Breast milk and infant weight gain, is there any relation?
Among the most common concerns new parents have are infant feeding and weight gain. Here are some pearls of wisdom to ease the minds of parents during the first several months of their newborns' lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, with continuation up to a year or more if possible. Why breast milk? Breast milk offers the best combination of protein, fat and carbohydrates. For most infants, breast milk is easier to digest. For this reason, breast-fed babies usually have fewer feeding problems, like spitting up or gas. The protective antibodies present in breast milk reduce the incidence of minor illnesses like ear infections, diarrhea and colds. Breast-fed babies have less risk of heart disease or obesity as adults. Some studies have suggested that breast-fed babies develop higher intelligence quotients.Mothers who breastfeed recover from childbirth faster and have a lower lifetime risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. Finally, breastfeeding promotes healthy mother-infant bonding that can provide long-term psychological advantages. Ideally you should start to breastfeed your newborn within the first couple of hours after delivery and then at least every two to three hours after that. The time needed to feed is different for every infant and can range from five to 20 minutes on each side.
For the first few days, breast milk consists of colostrum, a thin, watery, clear-to-yellowish fluid that is loaded with protective antibodies and protein. It usually takes three to five days for a mother's breasts to swell and feel full, indicating her milk is ready. The fat, protein and carbohydrate content of the milk will change throughout the day, with the greatest fat or energy content present in the morning and the least amount of fat present at night. That is why a baby may feed more frequently and seem less satisfied at night, yet in the morning he or she feeds less and seems more content. Also of importance is the hind milk present at the end of a feeding. This milk has the greatest percentage of fat and that is why it is important that the baby completely finish one side before moving to the other breast.
But what about formula feeding? There are a number of reasons for mothers to want or need to formula-feed. Cow-milk and soy-milk formulas are adequate substitutes for infants up to read more
