Nutrition Starts Before Birth
You may have heard that pregnant mothers should be “eating for two.” Pregnant women should increase their calorie intake by about 350-450 calories per day during the second and third trimesters.
It’s also important to have an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals, as this will impact the baby’s development. In most cases, pregnant women should take a prenatal vitamin to help provide adequate vitamins and minerals, like folic acid, iron, and calcium.
These vitamins and minerals are passed to the developing baby to ensure adequate growth and development.
Feeding in Early Infancy
Infants require a high amount of fat, carbohydrates, and protein in addition to vitamins and minerals. After birth, infants should be fed an exclusive diet of breast milk or appropriate infant formula. They do not require additional water or food at this age.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life, then to a year of age and beyond if desired. Breastmilk is nutritionally complete and has numerous benefits for both mother and baby. Here at PAK Pediatrics, we make lactation support services available to help with all stages of breastfeeding.
We understand that in some cases, breastfeeding may not be desired or possible. Infants that do not receive breastmilk should receive an appropriate infant formula. There are many types of formulas on the market today. It’s important to discuss with your doctor which one is right for your baby.
We expect babies to lose weight in the first few days after birth – this is normal! They should regain this weight and be at or above their birth weight by two weeks old. Infants should be fed on demand – meaning when they show hunger cues.
Hunger cues include putting their hands to their mouths, smacking lips, clenching hands, or turning their head toward the breast or bottle. Crying is a late sign of hunger! In general, infants will feed about every 3 hours or 8-12 times a day.
The AAP recommends giving vitamin D to all breastfed babies and for all formula-fed babies until they get 32 ounces of formula a day. This ensures enough vitamin D for calcium absorption and bone development. Premature infants may require other vitamins, like iron, which your doctor will recommend.
Introducing Foods
Introducing foods is an exciting and messy time for infants and families!
The AAP recommends complementary food introduction around six months of life. Infants have to be developmentally ready to begin foods, typically this occurs around 4-6 months of age. They should be able to sit well when supported without dropping or bobbing their head. They should also be interested in what you are eating and should not “tongue thrust” – pushing food out of the mouth with their tongue.
It’s important to remember that these foods will not replace breastmilk or formula feeding but are in addition to it.
