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| Mother breastfeeding her child |
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| Baby with bottle of formula |
There are many different ways to feed our little bundles of joys. There is exclusively breast fed, exclusively pumping, breast feeding and pumping together, formula feeding, and combination feeding . Exclusively breast fed and formula feeding are pretty self explanatory. Exclusively pumping is where you pump breast milk and feed with a bottle. Combination feeding is a combination of breast milk and formula. All are excellent ways of providing nourishment.
I have had a chance to do all of these with my daughter. At first I breast fed then pumped then combination fed, and now am formula feeding. It has been an evolution of finding out which type is right for you and you lifestyle.
Breast feeding and pumping for me was hard. I couldn’t get her to latch well on the boob and pumping rubbed my nipples raw. I kept at it for 3-4 weeks. I really tried to keep a positive attitude about it which I didn’t do with my first kiddo. While at the hospital I wanted to quit breast feeding. But dang if the nurse/ lactation consultant made me feel like a bad mother for wanting to formula feed. So I kept at it. Not successfully. I didn’t have anyone I could turn to for help. I found the LC a bit rash. Pumping was a TON easier. My hubby could help feed her and I wasn’t baby booby bound. Then my 3 yr old son asked what I was doing one day and my darling husband told him these are his exact words “Mommy is making milk for baby sister”. which was fine. So he would go around saying “Momma makes milks” then he asked what the pump was and we told him. Then he started “Momma pumpin?” Yes I know it was all in innocence but for a really self conscience person it didn’t help any. If ,and that’s a huge if, we ever have another baby I will give breast feeding another try.
Formula feeding is so much easier for me. I did it with my son so I knew what to expect. Sterilize the bottles and nipples, add the correct amount of water and the right measurement of formula or the corresponding scoops. While it takes a little while longer than just pulling out a breast most formulas now have the same nutritional value as breast milk. There are different types of formula, powder, ready to eat, and liquid concentrate. They are all fairly easy to use. I use powder formula it easy to pack in a diaper bag and you don’t have to worry about it going bad to fast. You measure water in a bottle and add the amount of formula that is needed and mix. That simple J.
Now choosing which is best for you and your family is completely up to you. This is just our decisions so please no negativeness. Thanks!
Sarah's Story
After learning that I was pregnant, I think about 80% of my time was devoted to doing research: what would I need, what was just a waste of money, is it safe to do this, what are the effects of that, etc. But ironically, one of the most important decisions I had to make required no research for me to decide. I WAS going to breastfeed my baby. I just couldn't imagine it any other way. I take care of myself, I eat the best possible (with the exception of my cheat days of course), so why wouldn't I want the best for my baby? And saying that breastfeeding is the best is NOT an attack on those who chose not to. Because anyone will tell you that breast milk IS the best for your baby, even if breastfeeding isn't what you choose to do. I am not knocking your choice, just stating a fact. This is bound to be a long topic, so I am going to start with my breastfeeding story, and then I will discuss the research that I found later on.
Shortly after Alexander was born, it was time to attempt the first feeding. I had heard what a beautiful experience that breastfeeding was and couldn't wait to find out for myself. But it wasn't going to come easy. My son just would not latch. Try and try as I may, he just couldn't do it. I don't know if he being born three weeks early had anything to do with it, but it's possible. I think I tried for the first day and night for him to latch on, and he would sometimes, but then fall right back off. His blood glucose level was kind of low from me not eating before I had him (since my water broke at 6:30 am and I had not eaten since the night before) so it was imperative that he would eat to get his levels up. I kept at it and kept at it, until a male nurse came in and said that if he didn't start to eat soon then they would have to supplement him with formula. Immediately my husband told him no, that we would not, and we didn't. If I had supplemented him with formula, then it would have interrupted the supply of my milk, making breastfeeding even harder. Finally we had another nurse come in and she had brought a hospital grade pump in. Thankfully, someone who wanted to help me. She showed me how to use the pump and how to feed him with either my finger, or a syringe. So that's what I did. I would attempt to feed him for about five minutes, and then I would pump the rest out and feed him with a syringe. And he ate it all up. The next day before we left the hospital we saw a lactation consultant who finally was able to get my baby to latch correctly, and I thought that all my troubles were over. But I soon found out that once again, it wasn't that easy. Shortly after arriving home it was obvious that even though he had latched on for the consultant, he still didn't have the hang of it. And I was starting to feel like I was failing my son. My nipples were so sore that I would almost fear the next time that he would be hungry because I knew that it was going to hurt and it was going to be stressful because he still couldn't do it right. And then I found out that my left nipple was inverted, causing even more pain than when he would nurse on my right breast, which made me dread it even more. He never cried or anything from being hungry, he was just very tired and sleepy all the time. But I just wasn't going to give him formula. Anything that's worth it isn't easy. Then on the third day my milk came in and my breast we hard, hot and sore; even after his little feedings, so it was clear to me that he wasn't emptying them as much as he should be. I kept at it for one more day, but when we took him for his 3 day check up they said that his jaundice levels were kind of high. Not high enough that he is considered to be jaundiced, but almost. So they recommended that he be put into indirect sunlight, and to make sure that he was eating enough to pass everything through. They told us to come back in the next day. If his levels didn't go down then we would have to spend another 24 hours at the hospital while he was treated with the little UV lights. So, instead of causing myself more stress than needed, I decided to just start to pump everything out and feed him with a bottle (we used glass bottles). I knew that it wasn't as good as being straight from the breast, but it was second best, and it was easier. And it worked. We took him back to the doctors and voila! His jaundice levels were completely normal! I finally felt like I had done something right. So that's how it was for about four weeks. I would pump and bottle feed him on demand. It was nice because my husband was able to be more involved with it, waking up in the night to feed him while I pumped a new bottle, but I knew it couldn't last like that for long. Soon my husband would have to return to work, and if I was to get any sleep at all, I would need to have the baby back at my breast, eliminating the long pumping sessions so I could do it on my own without needing my husband’s assistance. So I went online and did a little research and stumbled upon my new best friend; the nipple shield. It cost me $10, but it was a miracle. As soon as I bought it I brought it home to try and it worked the first time. Since it is similar to a bottle nipple, he had no issues latching onto it. And it even helped to dull the pain of breastfeeding, since it made the perfect latch every time. Once again, I felt like I was on the right track. I used that nipple shield all the time, and took it everywhere I went. But then, once again, it just became too much: having to put it on every time, making sure it was on properly (especially after the baby would knock it off when he would throw his arms around, trying to get to my breast lol) making sure it was clean, and most importantly, making sure I didn't forget it when I left the house. If I did, then it would just be another stressful time getting him to latch. At least that's how it was when I first started to use it. But after about a month of using it, I forgot it one day so I had to nurse him directly on my nipple, and he latched right on, no problems. It hurt a little more than it would with the nipple shield, but I was amazed that he wasn't having any difficulties. So after that I slowly started to wean him off the nipple shield, only using it again when it hurt too much. But after a lot of dedication and effort, he was soon a latching champ. All in all, I pumped for about 3-4 weeks, used the nipple shield for about 6-7 weeks, and have been strictly breast for about 4 weeks now. It was hard; I'm not going to lie. Just like with labor, nothing can prepare you for breastfeeding. I never got cracked bleeding nipples, but oh my goodness did it hurt. It was the worst in the first 3-4 weeks, but after that it started to die down. However, I wasn't pain free for at least 12 weeks. it still hurts sometimes, but only like a little twinge. Here is a link to a site with some other nursing stories for not getting it right the first time.
