Special love for special children

When Kwek Yu Xuan was born by emergency caesarean section at just 24 weeks she weighed 212 grams (less than half a pound). The little Malay girl, who was born in 2021, now holds the record for the world’s lightest premature baby to survive.

The miracle baby not only surprised her parents with her resilience, but also all the experts and indeed anyone who heard her story. Yet, she is a shining example of what parents, specialist knowledge and above all, love, can achieve. 

All parents hope that their baby will come into the world healthy. They want their little one to have the best possible start in life and hope that their child’s life after the birth will follow a “normal,” healthy course. But this unfortunately doesn’t happen for every family. In some cases, complications arise during the pregnancy, and in others, something “different” about a child is first noticed when they are born. This is a tremendous test of strength for everyone involved. That’s why it’s so important that not only these special children, but also their parents are shown love. 

When we talk about “special” children, we mean children born prematurely or born with a low birth weight. We also mean children who are found to have allergies or other nutrition-related issues after birth, as well as children who have physical or cognitive differences from a medical point of view. 

● Premature babies: For all babies, including premature babies, breastmilk is the best form of nutrition. However, not every baby who comes early is able to drink from the breast from day one. In these cases, they can either drink pumped breastmilk or special infant formula milk. If you can’t breastfeed, it’s important to do your research and discuss with your baby’s medical caregivers about the best formula milk for premature babies. Babies who have a birth weight of less than 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds) are often given additional protein alongside breastmilk – this is always arranged by a specialist. 

●  Food allergies in babies: Even the youngest children can suffer from allergies. There are various causes of food allergies in babies, however, if either of the parents has allergies, the child is also at an increased risk. In infancy, allergies often appear in the form of a rash, digestive problems or stomach pains. If this happens, speak to your pediatrician about what to do if your baby has an allergic reaction. Tracking their meals can help you find out which foods are causing your child problems. There are various specialist infant nutrition products on the market that you can use as a replacement for potentially problematic foods while you investigate. 

●  Babies with food intolerances: In contrast to allergies, with intolerances, it is not that the immune system reacts to the food, but rather that your child’s body is unable to process the nutrients it receives from the food. If your baby is puking milk or their body is rejecting foods through diarrhea, it is important to remove the foods in question from the diet and replace the nutrients with a suitable substitute if necessary. Consult with your doctor during this process to find the best infant formula or immune boosting foods for your baby.

●  Children with physical or cognitive limitations: Various conditions can make breastfeeding difficult, such as cleft lip, cleft palate, Down’s syndrome, other trisomies or neurological disorders. However, breastfeeding may still be possible, and mothers are advised to find support when needed. If you are unable to breastfeed, work with your doctor to decide what is best for your child and you in terms of your child’s nutrition. 

We are confident that together, you and your child can discover your child’s needs and come to understand how best to support them. The bond between special children and their parents is itself very special and very close. With cognitive developmental conditions in particular, you will find your own way to understand your little one. However, don’t hesitate to reach out for advice whenever you need it; be it about your child’s development, or about their nutrition. These days, there are many high-quality infant nutrition products available that meet your child’s needs.