There are plenty of reasons why breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It’s natural, it’s free, it’s convenient, and most importantly it’s healthy for both mom and baby. But if you are a busy working mom or a mom who just cannot produce enough milk as your child needs, you may want to consider pumping and feeding them with a bottle instead of just breastfeeding directly. It is perfectly normal to feel weird at first about using a bottle to feed your baby but there are benefits of pumping and feeding them with a bottle that should make you reconsider.
Working Moms Can Still Breastfeed
There are tons of moms who want to breastfeed, and then feel guilty that they aren’t able to do it because they have to go back to work. Even if you have to go back to work, breastfeeding can still be an option for you.
Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be done in one sitting – it can be done over a period of hours or even days. You can feed your baby as many times as needed to get all the nutrients they need – you just have to pump in between. Your body is made to make and release milk whenever your baby needs it. So even if you are back at work, your body should still be able to make enough milk for your child.
Breastfeeding Is Good For Your Baby’s Health
Breast milk is not just good for your baby – it is good for them in many ways! Breast milk is made with the perfect amount of nutrients, antibodies, and vitamins that your baby needs to grow and build a strong immune system. It also has lower amounts of sugar and salt as compared to formula.
The formula on the other hand has been linked to many different health issues like allergies, infections, obesity, and even seizures. One of the things formula is missing is a specific type of gut bacteria that are needed to help your baby digest their food properly. This can lead to your baby being less efficient with their digestion, which can lead to several later-life health issues. Breast milk also has antibodies that will help your baby fight off infections and diseases for the first three years of their life.
You Don’t Have to Buy Formula
Breastfeeding is free and you don’t even have to purchase formula. If you are on WIC, there are guidelines that say you don’t have to buy any formula, even if you can afford it. But if you don’t qualify for WIC, breastfeeding is definitely cheaper than buying formula. The cost of formula per month is $68. That is $752 a year. The cost of breastfeeding per month is $60 – that’s $360 a year.
Formula comes with many extra chemicals and ingredients that breastfeeding doesn’t have. Also, breastfeeding is proven to reduce your child’s risk of many different diseases. This includes asthma, allergies, and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding also lowers your child’s chance of getting ear infections and other infections because of the antibodies that are found in breast milk.
It Helps Build Up Your Supply
Breastfeeding is the best way to build up a good supply of breast milk. But if you can’t breastfeed directly, pumping can help you increase your supply. Pumping squeezes your nipples, which triggers a hormone that tells your body to produce more breast milk. Breastfeeding also tells your body to make more breast milk. When you pump and feed your baby with a bottle, your body will make less breast milk.
Pumping also helps you build up a good supply if you are breastfeeding and your baby is not getting enough from you. You can pump in between feedings to help increase your supply. If you need to, you can pump in the beginning when your baby is nursing so you can get more out.
Establishing a Supply and Detecting Problems
Pumping is a great way to test if your baby is getting enough from you. You can measure how much your baby drinks from the bottle. Then you can pump the same amount to see how much you are getting. If you are pumping but aren’t getting much, it can be a sign that your supply isn’t good enough. Or it can be a sign that your child is not getting enough from you. If this is the case, you can use your pumped milk to supplement your baby’s feedings.
Your doctor or lactation consultant can also help you figure out ways to increase milk supply when pumping. If you can’t pump enough milk, it may be a sign that you don’t have enough supply. Or it can be a sign that there is a problem with your baby’s suckling or digestion. You will want to talk to your doctor if you are struggling to pump enough. Your doctor can help you find ways to increase your supply so you can feed your baby breast milk.
Or You Can Just Feed Them With a Bottle
Breastfeeding is usually the best way to feed your baby. But if you have tried everything and breastfeeding just isn’t working for you, then you can always feed your baby with a bottle. If you feed your baby with a bottle, you should still pump. Pumping will help build up your supply, which should make feeding your child with a bottle easier. You can pour your pumped milk into a bottle or you can use a pump to feed your baby directly. You can also add some breast milk to regular formula to make it more nutritious and healthier. Feeding your baby with a bottle is less beneficial for them, but it will help you provide for them easier.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is definitely the best way to feed your baby. But if you are overwhelmed with work or just can’t produce enough milk to feed your child, pumping is a great solution. Breastfeeding is the best way to build up a good supply, but pumping can help you build up a good supply quicker. Pumping will also help you test if your baby is getting enough from you or if there are any problems with their digestion. If you have tried everything and breastfeeding just isn’t working for you, you can always feed your baby with a bottle. But if you can, breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby.