breastfeeding
I am pregnant and trying to decide if I should breast or bottle feed my baby. Do you have thoughts on this subject?
Choosing between breast and bottle feeding is a very personal decision. Every woman, and even some men, will offer an opinion if you ask. And since you asked me, I will offer mine. I breast fed all three of my children and found it to be an emotionally rewarding experience. I feel it also contributed to my children’s health and well being.
The first type of milk produced by the breasts towards the end of delivery and immediately following the birth is called colostrum. This thick yellow milk is loaded with nutrients and antibodies that help protect your baby. So even if you only breast feed a short time, you are still providing great health benefits to your baby. It's better to breastfeed for a short amount of time than no time at all.
By about the third to fifth day after the birth your milk changes from colostrum to mature milk. This milk looks thinner, more watery, but contains all the nutrients needed to feed your baby. It contains proteins, fats, sugars, and water in perfect proportions. For most babies the breast milk with these perfectly proportioned nutrients is digested easier than formula.
You also pass antibodies (disease-fighting cells) and hormones to your baby through your breast milk. These antibodies and hormones help to protect him/her against illness. It has been shown that breast fed babies are less prone to ear infections, respiratory infections, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and GI upsets than formula fed babies. There has even been some research showing breast fed babies have lower risks of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome.)
Formula cannot match the exact make up of breast milk, and breast milk is easier for babies to digest. Most formulas are made up of cow’s milk and babies stomachs have a hard time adjusting to digesting that type of protein.
There are benefits for yourself as well, besides the benefits to your baby. Once you and the baby have established a routine life becomes much less hectic at feeding time. There are no bottles and nipples to sterilize, no formula to prepare and heat. I especially loved these benefits at the 3 AM feeding time. Just sit in the rocker and start feeding.
Breast feeding also saves you money. Formula and all the supplies you need can be very costly. And because breast fed babies get sick less often there are fewer trips to the doctor.
The thing that I loved best about breast feeding was the skin to skin physical bonding that took place. I found the time spent breast feeding to be quiet time that ended up benefiting both me and the baby. I may have sat down feeling harried but very quickly relaxed. The “let down” that occurs during breast feeding, caused by the hormone oxytocin, helps milk flow and helps moms feel calm.
During breast feeding the hormone oxytocin acts at the mammary glands in the breast causing the “let down reflex” to occur; the milk is let down into the subareola where it can be sucked out by the baby via the nipple. This hormone, oxytocin, is a powerful hormone which acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and facilitates bonding. In this way, breast feeding truly does encourage the bond being built between mother and child.
There are benefits to society as well. Breast feeding mothers tend to miss less work as their babies are sick less often. The United States would save billions of dollars in health care as these babies are sick less often. All of this would lead to lower medical costs for the employers as well. And breast feeding is better for the environment as there are less bottles and cans, leading to less waste.
In case of emergency, breast feeding is the perfect temperature. During power outages, the milk does not require heating and there are no other supplies needed. Contaminated water supplies pose no risk as the breast milk does not require mixing.
Breast milk does not need to be supplemented with formula; this is actually discouraged. Talk to your pediatrician if you feel that your baby is not getting enough food. For about the first six months, breast milk will provide most of your baby needs nutritionally. Babies do need 400 IU of vitamin D each day and this should be provided as a daily supplement to breast fed babies. They may also require iron supplementation after the age of 4 months. And breast fed babies should still follow the schedule of vaccines that all babies need.
Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs when breast feeding as they will pass to the baby. Do not smoke while breast feeding and do not smoke around your baby to avoid the risks of second hand smoke. Discuss the safety of any medications that you take with your pediatrician. Most medications are safe, and the risks of stopping prescription drug can be dangerous to the mother.
The longer that you can breast feed your baby the more benefits you are providing. “Many leading health organizations recommend that most infants breastfeed for at least 12 months, with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. This means that babies are not given any foods or liquids other than breast milk for the first 6 months. These recommendations are supported by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Dietetic Association, and American Public Health Association.” (http://www.womenshealth.gov)
Breastfeeding is not recommended if the mother has HIV or AIDS, has active untreated tuberculosis, is receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, is addicted to illegal drugs such as cocaine, or is taking certain prescription medications for diseases such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, or migraines.
Breast feeding looks easy but some women and babies do have trouble getting started. Reach out to family and friends, your pediatrician, or the local La Leche League for help if you need it.
Breast feeding is not for everybody of course. Some women prefer the flexibility of knowing others can feed the baby any time; it’s not all her responsibility. And some women would not feel comfortable feeding in public so would be confined to home mostly.
Breast feeding is not a 100 percent guaranteed method of birth control so do not depend on it in that way. While it can delay the return of ovulation this is not permanent and you won’t know for sure when it resumes. Talk with your Ob/Gyn provider about additional protection.
So, now you have my opinion. But this very personal decision is one that needs to be right for you, your baby, and your partner. Good luck.
Ila Shebar is a women's health nurse practitioner specializing in women's pelvic health and continence at Pioneer Valley Urology in Springfield. Her "Ask Ila" column appears every other Wednesday in the Health & Science section of The Republican and on MassLive.com. She can be reached at ilashebarnp.pvu@gmail.com