8 MINDANAO MISSION ACADEMY

The School that Offers Something Better Manticao,

Misamis Oriental

LEARNING MODULE FOR SECOND GRADING MIDTERM (OCTOBER)

HEALTH 8 HANDOUTS

(This handout will serve as your copy for the whole grading. Do not return this to your teacher)

Teacher’s Name: Timmy Jane Talose Abejo Facebook Account: Timmy Jane Talose Abejo
Degree: BSE-MAPEH Gmail Account: timmyjane27@gmail.com
Subjects handled: PE 8, 9, 10 Health 8, 9, 10 Radio-based Instruction Schedule: 6:00 – 6:30 pm,
Monday
Contact number: 09460129899

Grading System:
Components Percentage HEALTH is one component of MAPEH. In computing
Written Work 20% your MAPEH grade, Music, Arts, Health & PE grades
Performance Tasks 60% are added and the sum is divided by 4,
Quarterly Assessment 20%

STUDENT’S NAME:

Second Grading: FAMILY HEALTH- Dating, Courtship & Marriage Time Frame: October 23 – November 20, 2020

Content Standard - The learner demonstrates an understanding of responsible parenthood for a healthy family life Performance
Standard – The learner makes informed and values-based decisions in preparation for responsible parenthood

Enduring Understanding - Making informed and values-based decisions prepares you to be responsible parent; thus promotes a healthy
family life

Essential Question – How can you prepare to be responsible parent?

Learning Competencies (MELC)

Lesson Title In this module, you are expected to;
A Dating, courtship, and  Explains the definition and importance of courtship and dating in choosing a
marriage life partner
 Analyzes behaviors that promote healthy relationship in marriage and family life
 Describes the factors that contribute to a successful marriage

B Maternal Health concerns  Discusses various maternal health concerns (pre-during-post pregnancy)
1. Pre-pregnancy (blighted  Explains the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy
ovary, ectopic pregnancy,
polycystic ovary, mioma)  Discusses the importance of newborn screening, and the APGAR scoring system for
2. During pregnancy newborns
(pre-eclampsia, placenta  Explains the importance of prenatal care and post natal care
previa, gestational diabetes)
3. Post pregnancy  Discusses the essential newborn protocol (Unang Yakap) and initiation of breastfeeding
(postpartum disorder,  Enumerates the advantages of breastfeeding for both mother and child
sepsis)  Recognizes the importance of immunization in protecting children’s
health

C Responsible Parenthood  Analyzes the importance of responsible parenthood

 Examines the important roles and responsibilities of parents in child rearing and care
 Explains the effects of rapid population growth and family size on the health of the
nation
 Enumerates modern family planning methods (natural and artificial)

