The following is from a section on bf basics:

<<Breastfeeding or Bottlefeeding the baby.
Is there really a difference?  
Judy M. Hopkinson, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor 
Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine 
1100 Bates, Houston, Texas 77030 


*Please note that the opinions expressed below are those of the authors and 
not neccesary those of Wyeth Nutritionals.
 
1. I keep hearing that breast- feeding is best. Is there really an advantage 
to breastfeeding? 
ANSWER: Breastfeeding is definitely best for babies and it seems to be an 
advantage for mothers as well. Breast milk possesses unique factors that 
fight disease, stimulate growth, and promote development. Breastfeeding also 
releases hormones in the mother that help to relax her, and the process helps 
promote bonding with her infant. How much advantage this presents to a baby 
depends on many additional factors. 
Such as? 
ANSWER: Where the baby lives, what kind of medical care he or she receives, 
the mother's health, and the mother's and family's degree of comfort with 
breastfeeding. It may be better to receive formula than breast milk if the 
mother has the AIDS virus and the family lives in a developed country where 
formula feeding is safe. In general, however, the advantages of breastfeeding 
increase when the risk of illness increases. 
 
2. I understand that breastfeeding protects babies against infection. Is this 
really true? 
ANSWER: Yes it is. In developed countries breastfed babies get sick about as 
often as formula-fed babies; however, their illnesses are shorter and less 
severe. Many studies have shown that babies who receive human milk are less 
likely to be readmitted to the hospital in their first year of life. In 
under- developed countries or in situations where pure running water and good 
medical care are not available, breastfeeding is even more important. In 
those countries, feeding choices can literally be a matter of life and death. 
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3. How can I tell if my milk is as good as other mothers' milk?
ANSWER: Good question. Your milk will be different from other mothers' milk, 
but "different" is not the same as "not as good." Your milk may have more or 
less fat in it, and it will have different anti-infection components in it. 
It will also have a slightly different nutrient composition. Every mother's 
milk is a little different-like a fingerprint. 
Some mothers have milk with lots of fat in it. We used to say these mothers 
had "rich" milk, and we thought that meant that their babies would be 
healthier. Now we know that mothers who have less fat in their milk tend to 
have more milk, and their babies grow just as fast as babies whose mothers 
make high-fat milk. So now we know that high-fat milk is not "better"; it is 
just different. 
Your milk will have different anti- infection properties than someone else's 
milk. Your milk will have immunoglobulins (antibodies) that are tailor-made 
to fight the germs in your home and in your surroundings. Another woman will 
have immunoglobulins in her milk that are tailor-made to fight the germs in 
her home and surroundings. The best milk for the baby who lives in your house 
is the milk your body makes. The best milk for another woman's baby is the 
milk her body makes. 
Your milk may also have a different nutritional composition. If your baby is 
born prematurely, for a short while, your milk will have more protein than 
that of the mother of a full-term baby. If you and another woman both have 
term babies, but hers is born a month before yours, then your milk will have 
different types of fats on any given day. The fats in milk change as a baby 
grows older. This is probably related to the changing developmental needs of 
the baby. In early infancy, babies have special needs for fats that are 
related to the developing nervous system. Later, when this system is more 
mature, fewer of these fats are needed, and fewer will be found in the 
mother's milk. 
Human milk doesn't come in grades. It comes "personalized." The beauty of 
this system is that your body does it automatically. You really have very 
little say over it! 
 
4. If the mother is healthy, is it ever better not to breastfeed?  
ANSWER: It could be. Every family needs to choose a feeding pattern that will 
nurture the child physically, nutritionally, and emotionally. Some mothers 
and fathers have strong negative feelings about breastfeeding. Emotional 
factors or past emotional problems can make breastfeeding extremely 
distasteful or even traumatic for a mother. While scientists have shown that 
breastfeeding provides nutritional, immunological (anti-infection), and other 
advantages to babies, only the parents know all the psychological factors 
that affect their situation. That is why they are the only ones who can 
determine the best way to feed their baby. Sometimes mothers who do not want 
to nurse will choose to pump their milk and feed it from a bottle, but most 
women who feel this way give their babies formula.
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5. Does breast milk protect babies even if it is supplemented with formula 
feedings?
ANSWER: Yes. In fact, in many of the studies that have shown better health in 
breastfed babies, the "breastfed babies" in those studies were being fed 
other things in addition to breast milk. Some mothers choose to mix breast 
milk and formula feedings for practical reasons, and their babies are 
healthier on average than babies who receive no breast milk. 
 
