Baby feeding

　　Newborns have small stomachs, so they get hungry quickly, and they need to be fed every 2 hours, and some babies may get hungry faster. Initially, the mother needs to spend 10 to 15 minutes each time to feed the baby, and the time will be shorter later. For babies fed with formula milk, the amount of food per feeding is about 50 to 85 milliliters. The sign that the baby is full is that the baby is satisfied and has no desire to eat again. Under normal circumstances, the baby should use 6 to 10 diapers a day, and the sleep should be stable, and the weight should increase gradually.

　　If the baby has a loss of appetite, always vomits, or has abnormal bowel movements, it is necessary to seek medical attention and examination in a timely manner. As the baby's food intake increases, the mother should also supplement more nutrition. The baby's feeding time intervals become longer, but there may also be sudden demands for milk, and it should be met in a timely manner without refusal or worry, because your body will supplement milk according to the need.

　　Since the baby cannot speak and cannot communicate, many young mothers always worry that the baby may not be well-fed or suffer from malnutrition. There is no need to worry so much. Generally speaking, as long as the baby's food intake is stable and the weight increases steadily, there is no major problem. Only when the following signs appear may malnutrition be possible: after a long time since birth, the skin wrinkles are still many, especially the facial skin is not fully stretched out at one month old; there is no significant change in weight; it seems that the baby is always hungry, even after eating, which may also be due to insufficient breast milk, insufficient suckling strength of the baby, or problems with the digestive system. If these conditions are found, please seek medical attention and examination in a timely manner.

　　Improper infant feeding can lead to constipation, which can be caused by various reasons, such as the baby eating too little, or if the newborn is solely fed with milk, the sugar content in the milk may be insufficient, which can make the stool dry. In addition, improper food composition, such as eating too much protein like meat and too little carbohydrate (such as rice and noodles) and fiber-rich vegetables, can also cause constipation. If the baby's lifestyle is irregular, it may also affect the establishment of normal defecation reflexes, leading to constipation.

　　Infancy is the period when children grow and develop at the fastest rate, and they need to intake an appropriate amount of nutrients to ensure normal growth and development, and to prevent malnutrition, rickets, anemia, and other conditions. If the amount of infant feeding is insufficient, it can manifest as crying and fussing. When the baby falls asleep quietly, it indicates that the feeding amount is just right.

　　Many new mothers always worry about various feeding issues. To help expectant mothers better understand feeding issues, the following introduction is provided:

　　1. Some young mothers feel that their milk supply is insufficient, worrying that their baby may not be well-fed and grow strong, so they want to stop breastfeeding and switch to cow's milk or other milk substitutes to feed their child. Breast milk is the most suitable food for infants under four months old, and it should not be discontinued as long as it can satisfy 1/2 to 1/3 of the baby's needs. If the mother rests well, the milk supply can gradually increase.

　　2. Some mothers are very dogmatic, strictly feeding their babies every 2 to 4 hours according to the book. The latest views of foreign medical experts are: breastfeeding on demand. Feed the baby whenever the baby wants to eat, which is more in line with the baby's physiological needs. The more the baby suckles, the more milk there will be.

　　Milk is produced by the digestion and absorption of food in the gastrointestinal tract, so people often ask breastfeeding mothers to eat more chicken, duck, fish, and meat, and drink more soup. In fact, breastfeeding mothers are not suitable for consuming food with excessive oil, especially animal fat. Otherwise, it can lead to digestive disorders in infants, one of which is that the stool is oily or contains milk residue.

　　For children who are unable to breastfeed, it is important to choose suitable formula milk and practice regular formula feeding as early as possible. For example, for low-birth-weight infants, premature infants, or micro-preemies, special formula milk should be given under the guidance of a doctor, and not left to parents to feed according to their own habits or even incorrect understanding. We should know that at least 30% of individuals in mammals are unable to breastfeed, and due to the various environmental influences of life and work, this number may be even higher for humans.

　　Proper feeding is essential for the better growth of infants, so it is recommended that parents pay attention to the following dietary principles:

　　1. The nutritional needs of newborns include the energy consumption for maintaining basic metabolism and growth and development

　　Under moderate environmental temperature, the basic heat consumption is 50Kcal/kg, plus the special dynamism of activity, food, and social needs, the total heat required per day is 100-120Kcal/kg. Premature infants, due to weak suckling ability and poor tolerance of food, often cannot meet the above requirements within the first week after birth.

　　2. Newborns born by cesarean section should be breastfed promptly

　　If the mother undergoes a cesarean section, the newborn may become drowsy due to anesthesia and have little interest in breastfeeding immediately. At this time, the mother should not just wait; she should seize the moments when the newborn is slightly awake, put the nipple into the baby's mouth, and let the baby suckle, as breastfeeding can help the newborn wake up faster and is beneficial for the newborn's growth and development.

　　3. Newborns should not drink sugar water or beverages

　　Newborns have the ability to suckle as soon as they are born, so it is best to start breastfeeding early. Although the mother's milk may be less at first, this should not be a reason to give the newborn sugar water. If sugar water is added, it can affect the baby's appetite, reduce the intensity of the baby's suckling, decrease the stimulation of the nipple, and lead to a decrease in breast milk production. In some cases, it can even cause the baby to develop a bottle错觉 and refuse to drink breast milk, leading to the failure of breastfeeding. Additionally, sugar water can increase the production of gas in the stomach, causing bloating, and also increases the risk of infection.

　　Based on the baby's feeding situation, it is recommended that parents pay attention to the following issues:

　　1. For babies breastfed, it is not advisable to add other substitute complementary foods, and it is still recommended to breastfeed. As for whether the amount of breast milk can meet the baby's needs, it can still be measured by weighing the baby. If the baby's weight increases by about 20 grams per day, weighing once every 10 days, and an increase of 200 grams each time, it indicates that breastfeeding can continue without the need for any substitute products. When the baby's average daily weight gain is only about 10 grams, or the baby often cries due to hunger at night, you can increase breastfeeding again. Generally, the baby's feeding times in this month are regular, except at night, with 5 feedings during the day, each separated by 4 hours, and only one breastfeeding session at midnight.

　　2. For babies fed with milk, it is still recommended to continue feeding with milk, with each feeding of 200 milliliters and 5 times a day. If fed 6 times a day, the amount per feeding should not exceed 200 milliliters, with 180 milliliters being more appropriate. Keep the total daily milk intake under 1000 milliliters, as exceeding this amount can easily lead to obesity in babies, and some may even cause a dislike for milk. A dislike for milk refers to babies who have always liked milk in the past three months and suddenly stop liking it from one day to the next. The mother is very worried and tries her best to make the baby eat, but the more anxious the mother becomes, the less the baby eats, and the baby only cries looking at the bottle. This situation often occurs because the baby has consumed too much milk before and gained weight too quickly, with an increase of more than 40 grams per day. This is because after three months, the baby's ability to absorb milk strengthens, and excessive milk intake increases the burden on the kidneys and liver, resulting in a dislike for milk. This is not a disease, but an expression of the baby's own self-regulation and self-defense function. When the baby has this situation, the mother should not be anxious and can try changing the milk formula, diluting the milk, cooling it down before feeding, or trying a different nipple. If this does not work, you can sneak the nipple into the baby's mouth at night before bedtime and feed the baby while the baby is in a drowsy state. After about ten days of careful care, the baby will definitely start to like milk again.

　　Add pureed vegetables, carrot puree, jam, and other complementary foods to supplement vitamins A, C, B, D, and inorganic salts, and start feeding with a spoon.