As a new mom, after enduring the hardships of pregnancy for ten months, it is inevitable to feel very joyful when you see your cute little baby. However, the care and feeding of newborn babies require attention to many details in order to help them grow healthier. The development and function of the digestive and metabolic organs in newborns are not yet mature and are relatively fragile. However, from the moment of birth, they have the ability to digest and metabolize breast milk. As the baby grows older, their digestive and metabolic functions become more mature. Therefore, we need to provide appropriate nutrition based on the characteristics of the baby's digestion and metabolism in order to meet their growth and development needs.
When feeding a newborn, new moms should pay attention to the following:
1. Why do breastfed babies get hungry more easily?
Investigation: The time it takes for the stomach to empty varies depending on the type of food. For example, water takes 1-1.5 hours to empty, breast milk takes 2-3 hours, and formula milk takes 3-4 hours. Breast milk contains various nutrients that are easily digested and absorbed, so babies who are breastfed get hungry more quickly.
Action: The intervals between breastfeeding for babies should be shorter compared to formula feeding.
2. Why do newborn babies stop eating after consuming only a small amount?
Investigation: Infants have small stomach capacities. Newborns have a capacity of 30-35 milliliters, while at 3 months it increases to 100 milliliters, and at 1 year it reaches 250 milliliters. By the age of 3, it increases to 500-600 milliliters.
Action: When feeding the baby, the amount of milk or food given each time should not be excessive. The best way to determine if the baby is eating enough is to observe their growth in height and weight. Is it continuous growth and within the normal range?
3. Why do newborn babies often spit up milk?
Investigation: The development of the esophageal muscle and elastic fibers in infants is poor. The stomach is in a horizontal position, and the development of the lower esophageal sphincter is also incomplete. It is easy for milk to overflow and cause vomiting, especially when babies swallow more air during the feeding process.
Action: To prevent milk overflow and vomiting, after feeding, the baby should be held upright and placed on the mother's shoulder, and gently pat their back to release any swallowed air.
4. Why can rice cereal be added only after 4 months?
Investigation: Some digestive enzymes are insufficiently secreted during infancy. Shortly after birth, the stomach can secrete enough protease and pancreatic protease to meet the needs of protein digestion. However, the absorption rate of fats is slightly lower, at 80%-85%. The amylase responsible for digesting cereal starch is not secreted until 4-6 months after birth.
Action: Rice cereal and other starchy foods should be added starting from 4-6 months after birth.
5. Why is it not better to make formula milk more concentrated?
Investigation: After food is absorbed in the intestines, most of the metabolic waste needs to be excreted by the kidneys. However, the kidneys of infants are not yet fully developed and their ability to regulate the metabolism of nutrients is limited. If the osmotic pressure of the food and the solute load on the kidneys are too high, it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.
Action: When preparing formula milk for babies, it should be strictly prepared according to the instructions. It should not be made more concentrated in order to increase nutrition. The higher the concentration, the less water there is, and the higher the solute load on the kidneys, which increases the burden on the kidneys. In addition, fresh cow's milk has a higher protein and mineral content, which can further increase the solute load on the kidneys. Generally, babies under 2 years old should not consume fresh cow's milk.
