Peculiarities of newborn digestion - what mother needs to know

The birth of a baby is a very joyful event. However, along with the joy, parents also have many questions. After all, it is so important that the baby grows healthy and actively develops. One of the first questions is usually: “How much does a newborn eat at one feeding?” It would seem that feeding is such a natural process that it should not cause difficulties. However, most mothers are concerned that the baby does not have enough milk or, on the contrary, is overeating. How to maintain balance? Let's talk about this in this article.

Features of breastfeeding

As a rule, the most difficult time when it comes to feeding is the first week after childbirth. At this time, mother and child are just learning to understand each other. But there is no doubt that breast milk is the best food for a baby. This product is naturally perfect and has everything you need at every step.

Breastfeeding is beneficial for both baby and mother:

• it helps the baby receive the substances necessary for growth, development and immunity and simply satisfy hunger;
• promotes active contraction of a woman’s uterus (under the influence of sucking movements) and a faster recovery process after childbirth.

About colostrum

Newborns eat little; their sucking reflex is just developing and begins to be used “in practice.” In addition, a woman does not produce milk immediately. Colostrum is produced in the mammary glands at the end of pregnancy and in the first hours after birth. This is not exactly milk, it even looks different from mature milk, and its chemical composition is similar to blood. This is a very valuable product. It is high in fat and contains immunoglobulins and antitoxins, which strengthen the immune system and protect the baby’s body from infections. After a few days, transition milk replaces colostrum. It is lighter, but also quite oily.

It is important!

A mother should not worry that her child remained hungry, even if she put him to the breast 10 times, but it seems that he did not eat almost a drop. The size of a newborn's stomach is very small, so he eats only about 10 ml at one feeding. Thus, the baby can drink up to 100 ml throughout the day.

On average, milk comes in 3–4 days after birth and its quantity gradually increases. The baby's stomach also grows. This means that the amount of milk consumed also increases. So, on the first day a newborn can drink 10 ml per feeding, on the second day - 20 ml, and on the third day - 30 ml. But remember that each organism is individual and there are no strict limits here. However, if by the 4th–5th day of life the child’s body weight does not increase, but only decreases (by more than 8%), then this requires the attention of a specialist.

There is a popular way to determine the rate of breast milk consumption. You need to multiply the number of days that have passed since your birth by 10. But this method is inaccurate and has no scientific confirmation.

So how much should a newborn eat at one feeding? The table shows the daily and one-time volume of milk by month for children under 1 year.

Do not forget that breastfed children are introduced to complementary foods at approximately 6 months. This means that the amount of milk consumed is reduced, giving way to more mature food.

Features of the digestive system in infants

1. Very small stomach volume. On the first day of life, a child’s stomach can only accommodate 7 to 10 ml of milk. By the tenth day - from 70 to 80 ml. After this, the stomach increases by an average of 23 ml every month. And by the year its volume reaches approximately 250 - 500 ml.

1. The lower esophageal sphincter (the area between the esophagus and stomach) is underdeveloped. This causes regurgitation. As the baby's body develops, the frequency of regurgitation decreases and by six months (in some children by one year) they disappear altogether. Up to 4 months, regurgitation after every meal is considered normal.

1. The baby's stomach has a weak acidic environment, since the secretory function of the stomach is not yet developed. Because of this, bacteria are not destroyed and the risk of developing bacterial and viral intestinal diseases increases. It is worth paying attention to the child’s crying and whims. You can undergo an examination of the digestive system and other organs at the Nearmedic clinic in Moscow at 38 Marshal Zhukov Avenue, building 1: https://www.nrmed.ru/clinics/.

Parents often do not know about the peculiarities of the digestive system in infants, so they are frightened by some disorders. New moms and dads need to understand when they are natural and when it's time to see a doctor. Let’s consider what malfunctions occur in the baby’s body:

- Hiccups. The child hiccups due to breathing problems. They can occur due to fear, drying out of the digestive canal and oral mucosa, so it is important to ensure that the baby does not feel thirsty. Another cause of hiccups is overeating. The stomach stretches and this causes the diaphragm to contract. Hiccups lasting 10 to 15 minutes are considered normal. You can help your child by giving him some warm water or holding him upright in your arms to restore breathing.