http://www.drmomma.org/2009/10/breastfeeding-if-at-first-you-dont.html)
Many people would ask why I would go through all that when it's much simpler and less stressful to just give him a bottle of formula. But to me, it's not about what I go through, no matter how much time it took, how much sleep I lost, and how much it hurt; it was about doing what was right for my baby. Admittedly, I didn't do any research about breastfeeding vs. formula until after I had already had him and was already breastfeeding, but it's just what seemed natural. That's what breasts are for, right? To nurse our young? So why would I spend money on something that isn't even second for my baby? Most people think that formula is second best for their children, but in reality it isn't. It's not even third best. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the hierarchy of what is best to feed your infant is this:
1) breastfeeding
2) the mother's own milk expressed and given to her child some other way
3) the milk of another human mother
4) artificial milk feeds (formula)
Every mammal has breasts for a reason, and every mammal nurses their young. Each species makes a unique kind of milk to meet all of the nutritional requirements for the survival of their offspring and it contains specific nutrients and qualities specific for their environment (known as biological specificity of milk). For example, seals make high fat milk because their babies need lots of fat, or blubber, in order to survive in cold water. And since brain development is vital to the survival of humans, human milk provides nutrients for rapid brain growth. Milk's basic ingredients are fat, proteins, lactose, vitamins, minerals, and water. This is how it is for every mammal, but the proportions for these ingredients differ, as do the types of proteins and fats. It is this principle that makes each species' milk uniquely suited to feed and nourish its young. I will try to keep this as short as possible, if that's even possible lol. But here is a basic list of the specific differences in the nutrients of milks, and how it varies from Species to species.
Protein--
If you compare the amount of protein of other species milk (especially cows) to the amount in humans, you will find that human’s milk is low in protein. This doesn't mean that we have a protein deficiency, it's just the amount we need. Our babies are designed to grow slower than other species, and with the lower amounts of protein, unlike cows whose milk is high in protein, we grow slow and steady, allowing the mothers to hold, carry, and nurture their babies for longer periods of time.
Remember the curds and whey in the "Little Miss Muffet" nursery rhyme? Well the curds and the whey are two types or proteins found in milk. The whey is the easy to digest liquid part, and the curd is the case in protein that forms a rubbery, harder to digest lump in your baby’s belly. But in human milk, the whey is more abundant than the curd, and the curd that is formed are softer and more easily and quickly digested. That's why breastfed babies eat more often than formula fed babies. The milk proteins in human milk are digested so efficiently, being almost completely absorbed, it doesn't take much energy to digest it, making hardly any waste and less strain on the digestive system. The excess protein in formula and cow's milk creates more work for the intestines and kidneys, sometimes causing a metabolic overload.
Regardless of the low protein content of human milk, the types of amino acids found make the proteins that are there highly important. Taurine, a particular amino acid found in larger amounts of human milk than in formula and cow's milk, has an important role in the development of the brain, and the eyes. The body is unable to convert any other kind of amino acids into Taurine, so it's presence in human milk is highly significant. Some formula companies have started to add artificial amounts of this into their formulas.
Fats--
Human milk is also much richer in essential fatty acids that are needed for optimal human brain growth, whereas formula and cow’s milk are deficient in certain omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA. As a newborn baby grows, their nerves are covered with a substance called myelin which helps the nerves transmit messages to other nerves throughout the body and the brain. In order to develop high quality myelin, the body needs certain types of fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic, which are found in large quantities in human milk.
Breast fed babies not only get the right amount of fats, but they get the right kind. The fat content of human milk is constantly changing. In the beginning of a feeding you get the low fat foremilk that has more calories, and at the end of the feeding the babies get the high fat hind milk. During a growth spurt, the shorter intervals between feedings get more high fat hind milk that supplies the baby with the energy needed to grow.
Along with getting the right kinds of fats in the rights amount, almost all of the fat in the human milk is absorbed, so the baby gets healthier fats and less waste. Breast milk contains lipase, an enzyme that helps digest fat so that the important nutrients can be better absorbed into the bloodstream, so that more energy is available to the baby and less is eliminated in the stools (this is one of the many reasons why human milk is good for premature babies who need all the energy they can get to grow, but whose digestive systems are very weak and immature). This important enzyme is not found in cow’s milk or formula, and the baby's intestines cannot digest all of the fat on its own, leaving the excess fat to pass into the stools, giving them an unpleasant odor (unlike breast milk stools which are much more mild)
Sugars--
It doesn't take an expert to tell you that breast milk is sweeter than formula (I mean have you smelled that stuff?). Breast milk contains more lactose than formula, which is not only sweeter, but better suited for brain growth. Lactose is an intestine friendly sugar for babies, whereas in infant formulas almost all of the sugar comes from highly processed table sugar or corn syrup.
