From Dr Su Myat Noe

1. Breastfeeding

3.  Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and
be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life
– meaning no other foods or liquids are provided,
including water.
 Infants should be breastfed on demand – as often as
the child wants, day and night.
 No bottles, teats or pacifiers should be used.
 From the age of 6 months, children should begin
eating complementary foods while continuing to
breastfeed for up to 2 years and beyond.

4.  Breast milk is the ideal food for infants.
 Provides all the energy and nutrients that the baby
needs for the first months of life.
 It is safe, clean and contains antibodies against
many common childhood illnesses.

5. Benefits of breastfeeding
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of:
 Asthma
 Obesity
 Type 1 diabetes
 Severe lower respiratory disease
 Acute otitis media (ear infections)
 Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
 Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting)
 Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm babies

6. Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk
of:
 Breast cancer
 Ovarian cancer
 Type 2 diabetes
 High blood pressure

7. Weaning
 Starting from 6 months, start introducing the baby to
foods and drinks
 Breast milk or infant formula is still important for the
first year of life.
 As the baby adapts to solid foods and begins to eat
more, milk intake shall gradually reduce.
 Salt or sugar should not be added to their food

8. From around 6 months
 Begin with a small amount of food
 The best food to start with are blended, mashed or
soft-cooked vegetables; like: broccoli, avocado,
spinach,cauliflower, carrot, beans, potato etc.
 Can also give some cooked or soft fruits such as
banana, mango, pureed berries, apple or pear.

9. From around 7 months
 By around 7 months, gradually move towards giving 3 meals
a day.
 Offer soft finger foods at this stage
 Finger foods help babies learn to eat themselves.
 Offer a wide variety of different food- for example; a
vegetable, carbohydrate and a protein-rich food together at
each meal.
 Protein-rich foods such as beans, eggs, meat and fish are
also a good source of iron.

10. From around 10 months
 A wide range of foods and textures, and a wider variety of finger
foods can be offered to your baby.
 They should be finding it easier to pick up small pieces of food
and feed themselves.
 Give slightly firmer and crunchier finger foods to your baby, such
as
 gently steamed vegetables
 soft fruits
 lightly toasted bread,
 teething biscuits and puff snacks.

11. 12 months+
 Most children can eat the same types of foods as the rest
of the family- just in smaller portions and smaller pieces.
 Three meals a day and may need 2 healthy weaning
snacks in between (for example fruits, vegetable sticks,
toast, bread or plain yoghurt).
 Avoid sweet drinks (Fizzy drinks, milkshakes and fruit
juices) to help prevent tooth decay.

12. Nutrition Tips for Breastfeeding Mothers
 Breastfeeding mothers generally need more calories,
 About an additional 330 to 400 calories a day, to give you
energy and help fuel your milk production.
 You don't need a special diet while you're breastfeeding.
 Include a well-balanced and healthy variety of the following:
fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, protein, dairy.
 Drink a glass of water or another beverage every time you
breast feed.

13. Food and drinks to avoid while
breastfeeding
 Caffeine
- Caffeine passes from the mother to infant in small
amounts through breast milk and might agitate your
baby or interfere with your baby’s sleep.
- Avoid drinking more than 2 to 3 cups (300 mg) of
caffeinated drinks a day.
- Common dietary sources of caffeine include coffee, tea,
energy drinks, sodas and chocolate.

14.  Alcohol
- It is safer not to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, but an
occasional drink is unlikely to harm your baby.
- If you drink, allow two to three hours in between drinking
and breastfeeding.
- An alternative option is to express milk before drinking
any alcohol, then your baby can be bottle fed.
- It's very important that you never share a bed, or sleep on
the sofa with your baby if you've been drinking. This is
linked to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

15.  Fish
- Fish can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty
acids.
- However, most fish contain some amount of mercury
and other contaminants.
- Exposure to excessive amounts of mercury through
breast milk can pose a risk to a baby's developing
nervous system.

16. References
 https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1
 https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/why-
it-matters.html
 https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/
 https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/feeding-your-
baby/breastfeeding/healthy-diet/food-and-drinks-to-
avoid/#anchor-tabs
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-
toddler-health/in-depth/breastfeeding-nutrition/art-20046912