- Vomit. The reasons may be: overeating, lack of hygiene, poisoning, various infections and even a concussion, therefore, if you notice that vomiting began after the child fell or hit his head, he should be shown to a doctor. The norm is nausea that occurs irregularly and is not accompanied by additional symptoms. Alarming symptoms may be: fever, lethargy, refusal of formula or breast milk, diarrhea.

- Constipation. In the first 4 months of life, it is normal to have a bowel movement after every meal. Then this figure decreases to 2-4 times a day. Mother's milk is absorbed better than artificial formula, so the frequency of bowel movements of babies is also different. Sometimes a breastfed baby soils his diapers every couple of days. If nothing bothers him and there are no problems with the stool itself, there is no reason to worry.

- Diarrhea. Of course, diarrhea is not uncommon in babies. This is considered normal, since the child consumes food in liquid form. However, parents should make sure that the baby does not become dehydrated. To do this, you need to pay attention to the quantity, frequency, change in color and odor of the stool. Diarrhea can be caused by a poorly washed bottle or breast, infection, eating new foods, or certain medications.

It is necessary to monitor the state of the child’s digestive system. At the same time, you should not think that any malfunctions in its operation are signs of any pathologies. The baby’s body is just beginning to develop and adapt to its new environment, so many disorders are considered normal.

How to calculate the amount eaten

In terms of measuring the amount eaten, artificial feeding seems simply ideal. Here is a bottle with a scale, here is water, here is a measuring spoon. However, in terms of its benefits, formula milk will never compare with breast milk. And besides, taking measurements is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The baby just needs to be weighed before and after feeding on a baby scale. To ensure the accuracy of the result, you need to weigh yourself several times a day. If the baby’s health is not in danger, he does not look thin and pale, he is developing according to his age, and the mother has enough milk, then a monthly weighing in the clinic is usually enough.

What not to feed a 1 year old baby

There are foods that are absolutely prohibited for young children. Their use can form harmful taste habits or cause serious damage to the baby’s health:

• Carbonated drinks
• Chocolate, cakes and candies
• Fatty fish and meat
• Highly allergenic foods (red fish, caviar, seafood, honey, nuts, exotic fruits)
• Fried, smoked, pickled, canned
• Sausage and sausages
• Hot spices, fresh onions and garlic
• Mushrooms
• Caramels, lollipops, chewing gum
• Chips and fast food

Feeding mode

For breastfed children, there is a rule - to put the baby to the breast on demand. Previously, it was believed that it was necessary to maintain an interval of 3 hours, but now pediatricians agree that breaks between feedings can be 1.5–2 hours. This does not mean at all that the baby will overeat.

Video: Does a child get enough food in the first months of life? Author: pediatrician, Ph.D. Komarovsky E.O.

The duration of one feeding is usually 15–30 minutes. Although there are deviations from the norm. For example, a woman has a lot of milk, and the baby is full in 5–10 minutes. Or, on the contrary, little milk comes in, and the baby can suck out the rest for a long time. Some babies simply like the process of sucking and use their mother's breast as a pacifier.

How long does a newborn eat?

Each baby has an individual time for feeding. Some people suckle from the breast or bottle during sleep - slowly, with breaks. As soon as he is satisfied, he will let go; until that moment you should not take it away.

Other children eat while awake, quickly absorbing milk.

But you cannot accustom your baby to eating food for too long or too quickly, this is harmful. The optimal time allotted for feeding is from 15 to 40 minutes.

What is important to consider

At first, mother and baby are just getting used to the changes taking place, so the feeding regimen may not be ideal. However, you should adhere to the following rules.

