Early stages of infant nutrition
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| Kavita Mukhi |
Child nutrition, the part of dietetics closest to my heart, begins with the foetus being nurtured in a mother’s womb. Thus the mother’s health even before conception is of great importance to the health of the child. Everyone is aware of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. But though tobacco should be totally abjured for the health of a growing foetus, it’s not the only danger. Inadequate or ill-informed nutrition — even strong negative emotions — can be detrimental to the foetus.
Of course the human body with its in-built defensive mechanism will, upto a point, protect the unborn child. Thus if the mother doesn’t get adequate nutrition (the rule rather than exception in poverty stricken India), nature will draw from the mother’s reserves, including her bones, to feed the life in her womb. Hence the ancient adage: "For every child, the mother loses a tooth." This doesn’t of course apply if an expectant mother is eating well and living in conformity with nature’s laws.
I don’t intend to get into the specifics of an expectant mother’s ideal diet because each month this column covers different aspects of healthy nutrition, the natural way. If you haven’t been reading it, you can begin now because in the future too the focus of this column will be just that — to make healthy, natural nutrition a part of the Indian awareness.
Nutritious food means different things to different people. Which is why reading this column or logging onto www.conscious food.com is important if you want to learn more. And if you wish to differentiate fact from fiction in today’s confusing world where information is bombarded upon you from all sides. Before getting into the specifics of good nutrition for infants, another marvel of nature is the nausea which generally manifests in early stages of pregnancy. This is nature’s way of cleansing the womb in preparation for the foetus to have a perfect growth environment. If expectant mothers understood this clearly, they would give the body ‘food-less rest’ for a few hours after drinking lemon-juice (nimbu-pani) or coconut water. As the body is cleansed, it becomes ready for fresh seasonal fruits and simple vegetable soup. Later in the day brown rice and other non-spicy food would be ideal. Such a dietary regimen abates nausea and allows the body to adjust more rapidly to pregnancy.
If we reflect upon how beautifully nature has planned for perfection, we would never doubt her. So whether it is for us or our children, we need to presume that food in its whole form, with as little mutation as possible, is the best food. The first food of a new born child of course is colostrum, the secretion produced in the mother’s breast. Colostrum is rich in anti-bodies and nutrients essential for an infant. Subsequently too, it should only be breast milk with which the baby should be nursed upto five months. Even water is superfluous if the mother nurses her infant as and when required i.e if a child is breastfed on demand. Indeed, contrary to the self-serving propaganda of infant food multinationals, mother’s milk is the most complete food and the safest nutrition for newly born infants.
It’s also useful to remember that a baby can never be allergic to her mother’s milk; she can, however, be allergic to something the mother ingests, especially animal milk, alcohol, spices, and the like. Therefore new mothers need to be careful about their diets and sensitive to their baby’s reaction which will vary because each child is an individual with its own likes and dislikes. Essentially, young mothers need to eat healthy and be well rested. For more on this read the previous (May) issue of EducationWorld.
The weaning process begins with the introduction of the first food in addition to breast milk and ends when a baby finally stops suckling completely. It bears repeating that it should be mandatory for mothers to breastfeed for at least one year after starting supplementary foods. Of course the ideal baby-led weaning regimen requires breastfeeding for upto two to three years. After the first year, when the child becomes preoccupied with walking and the world around her, breast-feeding should be reduced to nights and serves an emotional bonding rather than nutritional purpose. Nevertheless, even at this stage mother’s milk is the best nutrient.
Before proceeding any further, i must touch upon the importance of ‘bonding’ in the first hour after birth. It is essential to cosset and hold a newborn; it transmits emotional security and love to the child. After experiencing the security of the womb for nine months or more, a newborn needs continuity of this sentiment. More on this subject and its repercussions another time.
Freshly pulped fruit, vegetable soups, brown rice and ragi porridge are some of the best first foods for an infant. They need to be introduced sequentially, a spoonful at a time. For instance in the first few days it should be only fruit, supplemented by soups and cereals with rock salt, organic jaggery or golden sugar instead of processed seasonings.
Inevitably the child will want to eat and drink everything parents ingest. Therefore it’s important that parents develop healthy nutrition habits because even infants live and learn by example, rather than rules and regulations. So I suggest you first work on your self and get to the point where your taste buds begin to enjoy whole natural foods. And leading by example, you should live the way you’d like your child to live.
Lastly, don’t make food the be all and end all of either your or your child’s existence. Remember, food is only a means to an end. Feeding a child should not be an ordeal but a natural and loving responsibility. The main goal of healthy child nutrition is to provide a good start in life so that she is equipped to grow into a strong and able adult — physically, mentally and emotionally.
(Kavita Mukhi is a Mumbai-based eco-nutritionist and CEO of Conscious Food)