Breastmilk vs formula - the facts

[buzzybee]

I came across this article on a Canadian website which I think is quite an objective and unemotive summary of the factual differences between breastmilk and formula for those who are interested!
here

One important fact ommitted - I understood that a nursing mothers iron levels are beginning to get quite depleted in her breast milk by 6 months. This isn't mentioned.

Iron levels of mothers milk (and mother if she is eating a good diet)would surely be the same, I think it's the baby which has used it's stored iron and therefore needs solid food, in addition.

Thanks buzzybee, I was interested!!

Bob, you're correct. The baby has sufficient iron stores for about six months, and then relies more on the iron in breastmilk and the solids he's probably starting about now. But he doesn't wake up with no iron on the morning of his six month birthday - it's a gradual thing

I remember reading a few years ago about scientists using breastmilk to destroy cancer cells, not heard anything about this since though.

I hope this thread isnt somebody shoving the "benefits" of breastfeeding in everyones face.

Thanks Buzzybee - very good

Hercules- I was once told that when I said breast was best and mentioned that statistically breastfed babies weree healthier.... I was scare monguering

It is OK to bottle feed but it is important to know the facts and to make an informed decision. Many factors need to be taken into account - and a mother's feelings are at the top of the list of factors.

All I can say is if I had had to breast feed my second child I wouldn't have had him. I hated breastfeeding my first child and vowed never to do it again.

Stripey, not judging you or criticising you....truly. I am genuinely interested in what motivates women. I take the view that for some women, it would not matter what the drawbacks not breastfeeding were, powerful feelings against breastfeeding would win out. This might be for a variety of deep-seated reasons.

What, if anything, would have overcome your dislike of breastfeeding? I mean, from the health of the baby /mother point of view?

i feel bad, as when i had dd2 she was breastfed, and she fed a lot. i actually put a girl, who was preganant and living in the same refuge as me, off the idea of breastfeeding as dd2 fed so much.

Misdee - your baby may have fed a lot if he was bottle fed, or he may have cried a lot impatient for his bottle (as opposed to having the milk instantly available), or he may have been difficult to bottle feed....and that might have put her off bottle feeding.

Your responsibility of care was to your baby, not the other woman's baby. She was responsible for her decisions, and may well have been trying to rationalise them by using your experience.

You don't need to feel bad.

Pupuce hit the nail on the head with her post on the mother's feelings. Breast is best but not if it sends the mother round the bend and depressed and fed up. I loved breast feeding, my friend hated it, both children are loved and both mums are happy.

Oliveoil,

That's very true. Also, although breast is best (in terms of giving immunity etc) - can anyone really spot the difference between a breast fed child and a bottle fed child. My friend had mastitis twice and gave up breast feeding.Although its good that breast feeding is positively promoted, the flip side is that because its pushed and pushed at new mothers, when some of them are forced to abandon it like my friend, they do get guilt feelings

Olive, all mothers have the right to decide for them how far breastfeeding is 'worth it' if it impacts on their mental health and well-being.

But there are also mothers like Lisa (on another thread) who choose to breastfeed even though they do not like doing it .

Some mothers do decide to overcome distaste and dislike, and they should be supported in this, just as the mothers who decide it's really not for them.

I am still nosy about what makes the difference - why do some mothers absolutely know they won't try breastfeeding, and what, if anything, would influence a change of mind?

I knew a mother whose life was blighted by excema - to the extent she had regular stays in hospital and was in pain every day. The excema covered her face and she had had a dreadful childhood. Yet when she had her baby she chose not to breastfeed (I don't know whether the baby went on to have excema as bad) - she knew about the risks of excema increasing with formula, but decided that as there was no cast-iron guarentee either way, she would not breastfeed. I don't think for one moment she loved her baby any less than anyone else, so why, I still wonder, did she not consider breastfeeding? This is not to judge her, but to want to know more.

tiktok when I had my first child I was open minded about breastfeeding and perfectly willing to give it a go. He latched on straight away and fed without a problem I had no problem feeding or mastitis or anything but it simply wore me down. I found myself feeding on demand at least every 2 hours day and night and I was totally drained. Those first months are like a blur to me of pure exhaustion and sleepless nights. I had no time or energy to prepare healthy meals and remember eating mars bars and crisps to keep my energy levels up, then I had lots of conflicting advice from midwives about what I should and shouldn't eat and drink. It was just so stressful. He was never a good sleeper and I truely blame that on breastfeeding. Eventually I got the Contented Little Baby Book and put him into a routine and switched to bottle feeding at about 4-5 mths. I vowed so strongly never to breastfeed again that when my second child was due I knew it would not be a good idea to give him any breast milk at all because I knew if I started I would feel to guilty to stop.
My second baby was bottle fed from day 1 and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I knew I wasn't tied to him 24 hours a day. I was able to spend a lot more time with DS1 as others could feed DS2 and I really enjoyed having DS2 as a baby something I never did with DS1. I feel that breastfeeding made the first few months with DS1 a complete nightmare. DS2 fed only once a night until 9 weeks when he dropped his middle of the night feed and the difference that made to the whole family for me outweighs any supposed benefits of breastfeeding. Maybe I sound synical but I was bottle fed and have always been perfectly healthy. DS1 had baby excema DS2 didn't and as far as health is concerned when both myself and DS1 got chickenpox DS2 didn't etc etc I could go on - last week they both had a cold/virus DS2 recovered DS1 got a post viral condition and we have been back and forth to the hospital all week, he is only just able to walk again and may need further investigation today. I am lucky as they are both generally healthy children and in my mind I honestly don't believe the hype about breastfeeding but that is just the way I am I don't believe MMR is safe either. I think you have to know what you believe in and do what is best for your family.