Introduction and Focus Questions

TJTABEJO HEALTH 8 2ND QUARTER 1

 Family is a very important part of our everyday life. It helps us in improving our personality. It also helps us in shaping our life. It
teaches us the value of integrity, love and honesty and provides us with tools necessary for success.
Do you know how your parents met and formed your family? Were you able to ask them their love story?
Family is considered a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you are accepted for what you are. This is where you are completely
tension free and everyone is there to help you. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems. It helps you survive through tough
times and brings joy and happiness into your life.
Today, most people don’t realize the importance of family; they prefer to spend most of their time with their friends. But when they are surrounded
by problems, it is their family that helps solve them. At the time when even our best friends refuse to help us, it is our family that will help us. So it
is very important for each and every individual to give importance to his/her family above anything else and enjoy spending time with family
members.
Have you imagined yourself going through a process of dating, courtship, and marriage?
This module is designed for you to identify the importance of planning marriage in having a successful family life in the future.
FAMILY HEALTH- Dating, Courtship & Marriage
Love and Infatuation are both intense emotions that one feels for another person. These feelings are most often confused for each other by many
people. But the two feelings differ in their actuality of love, intensity, and final outcome.
Infatuation or crush is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoning passion or love; addictive love. Infatuation usually occurs at
the beginning of relationships when sexual attraction is central.
Love is a decision to commit oneself to another and to work through conflicts instead of giving up. A deeper understanding or care.
Attraction is admiration for someone that may include the desire to get to know that person better. Attraction usually takes place in the form of
infatuation or crush. Infatuation is admiration for someone while not recognizing that person’s flaws.
Crushes usually last for only a short time, few weeks or maybe a few months. These feelings are completely normal and are part of becoming a young
adult.
Most people begin to form romantic relationships based on love. Love is deep affection for someone and is based on a true desire for the
other person’s best interests. In a healthy relationship, the other person shares and responds with the same kind of love.
Learning to develop, nurture and even deal with the loss of these relationships are important ways to prepare for adult relationships.
Dating is a social activity which involves two or more people generally assessing each other’s suitability for a potential relationship.
Dating can also be enjoyed as part of an already active relationship. The word dating actually comes from the arranging of a time and date of
meeting. It is a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two people, as partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. It refers to
the act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon social activity, together, as a couple.
Importance of Dating
 It forms affection and respect.
 It strengthens the relationship.
 It gives quality time to each other.
 It leads one to observe the other person’s character.
 Provides an opportunity for one to know his/her strengths and weaknesses in dealing with the opposite sex.
 Dating in a relationship is important because it allows you to get to know the person you are in a relationship with, while having a good
time. Dating helps to reveal any potential problems you may have if pursuing a more serious relationship with a person, and it sets the
foundation for marriage.
Courtship is the period in a couple’s relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage. Or it is an establishment
of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. During courtship a couple gets to know each other and decide if there will be an
engagement or such agreement. A courtship may be an informal and private matter between two people or may be a public affair or a formal
arrangement with family approval.
Importance of Courtship
 It gives one a chance and time to get to know better the character and background of one’s future lifetime
partner.
 Courting gives time to understand one another.
 It reveals one’s interests, likes and dislikes limitations, and other aspirations in life.
 It allows couples to decide whether they want to be committed.
 It allows couples to know if they are ready to be committed.
 It develops security.
 It develops understanding and acceptance.
Engagement – a period of agreement entered between two people in love for them to be able to know each other and their families well
enough to be sure that they are ready and are suited for life-long companionship. It provides opportunity to develop interpersonal skills useful
before and even within marriage. Time of understanding and devoting much time to explore each other’s strengths and weaknesses so
they could adjust to one another.
Marriage is the most enjoyable human relationship. It is the most significant event that may happen to your life. It takes only two people, a man and a
woman to unite and make a successful relationship as married couple.
Marriage is a lifelong partnership of a man and a woman. It is two unique individuals, who understand, respect, care, and love each other. It is a bond
between two people who continue to grow and develop their best qualities as human beings.
Marriage is not a mere contract but an inviolable social institution. Its nature, consequences and practices are governed by law and not subject to
stipulation except that the marriage settlements may to a certain extent fix the property relations during the marriage. (Civil Code of the Philippines)
Marriage is a cherished institution under which man and woman believe in one faith and children are conceived, raised, and nourished to become
useful and productive citizens of the country and the world. It is essential to the continuity of the human race.
Filipinos view marriage as a sacrament and a lifelong commitment. Husband and wife work for the successful and harmonious relationship at home
and among family members. Trust, respect, kindness, and love are essential factors to attain this goal.
Factors Necessary to Consider in Choosing a Lifetime Partner to Work Out for Successful Married Life:
1. Maturity 5. Economic readiness
a. can make good decisions a. aims for better future of the family
b. responsible in handling relationships b. financially stable
2. Fidelity c. good provider for the needs of the family
a. can make the relationship lasting 6. Physical maturity
b. sincere and true to his/her promises a. proud of having good partner
c. considers relationship sacred b. have healthy body
3. Commitment 7. Character
a. can make peaceful and lasting relationship a. responsible and honest
b. dedicated in fulfilling his/her responsibilities b. hard-working and industrious
4. Love c. respectful and compassionate
a. strengthens relationship d. God-fearing
b. understands one’s partner
c. enduring

