A Research Study On Infant Feeding Practices - 1552 Words

Breastfeeding may be natural by evolutionary standards, but it is not always simple. As a researcher with particular interests in human breast milk and infant growth and development, I often receive questions from friends and family about the infamous breastfeeding versus formula debate. The physiological intercommunication between mother and offspring has always fascinated me, especially the fluctuations in breast milk composition over time. The type of food an infant is â€Å"supposed to† intake – breast milk – is not always an option due to various physiological or exogenous factors. Here, I review the nutritional composition of breast milk and infant formula, focusing on macronutrients – protein, fat, and carbohydrates. In addition, I attempt to tease apart the role of early-life nutrition beyond the confines of physiology and health, and discuss historical and cultural information regarding infant feeding practices in the United States. Ultimately, I hope to convey that food choices, especially the foods we give to our offspring, cannot be reduced to either biology or culture, and instead are a unique union of the two. Breast milk production is unique to the mammalian species (the name ‘mammalian’ is derived from the anatomical mammary gland). It is produced by the mother post-delivery, and is generally the first form of food that an infant will consume. Breast milk is ideal for infant nutritional requirements because its composition is individually designed to fit uniqueShow MoreRelatedThe Initiation Of Breastfeeding Remains A National Initiative1085 Words   |  5 Pagesinitiative in order to improve neonatal outcomes, this is especially true for the preterm infant. Obstetricians, midwives, neonatologists, and nurses can take the opportunity when presented with an impending preterm delivery to educate the parents (particularly the mother) of the significance of providing her infant with human milk (HM), predominantly in the first two weeks of life. The following research studies present evidence of a decrease in morbidities, specifically necrotizing enterocolitisRead MoreA Researc h Study On Nursing Practice1604 Words   |  7 PagesNursing practice is always evolving as new studies and new findings are discovered. As practicing nurses, it becomes our job to stay up to date with these findings and effectively implement them into our daily practice in efforts to enhance the quality of care our patients receive and to provide them with the best possible outcomes. Many nursing practices are implemented into daily care only after research studies have been conducted. The evidence provided from these studies helps the populationRead MoreDental Care: Prolonged Baby Bottle Feeding: a Health Risk Factor1629 Words   |  7 PagesDental Care: Prolonged Baby Bottle Feeding: A Health Risk Factor Abstract Deysi is a 2-year-old girl who lives with her parents in a one-bedroom apartment. Her mother and father work outside of the home, approximately 10 hours/day. Child care is provided by a network of women who include licensed home-based providers and a variety of friends and extended family members. On most evenings, Deysis father picks her up from the child care site and gives her a fresh bottle of chocolate-flavoredRead MoreBreast Milk : An Ideological Framework That Enabled The Canadian Government Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesCanadian government to control and dictate the bodies of marginalized peoples. Despite the associated benefits to both the child and the mother, breast milk rhetoric in the Canadian context was developed by breastfeeding supporters to reclaim infant-feeding. Since the early 1960s, the Canadian government, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) argued for a return to breastfeeding because of its associated health benefits to both the mother and child.Read MoreCultural and Ethnic Studies682 Words   |  3 Pagesestablish before hand the scope and limitations of your paper and this will be the foundation of your research paper outline. Basically, your outline will constitute three main parts namely the Introduction, the Body and the Conclusion. But to make sure your paper is complete, consult your instructor for specific parts he/she wants to be included in your research paper. Sample outlines for research papers will be given later on. But first, let us discuss the main parts of your paper and what informationRead MoreStudy Analysis : Breast Feeding Vs. Formula Feeding And Overweight Infants1183 Words   |  5 PagesStudy Analysis: Breast Feeding vs. Formula Feeding and Overweight Infants Abbey Gunderson Florida Gulf Coast University Abstract The study Exclusively Breastfed Overweight Infants are at the Same Risk of Childhood Overweight as Formula Fed Overweight Infants, investigates whether exclusively breastfed overweight infants have the same risks of becoming overweight in childhood as overweight infants who are formula fed. This study found that exclusively breastfed infants who are overweight encounterRead MoreEssay on Infant Formula: Good, Bad or Innocuous1676 Words   |  7 Pageshas been a need for alternative feeding methods for infants. Whether because of an issue with the mother’s milk supply or because of death of the mother, there have always been children that required the use of something other than their own mother’s milk. In more recent history, alternative feeding has also been used as a convenience. Prior to the development of infant formula in 1865, animal milk and wet nurses were used to accomplish the feeding of orphaned infants or others whose mothers couldRead MoreThe Importance Of Breastfeeding Versus Bottle Feeding1452 Words   |  6 Pages Wouldn’t it be easier if there was a single book of guidelines for how to care for infants that was used and respected at a global level? Certain aspects of infant care around the world tend to be controversial topics; therefore it can be difficult to decide which guidelines to follow. For example, when it comes to things like the importance of breastfeeding versus bottle feeding, or how long an infant should be breastfed, you will likely get different opinions depending on whom and where you askRead MoreFeeding the Children of HIV-Infected Mothers: The Arguments for Formula and Breastfeeding1534 Words   |  7 PagesHIV-infected women in developing countries are faced with a difficult choice. Do they breastfeed their infant and potentially transmit the disease through breastmilk, or do they use supplemental feedings of expensive synthetic formula. Many women that desire to use supplemental feedings lack the fina ncial means or necessary equipment to be able to provide adequate nutrition. There is the distinct risk that even if they are able to use supplemental formula unclean water could expose their child gastrointestinalRead MoreSocio Demographic Characteristics Of Mothers Essay1089 Words   |  5 PagesResults Socio-demographic characteristics Out of 423eligible mothers, 405 were participated in this study, which made a response rate of 95.7%. More than half (58.8%) of mothers were below 30 years. Most (95.6%) of mothers were Amhara by ethinicity. With regard to educational status, 242(59.8%) mothers were educated. Around one fivith (20.4%) of study participants were employed mothers. The average household income of the respondents was 1524.26 Ethiopian birr per month (standard deviation (SD) +