Question

1. what are the advantages of breast feeding?

2. when is breast- feeding contraindicated or not allowed?

3. plan a 3 day menu for a pregnant mother. include snacks and drinks.
give justifications of your meal plan.

Answer 1

PART 1:

Breast feeding has a significant importance in babies growth during post pregnancy period. Breast milk contains several immunity factors, anti-oxidants, essential proteins, anti-bodies etc.

Hence, Breast feeding is a inevitable thing for a babies growth, mentally and physically.

Some of the advantages of breast feeding:

• Breast milk can provide ideal nutrition for babies growth, especially during the first month.
• The first milk, known as colostrum (a pale yellow color milk), produced by the mother during the first 2-3 days after giving birth, have high concentration of anti-bodies, which can help in providing immediate immunity for the baby.
• Breast feeding can reduce the disease risk of both the mother and the baby.
• During, parturition (delivery) the expanded uterus get relaxed. Breastfeeding helps the uterus to contract.
• Breastfeeding can provide "always happy" feeling for mother.
• Breastfeeding can help the baby get smarter.
• Breastfeeding protects the babies from anti-immune disorders such as allergy.
• Breastfeeding helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in mother.
• Breastfeeding reduces obesity risk in infants.
• Breastfeeding provides a emotional and psychological attachment between the child and the mother.

PART 2:

Even though the breastfeeding has significant role in baby's mental and physical growth, during some situations breastfeeding is contraindicated.

Some of them are:

• For infants suffering from phenylketonuria, rare amino acidurias, and galactosemia.
• For infants whose mother is suffering from infectious tuberculosis and venereal disease (more likely the infant may get infected through breast milk).
• For infants whose mother is taking medications which is harmful for the baby.
• For infants whose mother is addicted to some sort of harmful drugs/alcohol.

NOTE : Breast cancer/history of breast cancer in mother/mother's family does NOT contraindicate breastfeeding.

PART 3:

See, planning a actual diet plan for a pregnant mother is never ending process, and will be different for each month.

A common every day diet should at least contain the following items:

• Water, at least 8 glasses per day, which is equivalent to 2-2.5 liters per day.
• Two to three servings of thin meats, chicken without the skin, fish, or cooked dried beans and peas (try to avoid maximum fat content).
• 4-5 servings of fresh Fruits (as much varieties as possible. pineapple is known to be a harmful fruit to be consumed during pregnancy period).
• 4-5 servings of fresh vegetables (including at least one serving of a dark orange vegetable, two servings of dark green leafy vegetables, and one serving of citrus fruit)
• 3 servings of Low fat/no fat dairy products, milk to be specific which is rich in proteins.
• 6 servings of enriched, grain/wheat breads and cereals.
• Protein rich foods like, egg (best without yolk), banana can be also served for break fast.