Breast Feeding vs. Formula Feeding

Once you've given birth, breast feeding is the single most important thing you can do to protect your baby and help to promote good health.  Best of all, breast feeding is free.

Along with saving you money on HMR (Human Milk Replacement), breast feeding can also help you to keep your medical bills down.  Babies that are fed with formula get sick more often and more seriously than babies that are breast fed. They also have more ear infections, respiratory infections, and other problems. 

This can be even truer if your family has had a history of allergies.  When a baby is breast fed, the antibodies pass on from the mother to the baby, helping to protect against illness and allergies. As the baby's system matures, his body will begin to make it's own antibodies, and he'll be more equipped to handle food sensitivities.

Sucking on the breast will also help with the development of jaw alignment and the development of the cheekbone.  For this very reason, there is less need for costly orthodontic work when the child gets older.

Unlike formula, breast milk is always ready, always available, convenient, and always the right temperature for feeding.  Plus, it contains all of the vitamins and minerals your growing baby needs, saving you a lot of money. 

Breast feeding also offers many benefits for the mom as well.  The baby sucking at the breast will cause contractions right after birth, leading to less bleeding for the mom, and helping her uterus to regain its shape before pregnancy much faster. 

Breast feeding will also burn calories, so a mom can lose weight much faster than if she fed her baby with a bottle.  And it creates a special bond with the mother and the baby - one thing formula simply cannot do.

Now that you know the importance of breast feeding your child, what if you are the type of mom that is always on the go or has a job that does not allow you to be there all of the time to breast feed your child. Breast pumps are your answer. Breast pumps allows a busy mother to produce milk and store for later use.

How To Choose A Breast Pump

The milk production in the breasts, much like so many other things, works on the sheer principal of supply and demand. The more breast milk your baby consumes, the more your body will need to make. 

Breast pumps are generally used to insure continued production of breast milk when you cannot feed your baby - whether you are back at work, traveling, taking medication, or just out of town. 

Basic types of breast pumps

Breast pumps can either be battery operated, hand operated, semi automatic electric, or even self cycling electric.

Hand breast pumps

Manual hand pumps are designed to use the strength of your hand or arm muscles for pumping one breast at a time.  You can also get pumps that will use the leg and foot muscles for pumping both breasts at one  time.  Mothers that with carpal tunnel syndrome may want to consider using a pump designed for the arm or leg muscles or even an automatic model.

Battery operated breast pumps

Pumps with battery operation are the best for women who have an established supply of milk and want to pump once or even twice a day.  These pumps use batteries to create suction, minimizing any type of muscle fatigue.  Most battery type pumps are designed for pumping one breast at a time and are recommended for occasional usage

Electric breast pumps

Even though electric pumps are more efficient than hand or even battery operated pumps, they also tend to be more expensive.  You can however, rent them if you need to.  Electric pumps normally plug directly into an outlet and are designed for pumping both breasts at a time and for frequent use.  Hospital grade pumps are the most efficient for initiating and maintaining milk supply, and are available for rent or purchase.

We will be happy to explain the details when you come in, but the main thing you need to know about the Medela line of breast pumps is that they provide an experience that is most like the natural suckling of an infant. This results in less stress on the mother and more productive milk expressing sessions.

We currently do not rent or sale breast pumps but if you need advice on what is the best solution for you then stop by and speak with one of our medical professionals.

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