Studies about expressed milk vs. direct bf'ing??

[jaidymama]

I'm looking for information or studies that talk about the differences between a mom who expresses her milk to give her child via bottle instead of directly nursing him from her breast.

Anyone?? TIA!

heidi

[GooeyRN]

:

[jeanine123]

Studies on how it's different for the mom or the baby?

[Sustainer]

http://www.lightlink.com/hilinda/Dia...torbottle.html

The formula info doesn't apply of course, but scroll down to Breastfeeding vs. Bottlefeeding. It's a pretty basic chart, but some of it applies, such as "linked to increased need for dental work" and "can lead to overfeeding." Some of it doesn't apply because it seems to assume that the mother isn't pumping.

[AmyG]

I don't think there are any studies. It would be interesting if there were, though.

I have read about how the antibacterial particles in breastmilk are more likely to cling to plastic than to glass and not make it to the baby, so using glass for expressed milk should be preferable for a baby who's exclusively breastfed. Also, it's pretty common knowledge that the antibacterial properties decline as expressed milk gets older and/or colder, so recently pumped milk kept at room temp is better than 6 month old milk kept in a deep freeze.

We don't really know which benefits of breastfeeding are associated with breastmilk and which are associated with feeding at the breast. For example, breastfed babies have better vision. Some people think it's at least partly because they switch sides all the time and focus on mom's face. Bottlefed babies tend to do most of their feedings on one side (since most people feeding the baby have a preferance), and then some babies will start to hold their own bottles or have their bottles propped as they get older. On the other hand, the DHA, ARA, and other good fatty acids may be more important when it comes to good vision. On a similar note, I think that the obesity issue is probably linked to both breastmilk and feeding at the breast. Babies who feed at the breast self-regulate their feedings, and it would be completely understandable if the nutrient composition of breastmilk made it less likely that a baby would be obese later in life.

I have mixed feelings about whether it would be good to do such a study. On one hand, there are a few people (not many, but some) who don't want to feed their babies at the breast, and the current thinking seems to be that feeding baby expressed milk is just as good. Maybe if there were good evidence, some of these moms might be more willing to try breastfeeding. On a similar note, I know a number of SAHMs who breastfeed but use bottles of expressed milk every time they go in public, every evening when daddy comes home from work, and so on, and they end up feeding their babies 2-4 bottles of pumped milk per day, when they're with their babies all the time and could just breastfeed them. Good hard facts might help society to be more accepting of those of us who don't want to take bottles of expressed milk to the mall or pump so that other people can feed our babies because there are really good reasons to feed the baby at the breast.

On the other hand, moms who pump their milk are doing a wonderful thing for their babies. I'd hate for a working mom, a mom of a preemie, or a mom of a baby with a bad latch to see a study like that and see that pumped milk was "inferior" to breastmilk straight from the breast and make the faulty conclusion that she might as well just use formula.

[Fiercemama]

A mother can develop antibodies to illness that her baby ONLY has been exposed to, if baby nurses at the breast.

Baby gets exposed to illness, say at daycare, that the mother does not. Baby then suckles at the breast. Within a few hours, often by the next nursing session, the mother's milk contains antibodies to said illness. This only happens if baby nurses directly at the breast. Magical, huh?

Its one of my favourite bfing factoids, but I can't for the life of me remember the scientific term for this awesome phenomenon. It is referred to in the Breastfeeding Answer Book. Anyone? I don't have my copy at hand.

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

A mother can develop antibodies to illness that her baby ONLY has been exposed to, if baby nurses at the breast.

I put some of baby's saliva on myself before pumping. Wouldn't that help in the same way?

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

A mother can develop antibodies to illness that her baby ONLY has been exposed to, if baby nurses at the breast.

Baby gets exposed to illness, say at daycare, that the mother does not. Baby then suckles at the breast. Within a few hours, often by the next nursing session, the mother's milk contains antibodies to said illness. This only happens if baby nurses directly at the breast. Magical, huh?

Its one of my favourite bfing factoids, but I can't for the life of me remember the scientific term for this awesome phenomenon. It is referred to in the Breastfeeding Answer Book. Anyone? I don't have my copy at hand.

Not sure of the source (I read it here on MDC), but I believe that the antibodies in question are actually manufactured right at the nipple, in response to the baby's saliva coming in contact w/ it. There was some discussion in a thread for people exclusively pumping, who said that they would actually wipe the baby's saliva on their nipple in order to get the same result when they were unable to breastfeed, for whatever reason.

[jaidymama]

Hey thanks. I am simply wondering about these things because a lot of the information is driven by formula feeding vs. breastfeeding. I wondered how that compares with expressing milk then feeding via bottle.

What about the mom? Does a mom still get those happy hormones when she is pumping like she does when a baby is suckling??

As a side note, I think it is a great compromise for women not wanting to use formula but choose to not directly breastfeed. However, I wonder if there is anything lost when the child is nursing from the breast.

[Fiercemama]

Originally Posted by jaidymama

As a side note, I think it is a great compromise for women not wanting to use formula but choose to not directly breastfeed. However, I wonder if there is anything lost when the child is nursing from the breast.

I will NEVER get back the hours I spent washing and sterilizing bottles while I was EPing.

