Breastfeeding Formula Feeding Newborns

The confirmation of your pregnancy is truly a momentous occasion, but as the magic turns into stark reality, a flood of timely questions arises. Certainly one of the most controversial and important ones is: "How will we feed our baby?" In this article, we will compare the advantages and disadvantages of two techniques and try to help parents feel comfortable in making a better-educated decision based not on pressure from overzealous relatives, friends, or peer groups, but on scientific information. Along with parenthood comes the duty and right to make the best decisions for your baby based on what your heart and mind tell you is best. This is an exciting yet sobering concept. Get used to it! It is amongst the first of thousands of such decisions you will be making over the years in raising your child.



Generally, it is a good idea to meet with the baby’s doctor prior to the birth in order to get to know each other in a controlled, non-rushed, quiet environment. This is a good opportunity to discuss your doctor’s philosophy of feeding the baby. Will the doctor give you fair, honest advice and then support you in your decision? The feeding decision is one best made well ahead of the delivery, as preparations should be well underway by then for either alternative. The day of delivery is typically very emotionally and physically draining and is usually not conducive to important decision-making. Another important reason to have this decision made before the delivery is that it can be very difficult or even impossible to start using formula and then later try to switch to breastfeeding. This is because the ability of the breasts to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding.



During your baby’s first year of life, he/she will more than triple his/her total body weight, and the vast majority of this weight gain will come from "milk," either breast, formula, or both. (It is now strongly felt that regular cow/goat milk is not appropriate during the first year of life for the vast majority of babies). The time spent feeding your baby makes up a very large portion of your "together time," so it is important that this be a positive, loving, relaxing time; not one filled with doubts, guilt, or anxiety.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants. This includes premature and sick newborns, with rare exceptions. Of course, breast milk would appear to be the most ideal food for your newborn. It is the food least likely to cause allergic reactions; it is inexpensive; it is readily available at any hour of the day or night; babies accept the taste readily; and the immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby fight off some infections. But it is very important not to feel guilty if your heart tells you that formula feedings are best for your family. Infant formulas are a time-tested, perfectly acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. Also, remember that the majority of infants that breastfeed end up on a combination of breast and bottle feedings before their first birthday.



The nutritional advantages of breast milk are certainly numerous. The amino acids in breast milk, the building blocks of proteins, are well balanced for the human baby, as are the sugars (primarily lactose) and fats. The baby’s intestinal tract is best aided in its digestion by the vitamins, enzymes, and minerals found in breast milk. Breast milk also contains infection-fighting antibodies from the mother.

From a dollars-and-cents point of view, you cannot beat the price of breast milk! It has been calculated that the cost of the extra calories needed by the breastfeeding mother is only about one-half to two-thirds the cost of regular formulas, and much less than the cost of the low-allergy formulas needed by babies with allergies. However, the mother must maintain good nutrition and continue taking any vitamin/mineral supplements her doctor recommended during the pregnancy.

Nursing helps most women lose weight (though not fluid) after delivery, as 500 calories or more are used by breastfeeding each day.

There is a well-accepted extra-closeness that breastfeeding mothers experience that is both hormonal and emotional in nature.

The only disadvantages for the baby in breastfeeding occur when things are not going well, e.g., an inadequate supply of breast milk, a mother that is frustrated by feeling she is forced by peer-pressure to breastfeed, or an inefficient suck reflex in the baby. The disadvantages that most commonly arise involve the rest of the family. Siblings and dad often feel "left out" since mom is the only one who can do the nursing. Mothers on the other hand would love to feel "left out" for at least a few hours each day! However, other family me