Breast or bottle?

Breast or Bottle?

Along with having a baby comes many decisions? One of the most-important is the choice to breastfeed or formula-feed your baby. I will put my personal opinion to the side and list the facts and benefits of both the breast and bottle.

Breastfeeding

1. Proven to be the healthiest and best choice for babies from birth to twelve months.
2. Breastmilk has components that are impossible to duplicate.
3. Breastmilk is free and readily available.
4. As your baby grows the composition of your breastmilk changes to meet your babies current stage of development.
5. Studies prove that babies that are breastfeed for at least six months have slightly higher IQ's, less illnesses, and are more confident.
6. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing asthma, allergies, ear infections, gasrointestinal problems and being overweight during childhood and and later adult life.
7. Breastfeeding requires more work to suckle therefore developing a more defined jaw and more efficient space for teeth development. Most dentists can detect a breastfeed vs. bottlefed child.
8. Breastmilk is always the perfect temperature.
9. Breastmilk contains two types of milk-foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk quences thirst while hindmilk provides more of the essential fat and high-caloric nutrition.
10. Babies thrive and need skin-to-skin contact they get through breastfeeding.

Mothers and Breastfeeding

1. Everytime a mother breastfeeds her uterus contracts. The action of uterus contraction helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size.
2. Breastfeeding releases hormones into the mother's system that relax her and prevent or lessen postpartum depression.
3. Mothers who breastfeed lose their pregnancy weight faster.
4. Breastfeeding burns approximately five-hundred extra calories daily.
5. Breastfeeding mothers should consume extra healty and nutrient rich snacks to account for the calories burned during breastfeeding.

Formula Feeding

1. Today's formulas provide all the necessary nutrition for the first year of a baby's life.
2. Some formula's are enriched with DHA a component of breastmilk to enhance brain and eye development.
3. Bottle feeding allows for father's and other's to feed your baby.
4. Formula is costly.
5. Formula is unable to change compositon to meet the changes in babies needs as they grow.
6. Ensuring the proper mix of water to formula is essential to provide to proper nutrition and fluid balance a baby needs. Following the instruction is very important.
7. Formula feeding allows a mother to have more time to theirselves or travel.

Breastfeeding and Working Mothers

1. If you decide breastfeeding is the best option for you and your baby there are ways to return to work and still breastfeed.

• During your pregnancy leave establish a solid nursing relationship.
• Do not introduce bottles at all for at least the first month.
• After returning to work you can pump breastmilk or supplement with formula while you are working. Breastfeed your baby before you go to work, at night and weekends.
• Keep in mind any breastmilk is going to benefit your baby!