Beneficios de la lactancia materna y riesgos de no amamantar / The benefits of breastfeeding and associated risks of replacement with baby formulas

La lactancia materna (LM) es el alimento diseñado por la naturaleza para el recién nacido y el lactante, sin embargo su prevalencia actual no es la óptima. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar la evidencia actualizada de los beneficios de la LM para el niño y la sociedad, y recordar los riesgos asociados al reemplazo de ésta con fórmulas lácteas. La lactancia ha demostrado ser un factor protector contra distintas enfermedades infectocontagiosas, del espectro atópico y cardiovasculares, así como contra la leucemia, enterocolitis necrotizante, enfermedad celíaca y enfermedades inflamatorias intestinales. Asimismo, tiene un impacto positivo en el neurodesarrollo, mejorando el coeficiente intelectual y pudiendo tener una disminución del riesgo de otras condiciones como el déficit atencional, trastorno generalizado del desarrollo y alteraciones de conducta. La LM puede prevenir un 13% de la mortalidad infantil en el mundo, y disminuye el riesgo de muerte súbita del lactante en un 36%. La lactancia implica un ahorro directo en el uso de fórmulas lácteas y mamaderas, e indirecto en costos de salud asociados, muertes prematuras y años de vida ajustados por calidad, entre otros. Además, es medioambientalmente amigable sin dejar trazas de huella de carbono en su producción y consumo. El uso de fórmulas lácteas y mamaderas tienen riesgos inherentes asociado, aumentan el riesgo de las alteraciones de la cavidad oral, tales como respiración bucal, maloclusión, alteración de la mordida y caries. Por último, la microbiota intestinal, la oxigenación y la termorregulación de los lactantes se ven afectadas negativamente por su uso.

Breastfeeding is the nourishment designed by nature for the newborn and the infant; however its prevalence is nowadays not optimal. The aim of this article is to review the current evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding for children and society, and to elaborate the risks associated with the replacement of lactation with baby formulas. Breastfeeding is a protective factor for several infectious, atopic, and cardiovascular diseases as well as for leukaemia, necrotising enterocolitis, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. It also has a positive impact on neurodevelopment, improving IQ and reducing the risk of attention deficit disorder, and generalised developmental and behavioural disorders. Lactation can decrease the risk of sudden infant deaths syndrome by 36% and prevent 13% of infant mortality worldwide. Breastfeeding result in direct saving on the use of infant formulas and bottles, and indirectly on associated health costs, premature deaths, and quality-adjusted life years, among others. In addition, breastfeeding is environmentally friendly; it does not leave an ecological footprint in its production and consumption. The use of baby formulas and bottles have inherent risks, because they increase the risk of oral diseases, such as mouth breathing, malocclusion, alteration of bite, and tooth decay. Finally, the intestinal microbiota, oxygenation, and thermoregulation of infants are negatively affected by their use.

Avaliação ponderal do recém-nascido pré-termo na unidade neonatal de cuidados intermediários / Weight evaluation of premature newborn in the neonatal intermediate care unit

Health care professionals should become familiar with the follow up of a newborn (NB) growth as well as the techniques and the criteria used in its evaluation. It aimed to evaluate the weight gain of premature newborns at a Neonatal Unit and describe the variables on feeding and types of milk, medications, and gastrointestinal alterations that have been influencing on their weight gain. Exploratory-descriptive study carried out with eighteen premature newborns hospitalized in a maternity of Fortaleza-Ceará-Brazil, from July to August 2005. The data about daily weight, ways and type of feeding, use of medications, gastrointestinal alterations were extracted from patient ́s records. It was identified that 16 (88.9%) were moderate preterm, and 10 (55.6%) were low birth weight (<2.500g) babies. The findings showed a gain of 20 to 30g of weight per day, which is considered satisfactory; however, it had influences on the nutrition with the use of nutritional supplements and antibiotics. It was concluded that the weight evaluation of premature babies is a strategy to promote health at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Os profissionais de saúde devem se familiarizar com o acompanhamento do crescimento do recém-nascido (RN) e com as técnicas e critérios utilizados em sua avaliação. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a evolução ponderal dos RN prematuros de uma unidade neonatal, descrever as variáveis via de administração e tipo de leite, terapêutica medicamentosa e alterações gastrintestinais como aspectos influenciadores do ganho ponderal do prematuro. É um estudo exploratório-descritivo realizado com dezoito RNs pré-termo internados em uma maternidade em Fortaleza ­ Ceará - Brasil, de julho a agosto de 2005. Foram extraídos dos prontuários dados do peso diário, tipo e via de alimentação, uso de medicações e alterações gastrintestinais. Identificaram-se dezesseis (88,9%) RNs pré-termo moderados e 10 (55,6%) de baixo peso (<2.500g). Os resultados evidenciaram ganho ponderal diário de 20 a 30g, considerado satisfatório, no entanto, com influências na nutrição, uso de suplementos nutricionais e antibióticos. Concluiu-se que a avaliação ponderal da criança prematura é uma estratégia para promoção da saúde na unidade neonatal.