Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?
Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?Skip to the navigationYou may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?Get the factsYour options- Breastfeed. (Or breastfeed and sometimes bottle-feed with
breast milk or formula.)
- Bottle-feed with formula.
Key points to remember- Breastfeeding is a personal choice. How you feed your baby is
your decision. Your thoughts and feelings about it are an important part of the
decision.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics and most doctors
advise breastfeeding for 1 year or longer.
- Breast milk is the
perfect food for your baby. It has almost all the nutrients a baby needs for
the first 6 months of life.
- Babies can also get good nutrition
from bottle-feeding with formula.
- Breast milk helps prevent many
illnesses.
- Breastfeeding helps a woman's body recover from the stresses
of pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
- Breastfeeding may lower your
risks of
breast cancer and
diabetes later in life.
FAQs Breastfeeding is feeding
a baby milk from a mother's breasts. You can feed your baby directly at your
breast. You can also pump your breasts and put the milk in a bottle so that you
or others can feed your baby breast milk. This lets you give your baby the
benefits of breast milk even when you can't be there to feed your baby. Women
who work or need to be away from their babies may have the option to both
breastfeed and sometimes bottle-feed. Some women bottle-feed with pumped
breast milk or formula, or both. Doctors advise breastfeeding
for 1 year or longer. But your baby benefits from any amount of time that you
breastfeed. Only you
know your own thoughts and feelings about breastfeeding. This is an important
part of making this decision. - Do you want to breastfeed? With the right teaching and support, most women who want to
breastfeed are able to do so. Talk to your doctor if you
have had breast surgery or have been treated for
breast cancer. Some surgeries can limit your ability to produce breast milk.
Before your baby is born, plan ahead and learn all you can about
breastfeeding. This helps make breastfeeding easier.
- Do you know someone who can teach you about breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it can take time and practice for both
you and your baby to do it well. Doctors, nurses, and lactation specialists can
all help. So can friends, family, and breastfeeding support groups.
- Are you comfortable with breastfeeding? If
you are modest or have other concerns about breastfeeding, a lactation
specialist can help. For example, she can show you how to breastfeed in public
without showing your breast.
- Is anyone else trying to convince you one way or the other? Do what is right for you and your
baby. Don't let others make this decision for you.
- How does your work or school situation affect your decision?
Many women are able to provide breast milk even when they are away from their
baby. You can get a breast pump and learn to pump your breasts. But it is
important to think about the practical issues ahead of time, such as finding a
place to pump your breast milk and having a place to store it.
- Is the cost of formula a concern? Formula
can be expensive. You
may save money if you breastfeed your baby.
Breastfeeding is fine for most mothers and babies, even if the mom or
baby has a health problem. But you may not be able to breastfeed if: - You have certain
infections or other problems. For example, you should
not breastfeed if you have active
tuberculosis, are
HIV-positive, or have cancer that is being treated
with
chemotherapy. Women who have illnesses such as
cystic fibrosis need to see their doctor often while
breastfeeding.
- You
use drugs, abuse alcohol, or smoke, and you are not willing to stop. Anything
you put in your body may be passed to your baby in breast milk.
- You've had
a certain kind of breast surgery, such as a breast reduction, or have been treated for breast
cancer. Depending on how surgery affected your breast and the type of cancer treatment, you may still be able to breastfeed.
Compare your options | |
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
- You feed your baby at your
breast. If you have to be away from your baby, you can use a breast pump to
remove your milk and feed it to your baby later with a bottle.
- Sometimes babies and moms need a little help to breastfeed well.
A lactation specialist can help you and your baby get a good start to
breastfeeding.
- Breast milk is the only food
your baby needs until about 6 months of age.
- Breast milk
doesn't cost anything.
- Breast milk is always ready. You don't need
to mix formula or clean bottles.
- Breastfeeding lowers your child's risk for many illnesses and
health problems. These include:
- Diarrhea and upset
stomach.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Urinary tract infections.
- Illnesses that affect the respiratory tract or
breathing.
- Infections. Breastfed babies have less chance of going
into the hospital because of an infection in the first year of life.footnote 1
- Breastfeeding also may protect against other health problems
later on, such as:footnote 2
- You may recover from pregnancy, labor, and
delivery sooner than you would without breastfeeding. This is because of the
hormone
oxytocin, which is released during
breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding may lower your risks for breast cancer or diabetes later on.footnote 2, footnote 3
- Some medicines can
affect breast milk. If you
take medicine, talk to your doctor to find out if it's
okay to breastfeed, or if you can take a different medicine.
