*Pub YCN* Contrasting Features of Infant Feeding Methods: An Examination of Distinctions Between Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding

The topic of infant feeding is a prominent one among parents. Browse the baby aisles of any store and you will find a wide array of infant formula ranging in price, dietary needs, and brand. Each brand promises to provide excellent nutritional sustenance comparable to that found in breast milk. In today's busy world where mothers often rejoin the workforce weeks after the birth of their child, formula offers the convenience of not being tied down to baby or breast pump. On the other end of the spectrum, however, research consistently affirms the benefits of a mother's milk outweigh those found in even the most advance formula. Parents struggling to make the best choice for their baby must carefully evaluate many aspects of each option before making a decision. The preference to breastfeed or formula feed is largely influenced by contrasting the financial, social, and nutritional aspects of each option. 

Anyone who has children can vouch for the fact that babies cost money! Economic factors make providing for the needs of infants quite a hardship, especially for lower income families. For this reason, many parents look for ways to save money during the infant stage.  Apart from disposable diapers, formula is one of the most expensive costs during the first year of life. Since many babies can only tolerate certain types of formula, generic forms may be out of the question. Furthermore, there are purchases to be made such as bottles and nipples. Breast milk is an ideal option for some families, as it provides a healthy, virtually free food for babies. Related expenses to be considered include nursing bras, nursing pads, topical cream and other products intended for the care of the nipple area, special nursing pillows, and lactation consultant services. In some cases, nipple shields are necessary to assist a child who has difficulty latching on. Despite the cheaper method of breastfeeding, this may be a harder choice for mothers who must return to work soon after their infant is born. Depending on their workplace, some mothers may be able to pump breast milk on their break and store it in the refrigerator until time to go home. This method requires a suitable breast pump and sanitary containers for storage. While new breast pumps may cost a few hundred dollars, hospitals and other health facilities usually offer rentals for little to no cost. Serving pumped breast milk will necessitate many of the items needed for formula feeding, such as bottles and nipples. If feeding costs exceed a family’s disposable income, the mother and child may be eligible to receive government assistance such as the Women, Infant and Children program (WIC).  It is relative to note that a large number of women receiving assistance from WIC opt to use formula rather than breast milk. “Scholars have suggested that the pharmaceutical company’s economic alliance with the taxpayer-funded WIC program may actually deter low-income women from breastfeeding because of the competing effects of the WIC program (which openly supports breastfeeding), and the pharmaceutical industry that prominently displays formula advertisements at local WIC centers, and routinely distributes free formula to low-income women”

(Chatterji & Brooks-Gunn, 2004; Stolzer & Zeece 2006). Whether a mother has reason to fret over the financial aspect of infant feeding plays a big role in how acutely her decision is swayed by cost factors. 

While costs are not a prime issue for every family, the social reaction to different methods of infant feeding impacts nearly all mothers in one way or another. The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends breastfeeding as the healthiest choice for an infant’s first year of life. Some doctors and breastfeeding advocates use this information to urge mothers to choose breastfeeding despite the mother’s personal beliefs or feelings on the matter. Consequently, mothers may often harbor feelings of guilt regarding their choice to formula feed. On the other hand, mothers who do decide to breastfeed may be judged unreasonably for breastfeeding in public. Despite laws protecting the rights of breastfeeding mothers in many parts of the world, the public can create an uncomfortable atmosphere by staring, expressing loud, inappropriate comments, or even confronting the mother about moving to a private area to feed her child. Unfortunately, not every public place has a discrete area for mothers to feed their children. It is for this reason that many mothers will choose to pump milk at home to feed to the child on outings, or to formula feed. “Women are simultaneously encouraged and discouraged by societal expectations regarding breastfeeding. The message seems to be ‘The ideal mother breastfeeds, but not if we have to see it’. It sets up an impossible situation where women feel negative emotions about their feeding choice, regardless of what that choice is” (Guttman &  Zimmerman 2000).

Despite years of perfecting the components of formula, there are still differences between it and breast milk. Breast milk contains the perfect amount of nutrients for baby; specifically, each mother makes the perfect milk for her own baby. Her milk will change and adapt to accommodate the precise nutritional needs of her own child. “There are reported long-term benefits for the child such as immunity and a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity. There is also the suggestion that the cognitive development of breastfed babies is superior to artificially fed babies” (Savino & Lupica  2006). In addition, breast milk contains infection-fighting antibodies not found in any formula. Some babies have difficulty tolerating the synthetic nutritional components of formula, which can lead to gastric distress and, in more severe cases, malabsorption. Generally, the mother’s milk is more easily digested and absorbed by baby. Nutritional content of formula depends highly on the proper preparation and amount of formula given. The guidance of the child’s pediatrician can help ensure that baby is receiving the adequate type and amount of formula for exact age, weight, and individual needs. 

The choice to breastfeed or formula feed is rarely based on a single consideration. Rather, each aspect of infant feeding must be weighed carefully in effort to make a well-informed decision. Aside from all evidence related to determining the most beneficial choice in infant feeding, deciding whether to breastfeed or formula feed remains a personal right of the parent, and may be persuaded through examining the distinctions between each option in order to form an educated opinion on what is best for parent and child. Undoubtedly, the financial, social, and nutritional aspects of each option play a role in the decision. 

*Please note that several medications, psychiatric or otherwise, are unsafe to take while breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor about your options. Often, the same adjustments that were made to your medications to accommodate pregnancy will work while breastfeeding, but not necessarily. Lithium, for instance, may be assumed safe by your obstetrician during pregnancy, but not while breastfeeding. Do your research and ask your health provider what may work best for you. 

 -Amy Purdy

References

Guttman, N., and Zimmerman, D. R. (2000). Low-income mothers’ views on breastfeeding. Social Science and Medicine, 50, 1457–1473.

Savino F, Lupica MM (2006) Breast milk: Biological Constituents for Health and Well-being in Infancy. Recenti Prog Med. 97(10):519–27

Stolzer, J. M. (2010). Breastfeeding and WIC Participants: A Qualitative Analysis. Journal Of Poverty,  14(4), 423-442. doi:10.1080/10875549.2010.517081