alimentation

Question

How can I learn to feed correctly my child diagnosed with CF. He is 1 year and 8 months and still breastfeeding, il would like up to 3 years. He had 10.800kg and in some days he wants to eat just milk.

Answer

Hello,
In general, breast feeding is supported in babies with CF as well as in all other babies as the best form of nutrition if it is possible from the mother’s side. The optimal duration of exclusively breast feeding is 4-6 months, after that period of time, solid food should be introduced meal per meal, so that at the age of 1 year, for example, the child can eat the normal family food at the table, probably with still one or two milk feeds, which can come from the breast if wanted. After the age of 6 months, the composition of vitamins and nutrients in the mother milk does not fullfill the needs of the fast growing child anymore, especially such substances like iron are deficient in the mother milk and starting the child on meat is necessary. In addition, the protein content and the salt content of the mothermilk (the latter especially in warm summertimes) is not enough to cover the requirements of a 1 and a half year old child. It has to be also taken into account that a child with CF has a higher salt loss over the sweat and therefore a higher demand of salt and fluids. A creeping salt deficiency can even endanger the child acutely. Therefore, if you do exclusively breast feeding at the age of 1 year and 8 months, this is for sure not sufficient for your child. The learning process of eating solid food should happen if possible until the age of 8 or 9 months. In case children do only take finely mashed food in that time interval for many different reasons, it will be very difficult in the following time to get those children used to solid food, so probably this is the reason why your child wants only milk some times. This aim could then often only be achieved with the help of an experienced eating therapist.
In general, the diet of CF patients is characterized by an energy intake of 20-50% over the normal recommendations, and a normal to high fat containing diet with pancreatic enzymes in doses matched to the fat intake. Supplementation of fat-soluble vitamin, such as Vitamin A, D, E and K, whereas vitamins A and E are important antioxidants, should take place according to serum levels or to signs of deficiency. If the child is not able to take a certain amount of energy in and does not thrive well, oral supplements can be used which are now available as commercially products specific for this age range. Supplements should be given between or after meals or before bedtime to ensure that the appetite for normal food is maintained.

The first 2 years of life are a period of very rapid growth; therefore close monitoring of the general condition, the nutritional state and the growth rate of the infant with CF is needed. If poor weight gain is related to an increase in frequency of infections, treatment of the airways infection will both improve the nutritional state and reduce the amount of pulmonary damage.
You can see from the said above that this is a very complex problem, which can only be solved with your CF-specialist in charge probably together with an experienced nutritional assistant or eating therapist.
Hoping to be helped, we are glad that you called on our site.
Best regards,


Team ECORN Romania

06.07.2009