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Feeding a newborn baby
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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If the birth was uncomplicated and the newborn is active and healthy, it can be immediately applied to the breast. As soon as possible, applying the newborn to the breast promotes the further success of breastfeeding. The regurgitation of mucus after feeding occurs frequently, due to the weakness of the smooth muscles of the gastroesophageal sphincter, regurgitation should decrease within 48 hours. If regurgitation of mucus or vomiting persists for more than 48 hours, especially if the emetic masses are bilious, a complete examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract is necessary to detect congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract.
The daily requirements for liquids and calories vary with age and are proportionally larger in newborns and young children than in older children and adults. The relative need for protein and calories (g or kcal / kg of body weight) progressively decreases from the end of infancy to adolescence, while the absolute requirement increases. For example, the protein requirement is reduced from 1.2 g / (kg day) in 1 year to 0.9 g / (kg day) at 18 years, and the average relative requirement for calories is reduced from 100 kcal / kg in 1 year to 40 kcal / kg at the end of adolescence. Recommendations for feeding a newborn child are largely not based on the principle of evidence. The need for vitamins depends on the daily calorie content in the diet of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and amino acids.
[Problems with feeding
Minimal fluctuations in the amount of daily nutrition of a newborn child are often encountered and, in spite of the fact that parents are often worried, they usually require the doctor only to make sure that there are no signs of disease or to monitor the indices of physical development, especially body weight (change of percentile on the standard body mass curve is a more important indicator than absolute changes in body weight).
Loss of more than 5-7% of body weight in the first week of life indicates an underfed. The initial weight of the body should be restored to 2 weeks of life, in the first few months the daily increments are about 20-30 g / day (1 ounce / day). By the age of six months the child must double the initial body weight.