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4 Responses to “What Are The Positive And/or Negative Sides To Breastfeeding?”
to be completely honest, there is no downside to breastfeeding. it’s better for baby and mom. the health benefits are truly amazing. it’s free, formula is pretty expensive and alot of work unto it’s own-from mixing, heating, sterilizing and then lugging all the Equipment when you go out. there’s nothing to lug when you have aBF baby, they are portable and the milk…well, you know lol! you never have to worry about what your baby is eating, because you know what you are eating. formula on the other hand, well the recent recall in china and the articles about rocket fuel ingredients found in US formula, that alone is enough to scare you INTO breastfeeding. plus, i’m a working mom. one of the benefits no one ever mentions is the connection you have to your baby when you go back to work. i know it helped me to know i was providing something for my baby no one else could, even though i couldn’t be with him 24/7. that meant more than any of the health benefits those first few weeks back to work.
the only negative to breastfeeding, honestly, is other people. i was 100% sure of decision and frankly have seen more skin showing on 12 year olds at the mall then when i nursed in public, but how uncomfortable it made everyone else made me uncomfortable. at least at first. but guess what, i got over it. i knew i was doing the absolute best thing for my baby, and anyone who had some kind of issue with it was sadly ignorant of the benefits of a completely natural thing. their loss not mine, plus i had to look at it from the other angle, maybe by doing the right thing for my baby, not what is the cultural norm, maybe i would inspire some other mom to do it to. that way my baby getting the best thing available would have a domino effect!
good luck breastfeeding. it really is amazing!
the positive out weighs the negative. Its healthiest way to feed your baby, it is healthy for mom, provides a great bonding for mom and baby, there is no prep time, helping the enviorment with less waste unlike formula and its packaging, free, its always exactly what your baby needs, in the middle of the night you dont even have to think about getting up and making a bottle you just have to put baby on the boob, and so much more. A few of the negatives like breast changes…those are only until you are done nursing. My friend stopped nursing like six months ago and her boobs look just like they did pre breastfeeding. I do agree that you have to deal with other people but after a while you dont even notice or care. More ladies need to nurse their babies in america because i am pretty sure we are one of very few countries that are so uptight and ignorant about breastfeeding.
Well, there aren’t any negatives to breastfeeding! Some people would say that it ties you down….you can breastfeed your baby on the go or, you can pump if you are unable to bring your baby along. Some people would say that its more time consuming than bottle feeding….this may be true in the beginning but, as you and your baby become comfortable with nursing, you will be able to breastfeed much more efficiently and in a timely manner. Plus, no bottle to make or to wash which takes time too! And, even if it is a little more time consuming, it is def. worth a little extra time to ensure your baby is getting best nutrition possible. Some people would say it hurts…again, a little in the beginning, but its def. worth it! Some people would say its just too hard…..It can be! It can be very hard sometimes but, yet again, it is worth it. The benefits by far outweigh the negatives!
Here is a list of positives to breastfeeding and I promise you, there are many more than what is listed…
Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant’s individual growth and changing nutritional needs
Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn’s disease and ulcerative entercolits
Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision.
Breastfed infants develop higher IQ’s, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development…there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
Increased bone density
Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies
Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers
Antibody response to vaccines are higher
Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby’s blood
Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus….and many others
Less risk of childhood obesity
These are things that benefit the mother while breastfeeding…
Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
Reduced risk of anemia
Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation
Helps the mother’s body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss…1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores… can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies
Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)
Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations
Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses
Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding
And these are things that benefit the environment and society…
Breastfeeding reduces the cost of healthcare by promoting healthier children and mothers……….If all WIC babies in the U.S. were breastfed, our economical savings would be $33,000,000 per month ……….In 1993, 90,000 babies were hospitalized for RSV at a cost of 450 million dollars. Currently, the U.S. spends over 1 billion dollars a year on Otitis Media (ear infections)
Reduced insurance premiums for both parents and employers
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
to be completely honest, there is no downside to breastfeeding. it’s better for baby and mom. the health benefits are truly amazing. it’s free, formula is pretty expensive and alot of work unto it’s own-from mixing, heating, sterilizing and then lugging all the Equipment when you go out. there’s nothing to lug when you have aBF baby, they are portable and the milk…well, you know lol! you never have to worry about what your baby is eating, because you know what you are eating. formula on the other hand, well the recent recall in china and the articles about rocket fuel ingredients found in US formula, that alone is enough to scare you INTO breastfeeding. plus, i’m a working mom. one of the benefits no one ever mentions is the connection you have to your baby when you go back to work. i know it helped me to know i was providing something for my baby no one else could, even though i couldn’t be with him 24/7. that meant more than any of the health benefits those first few weeks back to work.
