What is breastfeeding? Is a natural method of feeding infants with breast milk, which mostly favor the infant because it contains nutrients which help in growth and development of the infant. In spite of breast milk being described as beneficial as the infant formula milk (Allen, J., & Hector, D. 2005).
Formula milk can be contaminated by bacteria’s and pathogens which might be present during preparation and feeding of the infant, at long run may cause gastrointestinal illness unlike breast fed infants; they cannot be attacked by upper, lower respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal illness; since the breast milk consists of nutrients, breastfeeding is a safe method since breast milk cannot be contaminated by bacteria’s during feeding.
Breast fed babies have a high percentage of intellectual and motor development due to presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk which helps in development and brain growth (León-Cava, N., Lutter, C., Ross, J., & Martin, L.2002). Breast milk has more benefits to the infant compared to formula milk.
Breast fed infants have a strong immune system because breast milk is rich in nutrients hence infants are protected against respiratory infections and diarrhea and this reduces the chances of death therefore it helps in the life and mortality of the infant (Horta, B. L., Victora, C. G., & World Health Organization 2013).
Breast milk contains the right amount of proteins therefore reduces the chances of obesity during adolescence unlike the formula milk which contain a high percentage of proteins, in addition formula fed infants cannot control the amount of milk they feed on unlike the capability of breast fed babies controlling the intake of milk, this reducing the risk of obesity during adulthood.
Breast milk is beneficial to the mother economically since breast milk is rich in nutrients which helps the infant immune system and makes it strong to fight diseases unlike formula fed babies whose immune system is weak which make them vulnerable to infections and this may cause the mother or family to incur medical bills due to infant`s cost of treatment. Breast milk is readily available and cheaper compared to formula milk. Breastfeeding reduces the cost of buying formula milk (Weimer, J. P. 1999).
During lactation estrogen is produced due to delayed ovulation and other mechanism hence women are vulnerable to breast cancer in the future, through breast feeding estrogen produced in the body of the mother is reduced, hence mothers who breast feed for at least more than one year have a lower risk of getting breast cancer compared to mothers who formula feed their infants (Salone, L. R., Vann Jr, W. F., & Dee, D. L. 2013).
Breast milk is important for growth and mortality of an infant due to its distinctive properties. Breast feeding has health benefits to both the mother and the baby, it is the best way of feeding the infant.