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. Breast milk is made for the baby having just the right amount of protein, sugar, water, and fat that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. As breast milk is easier for newborn’s to digest than formal, it prevents intestinal upsets. Furthermore, breast milk includes substances such as immunoglobulin’s...
Similarly, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also advocates breastfeeding for the nutritional health of infants as well as for many other benefits it provides both infant and mother. Breast milk excels as a source of nutrients for infants that promote infant health and development throughout the first year of life. The main carbohydrate in breast milk is lactose which is easily digested and enhances calcium absorption. The carbohydrate component of breastmilk also contains abundant oligosaccharides, which are present only in trace amounts in cow milk. These oligosaccharides help protect infants from infections by preventing the binding of pathogens to the intestinal cells. The amount of protein is less than in cow’s milk but is beneficial as it places less stress on the infant’s immature kidneys to excrete urea. Much of the protein in breast milk is alpha-lactalbumin; a major protein in human breast milk, as opposed of casein, a major protein in cow’s milk, which is easily digested and absorbed (Whitney & Rolfes, 2016, p.
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
“Breastmilk contains omega 3 fatty acids, these are needed for the growth and development of the baby's brains” (Byrnes). Some mothers who breastfeed may worry if their baby is getting enough milk. Those mothers are told if the baby is gaining weight, then the baby is getting enough milk. Breastfeeding may be painful for the first few days after giving birth, but the first few days, the milk that comes out, is the most important for the baby. The amount of fat the baby gets is based on how long the mother nurses. Proteins in breast milk make breastmilk easier to digest than formula. Sugars in the breast milk provide energy for the baby. The National Immunization Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005, revealed that 72% of American babies were breastfed at birth and 39% were still breastfed at six months
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
benefits for both the mother and the child. Many researchers have concluded that breast milk helps improve overall infant health and reduces risks of some diseases and cancers for the infant as well as the mother. According to Newman and Pitman, there are numerous health benefits for a breastfed infant. They describe that breast milk contains anti-bodies that keep a child from getting ill, and that the milk’s composition changes as the child grows to better protect and benefit the immune system and growth of the child (Newman, Pitman 19). The most immediate health benefit for the infant is the reduction of the chances of an infant dying from sudden infant death syndrome, more commonly known as SIDS or crib death (Newman, Pitman 11). More long term benefits are reductions for the chances of a child developing diabetes, asthma and other respiratory diseases, ear infections, and even cancer development during childhood. There is also evidence of a reduced chance of a breastfed child developing Crohn’s disease or forms of heart disease, as well as minor health problems such as allergies and eczema (Newman, Pitman 11-12). Newman and Pitman also write that children who were breastfed show signs of more enhanced brain development and tend to score higher on tests than those children who were formula fed, due to the fact that breast milk is made for humans by humans and therefore already contains the nutrients that are essential to brain development (10). As is the case with infants, breastfeeding also contributes to health benefits for the mother. In an article published in the Journal of Women’s Health, God...
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.
“Commercially prepared infant formulas are a nourishing alternative to breast milk, and even contains vitamins and nutrients that breastfed infants need to get from supplements (Pearl, E., 2015). Breastfeeding is proven to strengthen the immune system for children of all ages. While a mother nurses the infant, the mother passes down nutrients and antibodies from the milk the babies drink while nursing. Like immunizations building invulnerabilities for people destructive illnesses, breast milk gives additional antibodies to infants to help them. Nursing sessions are less demanding to retain and process the formula since it contains living development elements, hormones, and chemicals which help an infant to effectively process all healthy intake from each feeding (The Office on Women’s Health, 2012). Further, in creating nations, scientists found that for newborn children who were not breastfed have danger of dying from irresistible infections, in the primary month is six times more prominent than babies who were breastfed (Chen and Rogan, 2004). Children that are breastfed have less problems with digestive systems due to the breast milk, a standout amongst the most essential advantages of breast milk is the containing living parts, for example, contamination battling antibodies, white platelets, red platelets, and hostile to viral components (Taylor, 2013). All which are essential to the growth of a newborn's digestive system that formula does not
Breastfeeding is the most protective, nutritional, and natural way to provide nourishment to infants. Human milk contains several nutrients including: vitamins, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and minerals. These nutrients are imperative for an infant’s developmental growth. Human milk also reduces the risk of developing morbidities, especially within premature infants. Premature infants, who are more prone to infection due their immune systems, benefit from human milk. Compared to artificial formulas, human milk provides antibodies and other beneficial nutrients to help with the development of the infant.
Nutrients in breast milk are better for your baby than nutrients in infant formula. Breast milk is uniquely designed for your baby’s needs.
Breast milk is produced uniquely by a mother for her infant’s consumption. This means that it is manufactured wi...
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?
It is perfect food for digestive system for the baby body. Breastfeeding contain components such as protein, lactose, and fat which are easily to digestible by the immature digestive system for the baby. If you know it not infants that are fed on formula milk have a more difficult time with digestion than a baby being feed on breast milk. The good that come out of this is that breastfeed babies have fewer diarrhea instances. Breast milk also include Vitamin D that help produce the skin, nevertheless exposing a newborn to the sunlight can led to skin damage. Additionally, breastfeeding mother have to be very careful about the foods they consume. Whatever they consume can be passed to the baby. Foods that breastfeeding mothers need to avoid is the ones that contain mercury and limit the consumption of mercury fist intake. Also, caffeine should be limited to no more than 300 mg each day. These need to be taking in consideration because caffeine causes irritability and restlessness n some
With today’s economy everyone is trying to manage their money and ways of cutting unnecessary spending. Which could lead a mother to choose breastfeeding her infant. Breastfeeding is free and it provides the infant with antibodies passed from the mother to help lower the risk of many medical conditions. Breast milk is often referred to as the "perfect food" for a human baby's digestive system because breast milk is easily digested by a newborn's immature system. (2). Breast milk is easily digested so that breastfed babies have fewer occurrences of diarrhea or constipation (2).
Is there any food on earth that can provide the PERFECT nutrition to a human? Yes, and it is breast milk. Breast milk is the perfect nutrition. This superior food contains hormones, live antibacterial and antiviral cells and essential fatty acids (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). All of which are helpful in protecting against any harm. Sicknesses in infants are lowered by the help that breast milk gives. Breastfed children are sick less often than children who aren’t breastfed (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). Breast milk contains all the nutrients that an infant needs as it continues to grow. When the child is brought into the world it has no way to fight off any d...
According to the American Dietetic Association, “exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and health protection for the first 6 months of life and breastfeeding with complementary foods from 6 months until at least 12 months of age is the ideal feeding pattern for infants.”1 Breastfeeding has many benefits to mother and baby.1 Infant and children mobility and mortality are greatly improved due to the promotion of breastfeeding as an important health strategy.1 The promotion of breastfeeding as a health strategy also works to improve maternal mortalities and reduce overall healthcare costs.1 Breastfeeding for the duration of the first year significantly improves an infant’s overall health and chances of survival.1 Benefits of breastfeeding span from improving family dynamic and maternal health to reducing health care costs and decreasing the impact on the environment.1 Breast milk is unique in that is perfectly tailored to meet and infants need and provide optimal nutrition.1 As experts within the field of nutrition Registered Dietitians should promote and support breastfeeding for its benefits to both mother and baby.1