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benefits of breastfeeding ESSAY
breastfeeding benefits childs development essays
benefits of breastfeeding ESSAY
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Through the years there has been a debate about whether babies should be fed exclusively on breastfeeding or not. One of the most difficult decisions for new mothers is to decide which diet to follow with her babies. Decisions include relying on the natural choices of breastfeeding or following the advice given by relatives, doctors, pediatricians and infant formula manufacturers. Controversies continue over the years. As many more mothers now want to nurse their babies, formula advocates claim that formula is equivalent to the real thing. Furthermore, supporters of supplemented infant formulas claim their products include the same elements present in mother’s milk plus and even will improve babies’ vision and cognitive behavior. This review aims to expose the benefits of breast milk over formula even for babies with special nutritional requirements.
The World Health Organization (WHO) (2011a) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) (2008) recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life a recommends mothers to of developed and undeveloped countries to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months. Their recommendation seeks to achieve optimal growth, development and health for babies. After six months of age, the WHO recommends to complement breastfeeding with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods for up to two years of age or more. As well, the American Academy of Family Physicians (2008) promotes the promotion of breastfeeding among their members independently of their specialization. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics (2005) acknowledged the health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother, advising the mothers to continue breastfeedi...
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...is more, Freudenheim (1994) reported that women who were breastfed as infants (even for short time), showed an approximate 25% lower risk of developing premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women who were bottle-fed as an infant.
In order to take advantage of all the benefits of breastfeeding babies for longer periods of time, women should become educated of the advantages of breastfeeding. As well a good education about lactation will warrantee baby and mother will enjoy a longer and healthier breastfeeding period. Lately the World Health Organization (2011) concludes exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production. As well benefits for the breastfed infant continue even though lactation period is longer than the time recommended.
This article goes into depth on the different components that make up breast milk’s nutrient content. The article also goes over the different types of milks that a mother produces when feeding her infant. It also brings up that every mother’s milk is different because breast milk will change itself based on an infant’s nutritional needs. Both authors work at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research for Human Milk and Lactation which means both authors have a strong knowledge about breast milk. All sources they
Constantly having a baby tug and pull at your nipple throughout the day may not be the most comfortable feeling a mother would look forward to. The soreness and difficulty makes new mothers ponder over the decision to use infant formula instead of breastfeeding. With thoughts of convenience and comfort, mothers tend to forgo the nutrients in breastmilk and take on formulas instead. Using infant formula is a personal choice a mother is willing to make; however, studies have shown the greater benefits in breast milk for the child, the mother, and the family.
What is better for infants under two years of age; breast-feeding or formula feeding? How does each affect the child’s health outcome? These are questions many new parents or soon-to-be parents ask. There are benefits to both breastfeeding and formula feeding, but with benefits, there are also risks to each type of feeding. Picking which type of feeding to provide a child is significant because a child grows significantly within the first two years of life. Within these first two years, a child needs the proper amount of adequate nutrition to grow and develop. It is important to determine which feeding is better for infants to help them in this vulnerable stage of life. Do infants who breastfeed have better health outcomes in the first two years of life than
Very few experts disagree with the fact that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for the infant. However, decreasing breastfeeding rates raise many questions as to why mothers are not choosing the best nutritional choice for their children. Despite breast milk being the obvious choice for infant feeding due to the health, psychological, and economic benefits, many mothers still decide to feed their infants formula due to lack of knowledge and support, difficulties with breastfeeding, and social embarrassment. Changes need to be made with formula companies, medical professionals, and the public opinion of breastfeeding in order to give nursing mothers the support they deserve.
Nutrition and breastfeeding are subjects that can relate greatly to each other. New mothers are in a need of information regarding breastfeeding. Mothers receive the information and instructions on how to breastfeed at the hospital where they bear their children. That information is essential in the decision making process of whether to breastfeed or not. Still the clear choice for mothers everywhere is breastfeeding for several important life affecting reasons. Breast milk is highly nutritional, protects from various diseases, ideal in growth, promotes bonding, and is beneficial for the mother in a recovery process after labor.
Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds her child from her breast. Breastfeeding has been around since before the 15th century. In addition to strengthening the bond between a mother and her baby, breastfeeding offers a number of benefits for both a mother and her child. Babies who are breastfed have lower risk of meningitis, various cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, childhood leukemia, allergies and obesity. Mothers have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis. All mothers no matter where they are weather it be the mall, park, restaurant, or just out running errands need to have their right to breastfeed protected.
