Parenthood is a beautiful experience. In your parenting journey, especially as new parents, you will keep learning various things about newborn care every day, and how exactly they help your baby grow stronger every day. One of the most important things that parents should know about is newborn nutrition, especially in the first 6 months of their life.
In this article, we will help you understand your baby better and what our pediatricians in Dubai recommend when it comes to newborn nutrition.
The science behind your baby’s digestion and nutrition
When your baby is cozy and growing inside your womb, all the necessary nutrients he needs, such as glucose, lactic acid, free amino acids, free fatty acids, and ketone bodies reach him through the placenta. As the mother’s body is the primary source of nutrients for the growing fetus, doctors urge pregnant women to eat healthy, balanced meals throughout the pregnancy period to replenish the nutrients in their bodies that are being absorbed and utilized by their babies.
Once the baby is born, things are different. Now your little one requires an external source of nutrition which he has to intake and allow his digestive system to process for nutrient absorption. At the time of birth, your newborn’s stomach is very small as is said to be around the size of a marble, and is not accustomed to ingesting anything. This is why most babies lose around 10% of their body weight in the first couple of weeks, as they are still getting used to an external source of nutrition. Since the baby’s stomach is quite small, it will also require frequent feedings.
At this stage, your baby’s digestive system can only digest breast milk or formula. The breast milk produced by the mother’s body is generally found to be high in fat during the first few weeks of your newborn’s life, ensuring that he is receiving enough calories to grow and gain weight. The formula is also an adequate source of nutrition for newborns and can be given as recommended by your little one’s pediatrician, in case the mother is unable to provide sufficient breast milk.
Choosing breastmilk or formula as your baby’s first source of nutrition also supports their entire digestive system to develop slowly. A newborn’s pancreas is not fully developed at the time of their birth. As a result, his body produces significantly fewer digestive enzymes which are necessary to break down anything other than breastmilk. Additionally, breast milk is rich in enzymes which helps with its digestion.
In the first few days after your baby is born, his stomach will expand and will be able to hold around 60 ml of milk at a time. As digestion and elimination happen faster in babies, your baby will require frequent feedings to meet his caloric demands for growing up.
Breastmilk and formula: Which is right for your little one?
As a parent, it is generally your decision whether you want to breastfeed your newborn, use formula, or even a combination of both. In some cases, your pediatrician may recommend formula feeding or combination feeding, which we will talk about later.
Science tells us that breastmilk is the perfect food for your newborn as it contains the right amount of nutrients, tailored to your baby’s needs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends initiating breastfeeding during the first 1 hour after birth. It is also recommended that babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life, with extended breastfeeding encouraged until at least 1 to 2 years of age along with solid foods.
Breast milk has many benefits that cannot be replicated by formula. Compared to formula, breast milk is better absorbed and utilized by the newborn body. It also contains specific nutrients that are ideal for brain and nervous system development. It is also gentle on your baby’s digestive system, allowing it to mature properly before starting solids.
Breast Milk is also found to have many disease and infection prevention factors. This is because IgA antibodies produced by lymphocytes in the mother’s gut travel to the breast and are transferred to the baby through the milk. As a result, breastfed babies have fewer instances of fever, and digestive, lung, and ear infections.
Breast milk-fed babies are less likely to develop milk allergies, get diarrhea, and are less prone to asthma and other kinds of allergies.
Breastfeeding is also beneficial to the mother. Studies show that mothers who breastfeed lose their pregnancy weight faster and are less likely to get breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
Infant formula is a commercially prepared product that is used as an alternative to breast milk. Most infant formula is made based on cow’s milk, with added emulsifiers and stabilizers as well as vitamins and nutrients that are necessary for your newborn. The formula is prepared under sterile conditions and is completely safe for newborn consumption. Whatever your reason for choosing to formula feed, it is important to talk about it with your pediatrician.
There are various kinds of formulas out there in the market. Basically, they come in two forms- powder or ready-to-feed liquid formula. Most parents start with the first infant formula which is a good alternative to breastmilk and can be given from day one. If a particular brand of formula or a particular type doesn’t seem to agree with your newborn, your pediatrician will be able to guide you in choosing a different one. Your baby’s doctor may recommend lactose-free, anti-reflux, hypoallergenic, or comfort formula to ensure that he is receiving enough nutrition.
Formula feedings allow both parents to share duties and become more involved in the feeding process. At the same time, it is important that you follow the instructions correctly when preparing and feeding formulas. Parents must also ensure that the bottles they use are properly cleaned and sterilized every time before feeding the newborn.
Although the formula is a great alternative to breast milk, it will lack the antibodies that are naturally found in breast milk. Therefore formula acts as a good source of nutrition for your little one, without the added protection offered by antibodies in breastmilk. The formula is also on the pricier side and doesn’t come as free or unlimited as the mother’s breast milk. Formula-fed babies are often seen to require less frequent feedings as it takes more time to digest this milk.
While pediatricians almost always recommend breastfeeding, parents are suggested to switch to formula or encouraged to do a combination feeding under several conditions including-
– If the mother is unable to produce any breast milk due to hormonal issues
– If the baby has specific health problems, specific formula or other liquid supplements are recommended
– If the mother has some severe infection or other health conditions which render her in able to breastfeed
– If the mother is on medications that impact the quality of breast milk
The nutritious choice for your newborn
When it comes to newborn nutrition, breast milk is considered the best choice. Parents can also consider formula as recommended by their pediatrician. It’s important to remember that for the first six months of their lives, babies only need breastmilk/formula to get all the necessary nutrition and energy to grow bigger and stronger every day. Babies above the age of 6 months who can sit independently can start solids in the form of soft bites and purees.
If you have any questions regarding newborn care and nutrition, connect with our pediatric clinic in Dubai and consult with our specialist pediatrician Dr. Medhat Abu-Shaaban today.
