Whether to breastfeed or to bottle feed is an issue that every new mom must decide on. If you’re a soon to be mom who still can’t make up her mind, let me share to you the reasons why I chose breastfeeding over formula.
Nutrition & Health
Human milk is specially designed by nature for human consumption and contains all the nutritional requirements that your baby needs. While formula manufacturers claim that their product can substitute a mother’s milk, studies had shown that breastfed babies are healthier, have higher IQ and had longer lives than their formula-fed counterparts. They are also less likely to develop diseases such as diabetes and asthma, infections and other illnesses.
Bonding Time
The physical skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding creates a special bond between a mother and her baby. Breastfeeding fulfills not only the physical needs of the baby but his social and emotional needs as well.
Convenience
You can feed your baby anytime without having to mix, warm and do other preparation required from bottle feeding. You can travel light because you don’t need to pack sterilized bottles, nipples, bottled water, ice pack and warmer. You’ll probably need a nursing cover if you’re not comfortable with feeding in public. I had mine (Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover) from Amazon.
Availability
As long as you’re close at hand, milk is always available for the baby. When the baby gets hungry in the middle of the night, you can feed him right then and there. Your neighbors don’t have to wake up listening to your baby cry while mommy’s preparing his bottle.
Savings
If you’re on a budget, you can save a lot by breastfeeding. There’s no need to buy expensive infant formula, bottles, nipples, cleaning gadgets, milk warmer, ice packs and other formula feeding purchases.
Post-Partum Mother Benefits
Experts say that breastfeeding requires extra 500 calories per day and helps mothers lose the extra weight they gained during pregnancy. Furthermore, studies show that mothers who breastfed were less likely to develop osteoporosis and breast cancer.
These are just a few of the benefits of breastfeeding and it is no wonder why organizations such as the UNICEF, World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend it. However, not all mothers have the same health, circumstances, beliefs and lifestyle so deciding between breast and bottle feeding remains as a mother’s personal choice.
Make a decision that works best for your family.
I have breastfed from 6 months to One year. It is best to make the decision that works for you. One thing I found an irritation was the the bottle maintenance; wash, boil, clean, has it been out too long, etc… With bottle feeding I liked the longer sleep and the fact that my hubby could feed, if I hadn’t pumped enough.
In 5 more weeks I’ll be doing this all over again, here’s to breastfeeding for a whole year!!!
I’m breastfeeding too. Till now that she’s almost a year old.
Anyway, good luck to you. Don’t worry, it’s good for the baby and you as well.
I plan to breastfeed too…I hope it goes well for me.
good luck Jade. if you’re a stay at home mom, it will be easy. 🙂