Breast vs. Bottle
Which is better for both
the mother and the baby??
By Deanna Robins &
Lindsey Janecke
Pros of Breast-feeding
For the Mother
- Stimulates the release of oxytocin
- Decreases risk of ovarian and breast
cancer
- Aids mother in losing weight gained
during pregnancy faster
- Helps build a child strong bond
between mother and
- Free and convenient (readily
accessible)
- Help womb/uterus return to its normal
size faster
- Forces mother to get needed rest
- Nature’s contraceptive (suppresses
ovulation but doesn’t always prevent
pregnancy)
- Less bleeding after the birth
- More bone strength (less hip fractures
in older age)
For the Baby
- Contains all essential nutrients and
antibodies the baby needs
- Less diarrhea, constipation, and other
digestive problems
-Decreased risk of dental disease, cancer,
diabetes, and allergies
- Helps babies fight viruses while building a
strong immune system
- Changes to fit the babies specific needs
- Suckling leads to proper development of
facial bones and muscles
- Allows baby to develop better cognitive skills
- Easily digested
- Cannot be contaminated by external factors
(ie. pollution)
- Supplies the baby’s first immunization
- Decreased risk for future obesity and high
blood pressure
Cons of Breast Feeding
For the Mother
- Nipples may become sore and cracked
- May suffer from engorgement more
often (too much milk in breasts that
leads to hardness and pain)
- Clogged milk ducts can cause mastitis
(breast infection)
- Affects the women’s entire life (must
wear proper clothes, eat balanced diet,
avoid foods that may irritate the baby, no
smoking, no drinking etc.)
- Physically tied to baby (cannot work
unless expresses enough milk or uses
other feeding methods)
- Hard to establish
- Can be painful if not done correctly
For the Baby
- Possibility of contracting
contagious diseases such
as HIV/AIDS, herpes,
hepatitis, and beta
streptococcus
- May be difficult to get them
on a bottle after the breast
Pros of Bottle-feeding
For the Mother
-Needs to be fed less
frequently
- Know exactly how much milk
the baby is ingesting
- Other people can feed the
baby
- Resume a normal life quicker
(dress as you please, use any
type of birth control, no
particular diet, may have a few
drinks or and aspirin without
causing harm to the baby, diet
as she pleases)
- Less embarrassing in public
For the Baby
- Can develop a close bond with
other people than the mother
while feeding
Cons of Bottle-feeding
For the Mother
- Harder to feed baby at
times (ie. Having to get up
in the middle of the night to
prepare a bottle)
For the Baby
- Possibility for more allergies/
ear infections or other medical
problems
- More prone to illnesses such
as colds, flu etc.
- Possibility of consuming milk
out of an unsanitary bottle or
prepared with unclean water
- Being left with a bottle can
lead to tooth decay
Breast Milk Broken Down
- Along with the everyday nutrients the child needs such as
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water, breast
milk also contains:
- Immunoglobulins: protect against many common infectious
illnesses that the mother has previously been exposed to
- Lactoferrin: provides optimal absorption of iron and protects
stomach from harmful bacteria
- Lysosomes: influence the type of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal
tract
- Growth Factors: contribute to optimal growth and development
- Allergic Factors: aid in preventing certain allergies in the baby
- Carnitine: essential for neural and musculoskeletal development
- It also contains antibodies to help the baby defend itself against
sicknesses the mother may come into contact with
- 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages (cells that kill
bacteria, fungi, and viruses)
Bottle Milk Contains...
- Bottled milk contains all the necessary components
to a baby’s health, however a doctor should be
consulted to recommend the right one for the child
- DHA&ARA: important components of healthy brain
and eye tissues
- Nucleotides: basic building blocks of human DNA
and RNA, which are essential substances in every
living cell
- Vitamins: help child grow and develop properly
- Iron: helps produce healthy red blood cells
- Flouride: helps prevent tooth decay
- Bottled milk may also contain harmful elements
such as manganese and pesticides
Reasons Mothers Choose Not to
Breast-feed
- Mother’s illness
- Prescription medications
- Heart/kidney disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Mother’s inability to produce milk
- Working mother/school
- Prematurity
- Baby’s illness
- Serious infection
- Use of illegal drugs
- Lactose intolerant child
Alternatives
-Expressed milk-Milk from a donor
-Milk bank
-Infant formula
- Cow milk based
- Soy-based
- Hypoallergenic/ protein hydrolysate
- Lactose free
- Homemade
- Toddler/ transitional
- can be found in three forms: premixed,
concentrated, and powdered
-Nursing supplementer
Feeding Principles
- Women should breast feed their babies for at least the first six
months of their lives, however, it is recommended to feed for 912 months
- Even when choosing to breast feed a baby, the mother should
gather as much information as possible as breast feeding can
be difficult and painful if not done correctly
- If feeding with a bottle the mother should never leave the
bottle with the child overnight unless it contains only
unsweetened water to prevent tooth decay
- When feeding with a bottle the mother, or whoever is feeding,
should make sure the bottle is at the right angle to allow for
consumption without taking in a lot of air
- When bottle feeding it is necessary to have the milk at the
right temperature to provide easier feeding
- Milk should also be made correctly to prevent dehydration if it
is too concentrated or malnutrition if it is too diluted