The decision to breastfeed or bottle feed can be a difficult one for today's mom to make.  Breastfeeding is natural and has been around since the beginning of man, but our society has over sexualized breasts to the point that people have become uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding.  However, we are more knowledgeable today about the incredible health benefits of breastfeeding.  New moms may feel that they are being forced to choose between being uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding or with th guild that sometimes comes with choosing to bottle feed.

The first thing to understand about breastfeeding is why it's an option for us in the first place. All mammals produce milk for their young. Humans are no exception to this rule. The American Academy of Pediatric states, "Human milk is species-specific, and all substitute feeding preparations differ markedly from it, making human milk uniquely superior for infant feeding.” The AAP recommends all mothers breastfeed for a minimum of a year.

No matter how many times formula companies use the phrase “closest to breast milk,” formula is made of either cow's milk, which has to be modified and processed just so a human baby can tolerate it, or soy, which is loaded with plant estrogens. Formula is not natural. It's processed and man made. Babies were not designed to drink it. Formula contains twice as much protein as human milk. Babies cannot absorb all of this protein so they produce large bulky stools that contain all of the excess protein. Whereas breastfed babies absorb 100% of the protein found in breast milk and produce soft stools that are easy to pass.

Since a mother's milk is species specific, breast milk contains a unique enzyme that helps babies digest their meals better than even the best formula. This aid in digestion doesn't just mean fewer incidences of colic, spitting-up, and other digestive problems, it also means the baby is getting more protein, zinc, and iron absorption. Babies' bodies absorb nearly all of the proteins and vitamins that are found in breast milk, while formula fed babies cannot absorb al of lthe necessary nutrients and end up pooping most of it out.

Many of us know that there are health benefits to breastfeeding. We know, for example, that breast milk contains antibodies that make babies less likely to catch illnesses that their mother has already had. But breastfeeding offers many more health benefits beyond the imunities passed down from mom. Breastfed babies have fewer food allergies, ear infections, and fewer rashes than formula fed babies. Additionally, breastfeeding decreases a baby's chances of developing juvenile diabetes, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis later in life. Breastfed infants are less likely than their formula fed counterparts to ever become obese and will have fewer cavities. Children who were breastfed have higher I.Q. scores than those that were formula fed. And perhaps the most compelling reason to breastfeed is that breastfeeding lowers a baby's risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

The benefits of breastfeeding do not stop with babies; mothers benefit from breastfeeding as well. Breastfeeding is an important stage that the female body is intended to go through following pregnancy. Producing breast milk burns calories. The baby weight just steadily melts off while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding helps you recover faster after birth, since the baby's suckling causes uterine contraction that not only help your uterus shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size, but also decreases your postpartum bleeding. Breastfeeding decreases your risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer later in life. Breastfeeding produces a chemical that helps you sleep better so you can get the precious rest that you need postpartum. Breastfeeding decreases your risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. And finally, breastfeeding helps you bond with your baby.

Breastfeeding is easy, convenient, and saves energy. With breastfeeding there are no bottles to sterilize, no formula to mix or heat up, and no supplies to carry with you when you go out. Breast milk is always ready and always the right temperature. Breastfeeding saves the earth the burden of more plastic bottles and formula packaging in the landfills and it saves energy by eliminating the need to wash, sanitize, and warm bottles. Finally, with all the fear and controversy of the harmful chemicals we now know are in the plastic bottles, it's much better for your child to breastfeed and forgo the need for bottles entirely. There is no easier, more efficient, or more convenient way to feed your baby than breastfeeding.

Our society is a capitalistic one and does not encourage breastfeeding. The formula companies have thrived. They advertise on television and in baby magazines, comforting parents in their decision to bottle feed their newborns. Pediatricians fail to stress the benefits of breastfeeding for fear of alienating their patients through promoting this now unpopular notion. It's important to consider such societal elements as these when trying to decide whether to breastfeed or bottle feed your newborn. When weighing the emotional, health, and monetary pros and cons of breastfeeding and bottle feeding, you will find that breastfeeding is a great way to bond with your baby while keeping both you and baby healthy, all the while also saving you time and money.