Breastfeeding Flashcards

How many times in a 24-hour period should a newborn breastfeed?

Answer: 8-12 times

Newborns have small stomachs and rapidly digest breast milk, requiring frequent feedings to ensure adequate nutrition, hydration, and to establish the mother's milk supply. Breastfeeding 8-12 times in a 24-hour period is the recommended frequency for healthy, full-term newborns. This frequent feeding pattern helps stimulate milk production and ensures the baby receives enough milk for healthy growth and development.

Breast milk and formula are the same.

Answer: False

Breast milk and formula are fundamentally different. Breast milk is a living fluid that contains antibodies, live cells, enzymes, and hormones that cannot be replicated in formula. It adapts to the baby's changing needs, providing dynamic nutritional and immunological benefits, whereas formula is a standardized product designed to mimic breast milk's nutritional composition but lacks its complex biological components.

A newborn receives immunity to diseases and ailments via breast milk.

Answer: True

Breast milk is rich in antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood cells, and other immune factors that provide passive immunity to the infant. These components help protect the baby from a wide range of infections, viruses, and bacteria, reducing the incidence and severity of illnesses like ear infections, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal issues. This immunological protection is a significant benefit of breastfeeding.

A mother claims that occasionally, when nursing, her baby bites her nipple and won't let go. Which of the following are sound recommendations for ending this

Answer: Gently press the infant's head towards her breast. Refuse to resume that nursing session once she unlatches.

When an infant bites, gently pressing their head towards the breast briefly obstructs their breathing, causing them to open their mouth and release the nipple without causing harm. This technique teaches the baby that biting results in an undesirable outcome. Refusing to resume the session immediately reinforces that biting is unacceptable and will lead to the cessation of feeding, helping to extinguish the behavior.

Compared to babies fed formula, breastfed babies had a higher IQ.

Answer: True

Numerous studies have indicated a positive correlation between breastfeeding and cognitive development in children. Breastfed babies, on average, tend to have slightly higher IQ scores compared to formula-fed babies. This is attributed to various factors in breast milk, including specific fatty acids (like DHA and ARA) and other bioactive components that support brain development, as well as the unique bonding and interaction experienced during breastfeeding.

Formula feeding is simpler because a bottle may be made anywhere.

Answer: False

While formula can be prepared anywhere, it requires access to clean water, sterilization of bottles and nipples, and proper measurement, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Breastfeeding, conversely, is always ready, at the perfect temperature, and sterile, making it often simpler and more convenient, especially when on the go or in situations where hygiene resources are limited.

If breastfed, infants must also consume water.

Answer: False

Breast milk provides all the hydration and nutrients a baby needs for the first six months of life, even in hot climates. It is approximately 88% water, and offering additional water can fill the baby's small stomach, reducing their intake of nutrient-rich breast milk and potentially leading to inadequate weight gain or even water intoxication.