Choosing between breastfeeding and formula is something that all new mums need to decide between while keeping in mind what is best for them and what is best for the baby. We hear a lot about the benefits of breastfeeding our babies, but what about the formula? There are decided advantages that newborn formula has over breastfed and it’s important to get all of the information you can before making a decision.
Baby formula was invented during the 1950s and has grown in popularity steadily since then because for some families, it is the best option. For whatever reason it is that you do not want to breastfeed, the formula can provide you with the perfect solution. It’s important that you do everything you can to ensure your baby grows up to be strong and healthy.
Continue reading to learn more about how more about the advantages of using newborn formula and how your baby can benefit.
No More Pain
For many women, this one is a huge advantage. What many people do not tell you is that breastfeeding your baby can be incredibly painful. Some babies love nothing more than to bite their nipples, which if you are nursing ten times a day or so, can quickly become agonizing. It is not just the nipple pain. Some women find that their breasts become so painfully engorged that they cannot sleep even when they have the opportunity, and sleeping on your stomach is an absolute no-no. Using the formula is like instant pain relief for many new mothers.
You Know How Much Your Baby is Drinking
Some children, no matter how hard they try, do not seem to gain weight whilst being breastfed. Obviously, it is very important that the baby gains weight steadily, so what do you do if you are feeding regularly but the infant is losing weight? Formula lets you know exactly how much the baby has consumed. With breastfeeding, you can be feeding for 15 minutes but perhaps your baby has only had 1 ounce of milk. Without this knowledge, your baby can become hungry, tired, and upset.
What You Eat is not What Your Baby Eats
Everything that you eat or drink can find its way into your breast milk. This means that you may need to avoid taking medicine. If you had a C-section birth or a particularly painful birth, you might have to be hesitant when taking pain relief. That might not sound like fun as having to breastfeed and being in pain is not a great combination. It is not just medication, you have to be careful with what you eat as certain foods such as curry can affect the taste of your milk and perhaps your baby will not nurse as easily, not to mention coffee and the odd glass of wine is off-limits.
As a new mother, your emotional well being is as important as that of your child, and if being able to take paracetamol for your pain or enjoying a cold white wine in the heat makes you feel like a happier and more normal person, then that can only be best for you and your child.
Shared Parenting
Waking up at 3 am for the third time that night whilst glancing over at your blissfully sleeping other-half certainly does nothing for your positive state of mind. Using formula allows you to share the parenting. There is no reason at all why one parent always has to be the one getting up at all hours of the night. This can result in a better night’s sleep for you and it gives the other parent a great opportunity to bond with your new baby.
This can be especially useful if you had a difficult time birthing and you need to get some decent rest and recuperation. Sharing the responsibility also lightens the mental load and can help you to feel less lost and bogged under with the routine.
You Can Spend Time with Your Other Children
If you have other children, they can resent the newborn in the house because their mother now dedicates all of her time to the baby. Using a formula can cut your feeding time in half or more. There is no need to use a breast pump, which can almost be as painful as breastfeeding in some cases. You can share the responsibility of feeding and this means that you will have more time to spend with your other children, or if you don’t have any, spend some time on yourself!
The Winning Formula
As new parents, we all want the same thing. We want a happy and healthy baby who is growing at the correct rate. We also want a happy and healthy new mother who does not feel trapped and depressed or even in pain and exhausted. Using a formula means that as a mother you can take ownership of your body and share the parenting time with your partner. It means a less stressed mother and a happy mum means a happy baby.
Born in Belarus, 1985, a pedagogue and family psychologist, mother. Taking part in procedures of social adaptation of the foster children in new families. Since 2015 is a chief editor of the motherhow.com project, selecting the best and up-to-date material for those, who are planning, expecting, and already having babies.