By Dr. Joseph Mercola
with Rachael Droege Although breastfeeding has become increasingly accepted in recent years
, there is still much controversy over breastfeeding in America. Issues range
from how long one should breastfeed to where it is acceptable to do. But one
issue that needs no further debate is whether it is healthier to breastfeed or
formula-feed your baby--overwhelmingly, the answer is breastfeed! What’s
more is that breastfeeding is not only good for the baby--it’s good for mom too. Breastfeeding Builds Your Baby’s Immune System
Newborns are still developing and do not have a mature immune system to
protect them from illness. Antibodies, or immune molecules, in a mother’s
breast milk are transferred to the baby, giving them immunities to illnesses
that the mother is immune to. The converse is also true--if your newborn is
exposed to a germ, she will transfer it back to the mother while nursing.
The mother’s body will then make antibodies to that particular germ and
transfer them back to the baby at the next feeding. Studies have also shown that babies who are breastfed exclusively have better
functioning immune systems in the long-term as well. Formula-fed babies do not get the same immune boost and have
higher rates of: - Middle ear infections
- Pneumonia
- Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
- Urinary tract infections
- Necrotizing enterocolitis, a digestive tract disorder that is a leading killer
of premature infants
Breastfed infants, on the other hand, have added protection against: - Heart disease
- Immune system cancers such as lymphoma
- Bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
- Asthma and allergies
- Respiratory infections
- Eczema
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Breastfeeding Improves Baby’s Brain Function The nutritional properties of breast milk are not only good for the newborn’s
immune system, they are also good for the brain. Breastfed infants tend to
have higher intelligence than formula-fed infants. This may be due to certain
compounds found in breast milk, including omega-3 fatty acids. For instance, one study found that the verbal IQ of 7- and 8-year-old children
who had been breastfed was about 10 points higher than those who were not.
Another 18-year study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed
had higher intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who
were formula-fed as babies. It is interesting to note that babies who are breastfed naturally spend more
time in what is known as the "quiet alert" state, which is not only soothing
for parents but also it is the state most conducive to the newborn’s learning. Breastfeeding Reduces Obesity Breast milk contains a protein that could reduce the risk of obesity later in
life. In fact, the longer a child is breastfed, the lower their risk of obesity,
according to a study by U.S. researchers. The protein affects the body's
processing of fat. Breastfeeding Helps Babies Emotionally
Babies have an intense need to be held and one of the most comforting
things for a newborn is the physical act of nursing. Leaving a baby alone
with a bottle is not emotionally satisfying to the child and does not make
them feel safe or secure. Breastfeeding also promotes bonding between mother and baby in a way
that bottle-feeding cannot. Most women naturally feel a strong desire to
hold their baby and there are physical and emotional reasons for this.
Breastfeeding ensures that mother and baby have some intimate time together and actually stimulates the mother’s release of the oxytocin hormone, which is known to promote maternal behavior. Reduces Mom’s Risk of Cancer and Other Health Conditions
Breastfeeding is a mutually beneficial experience in that it helps both
mother and child. Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast
and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life. Moms Return to Pre-Pregnancy Weight Faster
Breastfeeding women lose weight faster than those who do not. This is
because producing milk and breastfeeding requires about 500 calories
per day. This is the equivalent of jogging about five miles! Breastfeeding
also stimulates contractions in the uterus that help it to shrink back to its
normal, pre-pregnancy size faster. It also helps to lower body fat. Save Time and Money
Surely your primary reason for wanting to breastfeed is to help your baby
physically and emotionally, but the more material advantages of breastfeeding
are hard to ignore. If you breastfeed you don’t have to prepare bottles and
formula--breast milk is always fresh and ready to go. This will save you a substantial amount of time at a period in your life when you will need it! Breastfeeding also saves you the expense of buying formula, which typically
costs at least $800 per year. The savings continue to accumulate as your child
grows, as breastfed babies tend to have fewer doctor’s visits and lower overall
medical expenses. One study even found that a group of formula-fed babies had
over $68,000 in health care costs for six months, compared to only $4,000 for the x
breastfed group. What to do if You Can’t Breastfeed If you still think that formula is a suitable alternative to breast milk,
consider that there are at least 400 nutrients in breast milk that are not
found in formula. That said, I understand that there are certain conditions
and circumstances that may prevent you from being able to breastfeed.
If this is the case, you can make a healthy infant formula using raw milk. Breast milk is always the best choice though, so if it’s at all possible I
encourage you to breastfeed your child. The longer you do this, the better,
but even a short time of breastfeeding is better than none at all!
from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/05/19/breast-feeding-part-one.aspx | 
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