Helping Dubai's working mothers give their babies best start in life at 5th Philips AVENT Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition Conference

Healthcare Professionals also meet to share and discuss common breastfeeding and infant nutrition issues and treatment. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) May 27, 2013 - Dubai, UAE: 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."

For more information about attending the 'free-of-charge' Philips AVENT Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Conference, please visit www.motherbaby.ae.

Note to Editors

About Philips AVENT:
For more information about Philips AVENT, please visit www.avent.com.

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2012 sales of EUR 24.8 billion and employs approximately 116,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter

For media enquiries please contact:

Jocelyne Riachi
Sr. Marketing Communication Manager,
Philips Consumer Lifestyle
Middle East & Africa
Tel: 00971 4 4461100 - Mob: 00971 55 1003778
Email: jocelyne.riachi ( @ ) philips dot com

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