BREAST OR BOTTLE : HOW TO CHOOSE
Written by: Caroline Mayer
There are so many decisions to make when it comes to your newborn. One of the big decisions that is widely debated is whether to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby. For some people, it is not a choice as they have no options, but for most new moms, they need to decide what they want to do themselves. While most health experts agree that breast milk is best, it may not always be possible to breastfeed or some may choose not to based on their medical situation, lifestyle or comfort levels. There are many formulas on the market today that are well-researched and a healthy alternative to breast milk so that babies can thrive, no matter the choice. This is a very personal decision that a mother needs to make and there should not be any pressure to decide either way. We provide some pros and cons to allow new moms to make an informed decision on what is best for them and their particular situation.
Breastfeeding
Feeding your baby from your own body can be a very emotional and bonding experience for new moms. Breast milk provides the ideal nourishment for your baby and helps baby’s immune to fight against infection. Breast milk can also help prevent allergies and certain chronic conditions. Breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months and up to a year if the mom and baby are both willing. Infections that can be prevented or the risk reduced by breastfeeding include respiratory infections, diarrhoea, meningitis, ear infections, allergies, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome and even obesity and diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding is particularly recommended for premature babies. Breast milk is easy to digest and reduces the risk of gastric problems such as constipation or diarrhoea. Breast milk is manufactured by each mother for her baby and the formula is not exactly the same every time. This is a process that cannot be replicated.
Breast milk is free, kept at the perfect temperature and instantly available when your baby needs to be fed. You also don’t need to invest in bottles, teats, sterilizing equipment and so forth unless you are pumping your milk in order to bottle feed. Breastfed babies are less likely to fall ill, which also reduces costs when it comes to doctors visits and medications.
Baby is introduced to various flavours and tastes as the breast milk changes slightly depending on what mom has eaten or drank during the day. Moms should be eating a variety of healthy foods to pass the nutrition on to their little ones. This means that when babies start eating solids, they often find it easier to eat a range of new foods as opposed to formula fed babies that are used to one taste only.
There are some studies that suggest that breastfed babies have higher IQs than formula fed infants. They may also have an enhanced emotional connection with their mother based on the skin to skin contact during breastfeeding. This is also likely to create a stronger bond between mother and child. This contact also helps the mom feel more confident in her ability to care for her child. Breastfeeding helps stimulate the uterus to return to normal size as well as helping to get back in to shape as it burns calories too. Breastfeeding has also been shown to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even breast cancer in mothers. There is also a potential link in a reduction in ovarian and uterine cancers in breastfeeding moms.
Breastfeeding issues
For some moms breastfeeding may be a breeze right from the start. For others it may take longer to get in to a routine and for other moms, it doesn’t ever work out. Some of the issues experienced include discomfort and even embarrassment when breastfeeding baby. Where possible, try to continue breastfeeding and this will eventually abate. Some moms experience severe pain and discomfort when breastfeeding, especially when baby first latches on. This should abate within the first minute of feeding. If it doesn’t, you may want to consult a doctor. Sometimes it is just a change in technique that is required. Occasionally this could signify an infection which needs to be treated. Breastfed babies need to feed more often than formula-fed as the milk digests faster. This means you have to schedule your day well to allow for feeding or pumping of breast milk for your baby.
Diet is extremely important while breastfeeding and you have to ensure that you eat properly. You also need to avoid alcohol, large amounts of caffeine and most medications when breastfeeding as this is passed on to baby through your milk. If you undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses and require constant medication or treatments such as chemotherapy, you will not be able to breastfeed your baby. If you are unsure, always check with your doctor before taking medication that could possibly do harm to your little one. This includes herbal medications and over the counter medication.
If you have had a breast reduction or experience other issues with your milk supply, you can talk to your doctor or a lactation specialist as there may still be ways to improve the milk production so you can breastfeed your baby.
Formula Feeding
When most people talk about bottle feeding, they are referring to formula-feeding and not feeding breast milk through a bottle. Formula is manufactured to have all the vitamins and nutrients of human breast milk and even some added supplements not found in breast milk. Formula is created to mimic breast milk and is a scientific formulation prepared in a sterile environment. Don’t try make your own formula at home. There are a number of reasons women may choose to use formula over breast milk to feed their babies.
Formula feeding is convenient. You can have other people feed your baby which allows moms to share the feeding duties. It can also allow other people to bond with baby during the process. Formula babies don’t have to be fed as often and can be fed on a specific schedule easier. It is also easier for mom to be able to leave baby with a caregiver in an emergency or otherwise and not have to worry about baby not being fed. There is also less discomfort and embarrassment when feeding baby in public. When feeding formula, you also don’t have to worry about what you eat or drink as much as it won’t affect your baby. You can also take prescribed medication without worries that it will carry over in to your milk. If you have lactation problems or it is very painful or uncomfortable to breastfeed, you may also choose to formula feed your baby.
Formula feeding issues
Formula does not contain the antibodies that are carried over in breast milk and it also does not change to baby’s changing needs the way breast milk does. This may mean changing formulas every few months to adjust to baby’s requirements. Babies may also have issues with allergies to certain formulas or not thrive on certain types, so it may take a few tries to get the brand right for your little one. Formula feeding takes planning as you have to ensure you have formula on hand, sterilized bottles and teats and water that is at the correct temperature for baby. You have to have everything with you should you go out so that baby can be fed if needed. Formula is also quite expensive, especially those that cater for allergies. Babies that are formula-fed can suffer from constipation and diarrhoea more often and generally have more gas than breastfed babies.
How do you choose?
At the end of the day, this comes down to a personal decision on your part. You have to decide what is best for you and your growing baby. You may decide one way before you have your baby and then change your mind later. You may decide to use a combination of breast milk and formula feeding if it works out better for you and your family. Now that you know the benefits and challenges, the decision is yours. Another option you might want to look at is combination feeding.
What is combination feeding?
Simply put, this is a combination of breast and bottle feeding. You can feed expressed milk via a bottle and breast feed at other times or use breast milk straight from the source at some times of the day and formula feed at others.
Some of the issues experienced at the start is that baby has to learn to accept milk from a teat and get used to a different method of sucking to get the milk as opposed to breastfeeding. Moving from full breastfeeding, straight to full formula feeding can be even more challenging as the tastes are quite different as well. Combination feeding can be of use if you need to check how much your baby is getting at every feed. It also allows for other people to feed your baby and for others to bond with the little one during feeding. If you have to go back to work, combination feeding is a good way to ensure baby is still getting all they need even when you are not there and you can still feed them directly when you are at home. You have to decide what works best for your situation and for your little one’s well-being.