The Breast Is Best - Baby Stays Ahead When Breast Fed

Research has shown that one of the most critical times in the development for children is within their first year of life. During their first year is when the development process potentially results in a weight gain that can triple the weight of the child. (Stoppler, 2014) Where that weight comes from is one of the most significant contributing factors that determines how successfully healthy the child will be during the rest of their development. Therefore, it is up to the mothers to make that crucial decision on what will be used to supplement the nutritional needs of a child that determine the success of their well-being as they continue to develop. This decision can be difficult to make when looking at the variety of products offered for infant nutrition, especially for moms who are inexperienced at having children and do not know what products to use to promote success in different types of development. With this, instead of letting various companies who specialize in the manufacture and distribution of baby formula and nutrition decide what is good for the child, why not let something that specialized in the creation of the child decide what is best for the nutrition of that child during their critical time of development.
What is meant by this is that baby formula manufacturers produce products that go through a number of machines and tests that were created by people who know nothing about the needs of each particular child their product may serve. The one machine that actually knows what is best for each in individual child is that machine that created the child which is body of the child's mother. This is why of all the alternatives available for supplementing child nutrition during the first year of development the best alternative in most cases is achieved through breast feeding from the mother. Baby formula products are something that have been around for a few decades and continue to be tested and changed with the progression of time. Breastfeeding is something that has existed and been used ever since the beginning of man and has been tested and proven for success with man's continued existence. Although now in modern times it is used less because of the introduction of alternative methods that are perceived as more convenient with the use of formula, breastfeeding is still the one alternative that is preferred and supported by people who specialized in the care and development of children.
Most hospitals and facilities that accommodate child birthing have staff that actually encourage expecting and new moms to at least consider the use of breast feeding for providing the child's nutritional needs during that first year. The support of breast feeding is also seen in recent changes made in policies at hospitals that once supported the use of formula. "As of 2011, nearly half of about 2,600 hospitals in a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had stopped giving formula samples to breast-feeding mothers". (Belluck, 2012) This is because more and more medical experts at hospitals are being awakened to the benefits offered through breastfeeding and do not want to use things, such as giving formula samples, that may potentially discourage new mothers from breastfeeding.
The potential benefits offered through breastfeeding are numerous. "The immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby to fight off infections. Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes which aid the baby's digestion." (Stoppler, 2014). The source of the majority of medical benefits offered with breastfeeding comes with the fact that mother's body is designed specifically by mother nature to provide for the well being of the child it produces. In other words the mother's breast milk is specifically tailored for the mother's baby. This is what plays a significant role in the creation of the immunity to infection and disease benefit that is offered with breastfeeding. When the mother's body responds to infections her body will create secretory IgA that is made to combat those infections and this is passed from the mother's body to the baby with breast milk and offers protection for the baby also. (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2014) It has also been shown that the protection against disease that comes from breast feeding extends well beyond the baby's initial stages of development.
A variety of medical research has shown that "breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15"(National Resources Defense Council, 2014). The benefits of breastfeeding have also been found to be beneficial for the mother too. Research has shown that women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. There have also been studies conducted that prove that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014). Breastfeeding is the choice that requires no research, test, or something manufactured with chemicals and machines with no design intended to see to the welfare of a child. With this, it seems it should the choice should be obvious. It only seems sensible that mothers should take full advantage the gift that nature has provided for the long term benefit of the child and her.

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