Breastfeeding Vs Breast Milk Essay

The arrival of a newborn baby brings out an innumerable amount of decision making. New parents often struggle with tough decisions about whether to use cloth or store-bought diapers, using a pacifier or not using pacifier, having the infant co-sleep with them or sleep in a crib. However, one of the most important and personal choices is how the baby will be nourished. There are only a few options in feeding a child at birth. New mothers have to make a decision between a formula based diet and breastfeeding. The benefits of breast milk over formula are abundant; they include health and financial benefits along with convenience. It is important for babies to be breastfed, as there are many great benefits that can be derived from it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) affirms, breast milk as the preferred source of nutrition for almost all babies

In a study by Ballard and Morrow, results show that breast milk contains the perfect balance of nutrition. It is high in vitamin rich nutrients and is easily digested and nutrients are absorbed more easily as opposed to formula. Breast milk contains the proportionate amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat and calcium. The nutritional content of store bought formula depends on proper preparation by the care taker and toleration to the non-human milk. Some babies have difficulty tolerating some nutrients found in formula. Formula manufacturers add synthetic ingredients to infant formulas in an attempt to imitate the composition of human milk. There isn’t any man made formula that can replicate the nutrients in human breast milk. Breast milk contains active infection-fighting