Vitamins and minerals--
With these, it all comes down to bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the difference between the amount of a substance, in this case essential vitamins and minerals, to which a person is exposed and the actual dose of the substance the body receives. And the bioavailability of a nutrient is influenced by many factors, like its chemical form and the presence of other substances. So although the vitamin and mineral amount listed on the formula can may look the same as breast milk, or even look as though it contains more, there is no comparison because the amount of vitamins and minerals in breast milk have a higher bioavailability. So it doesn't matter how many nutrients are listed on the formula can, but how much of that nutrient can be absorbed through the intestine into the bloodstream, being able to be used by the baby.
In formula, three important minerals, calcium, phosphorus, and iron are present in higher levels, but in breast milk these minerals are in forms that have higher bioavailability. To put this in perspective let’s look at iron. About 50-70% of the iron in breast milk is absorbed by the baby, but with formula, as little as 5% is absorbed. To make up for the low bioavailability of these factory added vitamins and minerals, the formula companies raise the concentrations. You may think that this sounds reasonable, putting in twice as much since the baby only absorbs half, but not quite.
Instead of using the excess vitamins and minerals, the baby's immature intestines dispose of them. So the unabsorbed mineral (especially iron) can upset the ecology of the gut, interfering with the growth of healthful bacteria, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. This is another reason why formula fed babies have harder, fouler smelling stools.
Breast milk contains facilitators, substances that enhance the absorption of other nutrients, to enhance the bioavailability of nutrients. For instance, Vitamin C in human milk increases the absorption of iron. Zinc is also aided in absorption by other enhancements in human milk. In an experiment, researchers added equal amounts of iron and zinc into samples of human milk, formula and cow’s milk and fed them to adult volunteers. The results showed that more of the nutrients were absorbed into the bloodstream with the human sample versus the formula and cow’s milk samples. So all in all, breast milk puts the essential nutrients into the bloodstream of your baby (or anyone else who drinks it), where they belong, not in the babies poops.
Hormones and Enzymes--
Each year scientist are discovering more and more health promoting substances is breast milk that can only be made by mothers, with their bodies. Other enzymes besides lipase are available to aid infant digestion, too. Epidermal growth factor, found in human milk in high amounts, may promote the development of tissues in the digestive tract and other areas as well. And other hormones in breast milk may influence a baby’s metabolism, growth, and physiology. However subtle these effects may be, they may have far reaching implications. Breastfeeding has advantages that follow into adulthood, and scientists are only beginning to learn what these benefits are. The late Dr. Frank Oski, a former professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said "When researching the difference between human milk and formula, I discovered that there are over four hundred nutrients in breast milk that aren’t in formula."
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020800.asp
http://www.enotalone.com/article/3610.html
Here is a chart showing the comparison of formula to breast milk
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021600.asp
Benefits of breastfeeding--
Now I am sure that almost every woman knows the many, and I mean MANY reasons why she should breastfeed, and I would love to list all the ones that I found, but instead I am just going to first list some of the benefits for the baby (in simplified version), then list some benefits to the mother, and also some benefits to the environment and society. At the end of this list I will leave you with some links listing a more thorough, and much longer list of all the benefits, including benefits of breast feeding in general.
Benefits for baby--
1- It is what's meant for your baby, the most perfect mix of nutrients. And it taste better to your baby.
2- Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, and countless other illnesses (breast milk contains antibodies)
3- Reduced risk of heart disease, chronic constipation, colic, stomach upsets, tooth decay, vitamin E deficiency, anemia, childhood obesity, SIDS (for every 87 deaths from SID, sudden infant death syndrome, only 3 are breastfed. I will touch on this a bit more, later) and many more.
4- Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision.
5- Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's (as much as 10-12 points), and have improved brain and nervous system development. This is just an average and by no means states that formula fed babies are stupid.
6- Increases bone density.
7- Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers
8- There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others
9- Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
10- The varying composition of breast milk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs
Breastfeeding benefits for mom-
1- Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
2- Reduced risk of anemia
3- Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
4- Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss. 1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores, burning anywhere from 500 to1,500 calories per day.
5- Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies (key word is helps. Not a total form of birth control)
6- Breast milk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)
7- Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding
8- Breastfeeding makes you feel good; the hormones produced during nursing have an endorphin effect giving you a relaxed feeling.
9- You can nurse while sleeping...nursing moms get more rest than formula feeding moms.
10- Breastfeeding is more convenient, when traveling, all you need is to take diapers, the milk is always available, sterile, and the right temperature.
11-During times of disaster, you don't have to worry about finding formula.
Benefits to the Environment and Society
1- Breastfeeding reduces the cost of healthcare by promoting healthier children and mothers. If all WIC babies in the U.S. were breastfed, our economical savings would be $33,000,000 per month .In 1993, 90,000 babies were hospitalized for RSV at a cost of 450 million dollars. Currently, the U.S. spends over 1 billion dollars a year on ear infections.
2- Reduced insurance premiums for both parents and employers
3- Breastfeeding reduces global pollution by decreasing the use of resources and energy required to produce, process, package, distribute, promote and dispose of materials created by the manufacture and use of artificial baby milk
4- Reduced tax burden on communities and government to ensure children are properly fed
5- Reduced absenteeism in the workplace due to children's illnesses
http://www.drmomma.org/2009/08/why-is-breastfeeding-so-important.html
http://www.drmomma.org/2009/08/101-reasons-to-breastfeed-your-child.html
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020300.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020700.asp
Many people are unaware that not only is it the best way to feed your newborn, but that it also has the ability to heal and protect the body as well. Not just your baby's body either. Here is a list of things that you can treat with breast milk, and medicinal uses for it as well (and the site to read further into it in more detail)
Can treat--
Pink eye
Sore, cracked nipples
Mosquito and ant bites
Acne, Eczema and diaper rash (I cured my baby's one and only rash with my breast milk, only took one treatment and it was gone within 3 hours)
Sore throat and mouth sores
Stuffy nose
Plugged eye ducts (me and my sister used this for our babies)
Scratches, burns, gouges, and scrapes
Eye puffiness and redness
Chicken pox
Leg ulcers
Chapped lips and skin
And can be used for
Contact lenses
Sexual lubricant
Immunity boost
Facial Cleanser
For all of you who are cringing at the idea of drinking breast milk, or putting it on your skin, or in your baby's eye; how is it not better and healthier than the chemicals that you would use instead? Breast milk is all natural, sterile, and full of antibodies.
http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/medicinal-uses-of-breastmilk.html
The myths about breastfeeding.
1- Many women do not produce enough milk.
Only about 1-3% of women are simply not able to breastfeed (also including medical reasons). Most babies that gain slowly or lose too much weight do so because the baby does not get the milk due to improper latch. It is not because the mother isn't producing enough milk.
2- There isn’t enough milk during the first few days after birth.
It may seem like the baby isn't getting enough because you produce small amount of colustrum (what comes before your actual milk comes in), but fear not. Colustrum is high in calories and it will feed your baby well enough until your milk comes in (around the 3rd or 4th day). The baby may seem frantic at your breast, acting really hungry, but remember, it is just now learning how to eat.
3- Breastfeeding babies require water in hot weather.
So not true. Breast milk contains more than enough water to satisfy your baby.
4- A mother should wash her nipples before each feeding.
Breast milk protects the baby against infection because its high amounts of antibodies. Washing the nipples takes away its protective oils, causing them to be more susceptible to drying out and cracking.
5- It's easier to bottle feed then breast feed.
