A Mother’s Choice
When it comes to taking care of a newborn, it can be safe to say that parents mostly just want to do what is best for their infant’s health and wellbeing. With today’s modern families it has become a big debate on what method of feeding is best for an infant, bottle or breast. Breastfeeding is a great option, but for those mothers who may have to make the compromise of work vs breastfeeding or a mother who is simply uncomfortable with breastfeeding, they have the option of infant formula. Even though many look down on bottle feeding, formula is a healthy alternative that provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. This taxing decision is something every mother needs to weigh for not only her own benefit,
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For mothers of newborn children their breast milk is what many consider “liquid gold”. Called this due to the color and consistence it has, which is thick and a deep yellow color its medical term is colostrum. The colostrum is the first milk produced by mothers during pregnancy and just after birth, it is very rich in nutrients and includes antibodies to protect newborns from infections (Breastfeeding, 2004). The colostrum also helps with newborn infant's digestive systems to grow and function. A mother’s milk changes as the infant grows to adapt to developmental needs. The colostrum changes into mature milk by the third to fifth day after birth. Mature milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein, and although it looks thinner than colostrum, it has the nutrients and antibodies an infant need for healthy development (Breastfeeding, 2004.). Another benefit of breastfeeding is that the cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illnesses and is unique in its ability to change in order to meet an infant’s ever-growing needs. Further research also suggests that breastfed babies have lower risks of: asthma, childhood leukemia, childhood obesity, ear infections, eczema (atopic dermatitis), diarrhea and vomiting. There are also advantages for the mother when it comes to breastfeeding, the actual act of breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth (Breastfeeding,
“When breastfeeding is not exclusively practiced, infant formulas are generally used. The World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk that parents be fully informed about the health hazards of unnecessary or improper use of infant formula”(2).
Very few experts disagree with the fact that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for the infant. However, decreasing breastfeeding rates raise many questions as to why mothers are not choosing the best nutritional choice for their children. Despite breast milk being the obvious choice for infant feeding due to the health, psychological, and economic benefits, many mothers still decide to feed their infants formula due to lack of knowledge and support, difficulties with breastfeeding, and social embarrassment. Changes need to be made with formula companies, medical professionals, and the public opinion of breastfeeding in order to give nursing mothers the support they deserve.
Breast milk is easily digested by a newborns immature digestive system (DiSanto, 2012). Breast milk is always fresh, available and free (DiSanto, 2012). The skin to skin contact during breast feeding can enhance the emotional connection between mother and baby (DiSanto, 2012).
Christina McvayLisa Barrick English 101 September 19, 2017 Boobs Vs. Bottles All mothers want the best for their children. Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding should be highly considered. Although, breastfeeding and bottle feeding are both alike in few ways, the numerous benefits of breastfeeding make it the best option for many mothers. Mother’s breast milk contains over 100 components, which therefore formula milk does not compete. Breastfeeding is a better option because of the cost, convenience, and all the wonderful numerous health benefits. Breast milk contains all the germ fighting antibodies that help prevent a child from getting sick. Breast milk contains antibodies. Antibodies, are passed from the mother to the child through the breast milk and help strengthen a child’s immune system. Antibodies, fight against numerous infections, viruses, prevent chronic conditions, and much more. More importantly, breastfeeding may perhaps protect babies against sudden infant death syndrome, more commonly known as, “SIDS”. Breast feeding is very beneficial for all premature babies. Breast milk naturally contains countless vitamins that a newborn requires, which formula does not contain. Breast milk contains protein that a child can easily digest, therefore breastfed babies are usually less gassy, spit up less, and less constipated. Breast milk helps give one’s child calcium and iron a lot faster with direct intake. Also, the fats from breast milk are very essential for the health and the growth of one’s baby. Likewise, breastfeeding is very beneficial for mothers, while formula is not. Breastmilk contains 20 calories per ounce, therefore, the more one feeds their child, the more calories the mother loses and increases weight loss. What mother does not want to lose the extra calories that she just ate from her last meal? Or the extra weight she may have packed on during her pregnancy? Can bottle feeding do that? No, probably not! Breastfeeding mothers can also see a change during ovulation. The more breastfeeding mothers are feeding their babies, the more prolactin their body releases. Prolactin keeps progesterone and estrogen steady, therefore the mother’s egg is not released, which would have triggered
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.