PRE, DURING, POST PREGNANCY

Pregnancy care consists of prenatal (before birth) and postpartum (after birth) healthcare for expectant mothers.
It involves treatments and trainings to ensure a healthy pre pregnancy, pregnancy, and labor and delivery for mom and baby.
Prenatal care
Prenatal care helps decrease risks during pregnancy and increases the chance of a safe and healthy delivery. Regular prenatal visits can help your
doctor monitor your pregnancy and identify any problems or complications before they become serious.
Babies born to mothers who lack prenatal care have triple the chance of being born at a low birth weight. Newborns with low birth weight are five
times more likely to die than those whose mothers received prenatal care.
Prenatal care ideally starts at least three months before you begin trying to conceive. Some healthy habits to follow during this period include:
 quitting smoking and drinking alcohol
 taking folic acid supplements daily (400 to 800 micrograms)
 talking to your doctor about your medical conditions, dietary supplements, and any over-the-counter or prescription drugs
that you take
 avoiding all contact with toxic substances and chemicals at home or work that could be harmful
During Pregnancy
Once you become pregnant, you’ll need to schedule regular healthcare appointments throughout each stage of your pregnancy. A
schedule of visits may involve seeing your doctor:
 every month in the first six months you are pregnant
 every two weeks in the seventh and eighth months you are pregnant
 every week during your ninth month of pregnancy
During these visits, your doctor will check your health and the health of your baby. Visits may include:
 taking routine tests and screenings, such as a blood test to check for anemia, HIV, and your blood type
 monitoring your blood pressure
 measuring your weight gain
 monitoring the baby’s growth and heart rate
 talking about special diet and exercise
Later visits may also include checking the baby’s position and noting changes in your body as you prepare for birth.
If your pregnancy is considered high risk because of your age or health conditions, you may require more frequent visits and special care. You may
also need to see a doctor who works with high-risk pregnancies.
Postnatal Care
While most attention to pregnancy care focuses on the nine months of pregnancy, postpartum care is important, too. The postpartum period lasts six to
eight weeks, beginning right after the baby is born.
During this period, the mother goes through many physical and emotional changes while learning to care for her newborn. Postpartum care involves
getting proper rest, nutrition, and vaginal care.
Rest is crucial for new mothers who need to rebuild their strength. To avoid getting too tired as a new mother, you may need to:
  sleep when your baby sleeps
 keep your bed near your baby’s crib to make night feedings easier
 allow someone else to feed the baby with a bottle while you sleep
Eating Right
Getting proper nutrition in the postpartum period is crucial because of the changes your body goes through during pregnancy and labor.
The weight that you gained during pregnancy helps make sure you have enough nutrition for breast-feeding. However, you need to continue to eat a
healthy diet after delivery.
Experts recommend that breast-feeding mothers eat when they feel hungry. Make a special effort to focus on eating when you are actually
hungry — not just busy or tired.
 avoid high-fat snacks
 focus on eating low-fat foods that balance protein, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables
 drink plenty of fluids
Vaginal Care
New mothers should make vaginal care an essential part of their postpartum care. You may experience:
 vaginal soreness f you had a tear during delivery
 urination problems like pain or a frequent urge to urinate
 discharge, including small blood clots
 contractions during the first few days after delivery
Schedule a checkup with your doctor about six weeks after delivery to discuss symptoms and receive proper treatment. You should abstain from
sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after delivery so that your vagina has proper time to heal.
It’s important to stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy and during the postpartum period. Stay on top of all of your
healthcare appointments and follow your doctor’s instructions for the health and safety of you and your baby.
Nourishing the Baby
Almost everything that goes into the mother’s body enters her blood stream and goes to the placenta. The placenta is an
organ that grows in the woman’s uterus during pregnancy and allows nutrients, gases, and wastes to be exchanged between the mother and
the fetus. The mother’s blood circulates on one side of the placenta, while the fetus blood circulates on the other side. Nutrients, fluids, and
oxygen flow through the membrane from the mother to the fetus. Waste products and carbon dioxide flow across the placenta from the fetus to
the mother.
During pregnancy, the fetus gets its nutrition from food that the mother eats. To ensure the health of the fetus, the mother needs to eat healthy foods
and takes special vitamins. She should get regular medical check-ups to protect her health and the health of the growing fetus.
Mother’s role during and after pregnancy:
 Avoid vices such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
 Avoid stressful activities.
 See to it that she gets the necessary pre-natal and post natal check-up.
 Do exercises like walking, yoga, etc.
 Eat nutritious food.
Father’s role during and after the pregnancy of the wife:
 See to it that the mother gets the necessary pre-natal and post natal check-up.
 He must take care of the mother and the baby.
 He should see to it that the necessary immunizations as scheduled are strictly followed.
 He should provide healthy diet meals for the mother and the child.
Importance Of Maternal Nutrition
Maternal nutritional status affects the offspring’s health development significantly during early embryogenesis, pregnancy, birth
and lactation, and subsequently determines health during growth and even throughout adulthood. On the other end of the human lifetime scale, the
importance of maternal nutrition expands into the time period before conception: Pre- conception nutritional status not only influences fertility, but
also embryogenesis and life-long health. Predisposition for coronary heart diseases, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension can be caused by
intrauterine adaptations to fetal malnutrition. Hence, optimizing nutrition for women during their reproductive period can be expected to have a
great impact on the well-being of the next generation.
COMPLICATIONS/MATERNAL CONCERNS
The normal symptoms of pregnancy and the symptoms of complications are sometimes hard to distinguish. Although many problems are mild
and don’t progress, you should always contact your doctor if you have any concerns during your pregnancy. Most pregnancy complications are
manageable with prompt treatment.
These are the most common complications women experience pre, during and post pregnancy:
Pre-pregnancy
Blighted ovary A blighted ovum is a pregnancy where a sac and placenta grow, but a baby does not. It is also
called an ‘anembryonic pregnancy’ as there is no embryo (developing baby). Because a blighted ovum
still makes hormones it can show up as a positive pregnancy test. A blighted ovum will cause a miscarriage
usually at 7 to 12 weeks of pregnancy Your body realizes the pregnancy is not developing properly and starts to
shed blood and tissue from the uterus.

