Hello mamas!
How you choose to feed your baby comes wrapped in controversy; some women believe formula is just as good as breastmilk, some believe “breast is best”, and some believe that as long as your baby is being fed, you’re doing fine. I tend to fall in the latter group of people who say “fed is best”, however I do believe there are nuances. When it comes to the nutritional value of the milk, breast is absolutely best. BUT, I understand that not every mom is capable of breastfeeding. Whether it be a supply issue, a medical condition, working a job that doesn’t allow it, or the strain it puts on her body reaching the point of subtracting from her capability to be a good mom, there are valid reasons not to. This post is not meant to make ANY mom who can’t (or simply doesn’t want to) feel shame over her method of feeding her baby. In the end, fed is always best. However, I encourage every mom that’s capable of breastfeeding to at least give it a try, and here’s why.
BREASTMILK IS LITERALLY ALIVE
This blew my mind. If you look at breastmilk under a microscope, you’ll see living cells that are actively moving and changing to contribute to your baby’s needs. When your baby is sick, your breastmilk literally mutates and takes on the antibodies needed to fight off the virus. Not only that, but it does this simply from your exposure to the germs around you meaning by simply feeding your baby, you’re giving them medicine formed to their exact needs to fight off anything. Crazy cool, right?
BREASTFED BABIES ARE AT A LOWER RISK FOR CERTAIN DISEASES AND CONDITIONS
According to Cleveland Clinic, breastfed babies are at a lower risk for a plethora of diseases and conditions. It protects your baby from more than you might think! Such as :
- Diarrhea, vomiting and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Respiratory infections (pneumonia, RSV, and whooping cough)
- Ear infections
- Bacterial meningitis
- Asthma
- SIDS
- Childhood obesity
- Eczema
- Type 2 diabetes
- Leukemia during childhood
- Cavities
- Celiac disease
Of course breastfeeding doesn’t guarantee that your child is protected from these. However, in my personal opinion, if it lowers the risk of my child ending up with any of these things it’s worth it. It’s obviously up to you to decide if it’s worth it for your family (and if it’s not, you ARE NOT a bad mother).
BREASTMILK HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF VITAMINS, FATS, SUGAR, WATER, & PROTEIN FOR YOUR BABY’S DEVELOPMENT
The components in your breastmilk change based on your baby’s developmental needs. As your baby grows and their needs change, your milk will change with them. It has the right amount of fats to support your baby’s brain development, the vitamins that support growth, and the carbohydrates they need to for healthy bacteria in their stomach. I think that’s pretty amazing, personally. Your milk contains proteins that protect your baby from infection and white blood cells that help fight infection when it comes. Your body was created to perfectly support every nutritional need of your child, and I’d call that a superpower.
Yes! Breastfeeding isn’t JUST good for baby, it’s a symbiotic relationship that benefits both baby AND mom. Some studies show that it lowers risk for post-partum depression, however it may not be significant. When you breastfeed you release oxytocin (love/happy hormone) which not only supports your bond with your baby, but also makes you feel happier and lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels. According to Cleveland Clinic it can also lower your risk down the road for:
- Breast Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Endometrial Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Just like before, it doesn’t guarantee protection from these, but the fact that it lowers your risk is pretty dang cool. There are other benefits to breastfeeding including quicker recovery from childbirth through the release of oxytocin which contracts your uterus, shrinking it.
CONVENIENCE AND COST BENEFITS
Finally, breastfeeding REALLY helps your bank account. Even if you need to use formula to supplement here and there for any reason, you’re spending a significantly lower amount of money on feeding your child. Formula typically costs around $100-$150/month, but can cost up towards $300/month depending on what formula your baby needs. That’s anywhere from $1,200-$3,600/year for ONE baby. So while it’s affordable for many people, there are lots of women who don’t find that doable.
Also, breastfeeding is just convenient. It means that no matter where you are with your baby you always have food on hand. On the other hand it also means ONLY you can feed your baby unless you want to pump a bottle, but in my personal opinion that’s less inconvenient than always having to make sure you have formula and bottles on hand. But maybe that’s just me.
In the end, whether you choose formula or breastfeeding, if your baby is being fed and growing properly, you’re doing fine. This isn’t meant to say that breastfeeding moms are superior to formula moms. However, I hope I’ve encouraged you to at least try it if you’re able, because the benefits that you’ll see for yourself and your baby are significant.
SOURCES:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-benefits-of-breastfeeding