Milk Matters - Breastfeeding vs. Formula

Milk Matters

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

As Dr Jack Newman, (co-founder of the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic & Institute) states," formula is always an outdated, inexact copy of the real thing. Formula contains no antibodies, no living cells, no enzymes and no hormones."
Dr Newman says "Your breastmilk is made as required to suit your baby. Formulas are made to suit every baby, and thus no baby. Formulas succeed only at making babies grow well, usually, but there is more to breastfeeding than nutrients."

An undeniable fact is that Breastfeeding saves lives and offers huge cost savings to employers, medical schemes, Provincial and State Health Hospitals and Departments, Governments, and World Bodies concerned with Infant and Child Health. No wonder UNICEF and WHO encourage all governments to 'Protect, Promote and Support Breastfeeding' in their respective countries.

But let's concentrate on the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers and Babies.

Breastfeeding offers both short term and long term benefits for babies:

Breastfeeding Protects Your Baby From

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or Cot Death)
Food intolerance
Allergies
Otitis Media
Contamination due to bottle feeding
Diabetes
Obesity
Heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Respiratory Illness
Childhood Cancer
Gastrointestinal Disease and Infections
Urinary Tract Infection

In addition

Many studies indicate that breastfeeding enhances Cognitive Development. Breastfeeding offers infants the correct nutrition for optimal mental development and neurological outcome
Breastfeeding promotes good jaw development
The risks to the premature babies not receiving breastmilk are even greater. The fact that mothers are sometimes too ill to provide this special milk to their babies is the main reason for the existence of breastmilk banks, such as Milk Matters, all over the world

Breastfeeding also offers short and long term advantages for mothers including:

Contraction of the uterus after birth,
Contraception while the baby is breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hour
Protection from breast cancers
Protection from ovarian cancer
Protection from osteoporosis - thinning of the bones
Financial savings when not buying formula
Financial savings with fewer visits to the doctor
No offensive positing
No offensive nappies whilst exclusively breastfeeding
Convenience, especially at night and when on holiday
Not to even mention the satisfaction of knowing that you are providing your baby with the best nutrition possible.

Does Formula Feeding Have Any Benefits?

Fathers Can Also Enjoy Feeding Their Babies.

One has to admit there is something very special about feeding a baby and have him or her go to sleep in your arms. Many fathers may feel that they are missing out and would prefer to share this experience as well.
Fortunately, this is still possible even if a baby is being exclusively breastfed; once mom is more confident about breastfeeding, she could express some breastmilk and occasionally dad could offer it to their baby. Mothers particularly appreciate such gestures over weekends, so that she can enjoy a sleep-in or afternoon nap. Perhaps dad would be willing to do a middle of the night feed once or twice during the week.

Some May Claim That Formula Feeding Is More Convenient

Breastfeeding moms would argue the point; one of the huge advantages of breastfeeding is the convenience factor - after all breastmilk has to be the perfect fast food. There may however be times when mothers do need to go out and leave their babies behind. Once again being able to express and allowing Dad or your baby's care-giver to feed him your expressed milk offers you the extra flexibility.

What About Returning To Work?

Many mothers who return to work are unaware that they have the option of continuing to breastfeed their babies or still have the option of gradually weaning their babies once they are back at work. There need be no hurry to wean your baby before returning to work.
See 'The Working Mother' for details of your options for feeding your baby when you are going back to work.

Stretching Night Feeds

Possibly one of the most difficult adaptations that new mothers need to make is coping with broken sleep. Many mothers and even health workers believe that giving babies formula or even solid foods will make them sleep better at night. All too frequently the extra food or milk has no effect and could even cause more wakefulness. Why not occasionally use the 'dad does a night feed of expressed milk' idea instead?

Avoid Spoiling Your Figure!

Research in fact shows the opposite to be more likely. Changes to the body including the development of breasts tissue occur during pregnancy not during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding may have little or no affect on the long-term shape or size of the breasts, but may contribute to a healthy return to normal weight after the birth.

Comparison of Breastmilk and Formula

GENERAL
Breastmilk	Formula
Has many known ingredients Including: Interferon and white blood cells Anti bacterial and antiviral agents Intestinal soothers Readily absorbed nutrients Changes to meet your baby's needs Is non-allergenic Promotes normal brain development Is always clean, straight from the source Promotes normal health in infancy and beyond Smells fine going in and coming out Correct intestinal PH balance	Has far, fewer ingredients Including: Tropical oils No anti-infective properties Intestinal irritants Poorly absorbed nutrients Micro deficiencies Is the same throughout all feeds The standard form contains 2 common allergens Cows milk and soybeans Is easily contaminated Linked to many infant illnesses, including childhood cancer, lymphoma, vision defects and diabetes Smells not that good when coming out, as it encourages the growth of wrong bacteria in the baby's intestine. Wrong intestinal PH balance
PROTEIN
Breastmilk	Formula
Non allergenic easily to digest & completely absorbed, whey dominant Lactoferrin for intestinal health Lysozyme, an antimicrobial Rich in brain-and-body- building protein components Rich in growth factors Contains sleep-inducing proteins	Allergenic Harder to digest, more waste, & strain on kidneys, casein curds dominant No lactoferrin, or only a trace No lysozyme Deficient or low in some brain-and body-building proteins Deficient in growth factors Does not contain as many sleep-inducing proteins.
FATS
Breastmilk	Formula
Rich in brain-building omega 3s, namely DHA and AA Also long-chain fatty acids for eye development Automatically adjusts to infant's needs; levels decline as baby gets older Rich in cholesterol Nearly completely absorbed Contains fat-digesting enzyme, lipase Changes throughout the feed Formula	No DHA Few comparable long chain fatty acids for eye development Doesn't adjust to infant's needs No cholesterol Not completely absorbed No lipase Remains static
CARBOHYDRATES
Breastmilk	Formula
Lactose is main carbohydrate Rich in oligosaccharides, which promote intestinal health Retards growth of harmful bacteria	No lactose in some formulas Deficient in oligosaccharides Unable to retard growth of harmful bacteria
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Breastmilk	Formula
Well absorbed, especially iron, zinc, and calcium Iron is 50 to 75 percent absorbed. Aids intestinal health Contains more selenium (an antioxidant) High levels of Vitamin C aid iron absorption	More is added to try and compensate for poor absorption Iron is 5 to 10 percent absorbed Excess iron can cause bacterial growth Contains less selenium (an antioxidant) Low levels of Vitamin
IMMUNE BOOSTERS
Breastmilk	Formula
Rich in living white blood cells, millions per feeding Rich in immunoglobulins Mothers exposed to infection pass their antibodies through their breastmilk to their babies	No live white blood cells-or any other cells. Dead food has less immunological benefit Few immunoglobulins and most are the wrong kind Baby gets no anti-bodies from formula
ENZYMES AND HORMONES
Breastmilk	Formula
Rich in digestive enzymes, such as lipase and amylase Rich in many hormones: thyroid, prolactin, oxytocin, and more than fifteen others Varies with mother's diet Digestive enzymes promote intestinal health. Hormones contribute to the overall biochemical balance and well-being of baby.	Processing kills digestive enzymes Processing kills hormones, which are not human to begin with Always tastes the same These digestive hormones are absent No natural hormones to contribute to babies well being
WATER
Breastmilk	Formula
Consists of up to 90% uncontaminated water Does not overload the kidneys Baby does not retain unnecessary fluid No need for extra water, even when it is hot	Water easily contaminated Can overload the kidneys May retain unnecessary fluid Need extra water in hot weather

Subscribe to our Newsletter