Ectopic An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus. An ectopic
pregnancy pregnancy most often occurs in a fallopian tube, which carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. This type of ectopic
pregnancy is called a tubal pregnancy.
 Polycystic ovary Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Women with
PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may
develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.

Myoma A myoma, commonly known as a fibroid, is a benign (noncancerous) tumor that develops in or around the uterus.
Fibroids are medically known as leiomyomas and are tumors of the smooth muscle, the tissue that normally makes up
that wall of the uterus.

During pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia Preeclampsia is also called toxemia. It occurs after the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy and causes high blood pressure and
possible problems with your kidneys. The recommended treatment for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby and placenta
to prevent the disease from progressing. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits regarding timing of delivery.
Your doctor may induce labor if you’re 37 to 40 weeks pregnant.

Placenta previa Placenta previa means that the placenta is covering the cervix. Doctors will usually perform a cesarean delivery if this is
the case.

Gestational Gestational diabetes occurs when your body cannot process sugars effectively. This leads to higher- than-normal levels
diabetes of sugar in the bloodstream. Some women will need to modify their meal plans to help control blood sugar levels. Others
may need to take insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in control. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after
pregnancy.

Post pregnancy
Post-partum Postpartum depression is linked to chemical, social, and psychological changes associated with having a baby. The term
disorder describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many new mothers experience. The good news is postpartum
depression can be treated with medication and counseling.
symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to what happens normally following childbirth. They include difficulty
sleeping, appetite changes, excessive fatigue, decreased libido, and frequent mood changes. However, these are also
accompanied by other symptoms of major depression, which are not normal after childbirth, and may include depressed
mood; loss of pleasure; feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness; thoughts of death or suicide or
thoughts or hurting someone else.

