Diet and nutrition for children with congenital heart disease

  In principle, children with congenital heart disease need the same nutrition as children in general, including protein, carbohydrates, and minerals to help them grow and develop.  Some infants with congenital heart disease may have the following problems when eating: 1) Slow eating; 2) Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing when eating; 3) Increased sweating; tendency to vomit These phenomena occur because the infant’s heart structure is defective leading to heart failure. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses such as colds, pneumonia, etc., resulting in a lack of energy when eating and longer feeding times than other infants. Because infants take time to eat or because of water restrictions, they do not eat enough, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the long run. Parents must be patient and learn how to cope with the problem and improve their infant’s nutrition and diet.  If the infant has no energy or uses too much energy to suck, consider using a syringe or spoon instead of a pacifier, or even a gastric tube if necessary, as directed by a nurse. If the infant is digesting and absorbing well, nutritional powders can be added to breast milk or formula, as appropriate, after the doctor has evaluated the condition.  Some infants are prone to vomiting after eating. In fact, this can occur in healthy infants as well, probably due to reflux from the esophagus. If the infant is not sick but continues to vomit, the doctor may give medication or add a special substance to the formula to thicken it and reduce the frequency of vomiting.  The best position after feeding is to lie on the right side with a small pillow on the back to help the milk flow from the esophagus to the stomach after feeding. In addition, try not to harass the baby after feeding to reduce the chance of vomiting.