Nutrition is integral to the human body. And while this is true all throughout the human lifespan, it is even more important during a child’s growth. Even while at the mother’s womb, good nutrition is essential. In the past discussions, it was emphasized to us how nutritional intake of the mother could greatly impact the physiological development of the fetus. And when the baby is delivered, my first statement still tands true.
“Whether delivery takes place in a hut in a rural village or a hospital in a major city, putting newborns to the breast within the first hour after birth gives them the best chance to survive, thrive and develop to their full potential.” (UNICEF, 2018)
After the baby has rested, which usually lasts for 20-120 minutes, they begin to show signs of readiness to feed on the first breast milk secretion of their mother called the colostrum. Colostrum contains antibodies and provides protection from microorganisms. It is nutrient-rich, helps in the baby’s body regulation, and has several other benefits on the newborn baby that could increase their chances of survival (Bailey, 2018). Breast milk remains to be the ideal source of nutrition for the infant in the first 6 months of life, after which is supported by solid food in the succeeding months.
Health education on mothers regarding the proper nutrition of their newborn baby is emphasized for this reason. Often, it is us, nurses, that interacts with the client during monitoring, which gives us several opportunities to provide health teaching on proper newborn baby care, including nutrition.
References:
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. (2018, July 31). Breastfeeding from the first hour of birth: What works and what hurts. https://www.unicef.org/stories/breastfeeding-first-hour-birth-what-works-and-what-hurts
Bailey, K. (2018, April 20). Understanding Colostrum - the Baby Super Food. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/intermountain-moms/2018/04/understanding-colostrum-the-baby-super-food/#:~:text=The%20Power%20of%20Colostrum&text=Immunization%3A%20With%20powerful%20immune%2Dboosting,term%20development%20of%20your%20baby.