Sepsis Sepsis is an illness that can develop in some pregnant women, as well as in women who have recently delivered a baby
or babies. Sepsis that occurs during pregnancy is called maternal sepsis. If it develops within six weeks of delivery, it is
called postpartum sepsis or puerperal sepsis. Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body’s
often deadly inflammatory response to infection.

UNANG YAKAP (ESSENTIAL NEWBORN PROTOCOL)

 Unang Yakap is the campaign to spread the use of the Essential Newborn Care (ENC)
 Protocol aimed to significantly reduce infant deaths in the country. Protocol can pave the way to the reduction of neonatal deaths.
Essential Newborn Care is a comprehensive strategy to improve the health of the newborn through interventions before conception,
during pregnancy, soon after birth and in the post-natal period. This protocol will focus on the first few hours of life of the newborn with
the manual guiding the health workers and medical practitioners in providing evidence-based essential newborn care.
The guidelines are categorized into the time bound and non-time bound interventions.
Time-Bound Interventions
1. Immediate and thorough drying of the newborn - Immediate and thorough drying for 30 seconds to one minute warms the newborn
and stimulates breathing
2. Early skin to skin contact between mother and newborn - Early skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn and delayed washing
for at least six hours prevents hypothermia, infection and hypoglycemia
3. Properly-timed cord clamping and cutting - Properly-timed cord clamping and cutting prevents anemia and protects against brain hemorrhage
in premature newborns. • This means waiting for the cord pulsations to stop (between 1 to 3 minutes)
4. Non-separation of newborn and mother for early breastfeeding - Continuous non-separation of newborn and mother for early breastfeeding
protects infants from dying from infection. The first feed provides colostrum.
Non-time bound interventions include:
1. immunizations
2. eye care
3. vitamin K administration
4. weighing
5. washing
6. routine suctioning
7. routine separation of newborn for observation
8. administration of PR lacteals like glucose water or formula.
Every Newborn has needs
 to breathe normally
 to be warm
 to be protected
 to be fed
NEWBORN SCREENING
New born babies should undergo a newborn screening as reflected in REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9288 . An act promulgating a comprehensive
policy and a national system for ensuring newborn screening
Newborn means a child from the time of complete delivery to 30 days old.
Newborn screening: Newborn Screening (NBS) is a simple procedure to find out if the baby has a congenital metabolic disorder that may lead to
mental retardation or even death if left untreated.
Importance of newborn screening: Most babies with metabolic disorders look "normal" at birth. By doing NBS, metabolic disorders may be
detected even before clinical signs and symptoms are present. And as a result of this, treatment can be given early to prevent consequences of untreated
conditions.
APGAR SCORE
What Is the Apgar Score?
The Apgar score is a test given to newborns soon after birth. This test checks a baby's heart rate, muscle tone, and other signs to see if extra medical
care or emergency care is needed.
The test is usually given twice: once at 1 minute after birth, and again at 5 minutes after birth. Sometimes, if there are concerns about the baby's
condition, the test may be given again.
What Does "Apgar" Mean?
Apgar stands for "Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration."
In the test, five things are used to check a baby's health. Each is scored on a scale of 0 to 2, with 2 being the best score:
1. Appearance (skin color)
2. Pulse (heart rate)
3. Grimace response (reflexes)
4. Activity (muscle tone)
5. Respiration (breathing rate and effort)
What Does Baby's Score Mean?
A baby who scores a 7 or above on the test is considered in good health. A lower score does not mean that your baby is unhealthy. It means that
your baby may need some immediate medical care, such as suctioning of the airways or oxygen to help him or her breathe better. Perfectly healthy
babies sometimes have a lower-than-usual score, especially in the first few minutes after birth.
IMPORTANCE OF VACCINES/IMMUNIZATIONS

