Before we talk about breast feeding and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, we must know about breast milk composition and its properties. Breast milk is what Mother Nature had intended mothers to feed their babies. From time immemorial, mothers have always fed their infants with breast milk. Infant formulas were unheard of till recent years.
Breast milk contains colostrums which are secreted in the first few days after the baby is born and this is very important to the child as it has antibodies and immunoglobulins that will help the baby develop a good immune system against all diseases. The milk is highly suited for a new born child and provides it with all the nourishment that it required for the child to grow strong and healthy.
Advantages of Breastfeeding to Babies
- Breast milk is all natural and contains nutrients that a child needs for its growth. One of the major highlights of breast feeding in recent years has been its ability to prevent breast cancer. According to an article Breast Cancer Cuts Risk which appeared on BBC News on September 29, 2008, women who breastfed their children were less prone to breast cancer.
- Breast milk is hundred percent natural, always available and is extremely safe as it is untouched by hands.
- Breast milk is loaded with all the nutrients a child needs to grow healthy and strong and the child requires no additional food till it teethes.
- It is easy to digest and children who are fed on breast milk don’t end up being obese later in life.
- It has anti-infective properties and helps prevent gastrointestinal problems and allergies as the baby develops a strong immune system.
- Breast fed babies are less prone to coronary heart diseases later in life and infant deaths are reduced.
- Breast fed babies are less likely to be over fed and this helps prevent child obesity.
Advantages of Breastfeeding to Mothers
- Mothers too benefit by breast feeding their children. There are no expenses involved in breast feeding as it is all natural.
- They can save some time that would otherwise be spent in sterilizing and making bottle feeds.
- Women who breast fed their kids lost the body fat that they gained during pregnancy much faster than women who bottle fed their babies. This is because all the fat is used up to feed the baby.
- The bonding between the mother and her child becomes stronger and this is an emotionally satisfying experience for any mother.
- The risk of contracting breast cancer and other cancers is highly reduced.
The disadvantages of breastfeeding are very few and one major disadvantage is that a working mother requires going on extended leave to feed her baby.
Advantages of Bottle Feeding
- The baby will require fewer feeds as formula milk is not easily digested unlike breast milk and this will leave the baby feeling full for long time.
- Bottle feeding allows mother to relax, as anyone can bottle feed the baby.
- Many women are shy when it comes to breast feeding their babies in public. Bottle feeding becomes convenient in such cases.
Disadvantages of Bottle Feeding
- Bottle fed babies will not develop a strong immune system, and will fall sick often with stomach upsets and gastrointestinal problems
- Infant formula is expensive, so are feeding bottles.
- Time consuming as bottles need to be sterilized often after every use. Mixing formula takes time. During night time, when children require to be fed, a mother’s sleep gets disturbed as she has to get up and prepare the formula and feed the child and then put it back to sleep.
- Babies dependent on bottle milk tend to be more obese.
- Formula milk is not hundred percent suitable for babies. They are just a poor substitute for natural milk which is provided naturally through the breasts.
- Mothers who bottle feed their children are more prone to developing breast cancer. This trend has been witnessed in many mothers who never breast fed their babies.
When it comes to breast feeding and bottle feeding, it is breast feeding that scores the highest points purely based on its many positive points.
