The Benefits Of Breastfeeding

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What mother would not want an inexpensive, convenient way to sufficiently nourish her baby, while also boosting the child’s immunity? Breastfeeding does just this, and more. Besides the benefits for the baby, breastfeeding also lessens the likelihood of certain cancers in the mother and even develops a strong mother-infant bond. Some mothers overlook these benefits of breastfeeding, choosing formula as a more convenient alternative. Although breastfeeding may seem challenging at times, it has many long lasting benefits for both the baby and mother.
Some mothers desire to breastfeed, but continually struggle to adequately feed their child. They may wonder whether breastfeeding is really worth the frustration, tears, and sleepless nights. Or as Ysenda M. Graham asks in her article promoting bottle-feeding, “Can formula milk really be that bad […]?” People supporting formula milk, argue that it aids the mother who, “[Sacrifices] every waking hour to nature's cause,”(Graham) and yet still does not produce enough milk to feed her hungry, growing baby. At first the baby may not receive much …show more content…

Why? – Because formula milk does not have the same benefits for the baby as breast milk. For a developing child, nutrition is crucial. In her article, “Breastfeeding – Natural is Best,” promoting breastfeeding and its benefits, Dr. Gina Rusike states that “Breast milk has an optimum mix of nutrients including vitamins, protein and fat - everything your baby needs to grow provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula.” Although it is true that formula milk can emulate a few of these important nutrients, it “cannot hope to duplicate the vast and constantly changing array of essential nutrients in human milk”(Rusike). While it is important to make sure the baby is receiving enough food, the quality of the food is equally as important. Breast milk fulfills these

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