What are the
Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding
or bottle-feeding is a personal choice. As a new parent, it's one of the most
essential decisions you'll make. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Over
the years, the topic has caused debate, with many parents feeling judged for
choosing bottle-fed formula over breast milk. In any case, don't let the
detractors get you down.
There
is no definitive answer; only the best option for you and your baby. You'll
want to have all the facts before deciding on one or the other.
If
you're not sure how you want to feed your baby, keep reading to discover more
about the many options.
Breastfeeding
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other reputable health organizations
highly advise exclusively nursing for the first six months, and then continuing
once solid meals are introduced, until the child is at least one year old.
Breastfeeding
is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) until the child reaches
the age of two or longer. Although it may appear to be a lengthy time, there
are good reasons for it.
Breastfeeding,
according to most experts, is the greatest way for neonates and infants to
absorb nutrients and reap significant health benefits. Even more, advantages
come from starting to breastfeed within an hour of giving delivery.
Pros
Breastfeeding
can be beneficial to both you and your baby. Here are a few of the advantages
for both you and your child.
Availability
· Breastfeeding
is completely free, except for the cost of lactation consultants and nursing
bras. Pumps, bottles, formula, and Other bottle-feeding supplies like pumps,
bottles, and formula are all expensive.
· Breast
milk does not necessitate any preparation. It'll be ready when your baby is.
Isn't it wonderful how magnificent our bodies are?
Boost
for Baby
· Has
every nutrient: Breast milk contains all of the nutrients your baby requires to
grow and stay healthy, even when nutrient-rich colostrum is produced in the
first few days.
· Breastfed
newborns are less likely to experience diarrhoea or stomach distress than those
who are not.
· Breast
milk helps protect the baby's immune system from ear infections, pneumonia,
bacterial, and viral illnesses.
· Breastfed
babies, especially exclusively breastfed newborns, may have a little higher IQ
than formula-fed kids, according to research.
· Breastfeeding,
especially exclusive breastfeeding, lowers the incidence of sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS).
· Feeding
human milk to preterm newborns or other medically vulnerable neonates in the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reduces the risk of necrotizing
enterocolitis (NEC), which improves survival rates and shortens NICU stays.
· Reduces
the risk of developing other illnesses: Breastfeeding may help to prevent
illnesses such as asthma and allergies. Diabetes and obesity are all issues
that need to be addressed.
Good
for you
· It
can speed up the recovery process by allowing your uterus to return to its
pre-pregnancy size.
· Weight
loss may be aided by: Milk production burns extra calories, which can help you
lose weight. (Although this isn't always the case!)
· Breastfeeding
prevents your period from returning, which can help you avoid an iron shortage
after giving birth.
· This
helps your body to release hormones (such as oxytocin) that aid in your bonding
with your kid.
· Reduces
the risk of certain diseases: Reduces your chances of acquiring breast cancer
ovarian health, Cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
· Reduces
the incidence of postpartum depression: According to a 2012 study, the benefits
are considerably greater if you breastfeed for more than four months.
If
you decide to breastfeed, your healthcare professional will probably advise you
to do so for as long as you're able and comfortable.
The
greater the health benefits for you and your kid, the longer you breastfeed.
Cons
Breastfeeding
can be challenging, despite the fact that it is healthier and more beneficial
for you and your baby. With the support of a lactation consultant and some
effort, many of them can be overcome.
Don't
get discouraged if getting it correctly takes some time. Here are a few
prevalent issues:
· You
may have some discomfort, especially in the first few days or weeks.
· There
is no way to know how much your baby is eating because there is no way to
measure it.
· You'll
need to keep an eye on your medicine, caffeine, and alcohol consumption. Some
things that enter your body travel through your milk to the baby.
· Newborns
consume a lot of food. If you need to return to work or run errands, sticking
to a feeding schedule may be tough. (However, pumping can assist!)
Bottle-feeding
Bottle-feeding
can refer to either giving your infant breast milk or using formula in a
bottle. Breast milk in a bottle provides similar nutrients to breast milk, but
it gives you more flexibility because the baby isn't reliant on your body for
nutrition.
Breast
milk that has been frozen has been shown to lose some of its nutritional and
immunologic value when compared to fresh milk, but it will still have the
antibodies that are so valuable to your baby (and not found in the formula).
Formula
is produced, and while it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and contains a variety of nutrients, it is not a perfect substitute for
the benefits of breast milk.
Pros
· When
you are unable to feed your infant, a family member or caretaker can do it.
· At
each feeding, you can observe how much your baby is eating.
· Formula-fed
babies don't need to eat as frequently as breastfed newborns.
· During
feeding time, fathers, siblings, and other family members have the opportunity
to bond with the infant.
Cons
· Breast
milk provides the best protection against infections, diseases, and disorders,
but the formula does not.
· To
ensure that the formula is at the right temperature, you must combine and
prepare it.
· Bottles,
formula, rubber nipples, and breast pumps may all add up quickly.
· Constipation
and gas may occur as a result of using the recipe.
· Powdered
formula necessitates the availability of clean water, which, depending on where
you live, maybe a health concern.
Weaning
Whether
you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, you'll eventually need to start the
weaning process, which entails fully stopping breast milk or formula.
This
is normally not done until 9 to 12 months after the birth of the child. For the
first six months of their lives, newborns should only be fed breast milk or
fortified formula.
Even
after you've introduced other meals, your doctor will probably recommend that
you continue to nurse the baby for as long as it's comfortable for both of you.
Breastfeeding should be continued as a supplementary food source until the
child reaches the age of two or longer, according to the WHO.
Weaning
should be done carefully if you're nursing, but it doesn't have to be
difficult.
Some
parents let their children determine when it's time to stop breastfeeding.
Others start the weaning process on their own. This strategy can be more
difficult, especially if your kid is still breastfeeding-dependent. (If this is
the case, think about whether stopping at that point is really essential.)
Begin
cautiously and progressively reduce the amount of food you're providing. This
will not only benefit the infant, but it will also assist your body in becoming
accustomed to making less milk and finally ceasing completely.
At
initially, you may choose to cut off one daytime feeding but keep the morning
and bedtime feedings. The first and last feedings of the day are more important
to babies.
Starting
solids
There
is no clear medical suggestion as to which food or foods should be given to
babies first. It's best to start with entire meals such as puréed vegetables,
mashed avocado, and mashed sweet potato.
Rice
cereal, a typical starting food, has little nutritional value and has been
linked to arsenic contamination. The FDA advises that iron-fortified single
grain white rice cereal should not be your baby's main or even primary source
of nutrition. Your best bet is generally whole foods.
You
can start adding other foods after your baby has adjusted to their first, such
as whole-grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, and meats. Make sure the items
don't have any extra salt, sugar, or flavouring.
Introduce
one food at a time, and wait a few days to be sure your kid isn't allergic to
it or having difficulty digesting it.
Takeaway
For
medical reasons, some mothers are unable to breastfeed. You can possibly have a
busy schedule that prevents you from breastfeeding due to a lack of flexibility.
However,
breastfeeding has a lot of advantages, so try it if you can. It's possible that
it'll become your favourite portion of the day.
Getting
the information ahead of time and devising your own feeding strategy will help
alleviate any worry or anxiety about feeding your baby. Keep in mind that this
is your choice. You should follow your heart and do what seems right for your
family.
If
you're having problems deciding, speaking with your doctor, midwife, or
lactation specialist may be beneficial.