- A few foods you eat can affect your breast milk. For example, if
you are breastfeeding, don't eat
fish that is high in mercury. It can be harmful when it is passed to your
baby through your breast milk.
- A small number of women who breastfeed can get a breast
infection called mastitis. It causes fever and breast pain. If you have
mastitis, your doctor will give you antibiotics and have you continue to
breastfeed.
- Your baby will not get enough
vitamin D. You'll need to give your baby a supplement while you are
breastfeeding.
Formula Formula - You feed your baby formula with a
bottle. Some women choose to feed their babies with both breast milk and
formula.
- Formula needs to be mixed correctly. Bottles and nipples
need to be clean for each use.
- Formula provides good nutrition. It includes vitamin D, but your baby will need a vitamin D supplement until he or she is drinking 32 fl oz (946 mL) of formula a day.
- You may
feel better able to work or be away from your baby when you need to. This may
be especially true if you don't like to use a breast pump.
- If you take medicine, you don't have to worry about it getting to
your baby.
- Formula doesn't protect
your baby from infections or other illnesses.
- Formula doesn't help you recover from pregnancy, labor, and
delivery.
- Formula can cost a lot.
- If you both
breastfeed and bottle-feed your baby from birth, your baby may have problems
switching between sucking from your breast and the bottle. This is called
nipple confusion. You may be able to avoid this problem if you feed your baby
only from the breast for the first few weeks of life before you give your baby
a bottle.
I wish I
could stay home with my baby for the first year, but I have to return to work
after 2 months. I plan to breastfeed my baby. I talked to my boss, and they
have a place for me to pump and store my milk during the day. So even though I
won't be able to breastfeed at every feeding after I go back to work, my baby
will still get the benefits of my breast milk through a bottle, plus
breastfeeding in the mornings and evenings. This
pregnancy has been so hard on my body. My doctor says that some women who
breastfeed recover faster from pregnancy, labor, and delivery than women who
don't breastfeed. I am going to try breastfeeding and see how I feel. My
husband will support whatever decision I make. I
breastfed my first baby for a little while and decided breastfeeding wasn't
for me. I do want my baby to get the benefits of breast milk, though. The
hospital lactation consultant said she could help me. So I will probably try to
breastfeed this baby at first, and switch to formula after a few weeks if it's
not going well. I want to breastfeed my baby for as long
as we both enjoy it. I worked before I got pregnant, but I want to stay home
the next few years with my child. I have friends who have done this. They are
very happy with their choices, and their babies seem healthy and well-adjusted.
What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to choose breastfeeding Reasons to choose formula I want to breastfeed. I prefer to bottle-feed my baby with formula. More important Equally important More important I want to follow the advice of experts, who recommend breastfeeding. My baby can be healthy on formula. More important Equally important More important Formula is too expensive for my budget. I can afford formula. More important Equally important More important I have support from family and friends who can teach me about breastfeeding. I don't have family or other friends around who have breastfed and can help me. I don't want to ask for help from strangers. More important Equally important More important I'm confident that I can find the time and a place to breastfeed or pump breast milk. My type of work and my schedule don't give me the time or a place to breastfeed or pump breast milk. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Breastfeeding Using formula Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision?1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure Your SummaryHere's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Next stepsWhich way you're leaningHow sure you areYour commentsKey concepts that you understoodKey concepts that may need reviewCredits | Author | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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References Citations - Talayero JMP, et al. (2006). Full breastfeeding and hospitalization as a result of infections in the first year of life. Pediatrics, 118(1): 92-99.
- Lawrence RM, Lawrence RA (2009). The breast and physiology of lactation. In RK Creasy et al., eds., Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 6th ed., pp. 125-142. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
- Stuebe AM, et al. (2005). Duration of lactation and incidence of type 2 diabetes. JAMA, 294(20): 2601-2610.
Other Works Consulted - American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Breastfeeding (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2): 496-506.
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. - Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the FactsYour options- Breastfeed. (Or breastfeed and sometimes bottle-feed with
breast milk or formula.)
- Bottle-feed with formula.
Key points to remember- Breastfeeding is a personal choice. How you feed your baby is
your decision. Your thoughts and feelings about it are an important part of the
decision.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics and most doctors
advise breastfeeding for 1 year or longer.
- Breast milk is the
perfect food for your baby. It has almost all the nutrients a baby needs for
the first 6 months of life.
- Babies can also get good nutrition
from bottle-feeding with formula.
- Breast milk helps prevent many
illnesses.
- Breastfeeding helps a woman's body recover from the stresses
of pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
- Breastfeeding may lower your
risks of
breast cancer and
diabetes later in life.
FAQs What is breastfeeding?Breastfeeding is feeding
a baby milk from a mother's breasts. You can feed your baby directly at your
breast. You can also pump your breasts and put the milk in a bottle so that you
or others can feed your baby breast milk. This lets you give your baby the
benefits of breast milk even when you can't be there to feed your baby. Women
who work or need to be away from their babies may have the option to both
breastfeed and sometimes bottle-feed. Some women bottle-feed with pumped
breast milk or formula, or both. Doctors advise breastfeeding
for 1 year or longer. But your baby benefits from any amount of time that you
breastfeed. How do you feel about breastfeeding?Only you
know your own thoughts and feelings about breastfeeding. This is an important
part of making this decision. - Do you want to breastfeed? With the right teaching and support, most women who want to
breastfeed are able to do so. Talk to your doctor if you
have had breast surgery or have been treated for
breast cancer. Some surgeries can limit your ability to produce breast milk.
Before your baby is born, plan ahead and learn all you can about
breastfeeding. This helps make breastfeeding easier.
- Do you know someone who can teach you about breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it can take time and practice for both
you and your baby to do it well. Doctors, nurses, and lactation specialists can
all help. So can friends, family, and breastfeeding support groups.
- Are you comfortable with breastfeeding? If
you are modest or have other concerns about breastfeeding, a lactation
specialist can help. For example, she can show you how to breastfeed in public
without showing your breast.
- Is anyone else trying to convince you one way or the other? Do what is right for you and your
baby. Don't let others make this decision for you.
- How does your work or school situation affect your decision?
Many women are able to provide breast milk even when they are away from their
baby. You can get a breast pump and learn to pump your breasts. But it is
important to think about the practical issues ahead of time, such as finding a
place to pump your breast milk and having a place to store it.
- Is the cost of formula a concern? Formula
can be expensive. You
may save money if you breastfeed your baby.
What health problems could affect your decision?Breastfeeding is fine for most mothers and babies, even if the mom or
baby has a health problem. But you may not be able to breastfeed if: - You have certain
infections or other problems. For example, you should
not breastfeed if you have active
tuberculosis, are
HIV-positive, or have cancer that is being treated
with
chemotherapy. Women who have illnesses such as
cystic fibrosis need to see their doctor often while
breastfeeding.
- You
use drugs, abuse alcohol, or smoke, and you are not willing to stop. Anything
you put in your body may be passed to your baby in breast milk.
- You've had
a certain kind of breast surgery, such as a breast reduction, or have been treated for breast
cancer. Depending on how surgery affected your breast and the type of cancer treatment, you may still be able to breastfeed.
2. Compare your options| | Breastfeeding
| Formula |
|---|
| What is usually involved? | - You feed your baby at your
breast. If you have to be away from your baby, you can use a breast pump to
remove your milk and feed it to your baby later with a bottle.
- Sometimes babies and moms need a little help to breastfeed well.
A lactation specialist can help you and your baby get a good start to
breastfeeding.
| - You feed your baby formula with a
bottle. Some women choose to feed their babies with both breast milk and
formula.
- Formula needs to be mixed correctly. Bottles and nipples
need to be clean for each use.
|
|---|
| What are the benefits? | - Breast milk is the only food
your baby needs until about 6 months of age.
- Breast milk
doesn't cost anything.
- Breast milk is always ready. You don't need
to mix formula or clean bottles.
- Breastfeeding lowers your child's risk for many illnesses and
health problems. These include:
- Diarrhea and upset
stomach.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Urinary tract infections.
- Illnesses that affect the respiratory tract or
breathing.
- Infections. Breastfed babies have less chance of going
into the hospital because of an infection in the first year of life.1
- Breastfeeding also may protect against other health problems
later on, such as:2
- You may recover from pregnancy, labor, and
delivery sooner than you would without breastfeeding. This is because of the
hormone
oxytocin, which is released during
breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding may lower your risks for breast cancer or diabetes later on.2, 3
| - Formula provides good nutrition. It includes vitamin D, but your baby will need a vitamin D supplement until he or she is drinking 32 fl oz (946 mL) of formula a day.
- You may
feel better able to work or be away from your baby when you need to. This may
be especially true if you don't like to use a breast pump.
