Improving Feeding Outcomes Of An Infant Driven Feeding Pathway

According to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, “In the United States, nearly thirteen percent of babies are born preterm, and many of these babies also have a low birth weight.” The baby may be put into the NICU for varies reasons. However, the most common reason that a child is put into the NICU is because he or she is

Young baby food supplies a good source of energy and calories need development for their growth.

Infants are usually breast-fed on demand up to the age of two. Attempts to introduce bottle feedings have often met with sad results: sterilization of bottles and formula were poorly understood, formulas were diluted to last longer, and with the abandonment of breast-feeding, intercourse was resumed earlier than usual with a resultant increase in children who could be ill afforded. Bota is a thin gruel for babies, fed by pouring into the mother's hand and gently easing into the infant's mouth. Some foods and medicinal herbs if deemed necessary are pre-chewed by the mother then given to the infant.

Feeding a baby is an indispensable duty of a parent. Part of that duty includes

“Some mothers have to give up breastfeeding even though they want to breastfeed. To give up breastfeeding can be a sensitive issue in a time when breastfeeding is promoted as the healthiest for mother and child” (Larsen & Kronborg, 2013, p. 848). The debate over whether breast-feeding is better than bottle-feeding or vice versa has been a debate for many years. With more and more research that is continuously being developed, the option to breast-feed or bottle-feed is ultimately up to the parents of the child. Although the decision could be based on factors such as a physical incapability or financial burdens, the end result should always be what is going to be best for the baby. As research continues to grow, there has been proven evidence of the positive and negative aspects that come with breast-feeding and bottle-feeding.

Being knowledgeable with infant nutrition is important, it just simply means that you’re on board with making sure your baby is getting enough nutrients during his first year of life. These nutrients are calories that are made up of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Making sure your baby has good nutrition can help him stay healthy and protect him against risk of any diseases. Although, every infant is different, your baby may need more or less of the items in each food group as he continues to grow and develop. For instance, did you know that the only recommended nourishment an infant should be receiving at the age of 0-3 months old and until they are 4-6 months old is through breast milk or infant formula? This is important to know because anything other than breast milk or formula at this infant age can hinder their development and growth. Once an infant reaches 4-6 months old, rice infant cereal should be the only grain suggested and introduced, along with pureed fruit, at approximately 1/4-1/2 cup per serving. In addition, giving an infant extra water for hydrating purposes is not necessary during the ages 0-5 months; because most infants get the water they need from breast milk, formula, or juices. However, it is recommended that an infant at 6-9 months of age, and as he/she is more active and able to sit up on his/her own, should begin to decrease the amount in formula and

Healthy term infants are able to dictate their frequency of feeding and the amount of milk intake. This is primarily dictated by the infant's appetite. Preterm infants, on the other hand, may not typically be able to dictate the frequency and amount of milk intake. In most instances, preterm infants are fed at scheduled intervals and making use of prescribed milk volumes. The main reason behind scheduled feeding, without regard for the child's sleep or hunger status, is the concern about the infant's metabolic, neurodevelopmental, as well as gastrointestinal, maturity. However, it is evident that preterm infants are also capable of self-regulating their milk intake. While hunger cues may be difficult to detect in preterm infants, there is sufficient evident for mothers and caregivers to identify and respond to such cues. This paper will examine and analyze the experience of policy development on cue-based feeding in preterm infants. Cue-based feeding is a formidable feeding strategy in preterm infants (Chang & Chen, 2004).

In fact, it’s free. Components such as nursing pads, nursing bras, and breast pumps are not necessities and are completely optional. Therefore, no materials are required. Moms who choose not to obtain these particular items will save hundreds, (even thousands) of dollars each year. Nevertheless, formula feeding is highway robbery. Formula feeding requires materials such as bottles, nipples, and sterilizing bags which are fundamental in order to ensure that such materials are aseptic for the baby. KidsHealth voices that, “During the first year of life, the cost of basic formula can run about $1,500.00,” depending on the brand of formula (KidsHealth). Who wouldn’t mind having an extra $1,500.00 in their bank account? If that wasn’t enough, the United States Department of Agriculture states that “A minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved if breastfeeding were increased from current levels (64 percent in-hospital, 29 percent at 6 months) to those recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General (75 and 50 percent)” (USDA). Aware that breastfed infants are collecting antibodies and other healthy nutrients so they are less likely to become sick, formula fed infants are at jeopardy for developing illnesses. Frequent cases of illnesses can lead to recurring doctor visits. Moreover, [recurring doctor visits can lead to an abundance of co-pays and prescriptions] (KidsHealth). As a result, moms pay more when they formula feed.

McGrath, J. (2004). State of the science: Feeding readiness in the preterm infant. Journal of

Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the complete form of nutrition for infants with a range of benefits for infants’ health, growth, immunity and development (Breastfeeding- Natural Is Best). All these factors can decrease Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) and mortality. In serval meta-analyses babies that are breastfeed have a 36% decrease in the risk of SIDS. According to The Lives Saved Tool, an estimated 823,000 yearly deaths would be saved if breastfeeding was scaled up to universal levels. Disorders like necrotizing enterocolitis, that has a high case-fatality, showed a 58% decrease with breastfeeding (Victoria, Cesar G, et all.).

Less than 30 years ago the survival rate of premature babies was 25%, now that number has risen to a survival rate of 90%(Dutton, Judy). The increase in this number is most likely due to the advanced medicine and technology and the help of neonatal nurses. By having an advancement in technology and medicine gives us a wider range to work with to help these premature babies survive. Neonatal nurses are there to help contribute to the health of these babies so they can grow strong and healthy. Within nursing, especially neonatal nursing, that has been around since early 1900s have helped save and nurture our babies of the future.

“In the US, nearly half a million babies are born preterm” and need to be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Stanford Children’s Health, 2016). A few issues that can warrant a NICU stay include low or extremely low birth weight, gestational age less than 36 weeks, resuscitation in the delivery room, the need for oxygen therapy and IV medications, along with many other factors. The NICU nurse must learn how to safely care for each different type of neonate, whether it is the sickest patient on the highest level of life support, or a stable infant that must learn how to feed and grow. Training for a new NICU position consists of learning medications, coding an infant, attending deliveries, and caring for the sickest and tiniest neonates, ending with a mock code in the

These data revealed that a simple procedure, such as milking the umbilical cord before clamping it, had a significant influence on the blood levels of the neonate and can help to prevent future interventions from becoming necessary. This intervention, which can be done right in the delivery room, can help improve the neonate’s quality of life.

The newborn begins to convert substrates-protein to glucose, glucose to fat, and must adapt to a discontinuous supply of nutrients. Glycogen stored during feedings must be converted to glucose to support energy needs between feedings. Adding further to the vulnerability of the newborn period, many of the digestive and absorptive functions of the newborn are incompletely developed (Schmitz, 1991).

Any infant enters the world completely relying on their mother, whether it’s to provide security, comfort, or their first meal. Breastfeeding, although pretty self-explanatory, is the act of a woman feeding a baby with milk from her breast. It is recommended that a baby be breastfed for the first time within an hour of their birth and exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (Belsky, 2012). However, there is a stigma attached to breastfeeding in some areas of the world, especially the United States, so a common alternative is formula. There are many benefits not only the infant can gain from being breastfed, but also benefits the mother can obtain from providing this nutrition for her child. This paper will discuss