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baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.
To Bottle Feed Or Breast Feed?
All new parents want to give their babies the best possible start in life.
When it comes to nutrition, most experts agree that the best first food for
babies is breast milk.
Over two decades of research have shown that breast milk is perfectly designed
to nourish infants and protect them from illness. Breast-fed infants have lower
rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and
other medical problems than bottle-fed babies.
“There are 4,000 species of mammals and they all make a different milk. Human
milk is made for human infants and it meets all their specific nutrient needs,”
says Ruth Lawrence, M.D., professor of paediatrics and obstetrics, University of
Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y.
Breast-feeding is also good for new mothers. It is easier – no bottles to
sterilize, no formula to buy, measure and mix. It can also be easier for a
nursing mother to lose her baby-weight, since nursing uses up extra calories,
although hormones released during breastfeeding can sometimes cause weight gain.
Lactation also helps the uterus to contract back to its original size quicker.
A nursing mom is forced to get much needed rest. Feeing at night is easier – no
staggering to the refrigerator for a bottle while baby cries. And many moms can
feed while lying down and dozing.
Not all new mothers can breastfeed, however, and although breast milk is still
the best nourishment for infants, a good formula is a close second. In fact,
many babies in special care units wouldn’t survive without it.
The composition of infant formula is similar to breast milk but not exactly the
same because the exact composition of breast milk is still unknown. More than
half the calories in breast milk come from fat and the same is true for today’s
infant formulas. A low-fat diet doesn't apply to babies who have high energy
requirements and a restricted volume of food that they can take in one go. The
way to meet their requirements is to have a high amount of fat in their milk.
Using formula doesn’t have to be overly time consuming. Your partner can help
with feeds, which is a huge bonus when you are looking after a small baby,
giving you the chance to catch up on your sleep. Finances permitting, formula
comes in a ready-mixed form, cutting down on effort and keeping the formula
consistent for your baby.
There are a few medical reasons why a mother shouldn’t breast-feed, although
common illnesses such as colds and flu cannot be passed through breast milk.
Women who are HIV positive should not breast feed, and illnesses such as
hepatitis, herpes and beta-streptococcus infections can be passed via breast
milk. Breast implants can sometimes interfere with a mother’s ability to nurse –
there is a worry that if the implants leak it could harm the baby.
If you are unsure whether you want to breast feed the best thing to do is plan
to try and breast feed first, but be prepared for bottle feeding just in case it
isn’t right for you. Whichever means you end up using, be assured your baby will
be well nourished and that you are doing your best for your baby.
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