A big decision new moms must make for their little one’s nutrition is whether they will feed him/her breast milk or formula.

No matter what you decide, other people will surely have an opinion. Welcome to mommy guilt. Only one thing really matters though. Which choice is right for you and your baby?

Sometimes even if your intention is to breast feed, you are unable to. 

The health of your baby depends on several factors, primarily feeding, sleeping, and bonding. So, please do not feel like a failure if you are unable to breast feed for medical reasons, poor supply of milk etc.

I love the article: Beyond Bottles And Breasts – The Key To Whole Baby Nourishment

Here are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby!

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts it, “Breastfeeding is an investment in health, not just a lifestyle decision.” From research and study, they have determined benefits for mom & baby when breastfeeding occurs:

For Babies:

  • Reduced risk of: Type 2 diabetes
  • Reduced risk of: Asthma
  • Reduced risk of: Obesity
  • Reduced risk of: Ear infections
  • Respiratory infections
  • SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
  • Allergies- when a baby is breast fed, the antibodies pass on from the mother to the baby, helping to protect against illness and allergies.  As the baby’s system matures, his body will begin to make it’s own antibodies, and he’ll be more equipped to handle sensitivities of food.
  • Unlike formula, breast milk is always ready, always available, convenient, and always the right temperature for feeding. 
  • They’ve discovered to day over 200 close compounds to fight infection, help the immune system mature, aid in digestion, and support brain growth – nature made properties that science simply cannot copy. 
  • Many studies have proved that breast fed babies tend to be more smarter than babies who were fed with formula or other methods.

For Moms

  • Lowers Risk: Type 2 diabetes
  • Lowers Risk: Ovarian & Breast cancers
  • Lowers Risk: Heart disease
  • The baby sucking at the breast will cause contractions right after birth, leading to less bleeding for the mom, and helping her uterus to it’s shape before pregnancy much faster. The hormones that are released during breast feeding will curb blood loss post delivery and help to shrink the uterus back to it’s normal size. 
  • Breast feeding will also burn calories, so a mom can lose weight much faster than if she fed her baby with a bottle.

It is also:

  • Free!