Susan Stockwell wrote: "Anyway it reminded me that if their marketing
people are correct, and goodness knows they can afford the best, formula
and breastmilk are still considered virtually the same in this country."
and about some of the differences--particularly behavioral--one sees
between formula fed and breastfed babies.

And then there are all the ingredients that are not and will never be
included in formula:

"There are ingredients in breastmilk that cannot be duplicated in a factory
because breastmilk is a living biological fluid; it contains, for example,
hormones, active enzymes, growth factors, immunoglobulins,
anti-inflammatory components, cytokines (involved in immune function) and
other compounds with unique structures. These special ingredients allow
breastmilk to stimulate and support the maturation of the nursling's immune
system, as well as the growth and maturation of the other organ
systems....The amount and type of nutrients, growth factors and
immunological components of breastmilk continually change in response to
the dynamic needs of the nursling so that the contents of each mother's
milk varies during a feeding, in the course of a day, and throughout the
duration of breastfeeding."

Michels, D., Good Mojab, C., and Bar-Yam, N. Breastfeeding at a Glance:
Facts, Figures and Trivia About Lactation. Washington, DC: Platypus Media,
2001.

And we've just gotten started on a few of the differences between formula
feeding and breastfeeding.

Wishing every mother had the opportunity for fully informed decision making
regarding breastfeeding,

Cynthia

Cynthia Good Mojab
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]; Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell

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