Question

Explain at least 3advantage and 3disadvantage of breast feeding

3 pages

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Breastfeeding

The world has recommended breastfeeding trusted health organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the American Academy of Pediatrics to be the best way of nutrition for newborns and infants.  Breast milk is known as the best source of nutrition in the early months of life. Breastfeeding has health benefits for both the mother and the baby. The benefits are physical, psychological, and health benefits. The decision to breastfeed or not is one of the most significant decisions made by the mother as it influences the infant’s childhood, health, growth, and development, and future. Breastfeeding is advantageous but also has various roadblocks and drawbacks.

Advantages of Breastfeeding

Benefits for the mother

Mothers have numerous benefits for the mother. Breastfeeding helps in shrinkage of the uterus, and thus mothers can attain their pre-pregnancy size faster. Breastfeeding allows the mother to consume a balanced direct to ensure proper feeding for the baby.  It also assists mothers in burning calories and losing weight after birth.  Breastfeeding facilitates the release of hormones in women, which helps the mother to bond with their babies. Such mothers build a strong physical as well as emotional bonds with the babies. Mothers have a great sense of achievement from breastfeeding, which prevents depression as the mother can feed the baby whenever and wherever the baby needs a feed.

Benefits for the baby

Breast milk helps to boost baby health as it has all the nutrients that the baby required to grow and remain healthy. Breastfeeding is essential for babies, as it promotes a healthy digestive system. Children who are breastfed are less likely to suffer from stomach upset and diarrhea. Breastfeeding also improves the baby’s immune system. Research has shown that breast milk protects babies from infections such as ear, pneumonia, and viral and bacterial infections. Studies have also shown the impact of breast milk on boosting IQ, where breastfed babies have high intelligence. It has also been proven that breastfeeding helps prevent sudden infant death syndrome, affecting infants and newborns. Breast milk also protects babies from conditions such as allergies, asthma, obesity, and diabetes.

Other benefits

Breastfeeding is essential in the community as it helps in family planning. Breastfeeding decreases ovulation and thus delays the return of period, helping mothers to space births and reduce child-rearing burden. Breastfeeding is economical and convenient. Women who choose to breastfeed can save money as it is free and relieves the financial cost of buying formula, sterilizing equipment, and feeding equipment, which can be costly, breastfeeding is beneficial as it lowers the risk of diseases such as breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Disadvantages of breastfeeding

Discomfort, inconvenience and demanding

Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable for the mothers as they experience sore nipples, and their breasts can become engorged and swollen, especially during the very first feedings.  The breastfeeding process can be inconvenient and embarrassing to the mother due to milk leakage as milk production starts; the baby cries immediately or require to be fed. Breastfeeding is demanding as the mother is required to attend to the baby regularly and as much as they demand, which can be tasking and overwhelming after birth. It is also difficult to breastfeed in public.  Breastfeeding is demanding as it requires unique clothing such as nursing bras and shits, which can be costly. The breastfeeding process also demands sacrifice and acceptance as the breast change’s shape and appearance with continued breastfeeding.

Freedom limitation

Breastfeeding limits the mother in various aspects. The mother must be conscientious and watchful of their diet and medication. Therefore, breastfeeding limits the mother from indulging and consuming certain foods and medications such as caffeine and alcohol as everything consumed by the mother is passed on to the baby. Breastfeeding also forces the mother to remain alert and prepared. Newborns and infants feed regularly, and therefore the mother must keep a strict feeding schedule to avoid frustrations and inconveniencing the baby. The restrictions make it difficult for the mother to run errands, meet friends, or return to work without fear or worry about the baby’s well-being. The baby may also be affected by anything applied to the mother’s skin.

Poor regulation and isolation

Breastfeeding makes it hard for the mother to measure and monitor how much milk the baby is consuming. A breastfed baby consumes on demand, and thus the mother lacks a real measure of the baby feeding needs, which makes it difficult to estimates their demands when leaving them with a baby sitter. Breastfeeding also makes it hard for the mother to control the baby, especially when they sprout teeth and can bite and rub their teeth on the nipple. Breastfeeding attaches the baby to the mother, who can exclude the father and cause them to develop a strong bond with the baby unless the mother incorporates pumping.

Breastfeeding negatively affects the mother’s shape and appearance due to the increased demands, which can cause the mother to lose weight excessively. Breastfeeding babies can also be a handful for the mother as they pass more stool, which increases motherly duties in caring for the baby and reduces the time spent on other members of the family and their spouses. Breastfeeding has many advantages for both the baby and the mother, but it is essential to consider the disadvantages and ability to overcome them before making the personal decision to breastfeed an infant.

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