First and foremost, breastfeeding is more taxing on the mother as it makes the mother solely responsible for the feeding of the baby; even a mom who exclusively expresses her milk for feeding will have to stop her day to pump, and it is only she who can pump.

Below is my classmate discussion post. Please respond to her post. Nothing negativeThe pro’s of breastfeeding are easy to see. Breastmilk is biologically engineered to provide the exact amount of calories, fat, protein, and other nutrients a baby needs as it develops. The make up of breastmilk even changes over time to meet the needs of the growing baby; when babies are first born, mothers produce more colostrum – fatty, thicker, more yellow milk – that is needed for both their physical and neurological growth. As the baby ages, the milk has less colostrum, changes to a whiter color, and contains less fat. Additionally, breast milk contains more easily digestible iron than supplemental iron, and breastmilk is generally far more digestible than created formula. Having said that, modern formulas have been created to more accurately match breastmilk. There are now formulas available that provide more for the specific needs of various stages of infancy. However, formula cannot replicate the immune benefits of breastfeeding.However, one major benefit that breastfeeding has over formula is that it is free. Formula is an incredibly expensive commodity. While in America we have programs like WIC that provide assistance to low-income mothers and children, this is not the case everywhere. This week’s chapter discussed how marketing of formula in developing nations in the 1960s led to widespread malnutrition in infants as the formula was diluted down or mixed with unclean water. Breastfeeding is always free, and always available on demand for the baby (with exceptions of course).Additionally, breastfeeding offers important maternal health benefits. The act of breastfeeding causes the release of oxytocin which stimulates uterine contractions and aids in returning the uterus to its normal size following birth. This same hormone is a “feel good” hormone and aids in maternal bonding. The positive affects of breastfeeding extend beyond immediately after childbirth. As breastfeeding tends to prohibit ovulation, breastfeeding mothers tend to have pregnancies that are more spaced out; this is of significant benefit to the mother as it allows their body to fully heal before their next pregnancy. This is particularly important in developing countries or certain conservative cultures in which access to birth control may be limited but availability or prohibited by cultural norms.However, there are some definite downsides to breastfeeding. First and foremost, breastfeeding is more taxing on the mother as it makes the mother solely responsible for the feeding of the baby; even a mom who exclusively expresses her milk for feeding will have to stop her day to pump, and it is only she who can pump. This can be very taxing on the mother. It is also especially difficult on working mothers to make time to pump during the day. Although American Society has come a long way, breastfeeding is still seen as “icky” or taboo by many. Another downside to breastfeeding is that in certain circumstances, it is not ideal.