Newborn Nutrition Basics

Newborn Nutrition Basics

Childbirth is the period of first nutrition for the newly born. Inside the womb, the infant has received nutrition from her mother. Upon delivery, the infant is now separated from the mother and must be fed as she gets hungry. This is the start of newborn nutrition that you need to know. Feeding is a natural activity between a mother and her baby. In the same way that the mother needs nutrition after a laborious delivery, the newly born baby needs newborn nutrition after undergoing also a rigorous experience. The recovery of both the mother and the infant depends on how efficient is the nutrition being fed to each one of them.

Baby’s nutritional needs

Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula suffices for your baby from birth until four to six months old. There is no need for water, juice or cereal at this time to supplement the feeding of milk. Newborn nutrition by feeding milk should be in intervals of minimum of two hours to maximum six hours. Avoid feeding “on-demand” from your baby. Not every baby’s cry is a cry of hunger. Breast feeding takes about 10-15 minutes of each breast every 1 ½ hours to 3 hours. Formula feeding takes about 2-3 ounces every 2-4 hours. Breast feeding gives the perfect food for your baby. Mother’s milk gives easily digestible proteins that support your baby’s under-developed immune system. The benefit to the mother who breast feeds her baby is that 500 calories are burned each day. For the first twelve months, doctors recommend breast feeding from the mother if this is possible. After twelve months of newborn nutrition, your baby can take solid food and milk, which can be a switch from breast feeding to formula milk.

Other facts

Formula feeding cannot duplicate exactly breast milk. But, formula feeding has many advantages, too. Mothers have more freedom and can monitor how much milk is actually being fed to their baby. Feeding in public by formula milk is possible and there would be more bonding time with all family members when they go out of the house. Formula milk takes more time to digest and, thus, means fewer feedings. Both breast feeding and formula feeding requires organization and hard work. In breast feeding as a means to newborn nutrition, mothers who have to go back to work may not be able to do the task to feed the baby all the time. She would have to pump breast milk and preserve it for later time for the baby by placing in the fridge. During her absence, the baby will still get her milk. On the other hand, formula feeding means arranging bottles and making mixes correctly according to specifications by the manufacturer. Wrong mixes can result to wasted milk. Bottles have to be thoroughly checked for cleanliness and for the rubber nipples to be in good condition. Prepared formula milk can stay in the refrigerator for not more than 24 hours. This should also be warmed carefully before feeding the milk to your baby. Do not microwave bottles filled with either formula milk or mother’s milk because it can leave “hot spots” that can burn your baby’s mouth.