Breastfeeding Flashcards
What are some short-term benefits of breastfeeding for infants?
Reduced risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections and allergy.
What long-term benefits does breastfeeding offer for infants?
Improves neurodevelopment and cognitive outcome, reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
How does breastfeeding benefit mothers?
Reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
promotes bonding
it is cost saving
For which group of infants does breastfeeding provide significant benefits, particularly reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis?
Preterm infants.
What is the recommended duration for exclusive breastfeeding according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?
The first six months of life.
What should infants receive after six months of age in addition to breastfeeding?
Appropriate complementary foods.
How long should breastfeeding be continued according to WHO recommendations?
Up to 2 years and beyond.
Why is adequate and timely information during the antenatal period crucial for breastfeeding?
To ensure preparedness and increase breastfeeding rates.
How can breastfeeding rates be increased according to research?
By providing breastfeeding education and support during pregnancy, intrapartum, and postnatal periods.
What has prenatal education focusing on the benefits of breast milk and practical aspects of expressing breast milk been associated with?
Longer breastfeeding duration, especially in preterm infants.
What effect does putting the infant to the breast soon after delivery have on breastfeeding?
It has a profound effect on successfully establishing and maintaining breastfeeding.
What should be done even after a Caesarean section under spinal anesthesia?
Most healthy infants can be placed skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest as soon as they are breathing well.
When are the rooting and sucking reflexes particularly strong after birth?
For the first hour after birth.
What special interventions are required when mothers are physically separated from their infants?
Special interventions are needed to enable mothers to provide breastmilk and eventually breastfeed their infants.
When should lactation be stimulated in cases where mothers are separated from their infants?
Early, within 6 hours, and frequent stimulation of lactation is associated with higher milk production later on.
What does rooming-in entail for mother and infant?
Rooming-in involves keeping the mother and infant together 24-hours a day.
What are the benefits of kangaroo mother care?
Kangaroo mother care encourages early, continuous, and prolonged mother–infant skin-to-skin contact, which promotes bonding and breastfeeding success while empowering parents.
Why is correct attachment positioning important during breastfeeding?
Correct attachment positioning is vital to achieve an adequate seal, sufficient negative pressure, and an adequate sucking mechanism for effective milk transition.
What are some comfortable positions for holding the infant during feeds?
Some comfortable positions for holding the infant during feeds include the cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, or underarm hold (also known as the ‘football’ hold).
What should be ensured regarding the infant’s head and neck during breastfeeding?
During breastfeeding, it’s important to ensure that the infant’s head and neck are supported.
What direction should the infant’s body face during breastfeeding?
The infant’s whole body should face the mother’s chest during breastfeeding.
How should the mother support her nipple during breastfeeding?
The mother should support the base of her nipple between her second and third fingers.
What should the mother ensure regarding the infant’s mouth during breastfeeding?
When the infant’s mouth is wide open in response to the rooting reflex, the mother should place the infant’s mouth over the whole nipple and areola.
Why should the mother avoid allowing the infant to suck only on the nipple during breastfeeding?
Allowing the infant to suck only on the nipple can rapidly result in a painful, cracked nipple.
What are signs that indicate the infant is correctly latched during breastfeeding?
If the infant’s chin touches the breast and the lower lip turns out, and most of the areola is taken into the mouth, it indicates that the infant is correctly latched during breastfeeding.
What feeding method allows infants to feed whenever they are hungry or thirsty?
Demand feeding.
What should parents be educated on regarding their infant’s hunger cues?
Parents should be taught how to recognize hunger cues.
How many feeds per day do most infants typically adopt when the milk supply is adequate?
Most infants adopt a schedule of eight feeds daily.
What should infants be allowed to do regarding their feeding frequency and duration?
Infants should be allowed to feed as long and as frequently as they want.
What is typical feeding behavior for infants in the first few days?
Infants tend to feed frequently for a short period in the first few days.
How does feeding behavior change as the milk supply increases?
Once the milk supply increases, infants feed less frequently but spend a longer time with each feed.
How does the ability to feed from the breast develop in preterm infants over time?
The ability to feed from the breast will mature with time in preterm infants.