As we all already know, Breast Milk is simply milk coming from the mother’s breasts. Well, what you might not already know is that this milk from a healthy mother is filled with an amazing combination of the right nutrients and nourishments that your baby needs! Breastmilk is safe, and clean and contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses.
What then is Formula feeding?
Formula feeding is feeding an infant or toddler prepared formula which serves as an alternative to breast milk or in addition to breastfeeding. This is often used when some women have difficulty breastfeeding or are unable to. While some just choose not to. Whatever reasons there are, the most important thing is that the baby is well-fed, well-cared for, and loved. This is why breast milk is the recommended choice of feed for your child in infancy.
Formula feeding has actually helped save a lot of babies by serving as an alternative, such as for babies with very sick mothers or whose mothers are no longer alive. A lot of formula feeds contain a wonderful blend of nutrients needed by your baby for his growth and development. So, it is not that Formula feeding is all that bad, but rather that it is not the better option.
According to World Health Organisation(WHO):
Healthy nutrients
The nutrients in breast milk are best for the baby’s brain growth and development of the nervous system. It has all the nutrients the baby needs to grow and stay healthy. It also tends to be easily more absorbed compared to formula feeding.
Breast milk contains antibodies that help protect against infections and other conditions. None of these antibodies are found in the manufactured formula so it cannot provide the baby with the added protection against diseases that breast milk does.
Convenience
Breast milk is always fresh and available whether you are home or out and about. Running to the store at the last minute will be avoided or washing of the feed bottle at any point in time will be done away with. Though feeding formula helps the other person to feed the baby when the mother is not around, especially the involvement of the father in the feeding process which helps with the bonding that comes with it.
Cost and Availability
Breast milk does not cost a cent! There is no need for supplies of feed and bottles/nipples which adds up to cost! It is always available. It does not require any prep work, it’s always ready when the baby is ready and that is amazing. Isn’t it?
Beneficial for mom
Having the ability to totally nourish a baby can help a mother feel confident in her ability to care for her baby. It helps the mother to return to pre-pregnancy shape and weight quicker by burning calories and helps shrink the uterus back to size. Women who breastfeed, as studies have shown, have reduced risk of breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and ovarian cancer.
Different tastes
Mothers get calories from a wide variety of well-balanced foods and this introduces different tastes to the baby through breast milk. Breast milk can have different flavors and tastes depending on what the mother has eaten.
Skin-to-skin contact
Breastfeeding increase physical and emotional bonding between mother and child. It enhances an emotional connection and helps mothers feel the enjoyment of bonding closely with their babies.
Even better, you don’t need to worry about how to know when your baby is full. He lets go when he is done. Cool huh?!
