The Healthy Diet »

If breast feeding is to be successful, the mother must decide early she is going to nurse her baby for which she must take adequate nutrition during prenatal period and also during lactation. Feeding practices in new horns during the first few days after birth showed considerable regional variations. Many mothers keep giving water sweetened with sugar, glucose or jaggery. Often it is a harbal mixtures with ajwain and sonf etc. These mixtures are called "Gutti". there are local prepared products marketed under different commercial names like "Janam Ghutti" "Gur Ghutti", Khand Ghutti" "Bura Ghutti". This practice should be discouraged because firstly the baby does not get any nourishment during 1st 2 days and secondly due to the baby not sucking breast the stimulus to milk production is delayed. Fluid may also produce infection if it is prepared in unhygienic vessels.

(i) Colostrum

Within a few hours of birth the mothers should put the baby to her breast. There will only be a little yellowish colostrum, but it is very rich in phosphorus and Sodium Chloride as well as vitamin A. It is very rich in proteins and antibodies. Many mothers hover do not put the baby to the breast for 1-2 days believing that , it is bad. the infants receive only a small amount of colostrum during the first 2-3 days but by the end of the first week the supply of milk will usually be sufficient and satisfy the nutrients needs.

(ii) Intervals of feedings

A schedule calling for 6 feedings a day at 6 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM, 6 PM, 10 PM, & 2 PM is usually used from the beginning. The 2 A.M. feeding is not that necessary after 2nd month. The baby should be fed at night also whenever he is hungry. few weeks time he learns to sleep for longer hours and can usually sleep through the night and automatically gets out of the habit of waking up at night. It is much simpler and more logical to feed him when he wants it, rather than when the mother or the clock dictates. Water should be given in between milk feeds.