Infant Feeding Flashcards
is the prevalence of breastfeeding currently increasing or decreasing?
Decreasing steadily
What are some of the constituents of breastmilk that formula lacks?
- Cytokines
- IL-7
- Enzymes
- Lactoferrin
- Leukocytes
- Immunoglobulins
- Growth factors
What are some of the features of colostrum?
- Densely packed with nutrients and protective factors
- Very concentrated
- Strong anti-inflammatory factors (reduce risk of necrotising enterocolitis)
- Stimulates gut growth
- Laxative effect to clear meconium
- Small volumes (all baby can handle at early stage)
What conditions does not breastfeeding increase the likelihood of in babies?
- Gastroenteritis
- Respiratory infections
- Allergies
- Obesity
- Type 1 & 2 diabetes
- SIDS
- Necrotising enterocolitis
What conditions are mothers who do not breastfeed more predisposed to develop?
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Hip fractures
- Heart disease
How does breastfeeding impact the microbiome of a newly born child?
Breastfeeding allows the mother to pass on her microbiome to the infant
Especially important in babies born via caesarean section as they miss out on vaginal transfer of microbiome
What is the entero-mammary pathway??
When the mother detects current infections in her body via her lungs and gut she produces antibodies to these infections
These antibodies are then also incorporated into breastmilk so the baby is protected with as little delay as possible
If a mother does decide to give her baby formula instead of breast milk, how long should the kid be using formula?
First milks (formula) for first year
After 1 year begin cows milk
What are the 3 stages of lactation?
Lactogenesis 1 - breast development and colustrum production from about 16 weeks gestation
Lactogenesis 2 - Onset of copious milk secretion occurring between 32 and 96 hours after birth
Lactogenesis 3 - maintenance of milk production
What are some changes to a mothers breasts that occur during pregnancy?
Breasts become bigger and areola may darken
Montgomery’s tubercles appear on the areola to secrete an antiseptic sebum to lubricate the area
Breasts may be tender during early stages of pregnancy due to ductal growth
What hormonal changes occur after childbirth?
- Oestrogen and progesterone levels drop
- Prolactin and oxytocin levels rise
What is the prolactin receptor theory?
- Prolactin production is stimulated by touch and suckling from the baby
- The more circulating prolactin there is early in the pregnancy the more prolactin receptor sites on the alveolus of the mammary tissue
- The more that the receptor sites become primed, the more they function later on in postnatal period and the more they stimulate the lactocytes to produce milk
What are the roles of prolactin and oxytocin with regards to breastfeeding?
Prolactin - responsible for milk production, stimulates prolactin receptors on lactocytes
Oxytocin - responsible for milk delivery, acts on myoepithelial cells of mammary tissue in a pulsatile action to deliver milk
How does milk removal affect milk production?
Ineffective / insufficient milk removal reduces milk production, whether this is because the baby has a lower food demand or the mother is not feeding / feeding at very long intervals
Caused by FIL synthesis which signals cells to stop production, as well as increased pressure within breast cells causing flattening, making it harder for prolactin to bind
Why is skin to skin contact between mother and baby so important after birth?
- Triggers lactation and mothering hormones
- Regulates temperature, HR and breathing in baby
- Colonizes baby with microbes from mother
- Stimulates feeding behaviour
- Reduces stress hormones in mother and baby
