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When I delivered my first child, I was on cloud nine. But, the moment was short-lived as the doctor told us that the baby had physiological jaundice. The problem is common in newborns, but my husband and I were worried.
My son had to be given phototherapy treatment to eliminate jaundice. This required him to be kept in the ICU for 24 hours, which meant that I couldn’t breastfeed him as frequently as I should. And expressing or pumping milk was tough as it was painful and made my nipples sore.
Thankfully, there was formula. The nurses made sure that he was fed on time and frequently with formula.
Although AAP (1) recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months, there are several mothers out there cannot breastfeed owing to insufficient milk, work, or some health reasons. For all of them, there’s formula to rely on.
While breast milk is the best for the baby, formula is also safe. So, don’t succumb to mommy guilt. Commercial formulas are manufactured by maintaining sterile conditions. They prepare the formula with a combination of proteins, sugars, fats, and vitamins. Here are some benefits of providing formula to your baby:
- Formula provides the essential nutrients and vitamins required for the baby to grow. In fact, they get even those nutrients which the breastfed babies have to take through supplements (2).
- It’s convenient for the mother or the caretaker to feed the baby with a bottle at any given time. It also makes the father more responsible and involved to feed the child and helps in bonding between the two.
- Feeding the baby with formula is easy. The mother need not be home-bound or do not need a private space for feeding when she is out. Once the formula is ready, the mother can give it to someone responsible to feed the baby. It gives her time to relax or involve in other activities.
- Mothers of the babies who are on formula, need not have to eat or avoid foods based on the baby’s requirements and instead, focus on the nutrients that their body needs.
- The best part is that your husband and other family members can involve themselves in feeding the baby.
However, before giving formula feed for your baby, you need to prepare thoroughly:
- Do your research on various brands before you buy one.
- Make sure you sterilize the feeding bottles and nipples properly. Keep them clean and dry before you feed your baby.
- Your baby will feed at least eight to ten times during the day, so make sure you have enough bottles to feed him, so that he doesn’t get fussy.
- Ensure you have enough formula packs at home. You don’t want to run to the store at the last minute.
- Do not warm the formula in the microwave. It breaks down the nutrients in the formula and also warms it unevenly. Use a bottle warmer instead.
- Remember that you will have to carry the formula, bottles, and paraphernalia if you are traveling or going out.
While formula foods are made to meet the nutrient requirements of babies, they cannot replace breast milk. It lacks the antibodies required for the baby and cannot change as per the changing needs of the little one.
The formula comes only next to breast milk but it is a boon to mothers who cannot breastfeed their babies due to various reasons. Whether it’s formula or breastfeeding, the one that you should consider is: what’s right for the baby.
What do you think about formula feeding the babies? Do let us know your opinion by commenting below.
