SRI GURU RAM DASS NURSING

INSTITUTE PANDHER, AMRITSAR.

ASSIGNMENT
ON
BREAST FEEDING

Submitted To: DR. Sukhdeep

Kaur
(Associate
Professor)
HOD (OBG & GYNAE)

Submitted By: Kartik

Kishore
M. Sc. Nursing
(1st year)
 BREAST FEEDING:

DEFINITION: Breast feeding has been shown to be beneficial for the both
mother & infant. Human milk is considered ideal for the neonates. Breast milk
is natural ready-made food which is the most suitable feed for the neonates.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING:

1) IDEAL COMPOSITION: There is ideal composition of required
nutrients in the breast milk for easy digestion.

2) PROPER NUTRITION: Breast milk has just the right amount of fat,
sugar, water and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and
development.

3) PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION AND DEFICIENCY

STATES:
Breast milk contained several anti-infective factors:
a) It contains vitamin D which protects the baby against rickets.
b) It contains :
i. Lactoferin, lysozomes, lactoperoidase, complements
and leukocytes that hinder the growth of E-coli and
thereby prevent gastro-enteris.
ii. Its lysozyme content protect against infection and
infection is an antiviral substance.
iii. Long chai W-3 fatty acids that is important for
neurological development of the body.
c) It confers passive immunity to the baby as the milk contains
protective antibodies.
4) READILY AVAILABLE: Breast milk is readily available, usually
sterile and is given to the baby directly to body temperature.
5) It is more convenient, requiring no preparation & cuts nothing.
6) HIGHER INTELLIGENCE: Few studies shows that breast fed babies
have higher intelligence.
7) LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECT: Infant exclusively breastfed have
less chance of developing diabetes mellitus than peers with shorter
duration of breast feeding.
 8) It reduces chances of extreme obesity in children.
9) It lowered the risk of asthma.

BENEFITS FOR MOTHER:

1) ACT AS CONTRACEPTIVE: Breast feeding as a contraceptive for a
short term. Lactation suppresses the ovulation & can delay the return of
fertility through lactational amenorrhea.
2) INCREASED BONDING: During breast feeding beneficial hormones
are released into the mother’s bond & maternal bond can be
strengthened.
3) UTERINE INVOLUTION: As baby takes breastfeed there is increase
in mother’s oxytocin level, making uterus of mother contract more
quickly & reducing postpartum bleeding.
4) LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECT: It reduces risk of breast cancer,
ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.
5) As the fat accumulated in pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended
breastfeeding- at least 6 months- can help mothers loss weight.

ANTENATAL PREPARATION:
1) Mother preparations and motivations for breast feeding should begin
from second trimester of antenatal period. The nipple should be
examined for whether they are normal and protractile.
2) The tone of the contour of the breast will be maintained by wing proper
brasseries.
3) Diet should be well balanced with extra proteins, calcium & iron.
4) The mother should be told that the adequate milk is secreted from the
third day of post-partum.

COMPOSITION OF BREAST MILK/100ml:

NUTRIENTS HUMAN MILK COW’S MILK

a) Proteins 1.2 gm 3.5 gm
Casein 0.4 gm 2.8 gm
Lactoalbumin 0.8 gm 0.7 gm

b) Lactose 6.5 gm 4.5 gm

c) Eat 3.5gm 3.5 gm
d) Calcium/Phosphate 34 mg 22 mg
67 Kcal 67 Kcal
 e) Calories

PHYSIOLOGY OF LACTATION:
Lactogens and other hormones secreted by the placenta and pro-lactine secreted
by the pituitary influence the preparation of mammary glands for lactation
during pregnancy.

The milk secretion depends on reflexes as follows:

 THE MILK PRODUCING REFLEX: The breast milk for the baby is
produces according the need of baby by the response to its sucking.
When the baby sucks the sensory nerves ending in the breast, are
stimulated and impulses are carried by the vagus nerves to the
hypothalamus. This causes the anterior pituitary to release prolactin into
the blood. Prolactin acts on the milk producing cells of the breast. More
the baby sucks, the more milk is secreted.

 THE MILK EJECTION REFLEX (Let down reflex):

The sensory nerve impulses that stars when the baby sucks on the
nipple, causes the posterior pituitary to release oxytocin, make the
myoepithelial cells around the the alveoli and ducts and sinuses towards
the nipple. Therefore, when the baby suckles at the nipple, It stimulates
the nipple that produces milk flow.

PROPER POSITIONING TECHNIQUES FOR BREAST

FEEDING:

1) Traditional or cradle position.

2) Cross-cradle hold.
3) Football on clutch hold.
4) Lying down.

TECHNIQUE:
In order for breast feeding work efficiently a mother must:

 Hold the baby so that he is facing the nipple.

  Keep your fingers away from the area to be drawn into the baby’s
mouth, allowing the baby to draw in the entire nipple and as much of the
areola as possible.
 Press your fingers slightly towards your ribs to keep the nipple extended
as much as possible.
 Guide and insert the areola by centering the nipple the nipple in the
baby’s mouth and pointing it towards the top back section of the baby’s
mouth.
 Hold the baby in close to your body.

THE BABY MUST:

 Face the mother’s body.
 Open his/her mouth wide.
 Draw the nipple in to the upper back part of his mouth.
 Place the gums beyond the nipple, taking in as much of the areola as
possible.
 Have his tongue out, over his lower gums, “cradling” the nipple and
areola.

IMPORTANT POINTS:
1) The mother’s desire to feed is the first requirement for successful
lactation.
2) She must wash her hands before feeding.
3) She should be physically and emotionally relaxed and comfortable.
4) She can sit comfortable with a support at the back. It is advisable to hold
the baby in her lap.
5) If she is unable to sit, she may feed by lying on her side with a pillow
under the shoulder.
6) The baby’s head should be support and slightly raised. The baby may be
held in semi-sitting position.
7) Every baby swallows some air during the feeding and should be held
upright and patted on the back until the air is belched.
8) After feeding, the baby must be positioned on a right side or on the
direction.

BREST-FEEDING DIFFICUTIES:
  Difficulties related to mother:
1) Inadequate supply of milk.
2) Breast engorgement.
3) Poor attachment of breast.
4) Stress and anxiety.
5) Short or very large nipple.

 Difficulties related to the baby:

1) Low birth-weight baby.
2) Cleft palate.
3) Illness of baby such as oral thrush, respiratory infections, jaundice
etc. may lead to improper sucking.
4) Over distention of the stomach.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
 Pee Vee “A text book of child health of nursing” published by
ManijYAdav
 Page No. 30-32
 Dutta DC “A textbook of obstetrics sixth edition” published by
Hiralalkonar.
 En. Wikipedia.org/en../wiki/…Breastfeeding.