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Breast milk tastes better than formula
Human breast milk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland.
Which would you rather eat?
Breastfed babies are healthier over-all
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the U.S. recently conducted
internal research to determine the value of the company lactation support
program. This research found that breastfed babies had many health advantages
over formula-fed babies, including better over-all health. (Kaiser Permanente:
Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation
program)
No bottles to carry
Unless you're pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are
fewer bottles to deal with. No need to refrigerate
Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it's made on demand. Even pumped
breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.
Natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside
from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is
remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a
few moments of breast feeding. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it
is a good idea to breast feed immediately after he/she receives a vaccination.
This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.
Breast milk is the perfect food for sick baby
When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on
an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to
digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the
intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte
solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more
mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well
as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucus formation.
More sleep for mum, baby and dad
Especially if she cosleeps, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and
warm. Less time comforting a crying baby suffering from wind and allergies.
A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right
back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and
swallowing air.
Even if dad helps with baby burping, nappy changing, and baby wearing, there are
no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much less burping
after the first few months.
Less equipment to buy
If you don't need or want to pump your milk, you will not need to purchase a
single thing: your body has all the equipment built-in. Even if you do have to
buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings in cost of formula and
additional medical attention make breast feeding financially well worth trying.
Breast milk has never been recalled
Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22
"significant" recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening
situations. Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998", Breast feeding.com,
Inc.
Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria
In fact, it has antibacterial properties.
No need to worry about which brand is better
Each artificial breast milk formula is different from all its competitors, but
none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very stressful
for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the
lot. No matter which formula is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant
formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells,
hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures
that cannot be replicated in infant formula." (Quoted from FDA
pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994
issue of Endocrine Regulations.)
No need to worry about adding contaminated water
Even in the U.K. our water can contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead and
aluminium. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to
sterilize it before being added to formula.
Breast Feeding encourages proper dental and jaw development, with fewer fillings
"Suckling at the breast is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies
at the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do
those drinking from a bottle...As [the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously
exercised in suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth of
well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."
Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria
that cause tooth decay.
The Complete Book Of Breast feeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright
1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York,
NY 10003 "Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of breast feeding the
lower the incidents of malocclusion." Labbok, M.H. "Does Breast feeding Protect
against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the
National Health Interview Survey" American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987
Loesche WJ, "Nutrition and dental decay in infants." Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435,
1985 Lucas, A, Cole T, "Is Breast Feeding a Likely Cause of Dental Caries in
young Children?" Journal of American Dental Assoc., 1979; 98:21-23
Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
Breastfed neonates demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly
shorter duration that formula fed neonates. Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast
vs Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn
Infants". Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6
Better social development
The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from
that of bottle fed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant
advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities. Baumgartner,
C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies
During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984
Self confidence booster for mum
There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and
knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come
from your own body.
Much nicer nappies
Breastfed baby poo smells mild and inoffensive, unlike the productions of a
formula fed baby! Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain
about wanting to try breast feeding!
Source :
http://www.breastfeedingandbabywearing.co.uk/morebfreasons.html