Nutrition, Diet and Health Tips

Infants who are fed on formula or other breastmilk substitutes are more likely to get gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting.

breastfeeding: Guidelines advocating for
exclusive breastfeeding for the first six
months are based on scientific evidence
about the benefits of breastfeeding for
infants’ survival, growth and development.

WHO and UNICEF has reaffirmed that breastmilk is enough for the infant for the first 6 months of life and encourages continued breastfeeding upto to 24 months or more.

They ( WHO & UNICEF) recommend:

✅Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth;
✅Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life; and
✅Introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.

Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality rates caused by common diseases that affect babies, such as diarrhoea and pneumonia & accelerates recovery incase the baby gets sick.

In developing countries like Kenya, diarrheal disease are due to various reasons like;

Taking food or water/drinks that have been
contaminated with enteropathogens, or
direct hand contact with patients or items
that have been contaminated with the
patient’s faeces or indirectly through flies.

The Risk factors that can increase the
transmission include:

✅Not fully breastfeeding for the first 6
months of the baby’s life,
✅ Inadequate supply
of clean water,
✅Poor personal hygiene of the mom,
✅Preparation of and unhygienic food storage
and
✅Improper Complementary & weaning practices.

So how does Breastfeeding reduce diarrhea in infants and children?

✅Breast milk has colostrum, the
first fluid secreted by the breast glands from day 1-3/4. Colostrum is an excellent laxative (intestinal cleanser) and it helps the baby to defecate often, NOT diarrhea’.

✅Breastmilk has Lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein that has strong bacteriostatic against Escherichia coli and inhibits Candida albicans.

✅Lactobacillus Bifidus is a bacterial colony that metabolizes lactose into lactic acid, which causes a low pH so that the growth of pathogenic bacteria will be inhibited.

✅It also has Immunoglobulin that  provides effective defence mechanism against
bacteria and viruses (especially IgA) and,
when combined with lysozyme, it acts as  direct antibacterial against E.Coli.

✅Leukocyte factor and pH of breast milk
prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria

I have this and more on my YouTube channel,

Follow for more and consider subscribing.

#breastfeedingsupport #children #childprotection #breastmilk #breastfeedingweek #muminawellness #nutrition #dietitian #kenya

Your favourite Dietitian

Lilian Mumina 😊