Monday, November 23, 2009

Feeding the Baby - Advantages of Breast Milk Over Formula

Formula Milk:
Formula milk is higher in protein content, but the protein found in breast milk has a higher digestibility and assimilation, and therefore less is required.

Breast Milk:
Breast milk has a higher carbohydrate content.
Breast milk contains Bifidus factor - beneficial bacteria to help with the baby's immune system.
Bifidus factor discourages the growth of pathogenic organisms.
Breast milk in the first few days contains colostrum, which contains all the necessary immune factors, plus growth factors and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Colostrum can fight and remove bacterial invaders in the intestinal tract and is good for the lungs, throat and intestines.

Did You Know?Feeding the Baby - Advantages of Breast Milk Over Formula
Every new-born baby has a 'leaky gut'. This is natural and is as nature intended.
If it does not heal, then undigested proteins can cross the gut and cause allergic reactions. Normally this is not a problem, because one of the ingredients naturally found in breastmilk (Secretory Immunoglobulin-A, or sIgA for short) helps to seal the leakiness, or permeability.
This is one of the reasons why breast milk helps the baby develop a healthy immune system.
If the naturally leaky gut in the new-born is not 'healed' (which happens naturally with breastfeeding), then the proteins from cows milk may cross the leaky gut and set up an immune reaction. This is why so many babies do better on breast milk.

Other important benefits of breastmilk are:
• It has been shown that babies or children who are fed cows milk too early can develop Type 1 diabetes.
• Breast milk has a laxative effect, which encourages the passage of first bowel movements, preventing newborn jaundice.
• Formula fed babies usually have harder and more odorous stools than breast fed babies.
• The minerals from breast milk are better absorbed than minerals in formula milk. The unabsorbed portions of minerals can change the balance of bacteria in the newborn's gut, which creates greater opportunity for dysbiosis (imbalance of bacteria).

Studies:
Twenty different studies, including two controlled trials, suggest several advantages of longer-term exclusive breast feeding. When babies were fed exclusively with breast milk for six months (i.e. no solids or liquids besides human milk, other than vitamins and medications), they had a lower risk of gastrointestinal infection than those who were exclusively breastfed for only three to four months. The mothers lost their maternal weight more readily after the birth and delayed the return of menstrual periods with the longer breastfeeding period. There were no adverse effects on the baby's growth, although in developing countries there was some incidence of reduced iron levels.
A study carried out at the Institute of Child Health in London found that babies who received a "low nutrient" diet rather than a "nutrient rich" diet in their first days were healthier as adolescents.

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Baby Formula Nutrition

What one formula worked for one baby may not work for yours and vice versa. Do not make a large investment at the grocery store on formula until you decide which brand your infant tolerates the best.
Milk based formulas seem to some people to be the obvious choice to give to their infants, when in actuality it can cause severe constipation as well as a future milk product allergy when they graduate from formulas. The leading brand names for the formulas with the highest nutritional value are Enfamil Lipil, Nestle Good Start Gentle Plus and Similac Advance. If your baby tends to be more on the "gassy" side, try giving him/her a formula that is "gentle". Many babies have severe acid reflux. If your baby spits up quite often, try giving him/her a formula with added rice starch. This will help control the acid reflux, allowing your infant to absorb all of the nutritional value. If you and your doctor suspect that your infant is lactose intolerant, they may suggest putting your infant on a soy based formula. Once your baby reaches the age of 12 months, they are able to graduate from formula to Vitamin D whole milk. You should never attempt to give your baby regular milk products before the age of 12 months as they are more susceptible to dairy allergies at that point that can carry through adolescence and adulthood. If breastfeeding is not the answer for you, these helpful baby formula nutrition facts will help you to determine the best formula for your infant to have during their first year of life.

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