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Breast-feeding Advantages Breast feeding your newborn has many advantages. Perhaps most important, breast milk is the perfect food for a human baby's digestive system. It contains the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires, and all of its components — lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat — are easily digested by a newborn's immature system. Commercial formulas try to imitate breast milk, and come close, but the exact composition cannot be duplicated. Also, breast milk contains antibodies that help protect infants from a wide variety of infectious diseases, including diarrhea. Studies suggest that breast fed babies are less likely to develop certain medical problems, including diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, and allergies. Breast-feeding may also decrease the chances that the child will become overweight or obese. Breast-feeding is great for moms, too. It burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing moms get back into shape quicker. Breast-feeding may also protect mom from breast and ovarian cancer. Some moms find breast-feeding easier and quicker than formula-feeding; it needs no preparation, and you don't run out of breast milk in the middle of the night. Also, breast-feeding costs little. Nursing mothers do need to eat more and may want to buy nursing bras and pads, a breast pump, or other equipment. But these expenses are generally less than the cost of formula. Breast-feeding meets a variety of emotional needs for both moms and babies — the skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection, and providing complete nourishment can help a new mother feel confident in her ability to care for her newborn. |
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Considering the Limitations Breast-feeding Considering the Limitations for Formula-feeding |
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