•
A newborn's digestive system is
made up of an intricate, delicate
system of organs and functions.
•
Nearly all newborns lose some
weight during the first few days
after delivery.
•
The stomach of a newborn baby
occupies a horizontal position, its
volume in the first day of the
baby’s life is less than 1 ounce; by
the end of his first year it is 10
ounces.
•
The bowels of a newborn baby
are developed rather well. They
have a well vascular mucous
membrane, which promotes quick
food absorption.
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One of the many advantages to breastfeeding is the ease and
protection of breast milk on your baby's gastrointestinal system
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Mouth: some digestion and breakdown of food
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Esophagus: two principal jobs--to push food or fluid from the mouth to the
stomach and to stop backflow, or reflux, of the contents of the stomach.
›
Stomach: This is responsible for storing the swallowed food, combining and
disintegrating the food, and regulating excretion of the stomach contents
›
Small intestine: in charge of digestion and most of the absorption of nutrients.
The digestive enzymes break down proteins into amino acids; carbohydrates
into glucose and other monosaccharides; and fats into glycerol and fatty
acids.
›
Large intestine (colon): This curves upward, across and down to the rectum. It is mostly in
charge of the absorption of water and electrolytes.
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In the infant, the tongue is proportionally larger and they have extra fat
pads on the sides of the tongue that help with sucking.
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The larynx, or voice box, is situated higher and the epiglottis lies over the
soft palate to supply extra airway protection.
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A newborn’s esophagus is about 11 centimeters long (vs. 9 1/2 inches long in

A newborn’s stomach can only hold about 60 to 90 ml of fluid (vs. about 14 c.
adults)
in adults!)
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Small intestines measure 250 to 300 cm in newborns
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The colon is sterile at birth, but within a few hours E. Coli, Clostridium and
Streptococcus are established--the gathering of bacteria in the GI tract is
essential for digestion and formation of Vitamin K.
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Finally, the first stools passed are called meconium. Meconium is thick,
sticky and tar-like. It is black or dark green in color and made up of
mucus, vernix, lanugo, hormones and carbohydrates.
(vs 600 to 800 cm in adults)
Breast Versus Bottle
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The bowel movements of breastfed versus bottlefed newborns are different from each other,
varying in consistency, color and odor.

Breatfed Infants will have a yellow-orange very
liquid, possibly seedy texture to their bowel
movements.

Formula-fed Infants will pass stools that are pale
brown, more solid in texture and that contain a
strong odor.

Gas- acts like a cork, impeding or halting the flow of gastric
juices and built-up pressure causes painful bloating and
swelling of the abdomen. Baby’s immature digestive system is
unable to cope effectively. When gas pockets form in the
stomach, this can cause the stomach to distend but is also
the main cause of hiccups.
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Reflux- Regurgitation or spittle is very common during the first
few months of life. Some babies spit up a little others with
almost every feeding.
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Other: most commonly other problems include inflammation
of parts of the digestive tract due to numerous reasons.
Proportional differences exist between the young infant
and the older infant, child, and adult. These include:
› The oral cavity is small in the newborn and is totally filled by
the tongue due to a small and slightly retracted lower jaw.
› The newborn has a set of sucking pads in the cheeks which
provide stability during sucking.
› The soft palate and epiglottis are in contact at rest, providing
an additional valve at the back of the oral cavity.
› The larynx are higher in the neck and closer to the base of the
epiglottis, providing added protection of the airway.
› The infant’s eustachian tube runs horizontally from the middle
ear into the nasopharynx
› The small infant oral cavity creates abundant sensory input to
the tongue, giving information on spatial and movement
relationships within the mouth.

Sucking- to rhythmically receive nourishment by
mouth
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Swallowing- extra valve in back helps prevent
choking
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Breathing- babies usually pause from eating to
breathe
› Coordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing
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Tongue Thrust- to prevent choking
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Crying or fussing most
frequently begins suddenly,
and often after a feeding.
The cry is loud and continuous,
and the spells last 1-4 hours.
The baby's face often gets
flushed or red.
The belly is sometimes
distended or prominent, the
legs alternating between
flexed and extended straight
out.
The feet are often cold and
the hands clenched.
› GER is caused by a malfunction of the valve-like muscles
between the stomach and the esophagus.
› Symptoms:
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Painful blasts of crying (more than usual)
Frequent spitting up (but not always)
Inconsolable bouts of abdominal pain
Painful bursts of night waking
Fussiness, particularly after eating
Arching or writhing as if in pain
8 to 10 months
Baby can:
• Cooked, mashed egg yolks.
• Take a bite of food.
• Mixed baby cereal may be introduced.
• Pick up small pieces and feed self.
• Cottage cheese and yogurt.
• Use a cup with help.
Finger foods:
• Small pieces of cooked vegetables and
peeled, soft fruits.
• Small pieces of cooked, ground meat,
chicken, or fish with all bones and tough
parts removed
Continue to introduce new fruits and vegetables
to baby, baby will like a variety of foods.
10 to 12 months
Baby can:
• Chew and swallow soft, mashed
foods.
Small pieces of cooked or soft foods the rest of
the family eats:
• Use a cup.
Cereals, bread, and crackers.
• Begin to use a spoon.
Vegetables and fruits.
Cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
Cooked meat, cooked dried beans, peas or
lentils, cooked egg yolks
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Honey and corn syrup: These
foods may contain bacterial
spores that cause food-borne
illnesses, which are often fatal in
infants.
Salted and overly sweet foods: A
baby’s immature kidney cannot
handle much salt. Too much sugar
in the diet displaces the calories
and essential nutrients available in
cereals, fruits, meats and
vegetables.
Too much formula: Don’t feed 6month-olds more than about 40
ounces of formula. Too much
formula displaces the calories and
other nutrients from solid foods.
Too much apple or pear juice: Too
much may cause diarrhea.
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Foods that cause choking: Hot
dogs, candy, nuts, grapes,
coarsely cut meats, raw carrots,
apples and popcorn are all foods
that can get caught in a baby’s
throat.

Cow’s milk: Only breast milk or
formula should be fed until after
the first birthday. Cow’s milk has
too much protein and sodium and
too little iron for babies less than
one year old.

Citrus fruits and strawberries: These
foods may cause an allergic
reaction if fed before one year of
age.

What Causes Allergies?
Preventing food allergies may be possible
1.
Breastfeed and avoid supplementing with infant formula or
offering solids for at least the first six months of your child's life.
2.
If your child is at high risk of having food allergies, you should
also delay offering solids until he is at least six months old (and
continue breastfeeding)
3.
Foods to avoid until your infant is at least a year old include
cow's milk, citrus fruits and juices, and wheat and egg whites
until he is two.
4.
When you do introduce new foods, do so slowly and only give
one new food every four to five days. This way, if your child
does have a reaction or allergy, then you will know which food
caused it and you will be able to avoid giving it again.

Studies show that the introduction of solid foods before 4
months of age increases the risk of atopic dermatitis until the
age of 10 years.

The use of cow’s milk-based formulas in early infancy has
been associated with the development of cow’s milk allergy.
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Introduction of solid foods in infants until after 6 months of
exclusive breast-feeding showed lower risks of atopic
dermatitis and asthma later in childhood.