There is NO comparison..BREAST REALLY IS BEST!!

However in todays society where most mothers are finding themselves having to go back to work and with some even not taking their full maternity leave due to financial constraints placed upon them, this makes finding the time and the energy to breast feed a very difficult decision and bottle feeding the only option available to them. Many people look down on mothers who find themselves unable to breast feed and see the mother as depriving the child.

There has been a decline in the number of babies who are breastfed in recent years and this figure drops dramatically after the ages of four months. This has prompted the government to launch a campaign for more mothers to breast feed their children. The government wants to promote and encourage mothers to breast feed their babies and to continue doing so after their baby has past their first stage and is moving towards solid foods.

Advantages of Breast Feeding

Breast milk provides all the essential nutrients that a baby needs. There is no need for vitamin or other supplements to be introduced to the babies diet when breastfeeding. Breast milk also can protect him or her from infections.

After giving birth a baby usually needs fed within an hour after delivery. Breast milk at this time produces a substance called Colostrum which is a yellowish transparent fluid. This substance lasts for approximately the first 3 days and is rich in high levels of protein and anti bodies which the baby needs. This fluid also contains less fat and a baby weaned on Colostrum is more likely to resist the bacteria and viruses that can cause illness.

It also helps to build up a healthy immune system and protects the baby against disease by providing essential anti bodies and growth factors.

After the first few days a mothers milk changes in colour and consistency. This being due to a change in the mothers hormones. This milk is of a thinner consistency and is usually blue-white in colour.

A mothers milk constantly changes as both the baby and the mother develops. This ensures that the mothers milk is designed to meet the digestive and nutritional needs of the developing baby. A babys digestive system is far from developed when a baby is born and this even more so in premature babies. Breast milk can aid and assist the breakdown of this important nutrition ensuring the babys needs are met.

Breast feeding may also prevent diarrhoea, ear and urinary tract infections. It may also reduce blood pressure.

Breast fed babies also have a lower rate of contracting meningitis or severe blood infections.

Breastfeeding your baby can raise his or her IQ levels. This being due to the essential fatty acids and minerals found in the breast milk.

A baby who is breast fed can almost never becomes allergic to their mothers milk.

Breast fed milk ensures that the baby is exposed to fewer allergens and helps protect against allergies which are found in formula milk.

Although it is difficult to monitor how much breast milk a baby is receiving, it is shown that it is almost impossible to over feed a breast fed baby.

A mother who breast feeds usually develops a closeness to her child. This has massive psychological benefits for both mother and child.

Breast milk is FREE, CONVENIENT and NATURAL! It is always there and you dont need to carry around cumbersome equipment and bottles.

Disadvantages of Breast Feeding

There are very few disadvantages in breastfeeding.

The main disadvantage is that the mother has to be there to provide milk at all times. The may make the mother tired and anxious. She may find that she has to plan her timetable very meticulously and if going out with the baby ensure that there are suitable mother and baby rooms available. ( For all the advantages in modern society some people still find a mother breast feeding her baby in public an act of public indecency).

Mothers may find that their milk dries up and may develop swollen or cracked nipples. When a mother finds their milk has dried up they may find that this can cause some psychological problems as the mother may feel she unable to provide for her baby.

They may also find that their milk may leak and will have to wear a nursing bra and breast pads whilst breastfeeding.

She also will have to watch her diet for the time she is breastfeeding as anything she east will be passed straight through her to the baby through her milk.