Benefits of breast feeding include all EXCEPT?

IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Hard

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

The statement that breast milk provides adequate iron for a premature newborn is incorrect, making it the right answer for an 'EXCEPT' question.
Premature infants miss the third trimester, the period of maximal iron transfer from the mother, resulting in low iron stores at birth.
The rapid growth rate of premature infants creates a high demand for iron that the low concentration in breast milk cannot meet.
Due to this mismatch between supply and demand, premature infants require routine iron supplementation to prevent iron-deficiency anemia and support healthy development.

Option A: This is a well-established, primary benefit of breastfeeding. Breast milk is nutritionally 'tailor-made' for an infant's needs.
Option B: This is a key immunological benefit. Colostrum is often called 'liquid gold' precisely because it is highly concentrated with antibodies and immune cells.
Option C: This is a significant benefit. Breast milk contains anti-infective properties and promotes a healthy gut microbiome, reducing the incidence of diarrhea and other GI illnesses.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Benefits of breastfeeding and the specific nutritional needs of premature infants as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating mothers of premature infants about the need for iron supplementation, even when they are successfully breastfeeding.
Accurate assessment and management of nutrition in premature infants, including fortification and supplementation, are critical nursing responsibilities to prevent complications like anemia and ensure optimal growth.
What if the infant was full-term? For a healthy, full-term infant, breast milk provides sufficient iron for the first 4-6 months of life, and supplementation is not typically needed during that time. The answer would change as the statement would then be true.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question. Here, the key terms are 'Benefits of breast feeding' and 'EXCEPT'.
The word 'EXCEPT' means you are looking for the statement that is FALSE or not a benefit.
Evaluate each option independently to determine if it is a true benefit of breastfeeding.
Option A (nutrients), B (colostrum immunity), and C (less GI infection) are all well-known, true benefits.
Option D discusses a specific population: 'premature new born'. Recall the special nutritional needs of this group. Premature infants have higher iron needs and lower stores than term infants.
Conclude that since breast milk is low in iron, it is not 'adequate' for a premature infant, making this statement false and the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Benefits of breastfeeding and the specific nutritional needs of premature infants.
Stem keywords: Benefits, breast feeding, premature new born
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Clinical cues: The term 'premature new born' is a critical detail that changes the nutritional assessment, particularly regarding iron.
Negative lead-in flag: Question is framed with EXCEPT

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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