Artificial feeding and its hazards

The lack of knowledge of proper feeding technique, poor socio economic status, superstitions and customs are some of the factors that make bottle feeding hazardous to the baby. Over dilution of the formula can result in under feeding and eventually lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies. Super added infections, especially acute gastroenteritis, as a result of dirt from poor hygiene and untidy hands as also feeding bottle and other utensils constitute another danger of bottle feeding. Acute gastroenteritis may per se prove a “Killer”. In others, its recurrent attacks adversely affect the nutritional status of the baby, often leading to gross malnutrition in one shape or the other. Iron and vitamin deficiencies, especially those of C and D, are common in artificially fed infants unless they receive supplements of these constituents at the appropriate time. Prolonged use of skimmed milk may cause vitamin A and D deficiency. Likewise if a sweetened condensed milk is give for a long time, protein-energy malnutrition may result. Yet, if you have to give your baby artificial feeding, either on doctor’s advice or on your own the choice is yours. You must exercise greater vigilance and extra care in carrying it out. Do not forget to bear in mind that you are going to expose the baby to a lot of hazards.