Term Baby Nutrition

• Published in: Forbes Tıp Dergisi 2023-04, Vol.4 (suppl 1), p.1-10
• Main Authors: Mehmet BÜYÜKTİRYAKİ, Fuat Emre CANPOLAT
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: breast milk; breastfeeding; newborn; nutrition
• ISSN: 2757-5241
• DOI: 10.4274/forbes.galenos.2023.46338

The ideal feeding method for newborn babies is breastfeeding by their mother. In cases where this is not possible, giving the mother's expressed milk, donor breast milk, or the use of formulas should be applied. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding only for the first six months and breastfeeding with complementary foods after the sixth month until age two and beyond. The content of breast milk is regulated according to the baby's needs, and each mother produces the most suitable milk for her baby. The nutrients, protective factors, living cells, growth factors, pre and probiotics in breast milk are miraculous. With the proper breastfeeding technique, the baby suckles effectively, sufficient milk production continues, and the possibility of problems such as nipple cracking and refusing to suckle is much reduced. To prevent mothers from worrying unnecessarily and to be able to breastfeed their babies adequately, the mother should be well informed about the signs of hunger, satiety, and sufficient milk supply. Formulas are used in feeding infants in the presence of insufficient or absent breast milk or in the presence of certain metabolic diseases. Standard formulas are suitable for term infants with normal gastrointestinal system functions. It can also be given to premature babies whose gestational age is over 34 weeks and birth weight is over 2,000 g. Breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother has human immunodeficiency virus infection or if the baby has galactosemia or a similar metabolic disease.