Breast vs. Bottle

1. Breast vs. Bottle Which is better for both the mother and the baby?? By Deanna Robins & Lindsey Janecke

2. Pros of Breast-feeding For the Mother For the Baby - Contains all essential nutrients and antibodies the baby needs - Less diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive problems -Decreased risk of dental disease, cancer, diabetes, and allergies - Helps babies fight viruses while building a strong immune system - Changes to fit the babies specific needs - Suckling leads to proper development of facial bones and muscles - Allows baby to develop better cognitive skills - Easily digested - Cannot be contaminated by external factors (ie. pollution) - Supplies the baby’s first immunization - Decreased risk for future obesity and high blood pressure - Stimulates the release of oxytocin - Decreases risk of ovarian and breast cancer - Aids mother in losing weight gained during pregnancy faster - Helps build a child strong bond between mother and - Free and convenient (readily accessible) - Help womb/uterus return to its normal size faster - Forces mother to get needed rest - Nature’s contraceptive (suppresses ovulation but doesn’t always prevent pregnancy) - Less bleeding after the birth - More bone strength (less hip fractures in older age)

3. Cons of Breast Feeding For the Mother For the Baby - Nipples may become sore and cracked - May suffer from engorgement more often (too much milk in breasts that leads to hardness and pain) - Clogged milk ducts can cause mastitis (breast infection) - Affects the women’s entire life (must wear proper clothes, eat balanced diet, avoid foods that may irritate the baby, no smoking, no drinking etc.) - Physically tied to baby (cannot work unless expresses enough milk or uses other feeding methods) - Hard to establish - Can be painful if not done correctly - Possibility of contracting contagious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, herpes, hepatitis, and beta streptococcus - May be difficult to get them on a bottle after the breast

4. Pros of Bottle-feeding For the Mother For the Baby -Needs to be fed less frequently - Know exactly how much milk the baby is ingesting - Other people can feed the baby - Resume a normal life quicker (dress as you please, use any type of birth control, no particular diet, may have a few drinks or and aspirin without causing harm to the baby, diet as she pleases) - Less embarrassing in public - Can develop a close bond with other people than the mother while feeding

5. Cons of Bottle-feeding For the Baby For the Mother - Possibility for more allergies/ ear infections or other medical problems - More prone to illnesses such as colds, flu etc. - Possibility of consuming milk out of an unsanitary bottle or prepared with unclean water - Being left with a bottle can lead to tooth decay - Harder to feed baby at times (ie. Having to get up in the middle of the night to prepare a bottle)

6. Immunoglobulins- Lactoferrin Lysosomes Growth Factors Allergy Factors Carnitine Lipid Differences Breast Milk Broken Down - Along with the everyday nutrients the child needs such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water, breast milk also contains: - Immunoglobulins: protect against many common infectious illnesses that the mother has previously been exposed to - Lactoferrin: provides optimal absorption of iron and protects stomach from harmful bacteria - Lysosomes: influence the type of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tract - Growth Factors: contribute to optimal growth and development - Allergic Factors: aid in preventing certain allergies in the baby - Carnitine: essential for neural and musculoskeletal development - It also contains antibodies to help the baby defend itself against sicknesses the mother may come into contact with - 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages (cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses)

7. Bottle Milk Contains... - Bottled milk contains all the necessary components to a baby’s health, however a doctor should be consulted to recommend the right one for the child - DHA&ARA: important components of healthy brain and eye tissues - Nucleotides: basic building blocks of human DNA and RNA, which are essential substances in every living cell - Vitamins: help child grow and develop properly - Iron: helps produce healthy red blood cells - Flouride: helps prevent tooth decay - Bottled milk may also contain harmful elements such as manganese and pesticides

8. Reasons Mothers Choose Not to Breast-feed - Mother’s illness - Prescription medications - Heart/kidney disease - HIV/AIDS - Mother’s inability to produce milk - Working mother/school - Prematurity - Baby’s illness - Serious infection - Use of illegal drugs - Lactose intolerant child

9. Alternatives -Expressed milk- -Milk from a donor -Milk bank -Infant formula - Cow milk based - Soy-based - Hypoallergenic/ protein hydrolysate - Lactose free - Homemade - Toddler/ transitional - can be found in three forms: premixed, concentrated, and powdered -Nursing supplementer

10. Feeding Principles - Women should breast feed their babies for at least the first six months of their lives, however, it is recommended to feed for 9- 12 months - Even when choosing to breast feed a baby, the mother should gather as much information as possible as breast feeding can be difficult and painful if not done correctly - If feeding with a bottle the mother should never leave the bottle with the child overnight unless it contains only unsweetened water to prevent tooth decay - When feeding with a bottle the mother, or whoever is feeding, should make sure the bottle is at the right angle to allow for consumption without taking in a lot of air - When bottle feeding it is necessary to have the milk at the right temperature to provide easier feeding - Milk should also be made correctly to prevent dehydration if it is too concentrated or malnutrition if it is too diluted