The Many Advantages of Breastfeeding (And a Few Reasons Not To)
Mar 15 '00
There are many women who just choose not to breastfeed, and some reasons that women medically cannot breastfeed. This review is not meant to demean or belittle those who do not choose, or are not able, to breastfeed. It is simply intended to educate those who are making this decision, and offer some constructive advice for the nursing mother.
Advantages of Nursing
First of all, to end the debate – yes, human milk is medically superior to formula. This assumes that the mother is healthy, well nourished, and not exposed to or ingesting any toxins.
There are specific advantages of breastmilk over any substitute. These include:
Nutritional:
Breast milk contains all of the necessary nutrients that a baby needs in the first few months. The colostrum has higher protein and vitamin content than later milk, but less fats and carbohydrates. That makes it easier to digest, and helps clear the meconium out of the baby’s system. The later milk also has exactly the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats for the newborn. The composition of breastmilk changes not only in the first few days, but also during nursing, and during each day based upon natural cycles. This is our body’s way of optimizing the breastmilk for the nutritional needs of the infant.
Immunilogical/Health:
There are numerous clinical studies that document the value of breastfeeding in providing key immunilogical and other long-term health benefits. These include, in no specific order, a study that correlates breastfed babies with higher IQ test scores; a study that correlated babies that were breastfed for at least four months with having only 25% of the likelihood of a serious illness (requiring hospitalization) in the first year; studies showing breastfed babies had reduced incidences of ear infections, allergies, pneumonia, asthma, etc. during their first year and beyond; a study showing a reduced risk of breast cancer for mothers who breastfed; and studies correlating nursing with mothering and attachment. (I personally found some of these lacking in data, but I am not trained in this profession).
In addition, breast milk contains the mother’s antibodies that help protect against polio, mumps, encephalitis, and influenza which help protect your baby until he is old enough to be immunized. My stepfather is a pediatrician, and he has studied the advantages of breastfeeding extensively from a clinical perspective.
Convenience:
Breastmilk requires no additional containers, no refrigeration (when in the “original” package!), no special supplies, etc. You do not need to remember to bring your breastmilk with you – as long as you are there with baby, you can breastfeed. Breastfeeding may be embarrassing, or awkward for some mother’s in public places; however, with a discreet nursing top or strategically placed blanket, no one need ever even know you are breastfeeding at all. This is much more challenging in the first few weeks, when baby and you are still mastering the “latching” method. Some mothers choose not to breastfeed publicly during this time, or will go to the restroom or lounge at least until the baby is properly attached. Others have no problem with this aspect at all. Only you can decide what you are comfortable with, being aware but not hypersensitive to those around you.
Hygiene:
Breast milk is sterile, and does not have to be heated. It does not spoil (inside of you), and the nipples do not have to be sterilized each time (thank goodness!). Even mothers with breast infections and minor illnesses can nurse, in most cases (you should ask your doctor about specific illnesses that you may have).
Financial:
Since there is no additional cost to breastmilk, it is clearly the most inexpensive method. No additional bottles, nipples, formula, etc. are required (although I would strongly recommend spending the money you are saving on a good nursing pillow!) My mother told me that when I was born, the formula companies capitalized on the financial factor by telling mothers that breastfeeding was only for the “very poor”; that those who could afford a higher quality for their child paid for formula. This may explain the stigma that many women in my mother’s generation (55-70) have about breastfeeding. Since then, we have done a complete turnaround, and even formula companies admit that breastmilk is superior.
Psychological
There are also significant psychological advantages to nursing. Most nursing mothers report a bonding feeling during breastfeeding, and a sense of accomplishment in fulfilling their baby’s need. Nursing also gives the mother and infant prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which is shown to assist in both bonding and in comforting of babies.
Physical
Breastfeeding also is a huge calorie burner, and nursing mothers typically need the same caloric intake (or more) as when they were pregnant. Ask your doctor to be sure, but a typical recommendation is about 500 calories per day over your recommended non-pregnant intake level. Since most mothers go through a difficult adjustment after the baby, any advantage to calorie burning is great! I had an especially difficult adjustment when my body did not just “bounce back” to its pre-pregnancy shape. Since my sister was back in her size 4 jeans two months after the baby, I assumed it would be the same for me – but it was not!
You should, however, be aware that there is a natural tendency for the body to “store” fat during breastfeeding; this occurs especially in the hips, thighs and buttocks (just where we want it the least!). That’s not a great reason not to breastfeed; however, its one you should be aware of so you understand why the different demands upon your body after the baby.
Okay, those are all of my reasons why breastfeeding is superior to formula. There are, however, situations and times when bottle-feeding is better for either the baby or the mother, or both.
Why Not to Nurse
There are clearly situations where formula feeding is superior. These include mothers on certain types of drugs or medications, mothers with CMV (cytomegalovirus), Hepatitis B and HIV, and mothers who are exposed to toxins regularly (e.g., lead and mercury). In addition, mothers with active tuberculosis, malaria or typhoid fever should refrain from breastfeeding. If you have any significant medical condition, you should consult your doctor during pregnancy and before beginning to breastfeed.
Further, a small percentage of infants develop allergies to certain breastmilk ingredients – typically, the mother attempts to modify her diet to correct this; if this is unsuccessful, bottle feeding is clearly superior to starvation of the newborn. Be aware that in general, babies have fewer problems with breastmilk than with formula or cow’s milk – if your baby is reacting to your breastmilk, consult a lactation specialist to see if modifying your diet can correct the problem.
Other medical situations may occur that make breastfeeding ill advised for either the mother or baby. This includes when the baby has galactosemia or PKU, when the mother has had previous breast surgery (varies, case to case) and other rare medical situations. Inverted nipples and other more minor medical situations may make nursing more challenging, and often prevent appropriate latching as well. In these cases the mother must choose whether to continue attempting to nurse, or just switch to a bottle. The pediatrician and your own personal convictions on this should guide your decision.
Finally, if you have tried nursing, are having great difficulty with it, seen a lactation specialist (in person, not just over the phone) and still are in tears, stressing out over breastfeeding, consider your alternatives. There are many fine and healthy individuals out there who were never breastfed. In some cases, prolonged unsuccessful attempts at breastfeeding may cause resentment toward the baby, or stress the mother out to the point where she cannot function (especially in cases of severe post-partum depression). Consider your situation carefully. Talk to a lactation specialist, and do what you truly believe is in your own and your baby’s best interest. I hope that this information has helped provide you with a little more information with which to make that decision.
One last thought: I read a wonderful quote, and as I was writing this I had to dig out the book to find it. Dr. Alan Greene of San Mateo, California, published this statement in “The A to Z Guide to Your New Baby” (1998):
“The medical facts are that babies and mothers benefit tremendously from the nursing experience and that the baby benefits nutritionally from breast milk. This general truth, however, does not determine whether nursing will be best for a specific mother and baby under their specific conditions.”
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Some good resources on breastfeeding (Note: many of these were used for this review, but no plagiarism occurred! LOL):
La Leche League: http://www.lalecheleague.org
The National Child Care Information Center: http://www.nccic.org
Parent Soup: http://www.parentsoup.com
The Parent Soup A-to-Z Guide to Your New Baby, Contemporary Books, 1998.
The Bounty Infant Care Guide,Health Care Publishing, 1994
Nurturing Your New Family, Hoag Women’s Health Services, Hoag Hospital, California 1998
The Well Baby Book, Fireside Publishing, 1993
The Portable Pediatrician for Parents, Harper Perennial, 1994
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