Breastfeeding: A Literature Review

All four articles focus weigh the benefits and criticisms of breast feeding in contrast to formula feeding infants. Unsurprisingly the results are very similar in each article and the authors all seem to have the same belief that with all the known advantages of breastfeeding, it should be the obvious choice. The study done in 2007 in the UK shown in, “Healthcare Professionals and Mother’s Perceptions of Factors that Influence Decisions to Breastfeed or Formula Feed: A Comparative Study” states that 76% of mother’s initiate breastfeeding at birth but only 25% of them are seen still breastfeeding once the infant is six months of age. This observation is almost identical to that found in the US in 2010 shown in “Toward Optimal Health: The Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding” where the authors show that 75% of women initiate breastfeeding at birth and only 35% of mothers are seen still breastfeeding once the infant reaches 6 months of age. The reasoning behind the significant drop in continuation being the lack of convivence, the anxiety, and the fact that formula feeding is still considered to be the “normal” choice. The decrease in numbers just goes to show that women are not being well enough …show more content…
There needs to be more evidence to support such a claim. WIC aids women and their children up to five years of age. They help women get the nutrients that their family needs. It is true that if a woman is choosing to breast feed WIC will help the woman purchase the formula (funding is provided in specified checks) however the same goes for if the woman were to breastfeed, WIC would help the woman by providing her with the nutrients she needs to then provide nutrients to her infant. One cannot be certain if WIC aids or hinders a longer time span of breastfeeding without more