Is Human Milk REALLY better than Formulas?
There is no comparison. New formulas that tout benefits such as easier digestion or higher IQ are just using marketing techniques to encourage you to consider their product. Be a wise consumer. formulas today are different that those manufactured 25 years ago and those that will be here 25 years from now. No formula has the living components of milk that fight infection and develop babies’ bodies. Breastmilk is designed to provide everything your baby needs physically, mentally, and emotionally. |
I want to be an involved parent. What is the best way to develop a relationship with my breastfed baby?
Spend time with your baby doing things you like to do. Walks outside, cuddle in the rocker, bath time antics, and baby massage are all good ways to learn about your baby. Feeding is only a small part of time parents spend caring for the baby. If you want to participate in feeding wait until your baby is older than 6 weeks, use expressed milk in a bottle, and don’t forget, solids are started at 6 months. |
What do I do about conflicting advice?
Find a few experts to use as barometers for other information. The links on this site will provide good information. Sometimes bad information may come from your mother and good information will come from the cashier at the store. You get to weed through it all and choose what you will implement in your life. No parent is perfect but it is important for the parents of a baby to agree on goals and support each other in situations where others may be giving advice that could cause problems with breastfeeding. |
How can I support the mother of my baby?
Rest is critical for women in the first month after delivery. Try to eliminate as much housework as possible and encourage relatives or friends to help. Finding time for taking care of herself will be a challenge. Bring her snacks and drinks. Cuddle your baby while she gets a shower or bath. Take short walks around the neighborhood or small trips like to the store with your baby and his mother. New mothers need attention. Bring her flowers, give backrubs, and leave nice notes. Tell her you appreciate her efforts .Remember that this act of breastfeeding is a true advantage to everyone in your family. |
What about things that can affect the milk– medications, diet, stress,…?
Stress is a normal part of life. Women have breastfed in times of war, famine, and personal tragedy. Breastfeeding can be a moment of sanity in a chaotic time. There is no evidence that breastfeeding when stressed harms a baby or mother.
Mothers have less than optimal nutrition frequently while breastfeeding. It is important to know that diet does not affect quality or quantity of milk. 500 years ago, there were no corner grocery stores. There is absolutely no advantage, and only risk, to your baby to offer formula because you feel a that his mother has not eaten “right”. If there are weight gain issues for the baby– the biggest problem is usually how the milk is transferred from the breast to the baby—not the content of the milk
Medications are an issue that needs to be evaluated in each individual basis. Most conditions are treatable without an interruption in breastfeeding. Few medications are contraindicated. Unfortunately, many mothers are told to stop breastfeeding unnecessarily. A medication that seems extremely strong may not effect breastfeeding at all, while a minor over the counter cold remedy may be of concern.
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