A healthy choice for baby ... and mom
The experience of bringing a baby into the world can be filled with endless questions.
From birth plans to child-rearing and everything in between, expectant mothers have a laundry list of subjects to cover – and one in particular that remains a topic of conversation.
Breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding is a decision made by every mother, and it isn’t decided without consideration. For some, it’s a personal preference, and for others, it’s an issue of advocacy, and in any event, there are some key facts every parent needs to know.
“Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a newborn,” said Dr. Susannah Walker with CHRISTUS Pediatric Associates. “Breast milk is the perfect food for an infant; the composition of breast milk is so well tailored to the infant that it changes throughout the infant’s first year to meet the infant’s nutritional needs at that time.”
Walker said the milk produced is full of protein and nutrients that help set the foundation for a baby’s healthy immune system, and the components help guard against diarrheal illnesses, ear infections and pneumonia.
“Infants who are breastfed have a lower incidence of childhood allergies as well as chronic illnesses such as childhood diabetes, cancers and Crohn’s disease,” Walker said.
“There are over 200 known components and over 1,000 known compounds in breast milk compared to the 40 [give or take] ingredients in formula,” said Brenda Dalton, a lactation consultant with CHRISTUS Schumpert.
Dalton continued by saying breastfeeding also promotes normal IQ levels and central nervous system development, while also decreasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is the leading cause of death in infants ages 1 month to a year old.
Because a mother’s breast milk acts as a natural laxative, formula milk is tougher for a baby to digest.
“Though many manufacturers have done a commendable job of trying to re-create the exact composition of breast milk in a commercially available formula, this task will never be completely accomplished,” Walker said. “Although [formulas] may claim to have the same percentages of certain components as mother’s milk, these components will never be exactly the same because they are cow’s milk-based.”
Dalton said breast milk is easier to digest because the mother’s milk matches more than 50 percent of the baby’s genetic material, compared to the foreign protein in formula.
Though breastfeeding has its health benefits, some mothers experience difficulties in the beginning stages.
“Breastfeeding is hard work especially to establish a good rhythm between mother and newborn,” Walker said. “I always tell my new moms to give it your all for two weeks; it will be hard and painful at times, but once the relationship is established and a rhythm set, breastfeeding is the most rewarding work. The bonding that breast feeding offers between mother and child is irreplaceable. It’s also always available and inexpensive.”
“In the beginning, breastfeeding can be very time consuming for mothers,” Dalton said. “It is normal for babies to feed frequently while they are both learning and as the milk supply is becoming established, and there can be some discomfort in the beginning, but if a mother is experiencing pain, she should seek out assistance from a [licensed lactation consultant] who is skilled in lactation and breastfeeding management.”
There are some mothers in which breastfeeding is simply just not the best option.
“Mothers who are HIV positive should not breastfeed for fear of transmitting the AIDS virus,” Walker said. “Mothers who have had a breast augmentation should consult their surgeon to determine whether or not breastfeeding will be successful for them based on how much damage was done to the nerves in the breast during the procedure. Some moms [however] are still able to nurse successfully after augmentation.”
Dalton mentioned that breastfeeding isn’t the best option when the mother also has active tuberculosis or positive human T-lymphotropic virus 1.
The positives of breastfeeding include the health benefits to the baby and the bonding that takes place, but there are perks for the nursing mother as well.
“When mothers [breastfeed their baby], their health benefits by helping return the uterus to its normal size, less risk of prolonged or heavy bleeding after baby is born, lose their pregnancy weight more easily, improves bone thickness and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures and reduces the risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers,” Dalton said. “There are social benefits such as making travel simple; breast milk does not have to be mixed or measured and is always available at the right temperature with no worry about storage or refrigeration. Emotionally, mothers benefit with creating a special bond and closeness that comes with time and touch, and economically, families benefit with a savings of over $1,000 in infant feeding costs.”
For the expectant mothers with concerns or needing tips on how to successfully breastfeed, CHRISTUS Schumpert offers free breastfeeding classes through the MOM Program.
