Feeding options for baby
In celebration on Pregnancy Week between February 10 to 16, Bernadette Frankin, of the La Leche League South Africa, submitted the following article about the virtues of one method of nourishing your new baby - breastfeeding.
If you are pregnant and considering which feeding options you will use for your baby, here are a few facts to consider:
- your milk is your baby’s normal food.
- Your milk has every vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional element that your baby’s body needs, including interferon and interleukins, which are powerful anti-infectives.
- Without his normal food, a baby is at risk of ear infections, intestinal upsets, and respiratory problems.
- Babies who are not breastfed have an increased risk of getting allergies, diarrhoea. and dental problems.
- Vision, nerves and intestines don’t develop fully.
Because of all these differences, a formula-fed baby has a different metabolism and a different development, and gains weight differently during his first year.
His kidneys and liver have to work harder to process the waste products from formula.
He needs more of any medicine to get the same effect.
His immune system’s response to vaccinations is less effective.
The risk of SIDS (sudden infant death) is higher (up to 77% higher risk).
As an adult a formula-fed baby is at a higher risk of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, type 1 diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers.
As a result of all these risks the WHO (World health organisation) recommends ‘Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.’
The Minister of Health has also given ‘The Tshwane declaration of support for breastfeeding in South Africa’ in an effort to decrease South Africa’s high infant mortality rate.
La Leche League South Africa is part of a global breastfeeding organisation which provides information and support for breastfeeding mothers. La Leche League Springs meets every third Wednesday at Life St Mary’s Clinic. Contact Bernadette on 082 674 4762 for more information.
