How can they truely say that breastfeeding is best?

Question

First off, toxins from foods and things can get into the breastmilk..if a woman smokes, they are exposing their baby to nicotine that gets into breastmilk.. And since they make formula that has pretty much everything breastmilk has without the risk of toxins that women put into their bodies on a daily basis, how can you tell me that breastfeeding really is best..I'm just tired of people telling me how bad I am that I strictly bottlefeed my daughter formula...

Just to set some of you straight...I don't feel guilty. I love the fact that her Daddy can help feed her. And I don't have to worry about,is she going to get hungry while I'm out.As for what others have said to me,I don't listen to anyone but her daddy who makes it a point of telling me what a great job I'm doing everyday. I was hoping to get some different answers to this question,only a few of you could have truely convinced me to breastfeed my baby, if you were trying to...The rest of the answers are all just the same almost word for word idiocracy that i've read in all my research about breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding....

Answer 1

While your paragraph is an argument in favor of bottlefeeding, your question was "how can they say...". The answer to that question is that studies have been conducted for decades, comparing the overall health and development of two groups of babies: Breastfed and Bottlefed. In most such studies, the breastfed group had a larger number of positive results for whatever the test was designed to measure. One should not conclude that bottlefeeding a baby is bad. Just that breastfeeding would be better. If you're getting hassles from people, tell them that you've studied the data, that like most research, the results are open to interpretation, and you are acting according to your interpretation. Invite them to show their license to practice medicine and explain that anything your dr. signs off on is okay with you. Or, best yet, give them the attention they deserve: None. The whole issue will be irrelevant in afew months, anyway.

Answer 2

I can relate a bit with what you are going through.

With my first child, I had so much pressure to breastfeed from friends and well-wishers, that I just rebelled and exclusively bottlefed my son. It was convenient and I did not have to deal with the problems of breastfeeding while out and about or the annoying little problems of leakages at inappropriate times! :) I don't think bottle-feeding gave him any lasting damage, although every time he comes down with allergies or when the dentist tells me he has weaker teeth because I didn't breastfeed him, I do feel a pang of guilt...

With my second son (born three years later), I was under considerably less pressure to breastfeed and therefore decided to give it a go. It was difficult to get a hang off, with many uncomfortable moments and I'm still dealing with the leakage issue. But after about two months, both baby and I seem to have gotten a hang of it and I find it incredible convenient (no sterlising bottles, no warming up of milk, no stocking up on formula) but most importantly, I find it very emotionally satisfying as well. My second son is also gaining weight rapidly and I guess only time will tell whether he is going to have stronger teeth and an enhanced immune system because of the breast milk.

I do think it is a personal choice whether to breast or bottlefeed - either choice doesn't make you a better or worse mother. And as you rightly pointed, even moms that breastfeed can make wrong lifestyle choices that can lead to the child being exposed to harmful toxins.

However, I do think both options should be given a try before deciding on what works best...you have to find the best fit for you and your child.

Answer 3

A lot of your information is faulty I'm afraid. Our bodies are very good at filtering themselves and we aren't chock full of toxins as you seem to believe. Smoking is bad for your child whether you breastfeed or not, so that is moot. According to the World Health Organization, one of the biggest reasons to breastfeed is the possible contamination of drinking water that is used to mix formula. Breastmilk has over 300 known ingredients and many more that we've yet to identify. Formula has around 50, not anywhere nearly everything breastmilk does. As a pregnant woman, you wouldn't drink, smoke or put nasty things in your body and its the same for a breastfeeding mom. There is reduced risk of the baby receiving toxins, increased nutrition that is just right for baby, plus the immune system boost that comes with breastmilk. Formula is merely a breastmilk substitute and was never intended to be anything more than an emergency replacement for babies who could not be breastfed, marketing by formula manufacturers in the 60s and 70s changed the image of formula but can't make it anymore that a meager substitute. You have chosen to bottle-feed. That is your choice. I'm sure you had a lot of reasons for it. Formula-fed babies can grow up healthy and fine too. Accept your decision and move on with your life. Don't expect that you will hear only good things about your decision, life isn't like that. Every time you talk to a mother who made a different decision about ANYTHING you will hear why your idea is wrong (everything from whether to immunize to which diaper to use). I would recommend that you read and understand why doctors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, scientists, and the pediatric organizations in nearly every other country in the world say breastfeeding is best, that way you won't have the misinformation that you currently have. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 4

You are misinformed. If you think that formula has "...pretty much everything breastmilk has..." you haven't done your research. People will tell you that so you feel less guilty for feeding it to your baby. I'm not saying its poisen, but get your facts straight. It isn't even close to the same. Even the bottle of formula says breastmilk is best...!

As for toxins and smoke/nicotine, etc getting to the baby via the mom. That is obviously easy to avoid. The mother chooses not to ingest those things. How can you avoid giving your baby the silicone that is found in formula?