i always find this subject hard to talk about which is a shame as a mother i know how hard (and rewarding) it is to have a child before the feeding comes into it.

i breastfed for 8 months and loved every minute of it and i am PROUD too but breastfeeding does have its down sides for the mother not so much the baby. i had mastitus three times and produced alot of milk even though my dd slept through the night from 12 weeks i had to get up to express until 8 months but i did it knowing that it was not going to be forever and that it was best for my baby. i found the breastfeeding very relaxing and enjoyed our quiet time. i will admit at times i felt like that was all i did but thats what i chose. when i was pregnant i was open to bottle or breast - whatever felt right i w ould do but i was determined to give breastfeeding my best shot as everyone tells you its best for the baby. i even bought steamer/bottles before she was born just incase i could not do it as you hear about some babies who just dont latch on...

aaaaaaaaaanyway as i said i loved and yes im proud that i done it and i would never ever judge another woman on how they chose to feed their baby as a happy mother is far better than a depressed mother. i do feel though that if i bring upthe subject of breastfeeding or i happen to mention a happy occasion wheni breastfed i see a lot of mothers feel uncomfortable about what im saying as they bottlefed. so i end up keeping quiet and at the same time im telling them that what they chose to do was ok but yet no-one says anything to me. im not saying i want a pat on the back but i think breastfeeding takes alot more commitment than bottlefeeding, i fed her 8 times a day for 20 - 30 mins - just me so i think that is something to be proud of and i should not have to constantly be aware of hurting peoples feedlings by talking about it. i have just noticed that in the group of women that i know i find myself avoiding the subject and i feel sometimes that if i did mention it, it would not go down well as they are so quick to feel like im bragging... i dont know, im speaking poo now.

one of the threads i read here about someones friend who had excema really bad and did not even consider breastfeeding their child - thats a shame as she could of done it for a bit to reduce her child chances!

is someone said to me do this as it is best for your child - i would do it!
if it got me really down then i would just stop but i would try my best first!
people who dont want to even try - they are the people that i dont understand.
when people say "i dont like the bind" etc...
"emmmmm hello? - thats what a child means a bind for the rest of your life" thats one of the things i have always looked forward to - my bond with my child - the bind.

im sure that statement will annoy a few people but its true.

Fascinating - thanks for sharing your exp's MS and stripey.

Stripey, my heart goes out to you - I don't think it was just bf that wore you down but as you say, the crappy and conficting advice (mars bars and crisps will not have made any difference to your milk) and the sleepless nights....sounds to me you could have done with some practical support, some good bf help to ensure your baby was feeding effectively, to help him be happier and fuller for longer, at least after the newborn period. I am not at all suprised that formula feeding was better after that! You were a wonderful mum to keep going as long as you did.

MS, I think it's part of our culture to keep quiet about feelings of joy, pride and achievement - not just with regard to bf. It is joyful, and it is an achievement, to bf in this society....so well done

Stripey, please don't take this as criticism but your experience virtually mirrored my own - except that all of mine have been breastfed. Number 1 was a nightmare. He fed for hours at a time, was constantly hungry & unsettled and at 6 weeks, had only just regained his birthweight. I was completely exhausted and very close to chucking in the towel. Thanks to some wonderful support, I persevered and it gradually got easier and I fed him for 15 months. No.2 fed like a dream - maximum of 10 minutes per feed and no more frequently than once every 3 hours from the start and no.3 has been the same. I just wanted to make the point that an awful experience with your first baby isn't necessarily going to be repeated.

Bells2, that was my experience too, except I only have 2. dd was a nightmare, long feeds every 2 hours and I know what strpey means about the blur of the first few months, ds has had his feeds further apart and seems to get what he wants in 5-10 minutes. I also had wonderful support from my mum/dh who kept me going when I thought I was at breaking point and have often wondered how I would have got on without this.

I also had a horrendous experience with DS - plus bleeding nipples for 6 weeks.... in tears at most feeds! But past 6 weeks he became easier to feed (still v long feeds all the time!) but we went ont for 8 months. DD was a doddle to feed.... COMPLETELY easy (quick - 7 mins at most... every 3 hoyrs or less.... i did worry initially she wasn't having enough but she grew very well).... we did it for 19 months.

Pupuce - i had similar experience at the beginning buy lucky for me it lasted only two weeks, there was alot of blood and tears... and sorry this is disgusting but a bit of my nipple came off - yikes!!!!!! i would get dread feeding times, my dh told me to stop but i was determined, i called NCT breastfeeding councellors every day asking them just to be honest and tell me how long the pain would last... they encouraged me on... after two weeks as if by magic, the pain stopped and it became an enjoyable experience. i can really sympathise with people who give up at that stage as the pain is unbearable and if it had carried on i really dont know if i would of continued breastfeeding so Pupuce you are a warrior for to get through those 6 weeks - well done

sorry for my terrible grammer and spelling - thats what happend when you eat and tyoe and not preview before... being crap at typing does not help either

buzzybee - where are you? did you breastfeed?

subject close to my heart.
I am still feeding but was so close to giving up in first 6 weeks. I got thrush on my nipples and cannot describe how painful each feed was. I'd be dreading it for hours before and crying my eyes out throughout. If ds fell off and needed to re-latch I'd be in despair. DH kept me going and kept saying you know we wanted to do this and driving me to bf clinic etc.

Now...it's a breeze and I am eternally grateful I didn't give up. I love it and look forward it it every day. Luckily I had support and good advice - just wish I had had mumsnet too - would have made life much easier. as it was I phoned NCT breastfeeding line (press hash if you are in distress, yup that was me) and they were helpful but I think I'd have got much more out of you lot.