the only negative to breastfeeding, honestly, is other people. i was 100% sure of decision and frankly have seen more skin showing on 12 year olds at the mall then when i nursed in public, but how uncomfortable it made everyone else made me uncomfortable. at least at first. but guess what, i got over it. i knew i was doing the absolute best thing for my baby, and anyone who had some kind of issue with it was sadly ignorant of the benefits of a completely natural thing. their loss not mine, plus i had to look at it from the other angle, maybe by doing the right thing for my baby, not what is the cultural norm, maybe i would inspire some other mom to do it to. that way my baby getting the best thing available would have a domino effect!
good luck breastfeeding. it really is amazing!
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
the positive out weighs the negative. Its healthiest way to feed your baby, it is healthy for mom, provides a great bonding for mom and baby, there is no prep time, helping the enviorment with less waste unlike formula and its packaging, free, its always exactly what your baby needs, in the middle of the night you dont even have to think about getting up and making a bottle you just have to put baby on the boob, and so much more. A few of the negatives like breast changes…those are only until you are done nursing. My friend stopped nursing like six months ago and her boobs look just like they did pre breastfeeding. I do agree that you have to deal with other people but after a while you dont even notice or care. More ladies need to nurse their babies in america because i am pretty sure we are one of very few countries that are so uptight and ignorant about breastfeeding.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Well, there aren’t any negatives to breastfeeding! Some people would say that it ties you down….you can breastfeed your baby on the go or, you can pump if you are unable to bring your baby along. Some people would say that its more time consuming than bottle feeding….this may be true in the beginning but, as you and your baby become comfortable with nursing, you will be able to breastfeed much more efficiently and in a timely manner. Plus, no bottle to make or to wash which takes time too! And, even if it is a little more time consuming, it is def. worth a little extra time to ensure your baby is getting best nutrition possible. Some people would say it hurts…again, a little in the beginning, but its def. worth it! Some people would say its just too hard…..It can be! It can be very hard sometimes but, yet again, it is worth it. The benefits by far outweigh the negatives!
Here is a list of positives to breastfeeding and I promise you, there are many more than what is listed…
Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant’s individual growth and changing nutritional needs
Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn’s disease and ulcerative entercolits
Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision.
Breastfed infants develop higher IQ’s, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development…there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
Increased bone density
Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies
Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers
Antibody response to vaccines are higher
Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby’s blood
Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus….and many others
Less risk of childhood obesity
These are things that benefit the mother while breastfeeding…
Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
Reduced risk of anemia
Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life
Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation
Helps the mother’s body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss…1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores… can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies
Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child
Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year)
Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations
Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses
Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding
And these are things that benefit the environment and society…
Breastfeeding reduces the cost of healthcare by promoting healthier children and mothers……….If all WIC babies in the U.S. were breastfed, our economical savings would be $33,000,000 per month ……….In 1993, 90,000 babies were hospitalized for RSV at a cost of 450 million dollars. Currently, the U.S. spends over 1 billion dollars a year on Otitis Media (ear infections)
Reduced insurance premiums for both parents and employers
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Better immune system in kid; stretched out titties on mom.