Artificial feeding

Artificial feeding means feed the newborn baby other than breast milk.

In artificial feeding the most commonly used food is cow milk, goat milk, buffalo milk, dried whole milk (Formula feeding).

Indication for Artificial Feeding

1. Death or absence of mother.

2. Contra indication of breast feeding.

3. Failure of lactation.

4. Changing the life style and wrong beliefs about breastfeeding with the effect of mass media increase the risk of artificial feeding today.

5. Expressed breast milk is not available.

6. Prolonged maternal illness.

Principles of Artificial Feeding

1. The decision of giving artificial feeding must be taken after failure of all efforts to breastfed the baby.
2. Artificial feeding is given by spoon, bowl, cup or glass. In sick and pre-term baby by dropper.
3. Follow strict cleanliness.
4. Bottle feeding avoided if given follow strict cleaning.
5. Feeding is given calculated amount, according to need of child.

Disadvantages of Artificial Feeding

(A) For Infant:

1. The risk of frequent diarrhea, ARI and other infection are increased.
2. Difficult in digestion for newborn.
3. Lack of balance of nutrients according to need of infant.
4. Death rate is high in artificial feeding infant and child suffer form malnutrition and growth failure.
5. Allergy to food is high.
6. lack of bonding between infant and mother.

(B) For Mother:

1. Increase risk of pregnancy sooner.
2. Increase risk of anemia, osteoporosis, ovarian and breast cancer in women comparatively to breastfeeding women.
3. More post partum depression chances. 
4. Slower involution process.