I. Introduction
I am researching the health benefits of breastfeeding to make my readers understand that breastfeeding is the ideal method of feeding infants. Although many mothers choose instant formula as the choice of feeding for their infant, many of them do not know the many different risks they are taking by pumping commercially prepared food into their child. Many experts believe that breast feeding is one of the best choices nutritional wise. In addition, breastfeeding is not only beneficial to the child, it is good for the mothers in the long run as far as health issues than many women face every day. Breast feeding can lower the risk of many diseases and help fight bacteria that your child can come in contact with in the world. Knowing the benefits of breastfeeding can raise the awareness for the mother and especially benefit the younger ones. Although breastfeeding may not be possible for all women, for the mothers that are able to breastfeed, it is the healthiest choice for both mother and the infant.
II. Research Questions:
Why is formula more pushed for feeding than breast milk?
Why are so many women clueless about the risks that they are taking by feeding their infant something that is not beneficial for their child, even though doctors and manufactures say that formula is healthy for your child?
Why is formula the only other way for feeding beside breast milk? Although many mother cannot always breastfeed, why is there not another healthier choice for mothers who have issues and do not want use formula?
III. Background
Breastfeeding has been around since the beginning of time and the main choice of food source. Since the 1950s, instant formula has become the new and hassle free way to feed infants. However, the rise and decline of breastfeeding should be the concern of mothers. Mothers in the 21st century are too busy or unable to breast feed, so the formula has become the best way they can feed their infants. Instant formula was there to save moms to help their starving infant. Instant formula has not always been available for convenience, not many mothers were able afford the formula. Seventy years after instant formula or Similac, there have been 1.2 million death of infants related to formula. Although the formula ingredients have changed along with different types of formula, there has still been an increase rate of health issues and mortality rates. The CDC and other organizations have repeatedly stated that breastmilk is the best choice for everyone, but mothers are still using the formula where the ingredients may contain toxins and enhancements that are not easily digested.
IV. Annotated Bibliography
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom. (2011, April 11). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-
stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Benefits-of-Breastfeeding-for-Mom.aspx
This article explains the maternal benefits on why mothers should breast feed. The article is a viable source for the research because of the fact that the mother health is important to explain to the mothers why they should breastfeed. In the article, it states the many hormones that help the mother and different health risk they are taking when they do not breast feed.
Breastfeeding. (2017, May 3). Retrieved June 22, 2017, from
https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/
This a government based website that allows mothers to have excess of information to help them with breastfeeding. There is information to help them make the decision of even breastfeeding which is great for them to understand what they are doing for their child. Its informs them ways to help pumping and lactation and ways to be feed in public and in the work place. This site is a way of showing the readers that there is so much information to help and they should research about the benefits.
Breastfeeding. (2017, June 05). Retrieved June 21, 2017, from
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm
This is an online report of the many different rates of breastfeeding down to the races in all of the fifty states. This a liable source of information that is created by the government. The report card gives health professional, communities and families to understand what is going on with the best choice of feeding for infants and to promote breastfeeding. The report card gives the statistics of the ages of the children being breastfed and compared to the amount of live births with the amount of breast feeders.
Foss, K. A., & Southwell, B. G. (2006). Infant feeding and the media: the relationship between
Parents’ Magazine content and breastfeeding, 1972–2000. International Breastfeeding
Journal,1(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/1746-4358-1-10
This journal is web based viewed international. This journal explains how media can influences the minds of mothers. Media has always been a way of persuasion it can be a good thing or bad thing. Advertisement plays a role as well, as the ads increase the number of women that breastfeed changes as well. For this this instance Parents’ Magazine was a way of getting of the news and advice to all mothers. Many people believe what they are reading is the truth and best because it is published. This a great source of information and vital to the research.
Mcguire, S. (2014). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2013. Strategies to Prevent
Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases: The CDC Guide to Strategies to Support
Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2013. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal,5(3), 3-47.
doi:10.3945/an.114.005900
This journal helps women to get support with breastfeeding. Many women feel embarrassed or do not have the support from the spouse. Having support with breastfeed keeps them breast feeding which is beneficial for the child and the mother. Many women can go through post-partum depression which can discourage women to even want their child to even latch on to them.
Office of the Surgeon General (US); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US); Office on
Women’s Health (US). The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.
