Human milk is made for human babies: Breastfeeding is the natural continuation of pregnancy. Human babies are meant to receive breast milk immediately after birth, and for the first six months of life, breast milk is all that babies need to promote normal, healthy growth and development. Breast milk contains dozens, even hundreds of factors that protect the newborn from disease and provide exactly the right balance of healthy proteins, fats, sugars, and everything else the baby needs to continue the growth that began in the womb and produced the baby. amazing little human being that he is at birth. A healthy newborn needs nothing more than his mother’s milk; in fact, anything else given to the baby will upset the perfect balance in his gut (intestinal tract) and interfere with nature’s provision of a perfect system to protect him from all the bacteria and viruses that are present around him once. time he leaves the security of the womb and comes into the world. Because of this, formula, water, or anything else should not be given to the baby unless there is a medical reason to do so. (AAP Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. (Source: aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496) Water or formula supplements given breastfeeding baby also “interferes with the biology of mother to baby lactation” (Women’s Guide to Breastfeeding, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2002, p. 11), and will result in the mother having less milk supply and the baby gets less benefit from your milk.

Although formula companies want us to believe that their products are close to breast milk and spend millions of dollars advertising the “new” ingredients they discover and add to an ever-increasing number of available formulas, the truth is that breast milk can never be duplicated. Breast milk is a living and changing fluid. Every mother’s milk contains antibodies against exactly the germs she and her baby are exposed to in her own environment. As the baby grows, there are also changes in the composition of the milk that make it perfectly adapted to the changing needs of the newborn, infant and young child. Dr. Jack Newman, a leading expert in the field of breastfeeding, states, “The differences between cow’s milk and formula are much smaller than the differences between formula and breast milk.” (Newman, Jack, MD. The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, Prima Publishing Roseville, CA: 2000, p. 13.) He goes on to say, “All pregnant women and their families should know the risks of formula feeding. It doesn’t matter. Everyone should be encouraged to breastfeed, and everyone should get the best support available to begin breastfeeding once the baby arrives.” (ibid.)

Why, if it is the natural way to feed a baby, does breastfeeding seem so difficult? Why do so many mothers try and fail? Why do so many pediatricians advise moms to stop breastfeeding and switch to formula at the first sign of trouble?

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that you breastfeed without giving your baby any other foods for the first six months, and that breastfeeding continue with the gradual addition of other foods in the second half of your baby’s first year. They recommend “that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and then for as long as you both want.” (American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding, and the Use of Human Milk, Pediatrics Vol 100 No. 6, December 1997, p.1037)

Despite this strong position on the importance of breastfeeding, many nurses, doctors, and other health professionals do not have the specific training necessary to adequately help mothers and babies who are having difficulty breastfeeding. Lactation failure often occurs because hospital procedures in the hours and days after the baby’s birth prevent the normal progression of lactogenesis (the process by which the mother’s milk supply is established) or a misunderstanding of newborn feeding patterns leads to early use of bottles and pacifiers in the absence of a medical need for such intervention. This causes subtle changes in the way the baby suckles and causes some babies to begin to reject the breast and prefer the very fast flow of milk from the bottle. Even if a baby has had a few bottles and has begun to show a preference for the bottle over the breast, it’s not too late! Most young babies can learn to breastfeed effectively, and most mothers can establish a good milk supply with the right kind of help and support.

Board Certified Lactation Consultants have special training to help overcome some of these lactation problems. The sooner a mother gets help, the easier it should be to establish breastfeeding, even if mother and baby have a rough start and encounter problems at first. Other good sources of help are La Leche League, a volunteer organization with chapters in most parts of the US and Canada, as well as many other countries. In the US, most local WIC offices have resources to help mothers who want to breastfeed their babies. To go [http://www.ilca.org/falc.html] for a list of certified lactation consultants in your area.

While it is ideal for mother and baby to be together so that the baby can feed frequently throughout the day and night, many moms today face the reality of returning to work within weeks of the baby’s birth. It is entirely possible to provide your milk to your baby even if you must be apart for many hours of the day. Don’t let the need to work outside the home rob you and your baby of this priceless gift.

Look for the information on pumping if you must be away from your baby and still want to give your milk.

Breastfeeding is the gold standard for your baby!

“In researching the difference between human milk and formula, I discovered that there are over four hundred nutrients in breast milk that are not in formula.” said Dr. Frank Oski, former professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, quoted by William and Martha Sears in “The Breastfeeding Book” (Sears, William, MD and Martha Sears, RN, The Breastfeeding Book, Little, Brown and Co , Boston ., 2000, p 14.)