Breastmilk VS Formula: What's best for you?

After announcing your pregnancy, people will ask if you plan to breastfeed.
And they're opinionated on it. So this is for you. Breast milk or a formula,
this is everything you need to know.

An Overview on Breast Milk

You hear "breast is best" everywhere.

There are definitely a million or so
benefits you could find on the internet.
Not all are going to be true, not even
close. Yet breast-feeding does have
many benefits, for you and your new
baby. Breast milk passes on valuable
antibodies to your child. It provides
"nearly the perfect mix of vitamins,
proteins and fat" according to WebMD.
Breast milk is more digestible than
infant formula. Breastfed infants tend to
be healthier than formula-fed infants. Some studies say breastfeeding
raises your child's IQ and creates a stronger bond.

Breastfeeding lowers your risk of osteoporosis and cancer. It also helps

you heal faster after giving birth, and it burns calories - which is always a
plus!

There is research that says many of these benefits are marginal. Some
studies report no difference between breast milk and formula.

An Overview on Formula

Many parents prefer formula for its convenience. Formula makes feeding
easier when a mother returns to work. Formula means your partner can get
up to feed your child in the middle of the night. In short feeding doesn't
always have to be your responsibility. It's important to debunk many myths
against formula. A group of religious activists started the anti-formula
movement. They claimed formula was against God's will. While Eve
definitely breastfed, it's hardly a scientific argument.

There was also a case in Africa where children who were fed formula were
more likely to die. This was true, but the problem had nothing to do with the
formula. Mothers mixed the formula with contaminated water - the only
water they had. They also rationed formula because it was so expensive.
This meant the baby wasn't getting enough nutrients. Unfiltered water or
underfeeding can still affect your
baby, even in industrialized
countries.

Formula does come with setbacks.

Infant formula is not FDA approved
or regulated. There are occasional,
albeit somewhat rare, recalls. Most
importantly, formula doesn't carry
the beneficial bacteria and
antibodies found in breast milk.

Conclusion: What should I do?

It's up to you. Whatever works best for you and your infant should be the
road you choose. Remember, breastfeeding isn't all or nothing. If a mix of
formula and breast milk works best for you, that's fine too!

Check out more information on our Pinterest Breastfeeding Board

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