Feed the baby please!

Pavan was a bubbly one year old, who was making loud sounds as he entered the consultation room with his father carrying him and mother looking worried.

They lived in the suburbs and had made this trip to find answers to questions that were plaguing them. She narrated Pavan’s story. He was born full term, through a C section as the progression of labor was very slow. Mother reported that he cried soon after birth. My heart sank as I asked the next few questions. I asked them if the child had a seizure in the first few days, she nodded. I then wanted to know if there was a delay in feeding the baby. At this point the mother became tearful. She said that there had been a delay in her breast milk secretion. The doctors who were caring for the baby had delayed giving formula or even starting an IV with glucose, said the mother wiping her tears.

Hypoglycemia (a drop in blood glucose) in the new born can have serious consequences. It is common practice to wait for the first breast milk called the colostrum to feed the newborn, as it is considered nutrient dense. Women who have had a difficult labor of a C section may have delay in colostrum production. At this juncture it is imperative to feed the baby to keep the blood glucose at a normal level.

Drop in blood glucose can lead to damage to the parieto-occipital cortex (the vision areas of the brain) leading to poor vision and other visual challenges. These findings are usually picked up on the MRI.

This blog post is a reminder to the parents and families who are expecting a baby to be vigilant in this matter. Pavan is undergoing visual stimulation and has made steady progress. He was fitted with distance vision spectacles to help him see better.

So remember! Feed the baby early!