Many new parents face countless problems raising their first baby, including choosing between breast milk or formula. Breast milk has long been touted as the gold standard for infant nutrition, providing a multitude of health benefits for both baby and mother. However, for various reasons, not all parents can or choose to breastfeed, and formula can be a safe and viable alternative.
Although deciding between breast milk and baby formula is a personal choice, it’s still essential to discover both options’ many advantages and drawbacks to make a sound decision. So, let’s dive into some basic information about human milk and baby formula and some factors you must consider when making the right choice for your baby.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a natural way to provide nourishment to your baby, delivering many benefits for both mother and child. However, some parents may find it challenging to navigate through breastfeeding basics. Here’s what you need to know about breastfeeding.
It Provides Essential Nutrients
Most healthcare professionals from the American Academy of Pediatrics will agree that breast milk is an essential source of nutrients and that parents should perform exclusive breastfeeding to their babies for at least six months or longer. Breast milk contains all the nutrients your baby needs during the first six months. Also, its nutritional composition adapts to the baby’s changing needs, especially during the first month after birth [1].
It Contains Essential Antibodies
Breast milk naturally contains antibodies to help babies protect themselves from viruses and bacteria that may harm their health. This particularly applies to the first milk supply called colostrum. Colostrum supplies your baby with high amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and several other antibodies.
Effectively Reduces Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, the sudden and unexplained death of a baby under one year of age. Breastfeeding also helps regulate the baby’s breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, possibly contributing to a lower SIDS risk.
An Excellent Way to Bond
Breastfed babies have been known to have a stronger bond with parents who prefer breastfeeding over formula feeding. That’s because breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby, releasing hormones like oxytocin that help build a solid emotional connection compared to formula-fed babies. Breastfeeding also provides a comforting and nurturing experience for both mother and baby because of the skin-to-skin contact.
Reduces Risk of Developing Certain Diseases
Exclusive breastfeeding also reduces your baby’s risk of developing particular diseases, such as the following:
- Middle ear infections
- Respiratory tract infections
- Gut infections
- Intestinal tissue damage
- Colds and infections
- Allergic reactions
- Childhood leukemia
- Diabetes
- Bowel diseases
Promotes Baby’s Healthy Weight
A mother’s milk also promotes healthy weight gain while preventing childhood obesity. Also, breastfed babies tend to have more leptin than babies fed with infant formula. Leptin is a primary hormone responsible for appetite regulation and fat storage.
Breastfed babies also have better self-regulation regarding their breast milk intake. They’re also better at eating only until they’ve satiated their hunger, which helps them develop healthy eating patterns [2].
How Breastfeeding Benefits Nursing Mothers
Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for babies, but did you know it also benefits nursing mothers? In addition to bonding with their baby, breastfeeding can help mothers recover from childbirth, promote weight loss, and reduce the risk of certain diseases. Here’s what you need to know about how breastfeeding benefits nursing mothers:
Helps Mothers Lose Weight
While some mothers seem to gain added weight while breastfeeding, others effortlessly shed a few extra pounds as they give their baby breast milk supply. That’s because women who breastfeed their children tend to burn their pregnancy weight faster compared to non-lactating mothers.
Helps Uterus Contract
The uterus tends to expand immensely during pregnancy, growing from a pear-size to filling the entire space of the abdomen of a pregnant woman. The body secretes high amounts of oxytocin during labor to help deliver the baby and reduce bleeding. It can also help mothers bond with their new little one.
Oxytocin production also increases when a mother breastfeeds their baby. It encourages the body’s uterine contractions. Thus, helping alleviate bleeding and promoting the uterus’s return to its former size.
It’s More Cost Effective
If you think about it, breast milk doesn’t cost a dime. So, you can imagine how much money you save from buying infant formula for formula feeding. Breastfeeding mothers won’t have to worry about the following:
- spend cash on baby formula
- calculate the amount of formula your baby needs during formula feeding
- spend time sterilizing the baby bottle
- preparing warm water for bottle feeding for nighttime feedings
- find ways to warm bottles during travel
Practical Tips When Breastfeeding Infants
Whether it’s your first time being a mother or having never breastfed babies, accessing the right resources is essential to help make things easier. Here are a few useful ways to help you some of the most common overcome breastfeeding challenges and make the whole experience enjoyable.