Vaccines can help protect both you and your baby from vaccine-preventable diseases. During pregnancy, vaccinated mothers pass on infection-
fighting proteins called antibodies to their babies.
Antibodies provide some immunity (protection) against certain diseases during their first few months of life, when your baby is still too young to get
vaccinated. It also helps provide important protection for you throughout your pregnancy.
To protect yourself and your baby, it’s important to understand which vaccines you may need before, during, and after
your pregnancy.
What is immunization?
Immunization is a simple and effective way of protecting children from serious diseases. It not only helps protect individuals, it also protects the
broader community by minimizing the spread of disease.
Vaccines work by triggering the immune system to fight against certain diseases. If a vaccinated person comes in contact with these diseases, their
immune system is able to respond more effectively, preventing the disease from developing or greatly reducing its severity.
What childhood diseases does immunization protect against?
Immunization protects against many serious childhood diseases, including:
 whooping cough (pertussis)
 measles
 German measles (rubella)
 meningococcal C
 pneumococcal disease
 chickenpox (varicella)
 tetanus
 mumps
 polio
 diphtheria
 rotavirus
 hepatitis.
These diseases can cause hospitalization, serious ongoing health conditions (including cancer, brain damage and deafness) and are sometimes fatal.
High immunization rates in the community have led to many of these diseases becoming rare. However, they still exist and the risks of side-effects or
complications from these diseases are far greater than the very small risks of side effects from vaccination.
Here is a table of immunizations a baby should have:
Kind of Immunization Age of Immunization
BCG (Anti-TB) 0-1 month old and 7 years old
OPV (Anti-Polio Vaccine) 0-1/2 month, 2 ½ months, 32 months
DPT (Anti-diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) 1 ½ months, 2 ½ months, 32 months
Hepa B vaccine 1 ½ months, 2 ½ months, 32 months
MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella) 9 months to 1 year

Republic Act No. 7600

This Act shall be known as "The Rooming-In and Breast-Feeding Act of 1992.”
The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect, and support the practice of breastfeeding. It shall create an environment where
the basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding.
Breastmilk is the best food since it contains essential nutrients suitable for the infant’s needs. It is also nature’s first
immunization, enabling the infant to fight potentially serious infections. It contains growth factors that enhance the maturation of an
infant’s organ systems.
BREASTFEEDING
It is the traditional and ideal form of infant feeding, meeting an infant’s nutritional needs for his first four to six months of life. Human milk is
clean. It lowers the risk of intestinal illness and general infection. Mother’s milk provides a host of protective factors both cellular and hormonal.
Breastmilk contains antibodies that helps the immune system of the infant strong. It is non-allergenic and easily digested.
LACTATION
It is the period of milk production initiated by the prolactin hormone in the mammary glands. The mother’s milk is bluish and watery. It has
approximately 67 Kcalories / 100 mL or 20 Kcalories/ oz. and 1.2 grams protein per 100 ml. An average of 850 ml of mother’s milk is produced
every day. The first thick yellowish fluid that comes out from second to the fifth day after delivery is called colostrum. It should be given to all
newborns because of its high protein contents. Healthy childcare entails breastfeeding of the baby.
The advantages of breastfeeding are:
 It is economical and nutritious.
 It promotes emotional bonding between the child and the mother.
 Mother’s milk has an antibody that protects the infant from certain diseases.
What are the nutrients a baby can get from a mother’s milk?
Nutrients
Kilocalories 67.0 Vitamin C (mg) 5.0 Vitamin B6 (mg) 0.011
Protein (gm) 1.1 Folacin (mg) 0.018 Vitamin B12 (μg)
Vitamin A (I.U) 240.0 Niacin (mg) 0.2 Calcium (gm) 0.033
Vitamin D (I.U) 42.0 Riboflavin (mg) 0.04 Phosphorus (gm) 0.014
Vitamin E (I.U) 0.56 Thiamin (mg) 0.01 Iodine (μg
Iron (mg) 0.1 Potassium (mg) 51.0 Magnesium (mg) 4.0

