Breast Milk Vs Formula

As you get ready to welcome your baby and introduce her to this world, you are flooded with thoughts of how to take care of your little one in the best possible way. You find that motherhood is not only about loving and caring, it is also about making a few conscious decisions to help your child grow in a healthy manner. One such decision is whether to breastfeed your baby or to offer her formula nutrition.

An infant who is breastfed receives added health benefits compared to a child who is formula fed. In the first few days after birth, the breast milk is comprised of protein, vitamins A and E, and antibodies which help protect the infant from infection. After the first few days, the mature breast milk contains fats and cholesterol, which are essential for the growth and development of the infant’s nervous system, eyes, and brain. It also contains micronutrients calcium and magnesium, which are beneficial to the infant’s growth (Thompson et al., 2010).

Women in this world have a right to bear children and take care of them. As a new parent, there are millions of questions, worries, and decisions one deals with throughout the whole child's life. When a child is first born, a mother has to decide whether or not to breastfeed or formula feed. The nutrition a baby receives in the first months of life is what determines if the baby has a good or bad start. Women should breastfeed their children because breastfeeding boosts chances of success for their child, allows their baby to receive natural immunity from antibodies, mothers are less likely to develop diseases such as cancers or diabetes, and breastfeeding stimulates oxytocin to promote bonding between mother and child. Breastfeeding is the best choice for a baby.

Whether to breastfeed or to formula feed is one of the many decisions parents have to make when caring for a newborn baby. The decision may seem simple in which parents base there decision on comfort, convenience and finance but little do most parents know the decision being made can have damaging long term effects than that of the present. There is plenty of research that state the significance of breastfeeding that go far beyond the extent of bonding between mother and newborn. Although, that too is important. Breast milk is known to contain antibodies which can help the newborn in developing a strong immune system which influence all the body systems. Research has shown that breast-milk can help prevent long term diseases such as

Breast-feeding is nutritionally, emotionally and physically superior for a mother and her child. “Human breast milk is not standard nor is it interchangeable with cow’s milk. It is a dynamic fluid that changes in composition to meet the needs of the baby as it grows” (“Giving your Baby... Diet.” par. #10). Breast milk contains growth factors and antibodies which stimulate the growing baby and protect it from illness such as diarrhea, ear infections, rashes, allergies, asthma, skin problems, pneumonia, respiratory illness and other serious illnesses. Breast-feeding also improves a baby’s chance of remaining healthy. These antibodies are not found in formula. They can not be sustained. Breast-fed babies are also neurodevelopmentally more

According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), Breastfeeding is the standard and natural method of delivering young infants with the adequate nutrients that is needed and required for healthy growth and development. Breast milk is the best and optimal nutrition for infants, in which there are health benefits for both the infants, mothers, families and communities as whole. According to Rockville the (2011), most women in the United States are aware that, breastfeeding is the optimum source of nutrition for most infants, but lack of adequate knowledge and information about its detailed benefits and the risks associated with not breastfeeding.

Having looked at all the facts, it can be said that breast milk is better for a baby than what bottle milk is, due to it being the natural way of producing milk for infants and that the breast milk produced from a mother contains antibodies which fight off disease. The formula milk does not contain these antibodies and by breastfeeding it is also less likely that a child will be admitted to

Along with the New York Times, The Guardian agrees in the notion that breastfeeding, “helps protect infants from infection and other diseases,” such as gastrointestinal infections, respiratory tract infections, asthma, and middle ear infections(guardian)(137) Nutrient needs are arguably the most important thing an infant can have, another being maternal influences. The Lifespan Development book agrees with both online articles in that “the importance of receiving adequate energy intake and nutrients in a loving and supportive environment cannot be overstated.”(137) Breastfeeding gives infants the nutrients they need to survive and protect their bodies until they are of age and are able to receive nutrients from other sources of

First, breastfeeding helps mother and baby to be healthy. They are both protected from illness while the mother chose to breastfeed her child. Because the milk is natural and has many nutriments, the baby

Women decide to breastfeed for the amazing benefits it leaves in the future for the baby. During the first six months it is crucial for a baby to get breastfed because it provides many necessary nutrients to promote an optimal infant weight gain. Breast milk produces antibodies that help resist harmful diseases and infections such as leukemia, lymphoma, pneumonia and eye and ear infections. There are two significant nutrients in breast milk which are not in store bought formula, protein and fats. Store bought formula do not contain the DHA and cholesterol that breast milk has which helps assist the infants cardiovascular and nervous system.

Breast milk is best for infants. It reduces the risk for SIDS, which affects approximately 3,500 infants in the United States every year (“Sudden Unexpected Infant”). Babies, especially newborns are very fragile and they can get sick very easily and sometimes a small cold can result in hospitalization, but these odds can be reduced by breastfeeding because babies who are breastfed don 't get sick as often as those who are formula fed. Breast milk can prevent allergies, eczema, ear infections, and stomach problems (Adler). Breast milk also changes to suit a baby’s needs, for instance, it can provide antibodies to prevent an infant from getting sick and alter its

At birth babies get their nutrition from milk, either breast or formula. Breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need in the correct amounts and, although it is low in iron and copper, the baby has enough of these stored until it starts eating solid food. It also contains antibodies to help fight infections and is easy to digest. Formula milk needs to be made up in specific concentrations to avoid damage to the kidneys and all equipment used, should be sterilised to prevent the risk of infection. Cow’s milk should not be given to babies under twelve months as it contains too much salt and protein and not enough iron and other nutrients to meet their needs.

The American academy of pediatrics (AAP) and World health organisation recommend breastfeeding as the best choice for babies aganst Formula feeding. The ultimate decision on which to choose lies with trhe Mother, however, I will compare breastfeeding against formula feeding.

If you switch on your television, you will definitely be bombarded with a wide variety of formula milk advertisements.These advertisements boasted their products that they can provide the best nutrition to babies and help babies develop a good health and a wholesome brain.However,with just a few click on your computer, you will find a treasure :breastmilk, which is more nutritious and beneficial to babies’ development.Yet,most of the mothers still choose to feed their babies with formula milk.Breastfeeding should be a mandatory feeding method in infancy in that breastfeeding is of enormous benefit to children health development, mothers’ body recovery and it helps build a bonding between mother and babies.

Colostrum introduces high immunoglobulin into a baby’s body, which contains antibodies, nutrients, and growth factors that helps newborns to have a strong immune system. It is important for expecting mothers to breast feed babies immediately after childbirth, so they can enjoy the benefits of colostrum because the mother’s milk will stop making colostrum and normal milk will be produced. Breast milk is very important in the life of any newborn, unfortunately some babies do not get this milk or adequate amount of milk from their mothers due to one reason or the other, such as maternal death after child birth, and mother refused to breastfeed, mother not making enough breast milk for baby, infant is born preterm and other medical reasons. There are other ways babies can be feed. Babies can be given formula or wet nurse milk. Recently, a donor’s milk is used to feed babies in some of the developed countries including United States of America. A donor is a woman who sold or donated her breast milk to the hospital or human milk banks. The donor’s milk is then used to breastfeed new born baby, preterm and low weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The milk goes through a pasteurization process before it will be used to feed babies. It is better to feed new born babies with human milk than formula. Breastfeeding is good for infants and mothers too. It helps a