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This fact sheet will address common questions about breastfeeding and formula feeding to help mothers make an informed decision on how to feed their infant, whether it is by breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a combination of the two.
11 maj 2016 · In this article, we review the nutritional information of breast milk and infant formulas for better understanding of the importance of breastfeeding and the uses of infant formula from birth to 12 months of age when a substitute form of nutrition is required.
Birth to 24 months of postnatal life is a critical phase of the first 1,000 days of life, and how and what infants are fed contributes to developmental programming.1 Breastfeeding is the biological norm and provides health benefits for both the mother and the infant.2 Infants fed human milk have reduced risks of communicable diseases in infancy...
For Infants: Breast milk is nutritionally complete and is easily digested. Breast milk has antibodies to provide passive immunity from mother to baby. Lowers the risk of diarrhea, ear infections and respiratory infections. Breast milk helps provide optimal infant brain development.
Health experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants. But breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations.
2010 Infant Feeding Survey (HSCIC, 2012) demonstrated that 81% of mothers initiated breastfeeding their infants; however the prevalence fell to 69% at one week and by six months only 34% were still breastfeeding. As a consequence, infant formula is an important source of nutrition for many infants. To feed formula
intakes in breastfed vs. formula-fed infants, and differing in macronutrient concentrations, are impossible to perform, either for ethical or practical reasons.
