Nutritional benefits of breast-feeding vs. formula bottle-feeding - Essay Example

due: Nutritional benefits of breast -feeding vs. formula bottle-feeding There are many controversies today surrounding the nutritional and overall health benefits of breastfeeding vs. Formula bottle feeding. The breast milk formulas contain similar nutrients, but formulas are not an exact copy of breast milk, which raises the question of equality for the methods of feeding. Although there have been numerous campaigns sensitizing the general public on the benefits of breastfeeding, there still is a large number of parents who still prefer the bottle to breast milk. The aim of this paper is to give a detailed account for the methods of feeding and their nutritional value to babies. This research will be beneficial to first time parents and all parents in general. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life has been promoted by the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service and Healthy People. Breastfeeding has been the natural preference since it contains all the nutrients a child needs and is designed for human infants (nrdc.org). It is readily available at all times with the right temperature and, so it is convenient for both mother and the child it has no preservatives, and it increases bonding between mother and child. Sometimes breastfeeding is done in conjunction with formula feeding. This could be because of various reasons such as the mother having to go to work, or she is under medication and is not allowed to breastfeed or even because the child does not seem to get full on breast milk (Belfield, Cliver & InasRashad, 251-277). However, breast feeding could make the nipples become sore and also requires the mother to be present during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has been associated with the reduction of risks of ear infections, atopic dermatitis, lower respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, asthma, obesity, child leukemia, diarrhea and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding also strengthens the child’s immune system as the mother passes on antibodies to the child that helps the child resist diseases and improve the healthy immune responses to vaccines (Belfield, Cliver & InasRashad, 251-277). However, breastfeeding has little effect for cognitive ability. Infants are fragile and susceptible to disease, partly because their bodies are not fully developed and they should be treated with care and given proper nourishment. Infant formulas are able to copy a few of the nutritional components of breast milk, but it cannot duplicate the vast changing array of fundamental nutrients of natural breast milk. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) for mothers to breastfeed for the first year of a child’s file and even continue until they are both ready to stop. Breastfeeding should be exclusive for the first six months; then a slow introduction of iron-enriched foods should follow to complement the breast milk in the second half of the year. Non- supplement breastfeeding during the first half year reduces the possibility of food contamination due to tainted water or malnutrition as a result of over-diluted formula. Therefore, the child should be nursed without the interference of water, sugar water, juices, or formulas, unless a particular medical condition indicates otherwise. The AAP asserts that breast milk has the perfect balance of nutrients that can sustain babies for the first six months. Some benefits of breastfeeding are also reflected later on in the life of the child, infants who are breast-fed longer have fewer dental cavities throughout their lives. Studies have also shown that people who were breast-fed as infants have a lower blood pressure on average; than those who were formula-fed the same also applies for heart disease. In researching the psychological benefits of breast milk, a researcher found that breast-fed children were on average more mature, assertive and secure with themselves as they developed. It is not only children who benefit from breast feeding, mothers too benefit. For example, breastfeeding helps a woman lose weight after birth as they burn calories during lactation, breastfeeding releases hormone in the mother (oxytocin) that cause the uterus to return to its regular size more quickly, breastfeeding is a method of birth control found to be 98 percent. Scientists believe that this process prevents more births globally than all forms of contraception combined. Also breastfeeding appears to diminish the mother’s risk of developing osteoporosis in later years and although mothers go through bone-mineral loss during breastfeeding, their mineral density is replenished and increased after lactation. Is it also beneficial to diabetic mothers in that the amount of insulin that the mother requires postpartum goes down. It has also been proved that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer (Lacation International Society for Research in Human Milk, et al). Breastfeeding also has social economic benefits; in that mothers who breastfeed avoid the economic burden of having to buy formula that costs $800 per year on average. A study carried out to show the health benefit of breastfeeding showed that infants who were bottle-fed had an excessive need for health care that totaled to $ 68,000 in six months while another group of babies who were breast-fed only had $ 4000 of similar expense ((Belfield, Cliver & InasRashad, 251-277). If breast milk has all the benefits needed by the mother and child, why do some mothers opt for formula feeding? Most