Women
What Mothers Should Know About Bottle Feeding
Within the past two decades, serious emphasis has been placed on the unquantifiable importance of breast milk to a newborn. Mostly re-echoed is the exclusive approach in which the baby is denied any other food than breast milk, not even water is allowed until between the ages of four months and six months.
While many expectant and nursing mothers as well as mother-in-laws are yet to come to terms with this scientific finding, it is no doubt, obvious that the proponents of exclusive breast feeding meant well for our generation as research has shown that “there is no real alternative to the breast-fed baby’s colostrums”.
However, much as the importance of the natural human breast milk can not be over emphasised, we must not also rule out situations or circumstances that could subject a new born to be bottle-fed.
An eventual loss of mother during or after delivery, the inability of the breast milk to be produced at all as well as an eventual incapacitation of the mother after child birth and many more could make bottle-feeding highly imperative. Hence, doing well, that which is worth doing, becomes highly necessary.
All it takes therefore, is to acknowledge the fact that baby formulas are made to meet certain health and growth needs of the baby and having a mind to actualise these needs through the feed.
First and foremost, a cautious and concious adherence to the manufacturers’ instructions on “how-to-use” is a step in the right direction. If you do it in exactly the proportion the manufacturer suggests in the mixing instructions, you will end up with a food that is as close to the composition of the breast milk as it is possible to get with that particular formula. And guess what! the baby gets the right amount of nourishment as well as water in right proportion.
Research workers have discovered a great many bottles are not made up accurately, it is largely this inaccuracy which makes bottle-feeding unsatisfactory to many babies. No bottle-feed is better prepared by putting in just a little extra powder or by adding extra water.
Putting more than the required quantity of powder to a certain water level, will render the milk too strong thereby giving the baby excess protein and fat, as well as too many minerals and not enough water. He or she gets too fat because of the many calories contained in the formular and thirsty because of the much salt in the feed as well.
Worse still, while the baby cries because he is thirsty, the temptation to give him additional bottle becomes irresistible and the result is an outright discomfort on the baby who has known no other way to air his feelings than to cry.
Another point to note is that a new baby, especially one who is not breast fed, has little defences against common germ. His immunity is built over time. In an ordinary clean home, he could cope with the germs that he sucks off his hands or breathes within his environment. But while feeding, the story is different. Milk, especially such around room temperature constitutes an ideal breeding ground for germs.
According to research, Gastroenteritis is still one of the most common reasons for young babies being admitted into hospitals therefore, to keep the babies’ food as free from bacteria as possible, the following pre-cautions must be strictly adhered to.
. Hand washing before handling the milk or its equipments.
.Adoption of a sterile formula as well as keeping the packet or can tightly covered and refrigerated once opened.
.Sterilising every item used in the preparation of the food.
.Cooling the prepared solution, preferably by putting it into refrigerator while it is still hot and keeping it cold until the baby wants it.
.Always throw away remnants and not saving it for next meal.
Bottle feeding, in the absence of breast milk can be a refreshingly soothing experience if they are prepared exactly as the manufacturer recommends. Moreso, as long as the temptation to add an extra spoonful of cereal in the vain hope of a better night is vehemently resisted the resulting milk can best be treated exactly as if it was breast milk. The baby can have as much as he eagerly drinks, as often as he is hungry, and leaves what he does not want.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
