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Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding
The confirmation of your pregnancy is truly a momentous occasion, but as the magic turns into stark reality, a flood of timely questions arises. Certainly one of the most controversial and important ones is: "How will we feed our baby?" In this article, we will compare the advantages and disadvantages of two techniques and try to help parents feel comfortable in making a better-educated decision based not on pressure from overzealous relatives, friends, or peer groups, but on scientific information. Along with parenthood comes the duty and right to make the best decisions for your baby based on what your heart and mind tell you is best. This is an exciting yet sobering concept. Get used to it! It is amongst the first of thousands of such decisions you will be making over the years in raising your child.
When should we decide?
Generally, it is a good idea to meet with the baby's doctor prior to the birth in order to get to know each other in a controlled, non-rushed, quiet environment. This is a good opportunity to discuss your doctor's philosophy of feeding the baby. Will the doctor give you fair, honest advice and then support you in your decision? The feeding decision is one best made well ahead of the delivery, as preparations should be well underway by then for either alternative. The day of delivery is typically very emotionally and physically draining and is usually not conducive to important decision-making. Another important reason to have this decision made before the delivery is that it can be very difficult or even impossible to start using formula and then later try to switch to breastfeeding. This is because the ability of the breasts to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding.
Why is the choice so important?
During your baby's first year of life, he/she will more than triple his/her total body weight, and the vast majority of this weight gain will come from "milk," either breast , formula, or both. (It is now strongly felt that regular cow/goat milk is not appropriate during the first year of life for the vast majority of babies). The time spent feeding your baby makes up a very large portion of your "together time," so it is important that this be a positive, loving, relaxing time; not one filled with doubts, guilt, or anxiety.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants. This includes premature and sick newborns, with rare exceptions. Of course, breast milk would appear to be the most ideal food for your newborn. It is the food least likely to cause allergic reactions; it is inexpensive; it is readily available at any hour of the day or night; babies accept the taste readily; and the immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby fight off some infections. But it is very important not to feel guilty if your heart tells you that formula feedings are best for your family. Infant formulas are a time-tested, perfectly acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. Also, remember that the majority of infants that breastfeed end up on a combination of breast and bottle feedings before their first birthday.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding?
The nutritional advantages of breast milk are certainly numerous. The amino acids in breast milk, the building blocks of proteins, are well balanced for the human baby, as are the sugars (primarily lactose) and fats. The baby's intestinal tract is best aided in its digestion by the vitamins, enzymes, and minerals found in breast milk. Breast milk also contains infection-fighting antibodies from the mother.
From a dollars-and-cents point of view, you cannot beat the price of breast milk! It has been calculated that the cost of the extra calories needed by the breastfeeding mother is only about one-half to two-thirds the cost of regular formulas, and much less than the cost of the low-allergy formulas needed by babies with allergies. However, the mother must maintain good nutrition and continue taking any vitamin/mineral supplements her doctor recommended during the pregnancy.
Nursing helps most women lose weight (though not fluid) after delivery, as 500 calories or more are used by breastfeeding each day.
There is a well-accepted extra-closeness that breastfeeding mothers experience that is both hormonal and emotional in nature.
The only disadvantages for the baby in breastfeeding occur when things are not going well, e.g., an inadequate supply of breast milk, a mother that is frustrated by feeling she is forced by peer-pressure to breastfeed, or an inefficient suck reflex in the baby. The disadvantages that most commonly arise involve the rest of the family. Siblings and dad often feel "left out" since mom is the only one who can do the nursing. Mothers on the other hand would love to feel "left out" for at least a few hours each day! However, other family members can be involved in helping with different aspects of the baby's care, and this gives them a valuable feeling of importance and allows mom a chance to rest.
Breastfed babies eat more often than formula fed babies since breast milk is more quickly digested and leaves the stomach empty more frequently. This puts a little more stress on the mother at a time when she is trying to overcome the exhausting events of a pregnancy and delivery. This stress is frequently compounded when additional responsibilities must be met, such as managing a home or other children, and/or a job outside of the home.
If the mother develops certain medical conditions, whether or not to breastfeed may need to be reassessed. However, it is rare that breastfeeding would need to be discontinued completely. The mother's doctor and/or pharmacist should be informed that she is breastfeeding. There are actually very few medicines that studies have shown must be completely avoided during breastfeeding. Numerous other medications have not yet been adequately studied in the context of breastfeeding and the possible effects on the baby. If a breastfeeding mother is required to take a medication which has not been fully studied, she may want to consider discussing this matter with her doctor.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of formula feeding?
For some parents, it is very important to know exactly how much their baby is receiving at each feeding, and formula/bottle feeding allows exact measurement. Foods, medications, or physical conditions in the mother are no longer a concern for the baby. The entire family can immediately become intimately involved in all aspects of the baby's care, including feedings. Mother can get more rest immediately and this can be critically important, especially if the pregnancy and/or delivery were especially difficult. Formula fed babies need to eat somewhat less often. In an era of increasing numbers of mothers who must work outside of the home within a rather short time after the baby's delivery, formula feeding offers a practical alternative to trying to be in two places at once!
The disadvantages of formulas are primarily their expense and the lack of maternal infection-fighting antibodies that are in breast milk. However, it should be noted that the baby receives a four to six month supply of antibodies through the maternal bloodstream prior to delivery.
Can we use both forms of feedings for our baby?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth. Furthermore, it is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired. Infants weaned before 12 months of age should not receive cow's milk feedings, but should receive iron-fortified infant formula.
The answer to the question of combination feeding is definitely "Yes! " The secret is to breastfeed fairly exclusively for the first two weeks or so to stimulate the breasts to produce milk and help the baby "get the hang" of nursing. A once-a-day bottle, however, even in the first two weeks, should not interfere as long as it is given by someone other than the mother. The bottle replaces a breastfeeding session and is not given immediately after a breastfeeding to "fill him up." The bottle is given at around the same time every day (mom's break time). Once breastfeeding is well-established in a baby that is used to an occasional bottle with a formula he/she has demonstrated tolerance to, extra bottle feedings can substitute for selected breastfeeding sessions as the need arises within the family schedule. The infection-fighting antibodies are still helpful; mom has the opportunity to rest (or go to work) as needed; and the pressure on mom is greatly reduced.
The concept of both formula and breast feeding may make the most sense to the majority of mothers in today's world. However, you and your baby are not statistics; the decisions you make for you and your baby are unique.
So listen to your relatives and friends, read all the books, and then find an understanding, supportive doctor for your baby. And don't be afraid to call before your baby's next well-checkup as any questions arise. Remember, there are many right ways to raise (and feed) your baby! - The ability of the breasts to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding.
- Infants triple their total body weight during their first year of life.
- The immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby to fight off infections.
- Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes which aid the baby's digestion.
- Breast and formula feeding can be used together.
Last updated on 05/15/2008
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