Did you know the FDA doesn't regulate baby formula??? At least they regulate the foods that the moms are eating - which get passed to the baby. Sounds safer to me!

Also, why on earth do you think your body makes milk after pregnancy if you're not supposed to give it to your baby. Maybe you're tired of people telling you how bad you are because you feel guilty for feeding your baby a artificial version of what nature has already given you... for free none the less.

* Some women cannot breastfeed. This is not directed towards you. This is directed to women who CHOOSE not to breastfeed. *

Answer 5

There's tons of scientific evidence that proves that it IS best.
...In normal circumstances...

That being said, the way you feed your baby is no one's business. Formula feeding doesn't make you a bad mother, you don't love your child any less. She's still being fed. I can't imagine ever telling a woman she's a bad mother for formula feeding. Show me one woman who does EVERYTHING by the books. I breastfeed, and I do think it's best for both mother and child in most circumstances. But as you've already mentioned, someone who smokes heavily probably shouldn't breastfeed. The same with heavy drinkers or drug users. There are certain medicines that are necessary that aren't compatible with breastfeeding. It's rare but some women truly don't make enough milk. Also, if you simply don't enjoy breast feeding, I think that a baby would be much better off with a mother who enjoys feeding her a bottle than a mother who hates feeding her from her breast. It would cause a lot of resentment and unhappiness toward the child if you breast fed and didn't enjoy it.

I just wanted to add that breast milk doesn't go "rotten" in your breast...
Now sometimes babies are sensitive to things we eat, but I just had to laugh at the idea of chunky breast milk straight from the breast.

Answer 6

Basically they can say it is best because it is what "we" have been eating since man started reproducing! Other than that there are scientific explanations now that they are able to study. there are toxins in the air that your child will inhale, are you going to keep it in a bubble? if you go to someone's house that smokes are you going to ask them to leave or are you going to leave until the air clears? i mean, transfer through the milk is not what the issue is here. if you smoke or anyone around you smokes they are exposing the baby to toxins as well and they are breastfeeding them! a lot of people strictly bottle-feed. It breaks me heart that i have to buy bottles this time so I can pump and my child can eat. some women are naturals at it and wouldn't trade it for the world, i know i am! you are not bad for bottle-feeding, you just need to look around and realize that the world is not clean.

Answer 7

Do you know how many toxins and additives are in formula. And many babies is exposed to smoking, second hand smoke is worse then what comes through the breast. Breast feed babies have antibodies from there mothers and is less sick, something not in formula. Babies are exposed to more toxins in the air then in breast milk. If you don't want to breast feed then fine, I have done both. I preferred breast to formula. I did my research. At least my breast milk is not created in a lab and massed produced. What is some kind of poison is slipped into formula just like the pet food here not to long ago. Then there was peanut butter too. I won't risk it.

Answer 8

I did breastfeed and there are guidelines as to how long differnt foods or cigarette smoke stays in your breastmilk.Though breastfeeding was my choice due to wanting my child to have the immunities that come with breastfeeding, I do understand women wanting the choice of bottlefeeding with no hassle. My sister is pregnant now and has chosen to bottlefeed and I support her 100%. As for breastmilk and formula having the same ingredients I'm sure its pretty close but still there are differences I'm sure.

Answer 9

Along with all those bad things breast milk has all the antibodies of the mother. Something formula has never been able to replicate. Children who breast feed are consistently healthier during the first six months due to those antibodies.

Under most circumstances it is superior to formula but that doesn't make you a bad mother, only different. And not different from all other mothers, just those that breast feed.

Frankly, I don't know whether to think you actually feel guilty or whether you are just too sensitive to the opinions of others. But either way it is none of their business. Just blow it off and take care of your child your way.

Answer 10

Under "natural" circumstances breastfeeding is best. If you smoke and are unhealthy that isn't natural and of course it won't be good for your baby.
Formula milk does not have everything breast milk has. For starters, it is usually made of cows milk. Cows milk is much harder for a babies tummy to digest. It sits in the stomach for much longer than what breast milk does.
It has been proven that breast milk provides immunity to some diseases. Does formula milk do that?
It is a well known fact that breast is best, but you certainly aren't bad for bottle feeding your baby. It is up to the individual and in certain cases bottle feeding may be the better option, but always at least try breastfeeding first. Its free, sterile and comes at a perfect temperature.

Answer 11

A mothers breastmlk is specially formulated for her baby and changes to suit the baby's needs, that is one reason why people say breast is best. That being said, I don't think anyone should criticise a mother who formula feeds her baby because it is her baby and her decision. There are many different ways people do things and what is right for one may not be right for someone else. You do what is comfortable and good for you. Your baby will still get what he/she needs from formula and there are far more important things to be concerned about, like building a relationship and bonding with your baby. Ignore what people tell you, because everyone has their own opinions about parenting but this is your child and your decision, not theirs. Mwah x