The first 1,000 days of life, the time from conception until 2 years of age, is the time in which the infant is the most vulnerable and which lays the foundation for the infant’s future health.
The first three months after birth are increasingly being termed as the fourth trimester. At birth, your baby’s whole world is suddenly changed and there is much adapting to be done.
Baby’s brain needs to take in so much at this time and they are very dependent on others to care for their every need. Over the first three months, they learn to respond to the outside world. Breathing becomes more regulated and the baby has more physical control over their body. Social interaction starts and by four months baby can even start to self-soothe. For mum (and dad) the first three months can also be seen as the fourth trimester as mum copes with the change both physically and emotionally.
Hormones are yet again changing, sleep is disrupted and fatigue is common. It is also useful to consider this as the next stage of pregnancy in terms of mum and baby’s diet. When breastfeeding, food still needs to be safe as potentially harmful agents can be transferred to the baby via breast milk. Baby’s physical development is rapid and the right nutrients are needed just as they were pre-birth.
Breast or bottle the ideal food for baby is breast milk as it is custom made. There are situations however where breastfeeding is not possible. There may be structural problems, babies can be unable to digest the sugar in breast milk, the mum may be taking medications, which could affect baby, or the baby may be fostered or adopted. There is a range of options when it comes to choosing formula so look at the ingredients to help choose the most comprehensive nutrient provider. Also, ensure bottles and storage containers for taking formula powder out are PBA free.
Even if you plan to breastfeed, the first couple of weeks may be daunting and challenging so prepare for this and focus on the fact that usually it quickly becomes easier. Prenatal breastfeeding courses are very helpful not only because they teach parents what to expect but they also open up a support network to access help where needed.
Below we will focus on breastfeeding, if you are not breastfeeding the dietary advice would still help mum get all she needs in the first 6 months.
Who we are: Harley’s Limited is one of East Africa’s most respected Pharmaceutical, Medical, OTC products, and healthcare service providers.
Source: Harley’s Digital Marketing &
Idah Muthama – VitabioticsKe
