Transcript 14. Measuring infant growth

Title: Measuring infant growth
11 April 2016
Learning question: how can infant growth me measured
to show normal growth?
Homework: Revise this module – class text next Wednesday
Aims from specification
(a)
describe methods of measuring infant growth by
monitoring changes in weight, height and head
circumference (HSW5b);
(b)
outline the importance of: carbohydrates, lipids,
essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino
acids; calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins A, C
and D in maintaining healthy growth in infants;
Measuring infant growth
• Growth rate is measured to ensure that the
child is growing normally
o Monitoring changes in weight
o Measuring infant length
o Measuring head circumference
o Infant growth charts
Monitoring changes in weight
• Specially designed scales for babies are used
• Baby’s weight measured 3 times – mean of 2 similar
weights taken
• Nurse can re-weigh infant if an anomalous result is
given
• If child is in distress, mother can stand on special scale,
which is then zeroed. Mother then stands on scale with
infant and mass is recorded three times
• For accurate measurements, baby’s clothes and nappy
are removed.
Measuring infant length
• Measuring equipment used
is similar to that used to
measure foot length
• Head is at one end and the
baby’s legs are stretched out
and a slide is brought up so
that it touches the baby’s
feet.
Measuring head circumference
• Tape measure is placed around the widest
part of the baby’s head
Infant growth charts
• Measurements are
compared against a chart
showing “normal” growth
• Charts show
measurements from very
large numbers of children
and plotting them on a
graph
Breast Vs Bottle Feeding
• Studies have shown that formula-fed babies tend to gain
weight faster than breast fed infants.
• Has led to mothers overfeeding healthy babies
• Long term worry about childhood obesity as a result
“Another key characteristic of the new standard is that it makes
breastfeeding the biological “norm” and establishes the
breastfed infant as the normative growth model. The previous
reference was based on the growth of artificially-fed children.”
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Read the case study on page 91 and answer the
questions on this page.
Nutrient needs by infants
• Describe sources of, and the uses in the body of the following
nutrients.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Carbohydrates
Essential fatty acids
Lipids
Essential amino acids
Proteins
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorus
Vitamin C
Vitamin D