentrum, 2012).
7. There are a lot of benefits for the mother when she breast feeds her baby. For example, the mother will recover quicker after childbirth when she breast feed her baby; giving breast feeding stimulates hormones (oxytocin) that makes the uterus contract faster (Nestle Canada, 2013).
8. It is thought that breast feeding enchances the bonding process between baby and mother. Skin contact is very important for the baby to feel safe, secure and warm even as being cuddled (Ford, 2012).
9.There are a lot of important hygiene rules to use an infant formula safe, rules that are not required for breastfeeding (WHO, 2007).
10. In some cases it is not possible to breastfeed the baby:
- Where the mother is taking medication that is contraindicates for breastfeeding.
- When mother has a disease like tuberculosis, hepatitis B or pertussis.
- If the mother is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
- If the baby has a disease like phenylketonuria.
Conclusion:
‘Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants, with a range of benefits for infants' health, growth, immunity and development’ (NRDC, 2005).
For more information about a safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula, the World Health Organisation has a guideline, available on: https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf