Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed their baby is one of the biggest
decisions expectant and new parents will make.
Healt experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants. But
breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many, the decision to breastfeed
or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations.
For moms who can't breastfeed or who decide not to, infant formula is a healthy
alternative. Formula provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
Some mothers worry that if they don't breastfeed, they won't bond with their baby.
But the truth is, loving mothers will always create a special bond with their children.
And feeding — no matter how — is a great time to strengthen that bond.
The decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one. Weighing
the pros and cons of each method can help you decide what is best for you and your
baby.
All About Breastfeeding
Nursing can be a wonderful experience for both mother and baby. It provides ideal
nourishment and a special bonding experience that many mothers cherish.
A number of health organizations — including the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and
the World Health Organization (WHO) — recommend breastfeeding as the best choice
for babies. Breastfeeding helps defend against infections, prevent allergies, and
protect against a number of chronic conditions.
The AAP recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively
for the first 6 months. Beyond that, breastfeeding is encouraged until at least 12
months, and longer if both the mother and baby are willing.
Here are some of the many benefits of breastfeeding:
Fighting infections and other conditions. Breastfed babies have
fewer infections and hospitalizations than formula-fed infants. During breastfeeding,
antibodies and other germ-fighting factors pass from a mother to her baby and strengthen
the immune system. This helps lower a baby's chances of getting many infections, including:
Breastfeeding also may protect babies against:
Breastfeeding is particularly beneficial for premature babies.
Nutrition and ease of digestion. Often called the "perfect food"
for a human baby's digestive system, breast milk's components — lactose, protein
(whey and casein), and fat — are easily digested by a newborn.
As a group, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed
infants. Breast milk tends to be more easily digested so that breastfed babies have
fewer bouts of diarrhea or constipation.
Breast milk also naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn
requires. One exception is vitamin D — the AAP recommends that all breastfed
babies begin receiving vitamin D supplements during the first 2 months and continuing
until a baby consumes enough vitamin D-fortified formula or milk (after 1 year
of age).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates formula companies to ensure
they provide all the necessary nutrients (including vitamin D) in their formulas.
Still, commercial formulas can't completely match breast milk's exact composition.
Why? Because milk is a living substance made by each mother for her individual infant,
a process that can't be duplicated in a factory.
Free. Breast milk doesn't cost a cent, while the cost of formula
quickly adds up. And unless you're pumping breast milk and giving it to your baby,
there's no need for bottles, nipples, and other supplies that can be costly. Since
breastfed babies are less likely to be sick, that may mean they make fewer trips to
the doctor's office, so fewer co-pays and less money are paid for prescriptions
and over-the-counter medicines.
Different tastes. Nursing
mothers usually need 300 to 500 extra calories per day, which should come from
a wide variety of well-balanced foods. This introduces breastfed babies to different
tastes through their mothers' breast milk, which has different flavors depending on
what their mothers have eaten. By tasting the foods of their "culture," breastfed
infants more easily accept solid foods.
Convenience. With no last-minute runs to the store for more formula,
breast milk is always fresh and available whether you're home or out
and about. And when women breastfeed, there's no need to wash bottles and nipples
or warm up bottles in the middle of the night.
Smarter babies. Some studies suggest that children who were exclusively
breastfed have slightly higher IQs than children who were formula fed.
"Skin-to-skin" contact. Many nursing mothers really enjoy the
experience of bonding so closely with their babies. And the skin-to-skin contact can
enhance the emotional connection between mother and infant.
Beneficial for mom, too. The ability to totally nourish a baby
can help a new mother feel confident in her ability to care for her baby. Breastfeeding
also burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing moms may be able to return
to their pre-pregnancy shape and weight quicker. Also, studies show that breastfeeding
helps lower the risk of breast cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular
disease, and also may help decrease the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.