Baby Research Project: Breastfeeding vs. Formula

Breastfeeding vs. Formula

       There are many decisions one has to make when having a child. A common one of that nature is the choice of either breastfeeding or buying formula. Both have strong evidence to back both claims, but what really is the best choice? One easily knows that breastfeeding is all natural, while the creation of formula is almost artificial. However, many times people who have children are not able to produce sufficient breast milk for their newborn. This could easily cause a dilemma for any parent and hopefully the information I give you will help back up your decision.

       

      Breastfeeding is an all-natural action that many species have been practicing for many years. It's simplistic availability from the mother makes it easy for the parent to nurture her baby. Along with the fact that breast milk develops as the baby develops gives it a clear indication that breastfeeding would be an ideal choice. The mother's body develops an early staged milk and, "This milk is very rich in nutrients and (contains) antibodies to protect your baby. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her tiny stomach can hold." (http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/)It is comfortable for many to think that the bodies of both the mother and the baby are connected through this breastfeeding action. This is another reason why mothers enjoy breastfeeding because it creates a "one on one" time with their new child. However, nursing your baby can be very time-consuming and, "the mother can often feel quite fatigued." (http://breastfeeding.about.com/od/breastfeedingbasics/a/proscons.htm)

       Breastfeeding in general can often lead to anxiety of many sorts. And depending on how busy of a person you are, you must choose on how much you can actually spend time with your baby either pumping thew milk or directly breastfeeding. "A breastfed baby needs to be fed every 1 1/2 - 3 hours. This can definitely be inconvenient during the daytime." (http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2013/09/4-disadvantages-of-breastfeeding.html) If you are a very driven women and you need to work to keep your baby, I would highly recommend buying formula or using a pump to save the breast milk for later. Breast milk helps fight against many future problems such as heart diseases and is statistically proven to give the baby better skin. Every mother would love to enjoy knowing that they are doing the healthy choice for their baby, but sometimes many are just not able to have the capability of breastfeeding.

       Formula is another alternative to breastfeeding and usually used in practice when the mother can't breastfeed or does not have the time.

"For many women, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical considerations that they might have. For mothers who are unable to breastfeed or who decide not to,infant formula is the alternative. Some women feel guilty if they don't breastfeed. You'll still bond with your baby just fine. After all, whether with breast milk or formula, feeding is an important time of connection between mother and baby." (http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/breast_bottle_feeding.html)

      A mother shouldn't feel guilty for not being able to breastfeed. Just because you are not able to breastfeed, does not mean that your baby will not be healthy. Formula feeding is very time manageable and very convenient for mothers. Many mothers are uncomfortable with feeding on a given notice and with the inevitable necessity for the baby to have food, mothers are often scared to do such an action in public.



     However one very substantial benefit that breastfeeding has over formula is that it is entirely free. On estimate in our classroom research, we achieved that in one year, formula would cost around $2000. For new parents, that is a very costly measure that would take sometime in dealing with. In an article about the price of baby formula, it states, "So, if we do a straight multiplication here, we find that over the first year of life, average formula to feed an average baby costs $1,733.75, while the cost of breast milk is $0." (http://www.thesimpledollar.com/how-much-money-does-breastfeeding-really-save/)
 
     Overall, we can see the multiple differences that breast feeding and formula obtain. Most doctors tend to recommend breastfeeding because of its simplicity and proven statistics of healthier children. However, formula is a very safe alternative for those who cannot breast feed or those who wish not too. Time is a very crucial factor when having a baby and breastfeeding takes "one on one" time that is very crucial in developing a bond with your new baby. With formula, other people are able to use the bottle other than you, and you are able to have more free time yourself. Many mothers enjoy the time with their newborn when breastfeeding and overall breastfeeding is a very good option. In the long run,  breastfeeding overcomes formula, but depending on the factors of the family life at home, they may choose to do either or; or sometimes even both.