Breast milk Vs Bottle Milk

An Overview

Many new mothers struggle with the decision to breast feed or bottle feed their new baby. Here’s some guidance to help you choose what’s right for you. Every new parent wants the best for their newborn baby. Most people are aware that the advantages of breastfeeding outweigh the advantages of formula feeding.

Breast milk contains essential vitamins and minerals that are required by your newborn to develop. Although formula milk companies are trying their best to replicate breast milk, and they are coming closer to an extent, yet there are still many complex enzymes found in breast milk that these companies cannot replicate – not to mention there are some entities that they still cannot even figure out. However, sometimes circumstances dictate the choice they make.

Breastfeeding Baby

Breast milk is the perfect food for baby, with numerous advantages over baby formula, especially in the first four months or so. For successful breastfeeding, it is important that you not supplement with formula unless you pump your breast milk during that time. Here’s why:

It’s always available.
Passes on mother’s antibodies to protect from illnesses.
Fights Infection.
Perfect food for babies, exactly right nutritionally.
Lower rates of sleep apnea through adulthood
It’s free.
It contains active infection-fighting white blood cells and natural chemicals that give increased protection against infections in the first months, when these can be the most serious.
Increased protection against many lifetime diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, asthma, Crohna disease, multiple sclerosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers.
Breast milk is a two-in-one package: it is beneficial for both you and your baby. When we talk about breastfeeding vs bottle feeding, we often forget how the natural feeding technique benefits the mother – something a bottle can never accomplish.
It can help prevent SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Less likelihood of your baby becoming obese and therefore developing type 2 diabetes and other illnesses later in life.
Less chance of your baby developing eczema.
Lowers mom risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
Breast milk is more easily digested, therefore less colic, constipation and diarrhea.
Improves effectiveness of vaccinations.
Babies who are breast fed show lower rates of obesity from infancy to adulthood.
It may decrease a baby’s risk of obesity in the future.
It may contain some fatty acids that promote brain development.
Breast feeding can help new mothers lose weight more easily.
Can be frozen. Moms who have a hectic working schedule or are constantly on the go can even express and store their breast milk.
Naturally uses up to 500 calories a day thus helping you to lose weight naturally
Saves money – infant formula, the sterilizing equipment and feeding equipment can be costly.
Exclusive breastfeeding can also delay the return of your period.
Many moms worry that their baby will remain underfed if their breast milk supply is insufficient. In such a case, many parents resort to bottle feeding. This ensures that your baby gets all the milk he needs to grow and develop.

Disadvantages of Breast milk

You may leak milk at times that are inconvenient or embarrassing. When the baby cries, you almost immediately start producing milk. If you aren’t prepared for this properly, it can be inconvenient or embarrassing.
Everything you consume is being passed on to your baby. Any food you eat, medication you use, or anything that you are applying to your skin can and most likely will be passed onto your baby through breastfeeding.
You need special clothing and bras for breastfeeding. Nursing bras are expensive, and you will also need shirts that button up the front in most cases. While these bras are more comfortable these days, they don’t offer the greatest comfort in the world.
Breast-feeding can be perceived to be painful, messy and tiring.
Breastfeeding is an activity that requires lots of energy.

Bottle feeding

Both parents can participate equally in feeding and take advantage of this opportunity to bond with their child.
You can eat anything you like. Breast-milk is influenced by what the mother eats and there may be a couple of things that the feeding mother is not encouraged to eat in order to avoid the baby having a gassy stomach or develop some sorts of food allergies.
The mother has more freedom in terms of scheduling, dieting and sexuality.
Both you and your baby will have an easier time if you need to return to work in the months after his birth.
If you have a premature baby, there is special formula milk available in the market that are specially made while keeping in mind the developmental needs of your preterm baby.
It provides good nutrition for your baby if you have a very rare medical condition that dictates against breastfeeding.
You can avoid any uncomfortable feelings you may have concerning the physical nature of breastfeeding, especially in public.
If you have a premature baby, there are special formula milk available in the market that are specially made while keeping in mind the developmental needs of your preterm baby.
Choose cow’s milk formula over soy to start with.

Disadvantages of bottle feeding

Bottle feeding your baby can be expensive. If you choose to bottle feed formula milk to your little one, you will need need to buy feeding bottles, a cleaning brush and also a steriliser. You’ll also have to invest in a good-quality breast pump or formula milk powder.
Feeding is a bonding moment for the mother and her baby. When the baby latches on to the mother’s breasts, skin-to-skin contact is established. Bottle-feeding may hamper this bonding.
Bottle feeding may compromise your baby’s immune system.
Breast milkhas all the nutrients that your baby requires to grow and develop. It is also light on the stomach than formula milk. Bottle-feeding may increase the risk of obesity in early childhood.

Breast Milk Is the Best Milk

The American Academy of Pediatrics hails breast milk as the perfect food for the first six months of your baby’s life. Just right in its mix of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals, breast milk also provides most of the vitamins your baby needs. In the first few days, your baby needs colostrum-a somewhat thicker, high-protein, low-fat liquid. Over the next two weeks or so, the consistency of breast milk changes. The colostrum is gradually replaced with mature breast milk, which is more liquid and higher in fat and cholesterol. (Unlike adults, babies make good use of a diet high in cholesterol and fat.
Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky, breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by WHO as the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth.

Hope this Symptoms and cure article will be helpful to all. Do not forget to share your valuable suggestions if any.