Breastfeeding vs Bottle-Feeding, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Mothers who have given birth often face a difficult choice in whether or not to breastfeed or to bottlefeed their children. There are a number of factors to consider when making this decision, including the mother’s ability to breastfeed effectively and whether or not formula provide sufficient nutrition for the child. This decision is highly personal in nature and must be considered in the context of the health of mother and child. One of the critical factors to consider in this decision is whether or not developmental changes occur differently as a result of the two feeding types and whether or not this has a significant impact on long-term outcomes. It is necessary to examine these conditions and to reflect upon the differences that are evident and how they impact a child’s growth and development in different ways. This process is a critical component of the mother’s ability to care for her child, to provide the proper nutrients, and to recognize the different aspects that contribute to improved developmental outcomes during the first few months after birth. These discussions must consider the value of breastfeeding versus there is any perceived loss of development or a slower development track with bottle feeding. These issues must be considered in greater detail because they emphasize the importance of making the decision that will have the greatest possible impact on a young child, given the other issues that must be considered. This practice also requires mothers to examine their own health needs in order to determine if they are prepared to assess the risks of one option over the other. This discussion will also address the importance of developing a critical environment in which to enable children to grow and thrive at the optimal level.

Analysis

It is known that “Human breast milk, the sole source of nutrition during the early neonatal period, is rich in nutrients, hormones, growth factors, and immunoactive molecules, which influence the growth, development, and immune status of the newborn infant” (Rafeey, Ghorbanihaghjo, Masoumi, Alizadeh, & Farid, 1). Based upon these findings, it is important to determine how to best approach the decision of whether or not to breastfeed, given the developmental opportunities that are likely to occur with this source of nutrients (Rafeey et.al 1). It is also believed that breast milk is comprised of nutrients such as Osteoproterin (OPG) and a nuclear factor kappa B ligand, both of which combine to promote bone remodeling in the later years (Rafeey et.al 1). These factors support the belief that breast milk is the optimal choice for infants because it optimizes the child’s ability to repair bone and achieve other functionality in the later years (Rafeey et.al 1). This information supports the belief that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for many mothers so that their children receive maximum nutrients if possible (Rafeey et.al 1).

One year-old children must receive the type of nutrition that is required to preserve and sustain their development on a continuous basis, and this practice requires a commitment from parents to enable children to receive this nutrition in a timely manner that will meet their needs as nest as possible (Andres et.al 1134). There are considerable needs that must be addressed as part of a larger framework of developmental growth and change within this population, including the creation of an environment in which other types of milk that are not breast milk may be different and may possess different capabilities with respect to nutrition (Andres et.al 1134). These practices require an ongoing effort to recognize the differences between breast milk and other types of milk in order to determine if the differences are significant enough to allow for other types of milk to be consumed (Andres et.al 134). The adoption of soy milk as the primary preference may raise questions regarding the safety of this type of milk and whether or not it contributes to an increase in estrogen production in infants (Andres et.al 134). Children’s exposure to chemicals or other substances that could harm their growth and development should be minimized as best as possible, and this requires the acknowledgement of potential developmental issues that could emerge within the infant population with the use of soy milk or other alternatives (Andres et.al 1135). It is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to meet the needs of the patient population and to be aware of the potential changes in development that may occur in this group (Andres et.al 1135).

Breast feeding in infants also supports a strong belief in advanced development, in addition to complex nutritional advantages (Ferguson and Molfese 337). From a cognitive perspective, it is likely that this practice also supports increased mental clarity and other factors that contribute to effective outcomes and other alternatives that enhance infant development in different ways (Ferguson and Molfese 337). This perspective is also relevant because it contributes to the overall level of development that infants experience during a period of their lives in which their level of vulnerability and exposure to different events is quite high (Ferguson and Molfese 337). It is also believed that “elements in breast milk, polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs, have been identified as having great potential for increasing nutritional benefits. PUFAs are long-chain fatty acids containing two or more double bonds…There continues to be a need to assess and contrast the impact of PUFA-enriched formula vs. breast-feeding on subsequent brain and behavior development” (Ferguson and Molfese 338). From this perspective, it may be argued that there are significant opportunities to achieve developmental growth that supports the creation of an environment in which infant development is accelerated to optimal levels and in which there are sufficient responses to the nutrients provided in milk to generate a higher level of growth (Ferguson and Molfese 339). This process is challenging because PUFAs remain unclear in regards to their true significance; therefore, they must be considered as part of a larger set of research questions that require further investigation (Ferguson and Molfese 339).

