Bottle feeding vs. breast feeding; over view of the myths behind the difficulties.
Deciding how to feed your newborn is one of the many hurdles you will have to jump as a new parent. While breast-feeding is the best source of nutrition for your child during their first year, determining if it is right for you and your family is very important.
You must ask yourself: (These are in no particular order.)
- Is there a particular health reason preventing me from nursing? (Studies show only 2% of new mothers cannot feed their children naturally due to medical issues.)
- Do I lack family support? (Supportive family and peers are very important with new moms, particularly if she is frustrated and impatient with the process. She is more likely to quit in an unsupportive environment.)
- Is formula being "pushed" on me by family or other outside sources? (Formula companies are known for offering samples, coupons and checks to new moms when her child is born, but they agree breast milk is best.)
- Have I been led to believe formula is more convenient? (A lot of parents feel this way, but more often than not these parents have both tried and failed or have not tried at all.)
- Is fear of failure the only thing stopping me? (This is a big concern for a lot of new mothers, but they must remember this is a learning process for both her and baby. Everything worth learning takes time and patience.)
Answering these questions is a good start, but actually learning the difference between breast milk and formula is key.
Breast milk verses formula: (Just a few of the many benefits are listed here.)
- Breast milk: it is always ready, requires no preparation.
Formula: requires preparation. (Except in the case of premixes, but those may need warming and bottle preparation.
- Breast milk: helps the mother lose weight quicker.
Formula: does not.
- Breast milk: contains colostrum . . . the perfect first food according to specialists.
Formula: does not contain colostrum.
- Breast milk: decreases the mother's risk of breast cancer.
Formula: offers no direct health benefits to the mother.
- Breast milk: fights and prevents many allergies and diseases while helping baby build a stronger immune system.
Formula: does not.
- Breast milk: helps parents sleep longer at night because no bottle preparation is necessary.
Formula: does not.
You'll undoubtedly hear many arguments stating breast feeding your child will take too much time and effort. Think of it this way:
- The breast feeding mother: exposes her nipple to baby, baby latches on for five to fifteen minutes on each side. With burping and a big appetite, the whole process could take up to a half-hour. (More time, of course, is needed if the mother returns to work and must pump bottles for the caregiver.)
- The formula feeding mother: applies for W.I.C (Woman, Infant and Children program) formula or hunts for other money saving vouchers, shops for formula, sterilizes bottles, sterilizes nipples, measures formula, mixes formula, warms formula before feeding to baby, washes out bottles, washes nipples, can't leave the house with baby without preparing bottles to take first, and she still has to find time to sit down and feed her child . . . or employ someone else to do it for her. (This is a hypothetical scenario.)
Breast feeding your child will be a challenge, this is a fact, but worth learning. It will not happen over night, but with patience and support you will be successful. If you are in doubt, there are many wonderful support groups available in communities nationwide and online.