After the initial start up, breastfeeding is by far easier. All you need to pack are your breast and something to cover yourself while nursing in public, and you are good to go. And night time feedings are quicker with breast feeding. No needing to get up and measure and warm a bottle.
6- Breastfeeding ties the mother down.
A baby can be nursed anywhere at any time: no need to drag around extra supplies, no worrying about where to warm up the formula, and you don't need to worry about how sterile it is. And you can simply pump some milk out for whoever is watching your baby so they have food if you choose to go out without them.
7- There is no way to tell how much your baby is getting.
Where this is true in the sense that you don't know the amount your baby is eating at a time, as long as your baby seems happy after every feeding and is gaining weight properly, he or she is getting enough and the amount is not important.
8- Modern formulas are the same as breast milk.
As discussed earlier, this is simply not true. Formula is not as good as breast milk. it is simply "good enough"
9- If the mother is sick or has an infection she should stop breastfeeding.
With VERY rare exceptions, the mother's continuing to breastfeed will actually protect the baby. By the time the mother has a fever, cough, vomiting, or any other sign of illness, she has already given the baby whatever it is, and also the antibodies to help fight it. The baby's best protection is that the mother continues to breastfeed. (This also goes for if the baby is sick, the mother should continue to breastfeed) And breast infections such as mastisis and abscesses, however painful they are, are no reasons to stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding will actually make the infection pass more quickly if she nurses on the infected side.
10- If the mother is taking medications she should not breastfeed.
There are very few meds that a mother cannot safely take while breastfeeding. Very small traces of medicines appear in breast milk, usually small enough to cause no concern. If the medicine is truly going to harm the baby, there are usually equally effective, alternative medicines to take.
11- The mother must eat a perfect diet to provide all the nutrients for the baby.
The quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk. The only one to suffer from a poor diet will be the mother herself. The body will take the nutrients straight from the mother’s body and give them to the baby through the breast milk. Although it is highly recommended to eat healthier for your health and well being, it is not necessary for your milk. Although it is highly recommended to eat healthier for your health and well being, it is not necessary for your milk. But your diet may affect your baby in the sense of gas. If you eat lots foods that are known to cause gas, like garlic, broccoli, or anything high in fiber, you baby may be a little but more gassy than usual. I had to cut out dairy from my diet because my son has a dairy allergy, and it upsets his tummy causing him to spit up more often, be gassy, and all around uncomfortable. However strong my addiction to dairy may be (you have no idea how much I love, and now miss, cheese) I am doing this for my baby. Being a mom means that I no longer come first in my lists of wants. Do I want to eat a cheese pizza, maybe some mac and cheese, or go and get some ice cream?? Well you bet your butt I do. But I also want my baby to have the best start in life, and that makes it all worth it in the end.
12- Breastfeeding causes your breast to sag.
Although it does not help, it is not breastfeeding that makes your breast sag, rather it is pregnancy and hormone levels in general. Even if you choose not to nurse your baby, your milk is going to come in regardless, causing your breast to increase a size or two (on top of their already increased size due to pregnancy) until your milk dries up.
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/library/breastfeeding/blbreastfeedingm.htm
After learning all this, there are still many reason why mothers choose not to breastfeed or choose to breastfeed for only a few weeks or months. Some are legitimate, whereas others are just misconceived perceptions. Here are a few of the reasons that women chose not to breastfeed, and I will elaborate a bit on each.
Lack of knowledge- In our society, mothers are told that formula is second best, not knowing a lot about breastfeeding or the risks of feeding an infant formula (will cover later)
Unsupportive friends and/or family- If a woman's friends or family have bottle fed, they can undermine a woman’s desire to breastfeed, even if she is trying. Breastfeeding is not easy in the beginning and a woman needs all the support we can get. Problems breastfeeding, including sore, cracked, or bleeding nipples, thrush, milk supply issues, and infections cause some women to feel let down by their breastfeeding experience and cause them to give up all together. All it takes is support and a lactation consultant to help you out and you can get through it and be able to enjoy the pact of nourishing your baby. Even some husbands disapprove of breastfeeding because they see their wives breast as sexual organs, becoming jealous over the nursing mom's breast, or think that it is indecent and/or perverted to breastfeed.