Infants who breast feed versus those who bottle feed must be better understood in order to determine how their development is impacted by these changes (Taki et.al 61). Infants have different types of experiences relative to both types of feeding and nutrition therefore, these issues must be addressed in the context of feeding times and how to address other issues that may impact development in different ways (Taki et.al 61). These practices require a new level of knowledge and an understanding of how to address the challenges of breast feeding versus bottle feeding and how these issues impact child development at a vulnerable stage (Taki et.al 61). This is an important step in the evaluation of different types of feeding and whether or not it has an impact on development and how the feeding process is achieved (Taki et.al 66). In this context, infant behavior is unique and requires an understanding of the differences in feeding patterns that impact development in unique ways (Taki et.al 66).

Finally, it is important to address the challenges that are associated with infant formulas and the process of heat sterilization, which is designed to reduce the risk or spread of infection, yet may also contribute to a reduced level of nutrition within the milk product (Yeung et.al 136). This practice must be examined more closely and must recognize the importance of possible nutritional decline as a result of this practice (Yeung et.al 136). This framework requires an understanding of the autoclaving process and how it impacts formula, including the potential increase in ammonia concentration within the milk product (Yeung et.al 136). This practice may contribute to reduced nutrition that may impact infants in different ways and may also pose a risk to their overall health when there is a higher concentrate of ammonia within the milk product (Yeung et.al 136). This practice is instrumental in shaping outcomes, yet it also reflects a need to better understand the differences between formula and breast milk and how they contribute to the overall level of nutrition that infants receive (Yeung et.al 136).

Conclusion

Breast feeding and bottle feeding in infants introduces many different concepts to the discussion of development and nutrition within this population. These factors require an ongoing effort to achieve successful outcomes in infants and to determine which method of feeding is most feasible for a child and his or her mother, given the mother’s history and the child’s tolerance of the milk product. There are a variety of circumstances that may exist that limit the success or potential of one method over another; therefore, these issues must be considered as part of a larger discussion regarding this topic. The messages regarding different types of milk are variable; therefore, they must be addressed in the context of their nutritional value and their potential impact on human development. These factors require a strong understanding of the issues and challenges that are required to ensure that infants receive the best possible nutrition at this vulnerable stage, whether it is through breast feeding or bottle feeding. These practices require further examination in order to determine how to best approach the feeding process, including which type of milk is most appropriate for infants who fall under a specific set of circumstances. These factors require an additional level of review before any decisions are made regarding which type of milk is best for consumption.

References

Andres, A., Cleves, M.A., Bellando, J.B., Pivik, R.T., Casey, P.H., & Badger, T.H. “Developmental status of 1-yar-old infants fed breast milk, cow’s milk formula, or soy formula.” Pediatrics, 129 (2012): 1134-1140.

Ferguson, M., & Molfese, P.J. “Breast-fed infants process speech differently from bottle-fed infants: evidence from neuroelectrophysiology.” Developmenal Neuropsychology, 31.3 (2007): 337-347.

Rafeey, M., Ghorbanihaghjo, A., Masoumi, F., Alizadeh, S., & Farid, S.D. “Effect of breastfeeding on serum osteoprotegerin and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand in full term neonates.” Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 15.10(2013): 1-4.

Taki, M., Mizuno, K., Murase, M., Nishida, Y., Itabashi, K., & Mukai, Y. “Maturational changes in the feeding behavior of infants – a comparison between breast-feeding and bottle-feeding.” Acta Paediatrica 99(2009): 61-67.

Yeung, C.Y., Lee, H.C., Lin, S.P., Yang, Y.C., Huang, F.Y., & Chuang, C.K. “Negative effect of heat sterilization on the free amino acid concentrations in infant formula.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 60(2006): 136-141.