When You Decide Not to Breastfeed.

In today’s world, the pressure put on new mothers to breastfeed their new born baby has increased. There are a significant number of health benefits to breastfeeding, but these benefits do not have to be entirely lost for infants who are fed with formula.

Some women are simply uncomfortable breastfeeding while others may need to take medication that is harmful to breast milk. Whichever way you choose to feed your infant, rest assured. The formulas available for your infant today are as close to breast milk as possible and provide high quality nutrition for your growing baby.

There are drawbacks to breastfeeding that breastfeeding advocates will not inform you about. Mothers who breastfeed must stick to a very healthy food regiment and eat enough healthy calories for two. No prescription medications should be taken and alcoholic beverages are off limits. With the huge improvements in baby formula products over the years, formula has become as nutritious as breast milk without the need for careful monitoring of your own diet.

It is said that the bond created between a mother and a newborn baby as a mother breastfeeds is unmatched, but proponents of formula feeding disagree. As long as you nurture your baby, looking into the eyes as you feed, you will be bonded to the baby as closely as any breastfed baby. Bottle feeding will allow your spouse to be able to share a similar bond with the baby.

Bottle feeding is measureable. You will know the exact amount your baby is eating everyday minus a bit of spit up. It is not possible to monitor your baby’s breast milk intake this closely, although as long as your baby is eating well, there is no significant reason to monitor intake that closely.

There are many choices to consider when looking at baby formula. Milk based products are generally well tolerated, but if your baby is having difficulty eating consider switching to a soy based formula. Some babies have an easier time with soy formula which is gentler on the stomach.

If your baby appears to be sucking hard, but taking a long time to finish a bottle, consider using different nipples on the bottle. Sometimes babies have a hard time with one nipple or another and they may not be getting enough food for their efforts, causing them distress for no reason.

Do not be afraid to switch formulas if you do not believe your baby is tolerating a formula. Start by mixing the new formula with the old so that it is not a complete switch right away. This will not only ease your baby into the new formula but will avoid wasting an entire container of baby formula.

Some babies are just fussy and have a difficult time feeding. Have patience with your newborn and make sure you can dedicate enough time to allow your baby to eat at their pace, not yours. It may sometimes take a half an hour or more for your baby to completely eat a bottle.

The Basics Of Breastfeeding>>