There many advantages to breastfeeding! Research shows that breastfed infants have fewer and shorter episodes of illness. The nutrition provided by breastmilk benefits the baby’s IQ. The skin-to-skin contact encouraged by breastfeeding offers babies greater emotional security and enhances bonding. Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension for the infant later in life. Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergic disease, and lowers the risk of developing allergic disease. Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby in the meantime from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections. Breastfeeding protects against developing chronic diseases such as: celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers. (Shinskie and Lauwers, 2002)
Nutrients in breast milk are better for your baby than nutrients in infant formula. Breast milk is uniquely designed for your baby’s needs.
Most argue that the formulas created in a lab just cannot imitate the nutrients that a mother herself can make. The Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases early on and also later in life these include but are not limited to juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer. The infant brain also benefits vastly from breastfeeding. The babies are not the only one who benefit from this. Th...
Breast-feeding is when the mother feeds her child with the milk from her breast. Breast-fed babies normally eat between 8-12 times in a 24 hour period (Lindsay 150). According to Stuhldreher, “Before the eighteenth century, human milk was the only source for infant feeding. If a mother did not breast-feed, a woman called a wet nurse fed her baby” (Stuhldreher, Par.19). Starting in the nineteenth century a new mother was able to decide whether she wanted to breast-feed or feed her baby formula milk. If a mother is able to breast-feed, she should do so for the sake of her child and herself. Many studies show that breast-feeding is beneficial to both the mother and the child in many ways (Stuebe 156). Breast-feeding is an essential step for ensuring good health for the mother and her child.
Breastfeeding rates are continually increasing. The nutritional benefit of breast over formula is a long established fact. “According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breastfeeding rates improved nationwide in 2000-2008, and some of the greatest improvement was among black women. However, only about 59 percent of black mothers breastfed in 2008, compared to 80 percent of Hispanic mothers and about 75 percent of white mothers. For 2008 rates of breastfeeding at a baby’s first birthday, the number was about 23 percent overall but only 12.5 percent for black mothers. That low rate still marks a near doubling of rates among black mothers compared to the year 2000” (Currie, 2013).It is the recommended method of feeding an infant for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has benefits to both mothers and their babies. The baby receives immunity to protect it from disease. Financially, breastfeeding can significantly reduce the burden of having a new child. Many mothers initiate breastfeeding in the hospital; however, the number of women who breastfeed until six months is very low (Guyer, Millward, & Berger, 2012). Breastfeeding is highly favored over bottle feeding. Yet, mothers still do not choose to continually breastfeed their infants. Do mothers who breastfeed during hospitalization have limitations or no desire to continue versus mothers who breastfeed for the recommended six months or longer at home?
Though breastfeeding is undoubtedly the optimum feeding method, it is not necessarily a possibility for some mothers (The Nemours Foundation). For example, couples who choose to adopt children are obviously not able to breastfeed their child because the mother is not lactating. Other mothers just simply do not have the time to breastfeed their children because they are busy running errands (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). Another reason some mothers do not breastfeed is that they are using a babysitter so they need the babysitter to have some way to feed the child (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). The reasons behind bottle feeding are definitely sound, but they only prove that bottle feeding is an alternative method, not a replacement for breastfeeding. Th...
In today’s society mothers are faced with the decision whether to breastfeed or to formula feed their infant. Whether the infant’s family is on a tight budget some choose to breastfeed but while another mom formula feeds people say “she is taking the easy way out or she isn’t going to bond with her infant as much as breastfeeding mothers will”. There has been numerous debates on the social media sites to prove which one is better and mothers bashing each other about the topic. There are many considerations to keep in mind while choosing how a mother will nourish her child, which are if the mother being on a budget, going back to work, and what is convenient for the new mom.
Breastfeeding provides a wide array of health benefits for both baby and mother, while simultaneously enhancing the bond between mom and her baby. Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer. Their babies see a boost in cognitive development, as well as lowering their chances of being obese as adults, unlike formula fed babies. Consequently, a lower risk of obesity correlates to a lower incident of a wide array of comorbidities such as
With the arrival of a newborn, parents are immediately faced with myriad of decisions. Should they use cloth or store-bought diapers, co-sleeping or a crib, and what parent gets what shift during the night are just a few. However, one of the most important and more personal choices is between a formula based diet or breastfeeding for their baby to receive his or her required nourishment. It has been proven time and time again that the benefits of breast milk over formula are numerous: they include health, emotional, mental, and financial benefits with the convenience of non-preparation. Breastfeeding is not only the most natural way to provide nutrition for a baby it’s also the most complete way. These benefits do not only benefit the baby, but they benefit the mother as well.