mothers whom formula feed have misconceptions about breastfeeding. For example, some believe that breast feeding makes the breasts grow large and out of shape while others simply do not have the time to breast feed. Some people prefer the convenience of bottle feeding because other people can help out in feeding the baby. This gives others a chance to bond and care for the baby especially fathers and older siblings (Igor et al, 389-396). There are various factors to be considered when trying to understand the reason why some mothers opt to formula feed their children. These include; age, level of education, employment status and marital status. A study carried out by Igor Tanasic, and others (2011) showed that women who were more advanced in age i.e. 28-35 years were more likely to breastfeed their children while the younger ones preferred to bottle feed. Women who had an advanced level of education were also more likely to breastfeed than those who only went as far as high school, or never finished high school. It also showed that women in stable relationships were more likely to breastfeed their children than women who were not in very stable relationships. It is most commonly believed that working mothers do not breastfeed their infant children, but this study showed different. Mothers who work were also most likely to breastfeed. This has also been made easy for them because they can use breast pumps to pump the milk which can be stored and heated up for feeding later (p. 389-396). Formula milk is not harmful to babies in fact, is has been approved by Pediatricians to be good for babies. Apart from the fact that formula feeding has been linked by to about 20 -30 percent greater likelihoods that a child will become obese, it has some benefits. For example, formula milk can be used in case the mother, is under medication and has been instructed by the doctor not to breastfeed. It is also necessary because it is used when the mother is HIV positive meaning that if she breastfeed, then she will pass on the deadly virus to the child. It is also convenient when the child is left with other family members. Formula milk is also very useful when a mother delivers more than one baby i.e. twins, triplets e.t.c. and also for babies that have been born prematurely. Formula milk is the best substitute for breast milk in that nothing else should be fed to a baby for the first six months apart from milk. Animal milk used to be the perfect substitute for breast milk before formula came along, but formula milk beats all kinds of animal milks because it mimics some nutrients found in breast milk. This is a quality that cannot be found in any other form of milk apart from formula milk (Shaker et al, 260-268). Apart from the above mentioned benefits of bottle feeding an infant and its disadvantages, there are some advantages of bottle feeding to the mother. For example, a bottle feeding baby does not need to feed frequently because formula milk is not easy to digest and, so the mother has long periods between feedings. This gives her adequate time to do other things (indiaparenting.com). Unlike the breastfeeding mother, the bottle feeding mother can dress as she likes and does not need to dress in such a way to accommodate a hungry baby. A nursing mother is restricted to using those contraceptives that do not harm to the baby while this restriction does not apply to a bottle feeding mother. It is essential for a breastfeeding mother to maintain a healthy nutritious diet while a bottle feeding mother can eat what she wants or get into a diet six weeks after delivery. This also applies to drinking and taking of medication such as Aspirin. It has been proven that most women find breast in public to be embarrassing and so bottle feeding is more convenient and less embarrassing in public (Igor et al, 389-396). In conclusion, it is solely the parent’s decision to make on which method of feeding to use but most of the time the mother is usually the one who does the research and decides which method she will use. It is necessary for both parents to decide on the methods of feeding and so fathers should be included and educated on the benefits of breastfeeding. Helping in decision making is not enough and so they should also be involved in the feeding process; as well so as not to overwhelm the mother and also to bond with the baby. Both methods of feeding have their own advantages and disadvantages, and so parents should make informed decisions, and chose the one that is most convenient but most importantly the best method for the baby. Breastfeeding is the best method for feeding because it does not harm the child in any way and has multiple benefits. Works cited Belfield, Cliver R., & InasRashad Kelly. (2012). The benefits of breast feeding across the early years of childhood. Journal of Human Capital 6.3, 251 – 277. Business Source Complete. Web. 12 September 2013. Igor Tanasic, et al. "Breast Vs. Bottle: Differences In The Growth Of Croatian Infants." Maternal & Child Nutrition 7.4 (2011): 389-396. MEDLINE.Web. 12 Sept. 2013. Lacation International Society for Research in Human Milk and, et al. Short And Long Term Effects Of Breast Feeding On Child Health. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 12 Sept. 2013. Shaker, I, JA Scott, and R Reid. "Infant Feeding Attitudes Of Expectant Parents: Breastfeeding And Formula Feeding." Journal Of Advanced Nursing 45.3 (2004): 260-268. CINAHL with Full Text.Web. 12 Sept. 2013. www.indiaparenting.com/babys-diet/21_3132/advanteges of bottle-feeding.html www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/benefits.asp Read More