You’ve probably heard the term “breast is best” and there’s no doubt that breast milk is the best milk for babies. However, the decision about how and what to feed your baby encompasses many factors, including your baby’s health and development, your health, emotional aspects, convenience and cost.
There may be long-term effects on your child’s health development, so the decision of whether to breast or bottlefeed, and the decision to stop breastfeeding should not be taken lightly. It’s very difficult to start breastfeeding again once you’ve stopped, so you should be absolutely sure of your decision before you decide to give up on breastfeeding.
To help you make the best choice for you and your baby, here are some of the factors that might influence your decision:
Breastfeeding
If you get it right, breastfeeding is wonderful for you and your baby. Breast milk is the ultimate food: convenient, always available, consistently delicious and nourishing and always the perfect temperature. There’s no hassle with sterilizing, cleaning, or running out of powder. Best of all, it’s an emotional journey of love and closeness that many mothers describe as one of the high points of their lives.
Benefits for baby
Human breastmilk is a miraculous substance. Consider these facts:
Breastfeeding has been shown to impact positively on baby’s IQ and eyesight. Scientists believe this is thanks to the long-chain fatty acids in breast milk. Almost two thirds of the brain and a third of the retina are composed of these fatty acids
Immunity is passed from mother to baby via the breast milk, helping the newborn’s immature system fight disease. As a result, breastfed babies generally have fewer respiratory illnesses, ear infections, diarrhoea and other problems
Every year new studies are published, showing that breastfed children have lower rates of allergies, obesity and even certain types of cancers. Amazingly, some of these benefits are evident well into adulthood
Breast milk is perfectly tailored for the individual baby and his age and development
Human milk is alive with beneficial bacteria that aid an infant's digestion and help prevent diarrhoea (a frequent cause of infant death in developing countries). It is easily digested, too
Breastfeeding helps the proper formation of the jaw, tongue and teeth
As well as these physical benefits, breastfeeding is enormously comforting for babies, and helps the mother/baby bonding process.
Benefits for mom
Breastfeeding moms derive significant health benefits, such as:
The oxytocin that the baby’s sucking releases from the mother's pituitary gland produces contractions in the uterus. The resulting contractions prevent postpartum hemorrhage and help the uterus return to its non-pregnant state
Breastfeeding burns calories. It gets rid of fat accumulated during pregnancy and promotes healthy weight loss. According to an article on the La Leche League’s website, production of milk is an active metabolic process, requiring the use of 200 to 500 calories per day, on average. To use up this many calories, a bottlefeeding mother would have to swim at least 30 laps in a pool or bicycle uphill for an hour daily
Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive, called the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM). Exclusive breastfeeding on demand is an effective form of contraception, but the risk is that you are fertile before your first period returns, so it is not advisable to use this as your only contraception
Because you are not menstruating, your body conserves iron
Breastfeeding mothers have been shown to have a lower risk of certain reproductive cancers, such as ovarian and uterine cancers
It gives lots of opportunity for skin-to-skin contact, and helps the mother to bond emotionally with her baby. Some moms – although not all – simply love breastfeeding and describe it as an awesome experience
The cons
Not all mothers find breastfeeding easy or enjoyable. Some find it painful or even invasive
If you are HIV+, there is a risk that you can infect your baby through breastfeeding
As a breastfeeding mom, it is hard to find time to be alone, or get out of the house. Dad can’t just take over!
It’s not easy to keep breastfeeding going when you go back to work. You need to be quite organised to express regularly and keep your milk supplies up, and some moms find it too much of a hassle
Bottlefeeding
Bottlefeeding can offer your baby the nutrition he needs, and it can be convenient for you, too.
Benefits for baby
After breastmilk, specialized infant formula is the best source of nutrients for your baby – better than cow’s, goat’s or soy milk. Although no laboratory can replicate the complex composition of human breastmilk, the composition of infant formula is designed to be similar to breastmilk
Babies are not totally reliant on their mothers for feeding – dad, gran or a caregiver can get involved too
Bottles can be used to give your baby expressed breastmilk. That means he’s getting the best possible nutrition, and you have the flexibility that bottlefeeding gives
Research into the link between feeding and HIV is ongoing, but HIV+ mothers are often advised to bottlefeed their babies. According to Professor James McIntyre, Director of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand advises in Your Pregnancy magazine, “Unfortunately breastmilk can transmit HIV to the baby. Where replacement (formula) feeding is affordable and can be safely used, HIV+ mothers should not breastfeed. Where this cannot happen, it is better for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies (no added formula, water or other feeds) for 3 to 6 months or until a safe alternative is available.”
Benefits for mom
Dads can take over some of the feeding duties. If he gives occasional night feeds, you can catch up on some sleep
It’s good for the father’s bond with the baby
Because you’re not responsible for every feed, you have more flexibility in terms of working, doing errands, or spending some time on your own pursuits
You can do it anywhere, which is useful if you are one of those moms who is not happy to breastfeed in public
The downside
It is important to realize that formula does not offer all the benefits of human milk. Breast milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in a laboratory
It can be a hassle sterilizing bottles and teats, making sure there’s always enough formula, packing up bottles every time you go out with your baby
Disease and infection can result from poor sterilization and storage and poor quality water
Some mothers feel guilty for not breastfeeding. You may find you have to justify your decision to formula feed your baby.
