breastfeeding vs formula feeding

[MeGpEa123]

Hi,

I am a 2nd year student midwife and as part of my training I have to contribute to forums regarding different infant feeding methods.
So here is a list that I have come up with! If anyone can think of anymore pros and cons please add them to the list.

Pros of breastfeeding-
For mum-
Lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and obesity.
Relationship building with baby.
Helps to reducethe risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and arthritis.
Helps the process of involution.
For baby-
Helps to protectagainst allergies and eczema.
Causes less diarrhoea and constipation.
Helps to reducethe risk of UTIs, ear infections and respiratory infections, type 1 diabetes, SIDS, inflammatory bowel disease and gastroenteritis, vomiting, cardiovascular disease in adulthood, childhood leukaemia, dental malocclusions and asthma.
Protects against spinal meningitis and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Lowers the risk of childhood obesity.
Premature babies who have breastmilk have a lower risk of necrotising enterocolitis.
Helps the brain to develop.
Antibody protection.
Promotes healthy weight gain.

Cons of breastfeeding-
There are common challenges when it come to breastfeeding such as having sore nipples, engorgement, blocked milk ducts, feeling exhausted and frustrated and dealing with judgment from people in your social circle.

You can receive support about overcoming these challenges from your midwife and other healthcare professionals if breastfeeding is something you are passionate about doing in the long-term.

You have to be limit your alcohol intake and double check any medications you are taking because certain medications aren't suitable whilst breastfeeding.

Pros of bottle-feeding-
Convenient as anyone can feed the baby and therefore it gives mum a break.
You can more easily track how much milk your baby is drinking.
You don't have to monitor your diet or alcohol intake as much with formula feeding.

Cons of bottle-feeding-
Formula milk doesn't offer the same protection to the baby as breastfeeding because formula milk doesn't provide the baby with the mum's antibodies.
More expensive than breastfeeding.
Preparing the formula milk is time consuming because you need to make sure the bottles are sterilised and the milk is the right temperature.

Relationship building with baby.

Studies show that method of feeding doesn't affect bonding with the mother.

Also you really don't have to limit your alcohol intake, as long as you're sober enough to look after a baby then you're sober enough to feed it. Alcohol only goes into breastmilk at the same rate that it goes into your blood. You'd have to drink about a litre of vodka to make your breastmilk mildly alcoholic .

Breastfeeding can also be expensive. My nursing bras are around £40 each and I need quite a few of them as even with pads they get wet with milk. A good pump is also expensive.

Another pro of formula feeding is they do sleep for longer after a bottle of formula.

I had my heart set on bf but after a massive haemorrhage I could hardly keep myself alive let alone feed my baby. These circumstances are never thought of x

Cons of bf - it’s harder for the Mum to arrange baby-free time (not generally a problem atm but before the pandemic I was able to have a few evenings out with friends).

• you may need to restrict your diet if your baby has an allergy eg. cow’s milk.

• not everywhere is supportive of breast feeding in public.

Pro of bf - you have to bring less equipment (eg. don’t need bottles and formula) when out and about.

Pro of formula - I didn’t have to supplement with Vitamin D drops, because they were included in the formula.

@beckyyl - I’m so sorry to hear this. I also had to switch to bottles because I wasn’t producing enough milk and so my baby was constantly hungry. This wasn’t picked up at any postnatal care check-ups. AllI was asked was how frequently I was breastfeeding.

OP - it will be fantastic if you can help to change this experience for others once you qualify.

Also, breastfeeding doesn’t always promote a healthy relationship between Mum and baby. One friend had to switch to bottles because bf was so painful and stressful that it started to damage their Mother-Baby bond.

I think if you are in anyway struggling w MH the challenges of breast feeding can really really REALLY add to that.

Breast feeding can be physically painful

Breast feeding can be tougher if you are also managing a lively toddler

Not at all true that formula is time consuming compared to BF, I really wish people would stop peddling that one.

I am not anti-BF OP but am fed up with the bullying of some midwifes around it. I had to really stand up for my sister who was being yelled at by her MW post my nephew’s birth. I know it’s better for health but I think Health professionals also need to think holistically.

Pros for breastfeeding imo:
convenience (can be done any time, anywhere) no making up / cleaning bottles etc...

• it's free! Although as pp mentioned breastfeeding friendly clothes etc can be expensive
• comfort for baby - this is my big one. Giving my baby the breast instantly calms them when they are upset or unwell
• if forces the mother to sit down and rest. For me, although breastfeeding means the responsibility of feeding the baby is always on me (which can be bothered tying and tiring!), it does make me sit down and therefore forces me to have restful periods.
• releases 'feel good' hormones in the mother. So this one I didn't realise until I stopped breastfeeding and went into a bit of a funk. On speaking to my doctor, she said breastfeeding releases that feel good hormone (I want to say oxytocin?) and can help prevent ppd. She said that feeling down after stopping us common as my hormones adjust to the change.

Cons of breastfeeding you've mentioned most of mine, painful to start, restrictive (I'm the only one who can feed the baby). I suppose I'd add anxiety around supply and weight gain. Myself and all my friends who have bf have all had anxieties about our milk supply being too low or baby not gaining enough at some point. It's so hard to just trust your body when you can't see how much milk you're making or how much your baby is getting.

Cons of formula: baby more likely to have cow's milk protein intolerance. Night feeds are more of a faff and it's harder to go back to sleep after giving a bottle as opposed to a breast. Bottle-fed babies nappies are much more stinky.

Cons of breastfeeding: it can be hard to establish and it's especially hard if the birth was difficult. It's very intensive in the early weeks. It can be difficult to get expert help to resolve breastfeeding problems.

Cons of breast feeding: Others have mentioned it, but the challenge of breast feeding can effect mental health, this could also effect the mothers bond with the baby. Although the support is there, it doesn't mean it will happen and then a mother who really wanted breast feeding to be successful can be left feeling like they have failed. I think that the default for not being able to get the baby to latch is to give formula using bottles and there is not much support or information available for women who chose to exclusively pump if breastfeeding does not work. This is what has happened to me and I have found that healthcare professionals are quite negative about it and think that it is not sustainable for a long period and milk supplies cannot be maintained, which isn't necessarily true. Perhaps this is a feeding method that needs to be discussed more as an option for women who have babies that are unable to latch.
Good luck for the rest of your training OP.