Benefits of breast feeding include all except?

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Medium

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

This statement is incorrect because premature infants have higher iron requirements and lower iron stores at birth.
The iron concentration in breast milk, although highly bioavailable, is insufficient to meet the demands of a rapidly growing premature infant.
Premature infants are at a high risk for iron-deficiency anemia and require iron supplementation starting from a few weeks after birth.
Guidelines recommend iron supplementation for preterm and low-birth-weight infants, which confirms that breast milk alone is not adequate in this regard.

Option A: This is a core benefit of breastfeeding. Breast milk is nutritionally 'tailor-made' for infants, containing all essential nutrients in easily digestible forms.
Option B: This is a critical benefit. Colostrum is often called 'liquid gold' because it is densely packed with antibodies (like secretory IgA) and immune cells that provide passive immunity to the newborn.
Option C: This is a well-documented advantage. Breast milk contains anti-infective properties, such as the Bifidus factor and lactoferrin, which protect the infant's gut from harmful bacteria and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Benefits and limitations of breastfeeding, specifically in the context of premature infant nutrition as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in educating parents, especially those of premature infants, about the specific nutritional needs of their baby, including the necessity of iron supplementation.
It is a critical nursing responsibility to assess infants for signs of iron-deficiency anemia, such as pallor, poor feeding, lethargy, and tachycardia, particularly in high-risk groups like preterm babies.
What if the infant was a full-term baby? For a healthy, full-term infant, the iron stores they are born with, combined with the highly bioavailable iron in breast milk, are generally sufficient for the first 4-6 months of life. After 6 months, iron-rich complementary foods are introduced.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative framing of the question by spotting the keyword 'except'. This means you are looking for the one option that is FALSE or not a benefit.
Evaluate each option as a standalone statement about breastfeeding.
Recall the known benefits: nutrition, immunity, and protection from infection. Options A, B, and C align with these core benefits.
Critically analyze Option D. Consider the specific population mentioned: 'premature new born'. Recall that premature infants have unique, higher nutritional needs and were born before they could accumulate sufficient nutrient stores.
Conclude that while breast milk is beneficial, it cannot single-handedly meet the high iron demands of a premature infant, making this statement the exception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Benefits and limitations of breastfeeding, specifically in the context of premature infant nutrition.
Stem keywords: breast feeding, benefits
Lead-in keywords: except
Clinical cues: premature new born
Negative lead-in flag: Question asks for the exception among the listed benefits.

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E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e pp. 126-128, 127-129

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 140-142