Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 10
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 10.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3)
- a.What steps would you take to assess feeding problems for a three-month-old infant?
- b.What advice would you give the infant’s mother?
Answer
- a.First you need to ask the infant’s mother questions that will give you as much information as possible to find out if the mother has any difficulty feeding her infant. You should ask her the following questions:
- Is the infant breastfeeding? If yes, how often?
- Do you empty one breast before switching to the other?
- Do you increase the frequency of breastfeeding when the infant is sick?
- Is the infant being given any other foods or drinks? If so, what do you use to feed the infant?
Then assess whether the infant is low weight or not. If you identify any feeding problem then you should observe the mother while breastfeeding her infant to check for good positioning and attachment and to see if the infant is suckling effectively.
b.It is important that an infant of three months is exclusively breastfed. Praise the mother if she is already doing this. If she is giving the infant other foods, for example, thin gruel, you should advise her that this is not a good replacement for breastmilk.
You should also advise the mother to switch to the other breast during a feed, but ensure that one breast is completely emptied before switching to the other. This will ensure the infant receives the rich breastmilk (hind milk). Finally, you would advise her that when her infant is ill, increasing breastfeeding during and after illness will help the infant maintain weight and prevent malnutrition.
SAQ 10.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4)
What are the different ways in which you can encourage and support a mother to breastfeed her infant as effectively as possible?
Answer
One of the ways you can advise and support a breastfeeding mother is to teach her correct positioning and attachment. You would also explain to her that if the infant is suckling well, it is important to breastfeed long enough at each feed. Through careful observation of a breastfeeding session, you can identify any problems and then help the mother in positioning her infant in a way that will facilitate attachment. Making encouraging statements, as well as suggestions to improve feeding, is very important for the mother to feel confident.
Summary of Study Session 10