Breastfeeding Vs Bottle Feeding Essay

In today’s society, there has been an ongoing controversy towards breastfeeding verses bottle feeding. Acker (2009) reports that, through recent public health efforts contemporary mothers in the United States have learned the slogan “Breast is Best.” A preponderance of medical literature finds that breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to improve the health of infants and children. These beliefs have also lead to some believing; everyone knows that breastfeeding is the only way to feed an infant. Imagine you are a mother of a newborn (or maybe you are) and you have planned to breastfeed. Once you begin to breastfeed, you learn that your child will not latch and you cannot produce enough milk, therefore you are forced to feed your newborn with formula. Knowing why a person is using or chooses to use formula to feed is important in preventing an incorrect judgement. There are several acceptable ways to provide the needed nutrients to a newborn; common feeding options include breastfeeding, formula, and/or …show more content…
Owens, Labuschagne, & Lombard (2012) informs that, all infant formulas must contain sufficient amounts of basic nutrients, and are thus nutritionally interchangeable. Yet why are so many mothers still claiming breast is best? Niers, Stasse-Wolthuis, Rombouts, & Rijkers, (2007) conclude that breast milk has been termed an irreplaceable immunological resource because it supports passive and active immunity during the vulnerable first months and years of life. A number of components of breast milk are, indeed, irreplaceable, notably IgA. Other components, however, can be added to infant formulas. Owens et. al., (2012) also states that, in rare cases, for example, infants with galactosaemia or primary lactase deficiency, or for any other medical reasons where the mother is unable, or unwilling, to breastfeed, it is important to select a suitable infant formula based on the infant’s individual needs, and medical