What Are The Nutrient Essentials For Newborns? Experts Explain The Benefits Of Breast Milk

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for newborns and it should begin within the first hour of a baby's life, even in case of caesarean section.

All you need to know about breastfeeding

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The rapid growth and organ development in newborns creates a challenge in nutritional management. Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for newborns and it should begin within the first hour of a baby's life, even in case of caesarean section. Early skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby helps in bonding and stimulates breastfeeding behaviour in the baby.

Dr. Kumar Ankur, who is the Associate Director & HOD  NICU, Centre For Child Health ar BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital said, "Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to nurture newborns which ensures child health and survival. WHO and UNICEF recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water. Provision of mothers breastmilk to infants within the first hour of birth that contains colostrum, is considered the first immunization for the kid. Infants should be breastfed on demand – that is as often as the child wants, day and night. No bottles or pacifiers should be used. That means essentially you don't need any multivitamins or any supplements except for vitamin D3 starting from day one of life & iron supplementation starting from 4th month of life."

7 Things That Help Grow Your Babies To Thier Best Potential:

Dr Nitasha Bagga, who is a Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Rainbow Children's Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad said, "Your baby is born with enormous potential to grow and expect your baby to double his/her birth weight by 5-6 months. For this amazing period of growth, they need a lot of nutrients."

Here are 7 things to help grow your babies to their best potential.

• Stick to Exclusive Mother’s Own Milk (MOM): MOM is the best and irreplicable source of complete nutrition for a newborn and is the perfect food for a baby's digestive system, has all the nutrients, and antibodies to prevent infections.
• Consider Vitamin D Supplementation: Breast milk might not provide enough vitamin D, which helps your baby absorb calcium and phosphorus- nutrients necessary for strong bones. Breastfed babies should begin vitamin D supplements within the first few days of life, continuing until 1 year of age.
• Acknowledge Cues of the baby: Feed your baby depending on hunger signs (demand feeds) rather than keeping an eye on the clock. Most newborns need 8 to 12 feedings a day. 
• Premature babies (born<37 weeks) need special nutrition: Premature or sick babies are fed using their MOM, some babies who are very low birthweight might need to feed nutrition through a vein called total parenteral nutrition (TPN). These babies will need more nutrients in addition to breast milk and are given supplements like breast milk fortifiers, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and iron.
• Consider Donor Human Milk as the second best choice: For preterm and sick newborns where MOM is not available, reach out to human milk banks, instead of formula feeds.
• What not to feed: With rare exceptions, if breastfeeding isn't possible, use infant formula. Don't feed newborns with cereal, water, juice, cow’s or buffalo’s milk, honey, or other fluids.
• Know when to ask for help: If you're having trouble breastfeeding, ask a lactation consultant or your baby's doctor, especially if every feeding is painful or your baby isn't gaining weight.

In addition to that, Dr. Deepak Ugra who is a Consultant Pediatrician, at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Khar said, "For preterm babies, milk from the infant's mother is the first choice. Human milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours after expression for colostrum and up to 6 hours for mature milk. If it needs to be stored beyond that, it should be stored at 3-4°C before use. If not used for more than 5 days, it should be frozen. The expressed breast milk can be given by bottle/spoon. The preterm formula is the only acceptable alternative if human milk from the preterm infant's mother is not available. Human milk fortifier is indicated in preterm infants < 31 weeks and/or < 1500 gm and discontinued when the infant has established full breastfeeding."

Nutrients Present In Human Milk:

• Dietary nutrition is vital for the development of infants. Talking about the nutrients present in human milk, Dr. Deepak Ugra said the following:
• Human milk is the preferred source of nutrients for newborn infants and the most important nutrient for energy is carbohydrates.
• It contains the required amount of carbohydrate that is needed for the brain.
• Fat plays a vital role in milk, contributing about half of the energy required for infants.
• Human breast milk is composed of roughly 50 different types of fatty acids and serves as a natural reservoir of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which are very important for infants with an immature digestive system.
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in breast milk, has many health benefits for the baby.
• Human milk contains whey protein complex which has several health benefits. Components of whey, including lactoferrin, β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins, have immune-enhancing properties. In addition, whey has antioxidant properties.
• It also has carnitine, which is essential for infants. Free amino acids, glutamine and taurine are also present in human milk.
• It also provides important minerals and vitamins to the newborn infants.

Benefits Of Breast Feeding:

Talking about this, Dr. Preetha Joshi who is a Consultant, Neonatal, Pediatric and Cardiac intensivist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai said, "Optimal nutrition for a newborn or a neonate is crucial for appropriate growth and development in the early stages of life."

She then went on to list the benefits of breast milk:

• Research suggests that breastmilk boosts the immune system and protects the baby by providing antibodies against diarrhea, pneumonia, ear infections, and multiple viral infections, all of which are very common in early infancy.
• When exclusively breastfed up to 6 months, it also protects the growing child against childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease in adulthood. Therefore, most healthcare organizations recommend that it's best to feed the baby only breast milk for at least 6 months. 
• Moreover, it protects the mother against postpartum depression, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer in addition to, helping mothers lose weight faster. 

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]