The World Health Organisation recommends that all full-term babies be breastfed exclusively for at least the first six months, and that breast-feeding continues to 24 months and beyond. Yet many mothers still choose to formula-feed their babies, thinking that it's "just as good" as breast milk.
Of course, sixty years ago, there wasn't much choice - either the mother (or a wet nurse) breastfed the baby, or the baby starved and died.
Infant formula was originally developed as a kind of medicine - a life-saving food to be given to infants whose mothers physiologically couldn't produce milk (actually this is quite a rare condition), or for orphaned infants.
Since then, the technologies used in making infant formula have improved greatly, and of course, so has the quality of the formula. However, infant formula still falls short of breast milk in many areas.
For example, breast milk contains high levels of white blood cells which destroy germs, and immunoglobulin, which coats the baby's delicate intestine, creating a kind of shield that prevents harmful bacteria from passing through the intestinal wall, as well as foreign food particles from setting up allergies later in life.
In the first days after birth, mothers produce a kind of pre-milk called colostrum which is exceptionally rich in these infection fighting substances, leading some to think of colostrum as a baby's first immunization. Not only that, a mother's milk is tailor made to suit her baby, passing through it a full range of antibodies developed by the mother's mature immune system.
As breast milk is digested very quickly and leaves the stomach much faster than formula, it also reduces reflux in babies, one of the main causes of "colic."
Children who were breastfed as babies are found to have higher IQ, better visual acuity, less need for orthodontic work, fewer ear infections, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal infections, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of diabetes and juvenile arthritis, a stronger immune system and a whole host of other health benefits over formula fed babies.
New studies are even showing that breastfed babies handle stress better later in life.
Not only is breast milk designed by nature to be a perfect food, formula can be a downright nuisance. Breastfeeding eliminates the need to constantly wash and sterilise bottles, measure and mix formula, warm milk and start all over again. Especially when baby is hungry at 3am.
My daughter, Sequoia was breastfed from birth, I never considered the idea of giving her bottles of formula, though I was afraid that I, like my mother, would not get any milk.
My mother had wanted to breastfeed, and tried to nurse me while we were still in the hospital. As was the standard procedure at the time, I was brought to my mother from the nursery for feeding at the scheduled times, and taken back to the nursery at the end of the scheduled feeding time. Receiving little help and support, and not having the chance to practice breastfeeding with me, my mother's milk never came in.
Of course there have been lot of advances in hospital practices regarding breastfeeding over the last thirty years, but there is still more room for improvement.
For some mothers, breastfeeding can be very difficult at the beginning, the baby doesn't always "latch on" by herself correctly, and without a proper latch, the milk cannot flow properly. The mother's milk doesn't always "start" easily, but a skilled lactation consultant or nurse can help a lot.
Most mothers simply need a little assistance, with some time to practice, and breastfeeding can be a loving, warm and rewarding experience for both the mother and the baby.
Breast milk is more than just a food. It can be used as a "heal-all wonder medicine."
Squirted in the eyes it can heal conjunctivitis and goopey-eye overnight. Rubbed into the skin it soothes diaper-rash, eczema, burns and other rashes. It can be squirted into the nostrils to clear a stuffy nose and even onto the cord-stump to aid in healing of the belly button after birth.
Nursing on Demand, the practice of allowing the child to breastfeed whenever she wants or needs, for as long as she likes, rather than "scheduled feeding" is the best way for the baby to get not only the nutrition she requires, but also the comfort that she needs, aiding in not only physical but emotional development and building a close bond between mother and child.
I nursed Sequoia on demand around the clock until she was two years and seven months old, when she decided that it was time to stop. During the next six months, Sequoia occasionally asked to have some "boobie," but I generally responded by reminding her that I don't have milk anymore and we're finished with that. Mostly she was satisfied with a good hug.
However, over time she began asking more and more to nurse, and I realised that while she had been happy to stop six months before, she still needed the emotional closeness, comfort and security that breastfeeding offers.
One day, just after she turned three, I saw that she really needed to nurse again.
Sequoia had been very upset, as I was going out for the evening and leaving her with her father. I didn't want to leave her if she wasn't happy about it, so, preparing myself for the possibility of cancelling my plans and staying home at her request, I asked her what she would like to do. She offered the idea that if she breastfed before I left, then she would be happy for me to go. I agreed, and she took a quick 'sip' from each side before literally pushing me out the front door, happily shouting "Bye-bye!"
Since then, we have re-entered the nursing phase. Even though Sequoia rarely nurses and when she does, it's not for more than a few minutes and I have no more than a drop or two of milk, we both enjoy the closeness it affords us.