Difficulties with public breastfeeding are also an issue. It is perfectly legal but some places have asked mothers to either leave or nurse in the bathroom. This is very odd to me because no one would ever take their children into the bathroom to eat, yet they would ask a nursing mother to take her infant or child in there. I am all pro- breastfeeding in public, but in a way I do see where it is better to at least cover up while doing so. Not because it is indecent, or something to be ashamed of, but simply because our society has deemed breast sexual organs only and are not mature enough to handle the act of breastfeeding because of a little nudity (even though men go shirtless all the time. Again, this is all personal opinion, not meant to offend anyone)
Mothers who work are put in a tight situation because American society does not value breastfeeding enough, and most places do not provide places for a nursing mom to pump. Although it may not be the easiest route, breastfeeding does not have to stop because the mother is going back to work. If there is a will, there's a way.
Many people in the US believe that breastfeeding is only for the first few weeks to a couple months of an infant’s life. Although a few weeks is better than nothing at all, the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years, and the American Academy of Pediatrics clearly states in their policy statement Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, "Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth." "It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired." And in many other cultures many women never choose to force their children to wean, but letting them do it at their own natural pace. The benefits of breastfeeding do not stop because your child has reached a certain age. Many people think that a child needs to drink cow’s milk, but wouldn't it be better if they had human milk, which is made for them, instead? You could always pump instead of actually feeding from your breast.
If a mother has had past sexual abuse, she may feel uncomfortable with having an infant suckle on her nipples. And however unfortunate this is, it stops some women from breastfeeding all together. (I cannot say that I blame them seeing as how I have no experience with this.) But some people would say that these mothers would benefit from everyone around her, letting her know that is normal behavior for the baby, and it's nothing sexual.
Some medical conditions cause a mother to take medications that are not compatible with breastfeeding. But most medications are. To check them out, look here; http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/
And last but surely not least, but some women simply choose not to breastfeed for no other reason than thinking it will mess with their body image, saying that they were raised on formula and are just fine, or saying that it's just not them. We already discussed the body image thing earlier, so I will move on the next one. Saying that you were raised on formula and are just fine may seem right to you, but when you look at the obesity rates climbing higher and higher each year, I would not say that it's just fine (yes I know diet also contributes). Not to mention that the formula you were given as a child is probably not considered fit for infants now. Each year scientist are finding new things that they need to add and that should be taken out of formula mixtures. And yes, you may think that it's just not you to breastfeed, but your baby doesn't know that. The thing with breastfeeding is that you can quit at any time. Any breast milk is better than no breast milk. If you try it, who knows, you may find out how very much it is you. I have never heard of anyone regretting to breastfeed, or try to breastfeed their child, but many regret not doing so.
I understand that everyone has the rights to choose what they want, and breastfeeding may not be for every woman. But that is highly unfortunate because breastfeeding IS for every infant.
http://www.007b.com/early_weaning.php
http://billiard7577.tripod.com/bf.html
Ok, now to move onto the things concerning formula feeding that I said I would come back to. Many people are simply unaware that choosing to formula feed does come with some risk. Here are some statistics;
Not breastfeeding increases your babies‘risk of these diseases:
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): 36% greater risk
• Type 1 Diabetes: 19-27%
• Type 2 Diabetes: 39%
• Leukemia (acute lymphocytic) : 19%
• Leukemia (acute myelogenous): 15%
• Asthma: 27%
• Gastrointestinal infections: 64%
• Lower respiratory tract diseases: 72%
• Atopic dermatitis: 42%
• Acute Otitis media: 50%
Not breastfeeding increases mothers‘ risk of these diseases by:
• Type 2 Diabetes: 4-12% greater risk
• Ovarian cancer: 21%
• Breast cancer: 28%
I'm sure that some of you are thinking what does formula have to do with SIDS, right? But studies have started to show that there is a connection. Shockingly, a careful study of statistics shows that 9,000 lives could be saved yearly in the USA by exclusive/extended breastfeeding! That is because breastfeeding infants have only 1/5th the rate of SIDS, and half the rate of the overall infant deaths. Here a few reasons why it is believed to be linked.
