Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

preeclampsia: what you need to know

Staying healthy while you’re pregnant is as important for you as it is for your baby. By eating right and exercising regularly, you can give yourself the best chance of avoiding conditions that could put you and your baby at risk.One condition, called preeclampsia, is a pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Preeclampsia usually occurs late in pregnancy, after week 20, and affects about 10% of all pregnant women around the world.¹Women with chronic hypertension who become pregnant should discuss how to monitor high blood pressure with their doctor early in their pregnancy. For some women with chronic hypertension, pregnancy can further elevate blood pressure. However, even women without chronic hypertension can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure is serious because it can restrict blood flow and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the baby.POSSIBLE SIGNS OF PREECLAMPSIA

High blood pressure
Too much protein in the urine (caused by stress on the kidneys)
Edema (or swelling) in the face and hands
Sudden rapid weight gain
Headaches, blurred vision and abdominal pain

WHO'S AT RISKWhile research has not been able to pinpoint what causes preeclampsia, it has been linked to several factors, including dietary choices and excess weight gain during pregnancy. The risk increases for women who:

Are pregnant for the first time
Had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Have a history of high blood pressure
Are 35 or older
Are carrying more than one baby
Have a mother or sister who experienced pregnancy-induced hypertension
Are significantly overweight
Have other medical conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease

MINIMIZE RISKS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY²

Enter pregnancy at a healthy weight
Follow weight guideline recommendations during pregnancy
Take a daily prenatal multivitamin and mineral prescribed by your doctor
Eat a balanced diet providing all the nutrients needed including calcium, vitamins C and E, and healthy fats

Regular visits with your doctor will help detect any areas of concern and will ensure you get treatment early on, if needed, to significantly increase your chances of delivering a healthy baby.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/issues/preg/common.htm. Accessed April 9, 2014.
Expect the Best. Elizabeth Ward, 2009, The American Dietetics Association, J Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ.

Breast milk is best for your baby

preeclampsia: what you need to know

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