Abstract

FIRST YEAR OF LIFE NUTRITION AND BREAST FEEDING NUTRITIONAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PROTECTIONAL IMPORTANCE

Dr. Mohamad Talal Sharfo*

Abstract

Most communities around the world seeking for healthy community, and applying guidelines with protocols for that. one of the most important programs is that targeted towards the first year of life. Because it is critical and represents the upbringing of a complex human structure of mental, emotional, physical and psychological capabilities that are inseparable from the social innate with his surroundings. In addition to that, there are factors affect his structure and may strengthen him or make him sick, and all of that are linked to proper nutrition and education and should managed carefully and maintained. if not, the burden becomes high physically, socially and economically. Type of feeding infants in the first year of life is very important for the baby’s growth, mental development, and his/her immunological status. However, mother health in not less important than infant because she represents the first physical and emotional support for her child and the most caregiver to the baby. The nutrition of infants in the first six months of life differs from the next six ones, which depends on the body’s needs in each of them. Starting breast-fed directly after delivery is an important issue, and has a lot of benefits for mother and her newborn, and is the ideal food for babies. Formula milk should be for special situations only. Parents educational programs in perinatal period and postnatal maternal visits will support the strategies outcome of breastfeeding and has high success.

Keywords: Breast-feeding benefits, formula feeding, Breast feeding education, Human milk components, breast feeding community support, Healthy mother diet, healthy infant feeding.