Most new moms have questions about the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding. Do I want to breastfeed? What are the pros and cons of breastfeeding? Can I breastfeed and bottle feed my infant? Let’s discuss these questions and find out more.
The Advantages of Breastfeeding
Healthcare organizations recommend feeding infants only breast milk for the first six months. At that time, pediatricians will allow parents to introduce more solid foods to their child and advise them on how much breast milk is necessary to meet their baby’s nutritional needs.
Exclusively breastfed babies, whether at the breast or using a breast pump, will get all the necessary nutrients and have a lower risk of a deficient immune system. Breast milk is loaded with antibodies that fight off bacteria and viruses.
Breastfeeding mothers reap emotional rewards when they feed their babies human milk. Bonding, especially with skin-to-skin contact, benefits both mothers and babies.
Breastfeeding Pros for Mom
The benefits of feeding your baby breast milk are tremendous, but what about those pros for moms? Does she gain anything in return? Of course! Let’s check out some of the breastfeeding perks for moms:
Breastfeeding provides many health benefits for moms and lowers their risk for some long-term disease processes:
- Postpartum depression
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Osteoporosis
Breastfeeding also provides many positive benefits for the relationship between moms and their babies:
- Oxytocin (hormone) production and release related to breastfeeding helps your uterus contract. When it returns to its standard size, there is a reduction in vaginal bleeding, which allows moms to retain iron.
- Bonding during breastfeeding may help reduce later behavioral and social issues in moms and babies.
- As moms recognize baby cues for hunger and can satiate them with breastfeeding, the infant learns to trust that their needs are being met.
- Convenience - Breast milk is readily available wherever the mom is with the baby; no other supplies are necessary. There is no need to carry water and liquid or powdered formula. We all know that human breast milk is better for a baby.
- Low Cost—Breast pumps, nursing bras, etc., may initially cost money for the convenience of breastfeeding, but they are much less expensive than formula. Infant formula can cost up to $10 or more daily, depending on the type, brand, and amount your baby drinks.
- Health experts aren’t entirely sure whether breastfeeding makes it easier to lose weight, but breastfeeding burns calories and may lead to postpartum c as the hormones level out. The mom may also no longer have unhealthy cravings.
Breastfeeding Pros for Baby
To review, most pediatricians and other health care providers recommend feeding your baby breast milk exclusively for the first six months of its life, whether nursing at the breast or bottle feeding. Whatever way you decide to feed your baby, the benefits of breastfeeding infants far outweigh those of formula-fed.
Let’s examine the immediate benefits your baby receives when you breastfeed them human milk:
- Breast milk has all the nutrients needed for your infant’s optimal health.
- It provides vitamins, minerals, and a host of antioxidants.
- It is easy for your baby to digest.
- It has enough water, protein, sugar, and fat for proper development.
- It contains antibodies that boost immunity.
- It protects against infection.
- It allows your baby to gain weight properly.
- Breast milk changes its composition and meets your infant’s nutritional needs over time.
- Exclusive pumping can provide the same benefits for mothers who decide not to feed their babies from their breasts.
- Skin-to-skin contact has a naturally soothing effect on your baby.
As you breastfeed, your baby’s health benefits continue to strengthen and build a strong immune system. Exclusively feeding breast milk can reduce your child’s risk for many different illnesses and diseases:
- Middle ear infections.
- Respiratory tract infections like pneumonia, whooping cough, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- Colds and throat infections.
- Gut infections like vomiting and diarrhea.
- Damage to intestinal tissues in preterm babies, like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which can cause a hole in the intestine where bacteria can enter and cause abdominal infections.
- Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Allergic complications: asthma and eczema (atopic dermatitis.)
- Type 2 diabetes later in their lives.
- Cavities and other orthodontic problems in babies less than a year old.
- Obesity
- Leukemia (childhood)
- Bacterial meningitis
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Infant mortality
The Disadvantages of Breastfeeding
While we know the benefits of breastfeeding, feeding your baby in this way can be challenging. Discussing these challenges with a lactation consultant can help alleviate anxiety and discomfort while doing so.
It may take a lot of work and patience in the early stages. Mastering breastfeeding while learning all the nuances of being a new parent can be daunting. We’ll point out some disadvantages mom and baby may encounter while learning to get it right!
The Cons of Breastfeeding for Mom
One of the most significant obstacles to overcome when first deciding to breastfeed your baby is a lack of knowledge. Breastfeeding has always been the “natural” thing, but many don’t know why that is so or how they can do it. Many women breastfeed their babies because “my friend did,” without knowing the commitment it is going to take.
Let’s talk about some things that have deterred moms from breastfeeding:
- The perceived inconvenience of breastfeeding.
- Lack of information, particularly no hands-on experience.
- Lack of skills in positioning and holding a baby while at the breast.
- An abundance of patience is often needed when first breastfeeding your infant.
- Many women rely on leaflets from the doctor’s office, books they’ve found online, and other written information.
- Embarrassment when feeding the baby in a public place.
- Lack of family support.
- You can’t measure the amount your baby is eating.
- Some medications, alcohol, and caffeine can pass to your baby in your breast milk.
- Feeding schedules may be hard to manage.