Through the years following Fiona’s birth, Jackie suffered with depression and anxiety. The stress of having a difficult baby was quickly remedied by prescription pain medication, subsequently causing Jackie’s dependence on thesubstance. Jackie has kept her addiction a secret from her family and friends, demonstrating both trust and a poor self-image. As part of this therapeutic intervention, I advised Jackie that she would be free from judgment within our therapeutic relationship. Jackie was also advised that she could speak freely about her feelings of being a mother and provider, verbalizing the stressors she associated with her roles. Initially, Jackie was opposed to entering a 28-day treatment program as part
In the movie “Regarding Henry”, there are many examples of the selfishness id and superego. Henry was a very selfish man before he lost his conscious, however he changed so much no one really recognized him after he got better from his accident. There are many scenes that show his selfishess id however.. For instance the night he went and bought ciggarettes really late at night just because he couldn’t wait. Also this was the night Henry got shot at the super market late that night. Henry was sent to hostipal and he ended up forgetting alot of things. Such as his family and friends .This shows his selfishness of not being able to wait another day while his daughter was home and sleeping. Another example, is apologizing to his daughter about his job and it was more sacrastisic than serious.
It has become much more common in the United States to turn on the news and learn about yet another shooting. Typically, the violence involves the criminal acquiring a firearm that they should not have been permitted to have, and attacking someone defenseless- either because they could not access their weapon in time, or for another reason. The increased frequencies of such tragic events have made many Americans wonder how much tighter gun restrictions to be to prevent them from continuing. They also wonder how tight gun restrictions can be before they become unconstitutional, or even if the 2nd Amendment should continue to exist. The Amendment states that “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, and the right of people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
When you think of feeding your baby, you have two options: breast milk or formula. I’m sure when you think of breastfeeding, you think it’s hard and painful, but in
There are many misconceptions today about feeding formula to babies and it being equal to breastfeeding. Breast milk is complex and species-specific; it targets growth and development of infants and provides disease protection. Both breast milk and formulas contain similar nutrients, but formulas are not an exact copy of breast milk. Formula may maintain growth and development, but it doesn’t contain hormones, live cells, immunologic agents, or enzymes, all of which are contained in breast milk. Breast milk contains four-hundred nutrients that cannot be recreated in a laboratory. Formula compositions don’t change to meet the infant’s changing needs. Although many formulas are similar to breast milk, they have drastic differences in
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
A plethora of questions and concerns arise upon confirmation of pregnancy; however, the decision on whether to breastfeed or formula feed an infant seems to be one of the more crucial decisions. Moms new to nursing a baby need all the information that they can get in order to help choose which method of feeding is more suitable, because every mother wants what is best for their child. Unlike formula feeding, the benefits of breastfeeding are substantial for both mother and baby. Moreover, choosing to breastfeed will lead to brighter, happier, and healthier lives.
Any infant enters the world completely relying on their mother, whether it’s to provide security, comfort, or their first meal. Breastfeeding, although pretty self-explanatory, is the act of a woman feeding a baby with milk from her breast. It is recommended that a baby be breastfed for the first time within an hour of their birth and exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (Belsky, 2012). However, there is a stigma attached to breastfeeding in some areas of the world, especially the United States, so a common alternative is formula. There are many benefits not only the infant can gain from being breastfed, but also benefits the mother can obtain from providing this nutrition for her child. This paper will discuss
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).
A lot of these problems seen in formula feed babies are due to the fact that the particular composition of the formula doesn’t suit their digestive system. Breast milk consists of the optimum proportions of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. It is extremely digestible for a new-born baby because the milk is naturally refined to perfectly suit the baby’s digestive system. The milk also contains growth factors such as, epidermal growth factor (EGR) and insulin-like growth factor. The epidermal growth factor works by helping to prepare the lining of the gut to absorb the nutrients from the milk consumed. Insulin-like growth factor is believed to be one of the primary factors regulating early growth and development. Breast milk also contains essential fatty acids that are not present in most formula milk products. The two essential fatty acids present in breast milk are docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonis acid. Both of these play a vital role in optimal development of the central nervous system, intellectual and visual development in babies. Furthermore, one of the most prominent advantages associated with breast feeding over formula feeding babies is that, breast milk naturally changes composition to correspond to the stage of development of the infant. For example, colostrum is the name given to the first milk produced post-delivery. It has an abundance of white cells and antibodies, it also contains a