Babies who wake more frequently to eat, and sleep lightly (what some people call bad sleepers) are at lower risks or SIDS, whereas babies who wake less frequently, and sleep more deeply (aka the good sleepers) are at a higher risk.
Formula artificially fills the stomach with chemicals, grains, and "goop" designed to expand internally and trick a baby's brain into thinking they are full, inducing longer and deeper sleep, increasing their risks.
During the nighttime the stress hormones like cortisol decrease (unless the baby is left to cry or they feel abandoned and alone) and growth hormones increase. These hormones dramatically impact a baby's brain development and organ growths. Because of this, babies are designed to wake easily to get the frequent, high quality nutrients all night long (breast milk), literally feeding their brains. But if a baby is fed with "empty" calories (a formula designed to keep a baby full longer, but not providing the designated amounts of nutrients) you impact brain development and organ growth. If this happens, then lower neuro firing and neuro connections puts babies into a more comatose type state of mind. You may think it is a "good sleeper" but it is in this decrease of neurological activity we see a higher risk of SIDS.
Related to brain activity, sleep, and wakefulness are the components of breast milk vs. formula. This involves glycobiology, which is a topic large enough for a site all its own. Essentially, glyconutrients are the components of the body's cells which are responsible for effective communication, healing, repair and re-building between and within all cells. Without them, cells break down, organs do not form just right, the brain (and lungs and heart and kidneys and stomach...) do not function at their normal capacity. Regulatory functions (such as respiratory and cardiovascular systems) get off kilter when glyconutrients are not present in necessary number - leading in turn to an excess of SIDS.
Breast milk, however, is PACKED FULL of glyconutrients -- it literally is liquid gold. Nature has the perfect plan for the protection of tiny growing babies. Healing and health components are provided in an incredible high quantity with every ounce of breast milk that is consumed. While there are multi-millions of dollars to be made if a pharmaceutical company can replicate glyconutrients artificially (they also enable the body to heal cancer cells) so far no one has been able to do so. Formula is entirely void of any glyconutrients. ( http://www.drmomma.org/2009/08/sids-enfamil-restfull-formula-yes.html )
In addition, here are some things that you may not know about baby formula that was posted in an article on yahoo. (I will also put the link up to the site for more in depth reading)
1. The linings of some formula cans contain bisphenol-A, or BPA
2. It is impossible to produce sterile powdered infant formula
3. Baby formula may be contaminated with the harmful bacteria enterobacter sakazakii and salmonella enterica.
4. Soy-based formulas contain plant estrogens which can cause a variety of reproductive issues
5. The FDA does not test infant formulas prior to their marketing and sale
6. Infant formulas often contain perchlorate, the base chemical in solid rocket fuels
7. FDA testing has revealed that some baby formulas also contain the chemicals melamine and cyanuric acid
8. Many brands of formula contain ingredients which are generally acknowledged to contain or produce monosodium glutamate, or MSG.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20100923/lf_ac/6152012_ten_things_you_may_not_know_about_baby_formula
Was it hard to start breastfeeding my son? Yes. But worth it. As I said earlier, anything worth having doesn’t come easy. I'm not bashing a mother’s choice to do what she wants, but I do think that it is important for mothers, whether young or older, to fully know what their decision means for their baby. I am also going to leave a few links here with a few good articles if you choose to read a little further into this topic. Once again, I apologize for this being as lengthy as it is, but I figured if I am going to do it, I may as well do it right =)
http://www.bestforbabes.org/help-i-dont-want-to-breastfeed/
http://www.007b.com/early_weaning.php
http://www.ecologos.org/sids.htm
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/1999/07/19/formula/index.html
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