- Going back to work can be a challenge. Breast pumping at the office can be difficult.
- Physical demands on your body include:
- Sore nipples
- Engorged breasts
- Leaking milk
- Pain
- Failure to latch on
- Mastitis
- Perceptions that their milk supply is low or insufficient
- They cannot store enough milk for times when they have to be away from the baby.
The Cons of Breastfeeding for Baby
Although the disadvantages of breastfeeding for the baby are few, let’s discuss what may be some of the adverse effects of feeding your infant breast milk from your breasts. If you experience these breastfeeding cons, please contact a lactation consultant, obstetrician, or pediatrician for assistance.
Here are a few disadvantages to breastfeeding your child:
- Not enough breast milk supply.
- Not being able to latch on to breasts.
- Thrush on the tongue - a candida fungus that can come from mom or be transferred to her from the baby.
- Tongue tie - the strip of skin on the bottom of the tongue that attaches to the floor of the baby’s mouth.
Who Should Not Breastfeed?
There are those moms who should not breastfeed. The reasons for this are unique to them and should be discussed with their obstetrician. Here are some of the reasons that some women decide not to breastfeed:
Certain medicines are dangerous to your baby and can be passed to your baby if you feed them breast milk. These may include:
- Birth control medications containing estrogen
- Illegal drugs
- Sleep aid medications
- Mood stabilizers such as lithium and lamotrigine
- Ergot alkaloids and certain medicines to treat migraines
- Cancer chemotherapy drugs
- Antiretroviral meds for HIV/AIDS treatment
- Radiation therapy
Ensure your doctor knows about all the medications, supplements, and herbal remedies you take to ensure your baby’s safety while breastfeeding.
Some other considerations are disadvantages to breastfeeding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidance for those with these certain health conditions. They warn moms not to breastfeed their babies if:
- They are infected with HIV
- They are infected with untreated, active tuberculosis (TB)
- Have the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 or type 2.
- You are infected with the H1N1 (swine flu).
Is Pumping Considered Breastfeeding?
Yes, breast pumping is considered breastfeeding. You are feeding your infant breast milk and all the nutrients it contains. Pumped milk is the same breast milk your baby would get if nursing from the breast; it is just transferred from the pump to the bottle for feeding.
Your baby gets all breast milk benefits, and others get to bottle feed the baby. Bottle fed infants get the same benefits from breast milk as nursing babies. Breastfeeding exclusively means the baby always gets human milk from the breast or the pump.
Of course, you will need a pump to pump breast milk. Momcozy has the perfect hands-free pump that provides high efficiency and a mobile app that allows you to adjust the settings, track milk volume, and receive notifications about your pumping schedule.
Here’s the Momcozy Mobile Flow™ Hands-Free Breast Pump | M9 that provides many benefits for comfort and convenience.
FAQs: Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding
Q: What is the 3-month breastfeeding crisis?
A: This is a growth spurt that happens around the third month after birth. It’s called a “crisis” because it seems like your baby is demanding to breastfeed at all times of the day and night and is nervous, agitated, and irritable. You feel like you cannot meet their needs, and yet when they are offered the breast, they may nurse for only a few minutes and then become insatiable again. Patience and persistence are the keys to continuing to breastfeed your baby.
Q: What are the disadvantages of breastfeeding after two years?
A: By the time your child reaches their second birthday, they are eating almost all foods. They can drink from a cup and interact with their friends at events where different drinks are available. All of the benefits of breast milk are still there, but there are some potential drawbacks to extended breastfeeding for up to two years.
- It is not a cultural “norm”- moms may feel judged or embarrassed to continue breastfeeding at this age.
- Fertility issues- because breastfeeding can slow down or stop ovulation, your period may not have returned. If you want to conceive again, you may need to discontinue breastfeeding.
- Time constraints—both mom and child have many things happening at once. If instructed by their pediatrician, switching to a sippy cup and whole milk may be simpler and more convenient.
- Work issues- pumping breaks can be troublesome at work and very inconvenient. Many women may face pressure when working outside the home to accomplish their tasks while sticking to a pumping schedule.
Q: When do most moms stop breastfeeding?
A: Pediatricians recommend that babies are fed only breast milk for the first six months after birth and continue to drink breast milk while incorporating foods into their diet until they reach one year. When a mom decides to quit breastfeeding, it is a decision that she and the infant must agree upon. Ultimately, it is the mom’s decision, but sometimes the baby may decide they no longer want to nurse. Mom needs to decide whether she pumps and gives her baby breast milk or weans them entirely from it.
Although it is not often that we see moms breastfeeding after the first two years, it is a personal decision. Going back to work, an extended separation from your baby, or another pregnancy are some other reasons for stopping breastfeeding.
Takeaways
Yes, breast milk is best! Breastfed infants grow and develop with the many benefits breast milk provides, and maternal health outcomes are better, too.
The advantages of breastfeeding far surpass the disadvantages for both mothers and babies. Moms reap the rewards of lower risks of chronic diseases, and babies benefit from the many vitamins, minerals, and other super ingredients of their mother’s breast milk. Whether pumping breast milk or nursing from the breast, you provide exactly what your baby needs for optimal health.