• In the first couple of weeks, a lot of dedication is required from the woman, because the interests of the child in satisfying hunger come to the fore. You cannot deny your baby food, even if it costs a sleepless night.
• If there is any doubt that the child is undernourished or overfed, it is better to start monitoring the frequency of feedings. So, you need to note the time at which the baby was really hungry, and note the intervals between feedings. This information may also be useful at an appointment with a pediatrician.
• It is impossible to establish a clear feeding regimen, as with artificial feeding, especially in the first weeks after birth. It is highly not recommended to maintain intervals of more than 2–3 hours during the day and 3–4 hours at night.
• There is no need to try to force feed your baby. He is still too young to realize the need for food, and is guided solely by his feeling of hunger. If your child persistently refuses to breastfeed, you should try offering him something to eat a little later. If the interval is too long, it is better to consult a specialist for advice.
• It is important to ensure that your baby latch onto the breast correctly. His mouth should capture not only the nipple, but also the areola. This way, milk will flow correctly into the mouth, and the woman will reduce the risk of cracked nipples.
• It is not recommended to give pacifiers and bottles to breastfed babies. Such products can reduce the intensity of sucking movements.
• It is better to give the baby only one breast at one feeding. In the mammary gland, foremilk is formed, with which the baby quenches his thirst, and hindmilk, with which he “gets enough”, since it is more nutritious in composition.
• After each feeding, you need to hold the baby in a column for about 10 minutes. This helps free the tummy from air and excess milk.

As a rule, with a normal feeding regimen and a sufficient amount of milk from the mother, by the month the baby’s weight increases by 500–600 g.

Features of artificial feeding

We figured out how much a breastfed newborn eats at one feeding. Now let's consider a situation where a mother is unable to breastfeed her baby. In this case, it is necessary to select a high-quality milk formula that will cover the nutritional needs. A pediatrician should help in this matter. The doctor will always take into account the child’s health characteristics and will be able to recommend a regular or medicinal product. Do not forget that when breastfeeding the baby puts in more effort. He drinks the milk gradually and feels full. When feeding with formula, a strict dosage is needed, since usually satiety does not come immediately, and the baby may require supplements that he does not really need (the feeling of hunger should disappear after a few minutes).

Requirements for essential nutrients and microelements

In children aged 1–3 years, the energy and nutritional needs remain quite high: approximately 2 times more than in adults. Accordingly, the energy value of a child’s daily diet should be slightly higher than energy costs, since a significant proportion of nutrients is necessary for the steady growth and development of the body. The average calorie content of the daily diet is 1200 kcal/day. The optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the daily diet is considered to be 1:1:4.

Squirrels

. The share of complete protein of animal origin in the diet of young children should be more than half of the total amount, the remaining percentage should be made up of vegetable proteins. Products that contain them (cereals, pasta, legumes) must be alternated in the diet, since in combination with products of animal origin this will help provide the growing body with a complete set of amino acids. The issue of protein balance in the menu remains extremely important. According to international studies, excessive protein consumption during the first two years of life can provoke obesity in later life. Once a child reaches one year of age, the proportion of fats in the diet gradually increases, and by three years it reaches the level of consumption of an adult.

Fats

. They act as plastic and energy material, supply the child with vitamins A, D, E, phosphatides, polyunsaturated fatty acids necessary for the development of a growing organism. If less than recommended fat intake is consumed in early childhood, it can cause energy deficiency. Vegetable fats make up at least a quarter of the total. The lipid component of the diet is a source of essential fatty acids: linoleic (?-3) and ?-linolenic (?-6). Their balance is important for the normal synthesis of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, important components of brain and retinal development.

Carbohydrates

. They account for slightly more than half of the energy value of the diet. Children have increased muscle activity, and therefore their need for carbohydrate foods is higher than adults. Easily digestible carbohydrates, the sources of which are fruits, berries, juices, and milk, are of great importance in children's nutrition. The amount of such sugars should not exceed 1/4 of the total volume. It should be remembered that excessive consumption of light carbohydrates leads to metabolic disorders, obesity, decreased body resistance to infections and the formation of cardiovascular pathology in long-term consequences.