Find a Comfortable Spot
The first step you need to consider when breastfeeding is finding a comfortable position where you won’t feel any pain when breastfeeding your baby. You can try various poses, like a cradle hold or even side-lying, until you find a comfortable sport when you feed your baby.
Learn a Few Latch Techniques
Learning a good latch is ideal when you feed your baby. Ensure your toddler’s mouth is wide open and covers as much of your areola as possible. You should check if your baby’s mouth flangs outward and their chin is pressed onto your breast.
Stay Together After Giving Birth
The moment right after giving birth is a magical time for everyone, especially the mom and her baby. So, keep your baby close to you after birth to create a feeling of a tight bond and a powerful hormonal response often linked to breastfeeding success [3].
Keep Your Cool
Breastfeeding can be a challenge, especially during the first few weeks. It’s a skill that you and your baby must learn and adapt until both of you get used to it. So, like anything new, expect that it will take time and patience for both of you to adapt. If you somehow start to feel agitated or frustrated, then pause for a while and breath. You can always try it again after a few minutes until you’re okay.
Only Feed Based On Your Baby’s Needs
Learn to read your baby’s hunger cues to know when they’re full or when to feed your baby breast milk. It usually takes a baby at least seven to twelve times of feeding in 24 hours until they feel satiated. So, preparing yourself for frequent feeding is important to ensure you give the nutrients babies need to grow and thrive.
Think About Yourself
Breastfeeding can also take a toll on your health. That’s why you need to make sure that you have the energy when you feed your baby with breast milk. Apart from drinking water, eating a healthy-balanced set of meals and getting plentiful rest throughout the day is crucial to give you the energy to make every day an enjoyable feeding routine.
Essential Benefits of Formula Feeding
As previously mentioned, not all mommies or parents choose or can produce breast milk for their children. There are instances where they might be too preoccupied with other things or can’t give their baby breast milk supplies that are enough for their growing needs. Sometimes, it all boils down to a matter of choice.
Fortunately, formula feeding is an excellent alternative to help provide your baby with all the necessary nutrients to ensure optimum growth and development. Let’s take a deep dive at a few of its benefits to help you make a sound decision:
Provides Complete Nutrition
Compared to breast milk, infant formula is formulated to provide complete nutrition for babies, containing all the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Formula-fed babies also receive the necessary vitamins and minerals to develop healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.
It Lets Parents Have More Flexibility
With formula feeding, parents can finally share the responsibility of feeding their baby. Thus, providing flexibility and freedom for mothers who may need to return to work or for parents who want to share nighttime feedings. Formula feeding lets mothers know precisely how much their baby is eating, making tracking their baby’s milk intake easier.
Offers More Convenience
Almost everyone these days lives a busy life that people barely have enough time to juggle everything, including feeding their babies. Compared to human milk, baby formula products provide a more convenient way for parents to feed their children when they don’t have access to human milk. A commercially-prepared formula is easy to prepare and store, making it a practical choice when comparing breastfeeding vs. formula feeding.
Solves Some of the Breastfeeding Challenges
Not everyone is comfortable with pumping breast milk or has the capacity to produce a sufficient amount when feeding healthy infants. Formula feeding is a viable alternative for these parents who are not compatible with breastfeeding.
Conclusion
Whether you’re choosing to feed your baby breast milk or formula is a personal decision that should be based on individual circumstances and preferences. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that breast milk is the optimal source of infant nutrition and provides numerous health benefits for both the baby and the mother.
However, a formula can also provide adequate nutrition and may be the only option for some mothers who are unable or choose not to breastfeed. Ultimately, the most crucial factor is ensuring your baby receives proper nutrition and is healthy and thriving. It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider to make the best decision for you and your baby.
Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions.
