This week, Philips Middle East held its 5th Philips AVENT Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition Conference in Dubai in cooperation with Al Qadi Pharmacy and Est. As a Health and well-being company Philips is focused on supporting moms, ‘moms-to-be’ and healthcare professionals to give babies their best start in life. The popular conference which attracts mothers as well as healthcare professionals addressed the most common feeding issues in the neonatal period starting with infantile colic, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux followed by addressing constipation by reviewing its definition causes and treatment options.

In its 2012 publication, he American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirmed its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

“We would recommend that after six months of exclusive breastfeeding, mothers introduce supplementary food (other than breast milk or milk-based products) one at a time in order to be able to monitor if the infant is developing allergies. In cases where certain food is not tolerated or produces allergy, this food should be avoided. Older children can have therapeutic option in severe cases as directed by the child pediatric allergy specialists,” said Dr. Al Rahmani, Department of Paediatrics, Tawam Hospital, UAE, who spoke at the 5th Philips AVENT Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition Conference.

Newborns naturally develop their digestive system further within the first month of their lives; however some may experience colic which causes distress to both the infant and the mother. This is especially pertinent for working mothers who often have to deal with the additional stress of balancing their work life with caring for their infants.

“Reassurance plays an important role in the management of colic, as it will usually resolve by 3-6 months of age. There are a few simple modifications in maternal diet which may also help in reducing colic in infants. Probiotics have been shown in new research to help reducing crying associated with colic,” says Dr. Al Rahmani.

In addition to the session focused on mothers, Philips AVENT hosted a healthcare professional session focused on sharing the latest research and developments in breastfeeding and nutrition from across the world. This year, the topics discussed included the role of nutrition in long term health and the importance of breast milk in neonatology intensive care.

“At Philips, we work closely with key stakeholders in the industry to understand the challenges faced by mothers, especially working mothers, and support the implementation of best practices to ensure a mother has the services, tools and knowledge she needs to give her baby the best possible start in life,” said says Ozlem Fidanci, Vice President and General Manager, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “By bringing together leading specialists, we aim to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise to positively impact the level of care available to mothers who are juggling motherhood and careers.”