Majority health professionals all over the world would highly recommend breast feeding over formula feeding where ever possible. Of course, not all women will be able to breast feed their baby, where some women may find that although they initially started out breast feeding their baby, but they are unable to continue to do so for any number of reasons (chronic discomfort, lack of milk, etc). There is no right way or wrong way when it comes to the breast feeding vs bottle feeding debate as both have their advantages and disadvantages, some of which will be explain below:-
Advantages of breast feeding:
1) Provides all the required nutrients, vitamins, and anti-infection antibodies to the newborn baby.
2) Breast fed babies have fewer infections and illnesses compare to their formula-fed counterparts.
3) Closer bond between the baby and the mother when breast feeding.
4) Breast feeding is beneficial for the mother in the areas of weight control and even as a cancer preventative.
5) Mother’s milk is more easily digest than formula milk, resulting the baby will suffer less from constipation and diarrhoea.
6) Breast feeding is free.
Disadvantages of breast feeding:
1) Not all mothers feel comfortable when first breast feeding the baby. Many mothers need time to master the techniques for comfortable breast feeding.
2) Breast feeding is more demanding physically for the mother than bottle feeding. Baby may require breast feeding every 2 - 3 hours interval & this might be very tiring.
3) Pain & may lead to sore breast (nipple crack & bleeding).
4) Breast milk is easier to digest that cause the baby will want (or need) to eat more frequently than if they were bottle fed. In turn this can lead to more diaper.
5) Self-consciousness. Some mothers have absolutely no problem with breast feeding in public or semi-public places, others are not so comfortable with the idea.
6) Lifestyle. Breast feed may lead to many restriction like limited tea or coffee, no smoking, no alcohol, etc.
Advantages of bottle feeding:
1) Bottle feeding can be much more convenient than breast feeding. Once the formula is prepared, you can feed your baby in just about any location at any time.
2) Mothers do not have to worry about their own diet as much as their breast feeding counterparts do.
3) Father can play an active role during bottle feeding. This can help to improve on the baby & father bonding.
4) Bottle feeding it is easier to monitor on how much food the baby is eating. This will not overfed the baby.
Disadvantages of bottle feeding:
1) Insufficient nutrients & antibodies from formula milk compare to breast feeding can provide.
2) Milk bottles need to be constantly cleaned & sterilized.
3) Incompatibility of formula milk that may result in diarrhea.
4) Obviously it is more expensive than breast feeding.
Showing posts with label Facts about Mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facts about Mother. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
What is Confinement Period?
Q: What is Confinement Period?
A: Confinement Period or also known as "Puerperium", which is a health care guideline based on traditional Chinese knowledge & wisdom passed down by generations to post-childbirth women.
Q: What are the benefits of having Confinement Period?
A: It helps to restore health, beauty & youthfulness after immerse efforts, sweat, tears & loss of blood & "Qi" during labour.
Besides, confinement period also crucial to help reduce women's diseases related to limb numbness, water retention, pain, infections related to a polluted environment & incorrect diet.
Elderly people believe that the future health of the laboured women are largely depends on the care taken during her confinement (eg. nutritious foods & supplements) , in which not only helps to reduce the occurrence of diseases, but also provide therapeutic effects for chronic illnesses.
Q: What will likely be happen if a post-childbirth women fail to do well during confinement period?
A: A lack of care during this period may lead to wound infections, colds & flu, lochia, discharge problems, continuous lochia discharge, insufficient breast milk or worst, it may cause depression.
Therefore, it is crucial for a post-childbirth women to convalesce during confinement period, so that her organs & tissues can recuperate & be restored to their original state of health.
A: Confinement Period or also known as "Puerperium", which is a health care guideline based on traditional Chinese knowledge & wisdom passed down by generations to post-childbirth women.
Q: What are the benefits of having Confinement Period?
A: It helps to restore health, beauty & youthfulness after immerse efforts, sweat, tears & loss of blood & "Qi" during labour.
Besides, confinement period also crucial to help reduce women's diseases related to limb numbness, water retention, pain, infections related to a polluted environment & incorrect diet.
Elderly people believe that the future health of the laboured women are largely depends on the care taken during her confinement (eg. nutritious foods & supplements) , in which not only helps to reduce the occurrence of diseases, but also provide therapeutic effects for chronic illnesses.
Q: What will likely be happen if a post-childbirth women fail to do well during confinement period?
A: A lack of care during this period may lead to wound infections, colds & flu, lochia, discharge problems, continuous lochia discharge, insufficient breast milk or worst, it may cause depression.
Therefore, it is crucial for a post-childbirth women to convalesce during confinement period, so that her organs & tissues can recuperate & be restored to their original state of health.
Monday, October 8, 2007
What is Down's Syndrome ?
Q: What is Down's Syndrome?
A: It's a birth defect occuring in about 1 of every 1000 births, in which an extra N0. 21 chromosome is present in the developing foetusfro the time of conception.
Q: What are the impacts that can cause to the baby?
