Breast Milk Or Formula: The Ongoing Struggle
Nevin Barich
LOS ANGELES
,
September 5, 2018
(Industry Intelligence Inc.)
–
Breast milk or formula. Breast milk or formula. Breast milk or formula.
When your wife gets pregnant with your first child, you quickly realize that everyone has an opinion as to what you feed your newborn when he or she first arrives. And boy, do the two sides dig in! Breastfeeding advocates not only point to all the health advantages, but many make you feel like you’re the worst future parent on Earth for even entertaining the idea of formula. Meanwhile, the pro-formula parents tell you that breastfeeding exclusively is problematic at best and using formula gives you more flexibility and options.
It’s enough to make your head spin. So I did my own research to find out what would work best for my kid. To that end, I found myself on WebMd.com, which broke down the benefits of both breastfeeding and formula.
The advantages of breastfeeding:
It provides natural antibodies that help your baby resist illnesses, such as ear infections.
It's usually more easily digested than formula. So breastfed babies are often less constipated and gassy.
It may lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in the first year of your baby's life.
It may raise your child's intelligence. Studies show breastfed babies have higher levels of cognitive function.
Breast milk may even help your child in later years, by reducing the risk of being overweight, and of developing asthma, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, and lymphoma.
Breastfeeding is good for moms, too. Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer.
The advantages of formula:
It's convenient. Formula-fed babies can be fed by anyone at any time.
It's flexible. You don't have to fit pumping into your work schedule. Instead, you can simply leave formula for your babysitter or day care center.
Your partner can help out with nighttime feedings and share that bonding experience with your baby.
Scheduling feedings may be easier. Formula isn't digested as quickly as breast milk, so formula-fed babies don't need to eat as often, especially in the first few months.
You don't have to worry about what you eat. Moms who breastfeed may have to avoid certain foods that her baby can't tolerate.
You can have a glass of wine or a cocktail once in a while. Alcohol is a no-no for women who breastfeed because they pass on tiny amounts of it to their babies.
Nevin Barich is the Food and Beverage Analyst for Industry Intelligence, which can help YOU better address your own industry challenges. We invite you to come take a look at our service. Call us today at 310-553-0008 and we’ll schedule you for a 15-minute demo.
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