BOTTLEFEEDING
Bottle feeding is an alternative to breastfeeding. Many news moms who are unable to breastfeed or want to feed formula milk along with
breastfeeding, choose to bottle-feed their babies. Some moms even feed breast milk through bottles. If you’re a new mom, considering
bottle feeding your little one, we suggest that you first read the advantages and disadvantages of bottle-feeding a baby and make an
informed decision.
Advantages
1. Anyone can feed the baby. One of the benefits of bottle feeding is that either parent can feed the baby. Feeding is an important bonding
moment; breastfeeding doesn’t give the daddy an opportunity to bond with the baby. Bottle feeding allows the siblings, father
and other family members to spend some time with the newborn baby.
2. It can be done in public. Some moms are not comfortable with breastfeeding their babies in public. If you don’t want to
expose your breasts or go to a private area for breastfeeding, bottle feeding is the way to go!
3. Keeping a track of your baby’s intake is easy. It isn’t easy to know how much milk your baby is drinking when you
breastfeed. Bottle feeding helps you find out your baby’s daily milk intake.
4. You don’t have to worry if your breast milk supply is low. Many moms worry that their baby will remain underfed if their breast milk supply is
insufficient. In such a case, many parents resort to bottle feeding. This ensures that your baby gets all the milk he needs to grow and develop.
However, because of this baby does not suck on breasts, which leads to a lack of milk supply.
5. You don’t have to worry about making changes to your diet. A mother who feeds formula milk to her baby doesn’t have
to worry about adding specific fruits and veggies to her diet. She can eat and drink anything she likes.
6. Bottle feeding helps babies who have lactose intolerance. In rare cases, infants cannot process breast milk or animal milk. This situation is known
as lactose intolerance. Then, suitable formula milk, such as soy protein, can be fed from a bottle.
7. The mother’s health condition doesn’t affect the baby. If the mother falls ill after childbirth or faces health issues that
don’t let breastfeed, a bottle can be used to feed the baby.
Disadvantages
1. Formula milk is not as nutritious as breast milk. Breast milk has all the nutrients that your baby requires to grow and develop. It is also light on
the stomach than formula milk. Bottle-feeding may increase the risk of obesity in early childhood.
2. Preparing the milk for bottle feeding takes time and effort. You can breastfeed your baby on demand. But if you’ve habituated your
baby to bottle feeding, you need to wash and sterilize the bottle, pour milk into the bottle and warm it. It’s a lot of work!
Improper sterilization can also put your infant’s health at risk.
3. Bottle feeding equipment is an added expense. Bottle feeding your baby can be expensive. If you choose to bottle feed formula milk to your
little one, you will need to buy feeding bottles, a cleaning brush and also a steriliser. You’ll also have to invest in a good-quality breast
pump or formula milk powder. All this can be an added expense to your monthly budget.
4. Bottle-feeding may compromise your baby’s immune system. Studies show that breast milk develops and improves your baby’s immune system.
Formula milk, on the other hand, doesn’t contain vital and natural nutrients. Formula-fed babies also carry the risk of developing certain
illnesses like a chest infection, ear infection, urine infection or diarrhea.
5. It affects the mother-baby bonding. Feeding is a bonding moment for the mother and her baby. When the baby latches
on to the mother’s breasts, skin-to-skin contact is established. Bottle-feeding may hamper this bonding.
6. Bottle feeding can be inconvenient. You’ll have to carry clean bottles, formula milk, baby nipples, and other necessities while
travelling. It can be troublesome to manage the things as well as the baby at the same time. Bottle feeding is also inconvenient if your baby
requires midnight feeding sessions as you have to get up and prepare the milk each time.
7. Breastfeeding keeps the mother healthy. Some studies have proved that moms who choose to breastfeed rather than bottle-feed have a lower
risk of suffering from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
8. Your baby may not take to formula milk. For some babies, formula milk-fed from a bottle may not be suitable. They may experience diarrhoea
and a loss of fluids from the body.
Bottle feeding has its own pros and cons. You should carefully consider both sides of the situation before settling on the method of feeding your baby.
The aim is to ensure that your baby is neither underfed nor overfed and gets the essential vitamins and nutrients while she adapts to the world around
her.