6. Are there any disadvantages to supplementing breastfeeding with formula 
feeding? 
ANSWER: Yes. When a mother gives formula to her baby, her milk supply is 
likely to decrease because the baby will nurse less often. This is especially 
true in the first 2 to 3 weeks, when frequent nursing is necessary to bring 
the mother's milk supply up to meet the baby's needs. And, of course, when a 
baby gets formula, his or her diapers will have an adult stool odor instead 
of the slightly sweet odor normal for the stool of breastfed infants. Also, 
the baby will receive fewer of the protective substances that breast milk 
provides. Finally, some babies have a hard time switching back and forth from 
bottle to breast. Even so, combining breastfeeding and formula feeding is a 
workable means of providing better nutrition and more health protection than 
feeding only formula. 
 
7. For how long is it nutritionally sound for the baby to be only on breast 
milk or formula? 
ANSWER: For healthy term infants, other foods are not required until the baby 
is about 4 to 6 months old. At this point the baby's iron stores may be 
getting low, so iron- fortified cereals are usually added to the baby's diet. 
Apart from immediate nutritional needs, it is a good idea to allow babies to 
experiment with foods around this age when they show an interest. Some 
experts say that babies have a critical or sensitive period for the 
introduction of solids around 6 to 7 months, and missing this period might 
cause feeding difficulties later. 
 
8. What diet should I be on during breastfeeding? What medicines can I use? 
ANSWER: You can use the same dietary guidelines you used during pregnancy. Be 
sure you get plenty of calcium and protein and about 500 calories a day more 
than you consumed before you were pregnant. Always check with your doctor 
before taking medicines when you are breastfeeding. Most medications are safe 
to take while breastfeeding, but some are not. Your doctor will check each 
medication individually. 
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9. I am nursing my baby; don't I have to watch (or limit) what I eat? Does my 
diet cause gas in the baby? 
ANSWER: For the most part, you can eat anything you want to. Some babies will 
have colicky periods after the mother eats a particular food, but most will 
not. A few foods, including cow's milk protein and possibly broccoli, 
cabbage, and onions, cause colic symptoms in some, but not all, breastfed 
babies. But it would be really foolish to stop eating dairy products or 
broccoli to prevent a problem that you probably won't have in the first 
place. Dairy products are a very important source of calcium and protein for 
nursing mothers. If your baby has colic, that is the time to figure out how 
to treat it and to determine whether something you are eating is causing the 
problem. Your doctor can help you set up an elimination trial (by eliminating 
certain food items) to identify the potentially offending food. 
 
10. When do I stop breastfeeding? 
ANSWER: That is up to you and your baby. See how long you enjoy it. The 
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed for the 
first 6 to 12 months. A lot of mothers gradually taper off so that they are 
feeding only at night or in the morning for the last few months of nursing. 
Mothers who nurse toddlers often nurse only in the morning and at bedtime. 
 
11. Do I wean abruptly from the breast or should I do it gradually? 
ANSWER: Gradually, if possible. Weaning abruptly can be very painful for you 
and rather traumatic for your baby. It also places you at risk for developing 
mastitis (redness and swelling of the breasts). If you allow at least 3 to 5 
days at each level as you decrease your nursing frequency, you will feel 
better and the process will go more smoothly. 
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12. What should I do if my breastfed baby does not have regular bowel 
movements? 
ANSWER: It depends. Usually nothing. You can expect your breastfed newborn to 
stool 1 to 12 times a day. On average, babies stool 3 to 4 times a day after 
the second or third day of life. But many breastfed babies stool 
frequently-perhaps with every nursing during the first 4 to 6 weeks. In a 
very young breastfed baby (who is not receiving supplemental formula), 
infrequent, low- volume stools are an indication of inadequate milk intake. 
At about 4 to 6 weeks of age, breastfed babies change their stooling 
frequency. They may switch abruptly from having eight stools a day to as few 
as one every two or three days, or even less. As long as the baby's behavior 
is normal, stool frequency is of little concern in a breastfed baby who is 
over 4 weeks old. 
 
13. How much do I feed my newborn? 
ANSWER: If you are breastfeeding, nurse your newborn as often as he or she 
seems interested. If your baby is sleepy, you may need to wake him or her for 
feedings. Most newborns will nurse 7 to 10 times every 24 hours. But it is 
not always easy to tell when a newborn baby is hungry. Just bring your baby 
in for a weight check within a week of birth and see how much they have 
grown. If the growth is okay, the baby is eating enough. If it is not, feed 
more often and check again. As your baby gets older, he or she will probably 
nurse less often. If you are feeding formula, you can expect your newborn to 
take about 18 to 22 ounces a day of formula at first. Gradually this intake 
will increase as your baby gets older. He or she may be taking 32 ounces a 
day by the age of 4 months. The exact amount will depend on your baby's 
weight, appetite, and needs. 
 

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