Rajammal P. Devadas ¹, P. Vijayalakshmi ¹, P. Nagalakshmi ¹

Affiliations
1 Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College, Coimbatore-641 011, IN

Abstract

The nutritional status of the exterogestate infants in the first year of life depends on the foetal stores of nutrients, maternal diet in pregnancy, the nutritional status of the mother and methods of infant feeding. Nursing the child makes extra demands on the mother consequently there is an increase in her requirements for energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Only when these requirements are fulfilled the nursing mother can secrete adequate milk of good quality for her growing infant. Hence it is a regrettable fact that breast feeding is on the decline. The health of the infant and its mother must be ensured by disseminating information on the benefits of breast feeding.

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Rajammal P. Devadas ¹, P. Vijayalakshmi ¹, P. Nagalakshmi ¹

Affiliations
1 Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women, Coimbatore-641 011, IN

Abstract

Nursing the child is an ancient, physiological process. Human milk is highly protective against infant malnutrition and the associated infective diarrhoea. All mammalian milks meet the highly specific physiological needs of each species, to ensure the optimum growth and development of the infant. The first step in successful breast feeding is maintaining at an optimal level the nutritional status of the mother. The well being of the infant depends to a considerable extent on the diet of its mother during pregnancy and lactation.

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