Breastfeeding Vs Bottle Feeding Essay

Introduction Some mothers breastfeed and others formula feed. Each has their own benefits for the baby and for the mother. Breastfeeding helps the baby with their immune system and to give them nutrients that they otherwise wouldn’t get. Formula Feeding makes it easier on the mother to be able to do other things while still giving nutrients to the baby. Both of these ways can help improve the relationship between mother and baby. The only difference of these two types is the opinion of the mother on which one she prefers to use.
Breastfeeding Pros Breastfeeding can be very healthy for a baby because breast milk protects the baby’s immune system, it is easy to digest, and it helps the baby to grow and be healthy. The baby’s immune system becomes less prone to infectious diseases which could cause chronic illnesses and other troubles later on in the child’s life. Breastmilk is easy to digest because it is a liquid
which doesn’t require the infant to chew only to swallow. The breastmilk also has proteins that are easier for a baby to digest. The first milk you give the baby is very important. This milk is called colostrum. Colostrum is a yellow colored liquid known as “liquid gold”.. The milk that is produced with colostrum is very important for protecting the infant from infections and giving the baby nutrients that it needs to survive (“Breastfeeding Benefits”). Human milk also helps bacteria that is good for your immune system grow in the baby’s intestinal tract (“How Delivery and Breastfeeding Impact Your Baby’s Gut Bacteria and Future Health”) . This helps the baby to have less immune system problems as well as the healthy bacteria counteracting the infectious bacteria. The nutrients and ingredients in the milk help the baby to grow.

Breastfeeding is very important for premature infants. The milk helps the premature baby to protect the baby from infections (Mahan & Raymond, 2017, p. 287). The infant needs breastmilk in order to have adequate growth and meet the nutrients the baby requires (Mahan & Raymond, 2017, p. 885). Kangaroo care is very important for the babies because it will be easier for the baby to accept the breastmilk the mother is offering (Mahan & Raymond, 2017, p. 879). Premature infants require more nutrition than full term babies because of the early delivery and developmental issues. The nutrients in the breastmilk help the babies to grow and develop like a normal baby but in a different process.
Breastfeeding helps the mother as well. When a mother breastfeeds, the risk she has for breast cancer decreases (“How Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers and Babies”). If the mother were not breastfeeding, she would be more likely to have breast cancer. Mothers choose to breast feed in order to bond with their baby, promote weight loss, and it helps the mother with instances of dry skin, infections, and ear aches. Some mothers take vitamins to help them keep their body healthy while keeping their baby healthy. Mothers tend to not each spicy food but are able to keep their diets the same as before they had the baby. They try to reduce any type of harmful food or drink that would otherwise harm the baby and the breastmilk like alcohol.

Formula Feeding Pros Some mothers prefer to formula feed rather than breastfeed.
Formula feeding is where instead of the infant latching onto the mother’s breast, they are fed through a bottle. It is a choice that the mother makes for what is best for her baby. There may also be other factors involved in her decision. Mother’s have found this to be an easier and less time consuming alternative. Mothers have access to good options for formulas to give their baby. Formulas usually have a product from soy or milk as the base (Mahan & Raymond, 2017, p. 305). This gives them the same nutritional value as breastmilk. Formula feeding has an advantage; mothers may be able to create a schedule of when to feed rather than getting up late to feed (“Breast vs. Bottle: Weighing Infant-Feeding Options”). This gives the mother a rest and if she has to work, someone else is able to help feed the baby. The mom gets to have a break where she can trust her husband, mother, or other family member to feed the baby while she returns to work or has other errands to
do. A type of milk harmful to use if you don’t use breastmilk is whole cow’s milk. Whole cow’s milk has been known to cause a lot of problems in infants. These problems include “lower intakes of iron, linoleic acid, and vitamin E, and excessive intakes of sodium, potassium, and protein” as said in Chapter 16 of Krause’s Food and the Nutrition Care Process textbook (Mahan & Raymond, 2017, p. 306). These problems hinder a baby’s development and cause more problems at that moment and later in life. During the first year of life, it is best to avoid this kind of milk along with other types that are known as “imitation milk”.