- If you take medicine, you don't have to worry about it getting to
your baby.
|
|---|
| What are the risks and side effects? | - Some medicines can
affect breast milk. If you
take medicine, talk to your doctor to find out if it's
okay to breastfeed, or if you can take a different medicine.
- A few foods you eat can affect your breast milk. For example, if
you are breastfeeding, don't eat
fish that is high in mercury. It can be harmful when it is passed to your
baby through your breast milk.
- A small number of women who breastfeed can get a breast
infection called mastitis. It causes fever and breast pain. If you have
mastitis, your doctor will give you antibiotics and have you continue to
breastfeed.
- Your baby will not get enough
vitamin D. You'll need to give your baby a supplement while you are
breastfeeding.
| - Formula doesn't protect
your baby from infections or other illnesses.
- Formula doesn't help you recover from pregnancy, labor, and
delivery.
- Formula can cost a lot.
- If you both
breastfeed and bottle-feed your baby from birth, your baby may have problems
switching between sucking from your breast and the bottle. This is called
nipple confusion. You may be able to avoid this problem if you feed your baby
only from the breast for the first few weeks of life before you give your baby
a bottle.
|
|---|
Personal storiesPersonal stories about breastfeeding
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I wish I could stay home with my baby for the first year, but I have to return to work after 2 months. I plan to breastfeed my baby. I talked to my boss, and they have a place for me to pump and store my milk during the day. So even though I won't be able to breastfeed at every feeding after I go back to work, my baby will still get the benefits of my breast milk through a bottle, plus breastfeeding in the mornings and evenings." "This pregnancy has been so hard on my body. My doctor says that some women who breastfeed recover faster from pregnancy, labor, and delivery than women who don't breastfeed. I am going to try breastfeeding and see how I feel. My husband will support whatever decision I make." "I breastfed my first baby for a little while and decided breastfeeding wasn't for me. I do want my baby to get the benefits of breast milk, though. The hospital lactation consultant said she could help me. So I will probably try to breastfeed this baby at first, and switch to formula after a few weeks if it's not going well." "I want to breastfeed my baby for as long as we both enjoy it. I worked before I got pregnant, but I want to stay home the next few years with my child. I have friends who have done this. They are very happy with their choices, and their babies seem healthy and well-adjusted." 3. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to choose breastfeeding Reasons to choose formula I want to breastfeed. I prefer to bottle-feed my baby with formula. More important Equally important More important I want to follow the advice of experts, who recommend breastfeeding. My baby can be healthy on formula. More important Equally important More important Formula is too expensive for my budget. I can afford formula. More important Equally important More important I have support from family and friends who can teach me about breastfeeding. I don't have family or other friends around who have breastfed and can help me. I don't want to ask for help from strangers. More important Equally important More important I'm confident that I can find the time and a place to breastfeed or pump breast milk. My type of work and my schedule don't give me the time or a place to breastfeed or pump breast milk. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Breastfeeding Using formula Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
Doctors say it's best to breastfeed my baby for 1 year or longer. You're right. Most doctors recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies for 1 year or longer. But any amount of time you breastfeed helps your baby. 2.
Breastfeeding can lower my baby's chance of getting some infections and diseases. You're right. Breastfeeding can lower a baby's chance of getting ear infections, diarrhea, asthma, and other health problems. 3.
Formula can give good nutrition to my baby. You're right. Formula does provide good nutrition for babies. Decide what's next1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Credits | By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
|---|
References Citations - Talayero JMP, et al. (2006). Full breastfeeding and hospitalization as a result of infections in the first year of life. Pediatrics, 118(1): 92-99.
- Lawrence RM, Lawrence RA (2009). The breast and physiology of lactation. In RK Creasy et al., eds., Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 6th ed., pp. 125-142. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
- Stuebe AM, et al. (2005). Duration of lactation and incidence of type 2 diabetes. JAMA, 294(20): 2601-2610.
Other Works Consulted - American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Breastfeeding (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2): 496-506.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.Current as of:
March 16, 2017 Talayero JMP, et al. (2006). Full breastfeeding and hospitalization as a result of infections in the first year of life. Pediatrics, 118(1): 92-99. Lawrence RM, Lawrence RA (2009). The breast and physiology of lactation. In RK Creasy et al., eds., Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 6th ed., pp. 125-142. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier. Stuebe AM, et al. (2005). Duration of lactation and incidence of type 2 diabetes. JAMA, 294(20): 2601-2610. Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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