A: It may cause mental retardation (often mild to moderate), may have visible physical characteristics & some may have medical problems eg. heart defects.
Q: Who will have higher possibilities to give birth to Down's Syndrome babies?
A: In theory, posibilities rises with an increse in maternal age pregnancies or history of Down's Syndrome. Maternal age (35 & above) has traditionally been used as a cut-off point for performing a prenatal diagnosis to detect Down's Syndrome in pregnant women. However, 80% of Down's Syndrome babies are born to women who are less than 35 yrs old.
Q: What is Double Test/ Triple Test?
A: It's a blood test that measures substances in the pregnant mother's blood.
Substances like AFP (Alpha-feto protein), free β-hCG (free beta-human chorionic ganodotrophin) & uE3 (conjucgated oestrial). The level of these substances are used in combination with the woman's ageto determinethe statistical risk of Down's Syndrome in the baby. The level of AFP alone is use to determine if there is an increased risk of neural tube defect such as anencephaly or spina bifida.
Q: How is the risk can be calculated?
A: Babies with Down's Syndrome tend to produce less AFP than normal babies, whereas babies with neural tube defect produce much greater levels of AFP. β-hCG level tends to be higher when Down's Syndrome is present. Anaylsis & estimation of the risk is performed by using a computer& reported as a numerial risk based on the determined blood markers, age & gestation of the fetus.
Q: What does the result of a maternal serum marker screening mean?
A: The result describes the risk of giving birth to Down's Syndrome baby relative to the average pregnant women, reported as a numerical risk compared to a risk cut-off. The risk of 35 yrs old women (1:250) has ben used as the risk cut-off, where if a patient's risk is > 1:250, the serum is reported positive.
Q: What are further tests that will be offered if a patient test result is positive?
A: If the patient's test results is positive, it does not necessary mean that the baby has the disorder, but it means that the doctor will suggest the patient with some additional test, eg. Amniocentesis.
Q: What is Amniocentesis & what will it show?
A: Amniocentesis is a test in which the doctor obtains a small sample of fluid that surrounds the developing foetus. That fluid can be use to diagnose Down's Syndrome. Result will be shown in 2 - 3 weeks later. A small degree of risk may involved.
Q: What is the best time for Down's Syndrome screening?
A: Blood test should be done between 14-18 weeks of pregnancy. Unreliable result may be obtained if the blood sample is taken too early during the pregnancy.
A: It's a birth defect occuring in about 1 of every 1000 births, in which an extra N0. 21 chromosome is present in the developing foetusfro the time of conception.
Q: What are the impacts that can cause to the baby?
A: It may cause mental retardation (often mild to moderate), may have visible physical characteristics & some may have medical problems eg. heart defects.
Q: Who will have higher possibilities to give birth to Down's Syndrome babies?
A: In theory, posibilities rises with an increse in maternal age pregnancies or history of Down's Syndrome. Maternal age (35 & above) has traditionally been used as a cut-off point for performing a prenatal diagnosis to detect Down's Syndrome in pregnant women. However, 80% of Down's Syndrome babies are born to women who are less than 35 yrs old.
Q: What is Double Test/ Triple Test?
A: It's a blood test that measures substances in the pregnant mother's blood.
Substances like AFP (Alpha-feto protein), free β-hCG (free beta-human chorionic ganodotrophin) & uE3 (conjucgated oestrial). The level of these substances are used in combination with the woman's ageto determinethe statistical risk of Down's Syndrome in the baby. The level of AFP alone is use to determine if there is an increased risk of neural tube defect such as anencephaly or spina bifida.
Q: How is the risk can be calculated?
A: Babies with Down's Syndrome tend to produce less AFP than normal babies, whereas babies with neural tube defect produce much greater levels of AFP. β-hCG level tends to be higher when Down's Syndrome is present. Anaylsis & estimation of the risk is performed by using a computer& reported as a numerial risk based on the determined blood markers, age & gestation of the fetus.
Q: What does the result of a maternal serum marker screening mean?
A: The result describes the risk of giving birth to Down's Syndrome baby relative to the average pregnant women, reported as a numerical risk compared to a risk cut-off. The risk of 35 yrs old women (1:250) has ben used as the risk cut-off, where if a patient's risk is > 1:250, the serum is reported positive.
Q: What are further tests that will be offered if a patient test result is positive?
A: If the patient's test results is positive, it does not necessary mean that the baby has the disorder, but it means that the doctor will suggest the patient with some additional test, eg. Amniocentesis.
Q: What is Amniocentesis & what will it show?
A: Amniocentesis is a test in which the doctor obtains a small sample of fluid that surrounds the developing foetus. That fluid can be use to diagnose Down's Syndrome. Result will be shown in 2 - 3 weeks later. A small degree of risk may involved.
Q: What is the best time for Down's Syndrome screening?
A: Blood test should be done between 14-18 weeks of pregnancy. Unreliable result may be obtained if the blood sample is taken too early during the pregnancy.
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