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The decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed is a mother’s first decision.
It can also be the most difficult. There are many considerations to take into
account when making this very personal decision. Breast milk or bottled formula
both have their advantages and disadvantages, and both are responsible decisions.
How you feed your baby is a decision that needs careful consideration of the
facts, and takes into account your opinions and options.
One thing is certain, however. There is mounting evidence that breast milk
provides substantial benefits for both mother and baby. Most healthcare
professionals advocate breastfeeding during your baby’s first year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk as “the
preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick
newborns.”
The benefits of breastfeeding:
There are differences between human milk and infant formula. Human milk not only
provides all the nutrients your baby needs to be healthy, but also has other benefits
that formula lacks. Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother that can help babies
resist infections and certain diseases. Infants who are breastfed are less likely to
have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections,
bronchitis and meningitis. Breastfeeding may also protect against Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). Studies also show that breastfed babies, as a group, perform better
on standardized tests than formula feed babies. It is thought that breast milk provides
the optimal fat source for the development of nerve cells in the
brain.
There are benefits to the mother, as well. Research shows that mothers who
breastfeed their babies are less likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer
and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis. Breastfeeding burns calories more
quickly, helping you to lose weight more rapidly. It also helps the uterus return
to its regular size more quickly. Because breastfed babies are healthier, working
mothers are absent less from work, are more productive and experience less
stress.
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