- How to give breast milk safely
- Infant formulas for phenylketonuria
- General care with food
- Symptoms of phenylketonuria in the baby
The care and treatment of phenylketonuria in the baby should be guided by the pediatrician, but the main care is to avoid foods rich in phenylalanine, which are mainly foods rich in proteins, such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs. Thus, parents of babies with phenylketonuria should be attentive to their child's diet, both at home and at school.
In addition, exclusive breastfeeding must also be well oriented by the pediatrician, since breast milk contains phenylalanine, although it is much less than that present in most pharmacy formulas. Ideally, the amount of phenylalanine for a baby up to 6 months of age should be kept between 20 to 70 mg of phenylalanine per kg of body weight.
Since breast milk has numerous benefits for the baby, especially related to the immune system, breastfeeding can be a form of feeding, as long as it is well guided by the doctor and complemented by infant formulas for babies with phenylketonuria.
How to give breast milk safely
Although it is common to exclude breast milk from the baby's food with phenylketonuria, feeding only with pharmacy milk without phenylalanine, it is possible to breastfeed the baby phenylketonuric, but it is necessary:
- Do a blood test on the baby every week to check the phenylalanine values; Calculate the amount of breast milk to give to the baby, according to the phenylalanine values in the baby's blood and according to the pediatrician's guidance; Calculate the amount of pharmacy milk without phenylalanine, to complete the baby's feeding; With the pump, remove the right amount of breast milk that the mother can give to the baby; Use the bottle or the relactation technique to feed the baby.
It is essential to exclude the amino acid phenylalanine from food, so that the baby does not have problems in physical and mental development, such as mental retardation. See an example of a phenylketonuric diet at: Phenylketonuria diet
Infant formulas for phenylketonuria
Infant formulas for phenylketonuria do not contain the amino acid phenylalanine, and should be given to the baby daily to supplement feeding and ensure the supply of nutrients necessary for proper growth.
Some examples of these formulas are:
- PKU Med A; PKU Med B; PKU Med C; PKU Anamix; PKU 1, 2 and 3; PHENYL-Free 1 and 2.
The type of formula to be used varies according to the baby's age, weight and digestion capacity, and therefore, each baby should have an individualized diet prescribed by the pediatrician or a nutritionist.
General care with food
The main care that parents of a baby with phenylketonuria should take is with feeding, as it must be low in the amino acid phenylalanine. The main foods that are banned in the baby's diet are those rich in protein, such as meat, fish, eggs and milk and dairy products. Other foods that also contain phenylalanine and should be avoided are wheat flour, soy, beans, peanuts, nuts and processed foods such as cakes, cookies and ice cream. See a list of Phenylalanine rich foods.
People should also be aware of the baby's feeding at daycare or school, and at the home of relatives and friends, as people who are not familiar with phenylketonuria may end up offering the baby prohibited foods in their diet. See how the treatment for phenylketonuria should be.
Symptoms of phenylketonuria in the baby
To prevent the development of phenylketonuria symptoms, which are usually irreversible, just control the amount of phenylalanine that is offered in the baby's diet.
The main symptoms of phenylketonuria in the baby include:
- Delayed growth and development; Frequent itching of the skin; Urine, skin or mold-smelling breath; Very light skin; Small head.
However, these symptoms only appear when there is an accumulation of phenylalanine in the blood, which can be avoided by providing the baby with adequate nutrition.
Other more serious complications can arise if the baby is exposed to high doses of phenylalanine for a long time, such as learning difficulties, severe mental retardation and seizures. See what are the consequences of phenylketonuria.
