Breastmilk Essay

730 Words2 Pages

Every new mother has to face the same decision, to breast or not to breastfeed. Although there are benefits to both of these options, the benefit of breastfeeding greatly overpower the benefits of using formula. Breastmilk contains vital natural ingredients that formulas lack, and mothers also benefit from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also can save a lot of money.
Breast milk contains many vital nutrients that newborns need to grow. Not surprisingly, formula lacks many of these nutrients. “People need to understand that when they’re deciding between breast milk and formula, they’re not deciding between Coke and Pepsi… They’re choosing between a live, pure substance and a dead substance made with the cheapest oils available” (Tamaro 26). Studies have shown that breastfeeding infants in the first six months of their lives improves their development, including their cognitive skills. Right after giving birth, a thick yellow substance is in breastmilk. That thick yellow substance is called colostrum. This colostrum is rich in nutrients and antibodies which can protect the newborn child against infections. A woman’s breastmilk changes as time goes on, creating just enough proteins and fats that the baby needs to grow. Also, babies digest breastmilk a lot easier than formula because formula contains cow milk, which is a lot harsher than a mother’s milk.
Furthermore, mothers benefit from breastfeeding just as babies do. At first, breastfeeding can be hard to get used to. Once the baby gets used to a steady breastfeeding routine, it becomes very easy. It has been proven that mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression.Breastfeeding helps the mother bond with he...

... middle of paper ...

... can prepare the formula bottles ahead of time, giving her time to go out and do what she wants if someone is watching her baby. The caretaker can then go and use the already prepared bottles and feed the baby. When using formula, babies eat less often because it takes a lot longer to digest than breastfeeding. Therefore, feeding times occur less often. Woman also can worry less about their diet, and can eat and drink whatever they want without worrying if it will affect the breast milk.
To crystalize, the benefits of breastfeeding greatly outweigh the benefits of bottle feeding. Many mothers are unaware of the benefits breastmilk has for their babies, so they pick the easier route, which is using formula. Breastmilk contains vital natural ingredients that formulas lack, and mothers also benefit from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also can save a lot of money.

Open Document