Rockville (MD): Office of the Surgeon General (US); 2011. Breastfeeding from the
Public Health Perspective.Â
In this article, it gives the perspective on how the women should be supported in breastfeeding. It states that there should ways to help the mothers that want to breast feed. Also, this article will be really give reliable information from health professional perspective and how they feel the breast-feeding world should be towards the mothers of these children.
Ogbuanu, C. A., Probst, J., Laditka, S. B., Liu, J., Baek, J., & Glover, S. (2009). REASONS
WHY WOMEN DO NOT INITIATE BREASTFEEDING: A Southeastern State
Study. Women’s Health Issues: Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s
Health, 19(4), 268–278. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2009.03.005
This article is a great source of liable information. This is a qualitative study and research of different women when asked why they choose not to breastfeed. The women of the study are wide range of ages and different races which in this case is great way to get the different demographics. The ranges of reason are just not wanting to breastfeed, other obligations or in other words too busy, mental/ physical issues and even feeling embarrassed. This article will allow the readers to understand what is a good reason why some women do not breastfeed and the bad reasons why they do not breastfeed.
Slusser, W. (2007). Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed
Countries. AAP Grand Rounds,18(2), 15-16. doi:10.1542/gr.18-2-15
For this journal article allows the readers to under the relationship between various different diseases and disorders health issues. The author purpose is to inform the health issues they can avoid if they choose to breastfeed. These issues are everyday issues that mothers can get or the child itself in the long run. This article will be beneficial of the fact that its related to health.
Stevens, E. E., Patrick, T. E., & Pickler, R. (2009). A History of Infant Feeding. The Journal of
Perinatal Education, 18(2), 32–39. http://doi.org/10.1624/105812409X426314
This journal article explains the history and the different forms of infant feeding. All the different feeding range from wet nursing, bottle feeding and formula. Also, it states that even though wet nursing has been bashed over the years because the so-called improvements of formula which in today is still not healthy. This article gives the range wide history of all the feeding since the beginning of time. This source is reliable for the research because it gives the background of all the feedings of infants.
Vital Signs: Hospital Practices to Support Breastfeeding — United States, 2007 and 2009.
(2011). Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC),60(30), 1020-1025. Retrieved
June 23, 2017.
For this journal, it gives the statistically data on what is happening the hospitals and how the mothers are actually doing daily when they are breastfeeding. In addition is gives the results of actual women. The CDC is a creditable source and the information is actually happening or has happened in the past. Also, the article gives ways on how to successfully breastfed. The article is what can encourage mothers to breast feed which decreases the amount risk they are endangering their child by not breastfeeding.
V. Major Arguments
Point 1:
As new mothers are discharged from the hospital, instant formula is being gifted. Even if the mothers are breast feeding, formula feeding can start with the formula being in their presence. Instant formula companies like Similac and Enfamil claim to have the same by products and vitamins as the natural breast milk. However instant formula ingredients do not change like the changes of the body, therefore many of the infants are unable to digest and take the formula or may create new allergies in the infant. Although formula is pushed towards the mother, formula today, can be quite expensive. With formula, many different discrepancies can come into play like contamination of the bottle and water. On the other hand, many hospitals are still handing it out knowing it is not the healthiest for the infant.
Point 2:
Women feel as if they will not have the support if they do breastfeed so they feel as if they do not need to research the risks of formula feeding. With all the advertising women cannot see past how fast and convenient it is to have the formula. In a way women, they have to formula feed because of the fact they feel that they cannot provide enough nutrition for their child which is the case for some but for most they can breastfeed. The research for formula risks and issues there on many sites credible and government sites. There are ways to help the women who are struggling to continue breastfeeding.
Point 3:
There are a few other alternatives other an formula. Goats milk is close to as human breast milk. Goats milk contains vitamin B,C and D and is low in iron, just as like the mothers milk. Goat milk has fat molecules that is more digestiable than formula. Other mothers have even made rice milk as a form of feeding.
VI. Conclusion
With formula and breastfeed constantly neck in neck with which one is healthier, breastfeeding is the best way to go. Down to the different diseases and health risk formula is not for every child. Formula has been around on the shelves since 1955 it has killed millions of babies. The risks of the formula are there for the mothers to view and yet they choose the formula that can cause infection, illness and obesity.