[pazerific]

i've been EPing for 3 1/2 weeks now. (extremely long nursing strike.) and i DO NOT get those warm fuzzies from my pump hissing and grunting away at me like i did when dd would nurse. i have to work for it (visualization, relaxation, breathing). but we're hoping she'll go back so i can get those warm fuzzies again. also, while it seems like it would be a good compromise (i thought the same thing before i ended up EPing), it's so much more work than BFing or FFing would ever be. i couldn't imagine why anyone would choose to EP for any reason, aside from necessity, because it's REALLY hard work.

[boheime]

I know there have been discussions on the MOBI list about what happens to pumped breastmilk vs. breastmilk straight from the breast.

Breastmilk begins breaking down after it leaves the body (which is good for little tummies who are digesting it). The proteins are much more likely to break apart. Care of breastmilk has often been discussed on MOBI. For instance, you shouldn't shake breastmilk to mix it up, as this is more likely to break the proteins in it. Instead you should gently swirl it. Some proteins will break apart, but more will stay intact then when it is shaken. Freezing and heating also break apart proteins. I don't have any direct links right now, but it will at least put you in the right direction.

There are also studies on proper jaw development from breastfeeding.

[mama-a-llama]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

I will NEVER get back the hours I spent washing and sterilizing bottles while I was EPing.

:
Or the lost hours of cuddle time.

Originally Posted by jaidymama

Does a mom still get those happy hormones when she is pumping like she does when a baby is suckling?

I sure don't--which may relate to my struggle with supply.

[Susuhound]

There have been a few studies on prem babies given ebm via tube and formula via tube, which is how they drew conclusions about which benefits of bm are because of the milk, and which because of the 'delivery' if that makes sense. I've gotten rid of most of my links so can't help there sorry.

[GooeyRN]

As an EPer I do not get "happy" hormones, but I do note a hormonal shift. I get very drowsy/relaxed when I pump. I had a massive oversupply and still have a slight oversupply, so maybe that is part of the reason I feel drowsy. The feeling is not as pronounced as it was a year ago.

[Fiercemama]

Originally Posted by pazerific

i've been EPing for 3 1/2 weeks now. (extremely long nursing strike.) and i DO NOT get those warm fuzzies from my pump hissing and grunting away at me like i did when dd would nurse. i have to work for it (visualization, relaxation, breathing). but we're hoping she'll go back so i can get those warm fuzzies again. also, while it seems like it would be a good compromise (i thought the same thing before i ended up EPing), it's so much more work than BFing or FFing would ever be. i couldn't imagine why anyone would choose to EP for any reason, aside from necessity, because it's REALLY hard work.

Yah, I've done both too (EP and EBF). I EP'ed for about 10 weeks, and luckily my DD chose to return to the breast once I was ready, and we never looked back. Yes, its way more work. In fact, I usually found it was DOUBLE the work - once for me to pump, again to actually give the bottle. 'Course if you're just passing the baby and bottle off to someone else, its a bit easier. I had to actively work not to become detached from the whole feeding process while EPing.

Pazerific - hope things turn the corner for you and your nursling and you can soon be having those "warm fuzzies" again!

[Sandstress]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

A mother can develop antibodies to illness that her baby ONLY has been exposed to, if baby nurses at the breast.

Baby gets exposed to illness, say at daycare, that the mother does not. Baby then suckles at the breast. Within a few hours, often by the next nursing session, the mother's milk contains antibodies to said illness. This only happens if baby nurses directly at the breast. Magical, huh?

Its one of my favourite bfing factoids, but I can't for the life of me remember the scientific term for this awesome phenomenon. It is referred to in the Breastfeeding Answer Book. Anyone? I don't have my copy at hand.

The antigen presenting cells in the skin of the breast are no different than the ones in the rest of the body. Therefore, any contact of your baby's saliva with your skin should have the same effect. In addition, most of the exposure of mom to antigens (infectious agents) happens in special tissue in her respiratory tract and gut, and then the antibody-producing cells travel to the breast through the bloodstream to excrete antibodies to baby.

So...my EP-fed baby exposes me to her antigens every time she sucks on a finger, gives me big sloppy kisses, or sneezes in my general direction (again, big and sloppy.) EPing is certainly no picnic, but I'm not sure that this whole idea of mom not getting exposed to baby's germs is the best argument. Time spent pumping or washing/sterilizing bottles is better in my mind!

[the_lissa]

Yes but the saliva on the nipple is what causes the feedback system to develop the milk for your particular baby on that particular day. That is who tandem nurslings each get the specific, individualized milk they need.

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by the_lissa

Yes but the saliva on the nipple is what causes the feedback system to develop the milk for your particular baby on that particular day. That is who tandem nurslings each get the specific, individualized milk they need.

Yes it's not the baby touching your breast. It's the antigens traveling up the milk ducts that causes the response. Having your baby suck on your finger definitely will not cause your milk to change in response. I do think there have been studies because I know there is a hierarchy starting with feeding at the breast-->exclusive fresh breastmilk feeding-->refriged BM-->frozen BM-->formula. Now exclusive pumping is still sooooo much better than formula that I think we sometimes hesitate to even acknowledge that there is a difference but there is. To get the full benefits to both mother and child actually BFing is required. Which is not at all to say that there are not incredible benefits to EPing but it is not the same.

[the_lissa]

Yes exactly. EPing is soooo much better than formula, and it takes so much work and dedication that I applaud anyone who eps.