formula vs. breastmilk?

[~Mom2thhts~]

I have a friend that does not BF. Fine, thats her choice and she is supportive of BF'ing mothers. BUT, today she informs me that she has done all the research and there is NO proof that BM is better than formula!!
Of course, I disagreed with her that there was medical proof and studies done that proved BM was better than formula. And, her response was "nope, not there, I have done the research". She mainly goes off of that both her dc were formula fed and are healthy and she knows children who were BF and are sick kids. So, she says that real life proves it.

So, I would like to give her the proof and comparisions that prove BM is better. Does anybody have these links that I could print off for her?

[medaroge]

I dont have the studies right off, I'm sure someone will jump in with some. But thats just nutty.

[MaryJaneLouise]

BM is not better. It is normal.

Artificial human milk ("formula") is inferior to human milk.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/pre...-benefits.html

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org...rics;115/2/496

Extensive research using improved epidemiologic methods and modern laboratory techniques documents diverse and compelling advantages for infants, mothers, families, and society from breastfeeding and use of human milk for infant feeding.1 These advantages include health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychologic, social, economic, and environmental benefits.

[Sagesgirl]

The studies are out there, but really...this is common sense. Milk is species-specific. Period. There is NO way that a product made from the breastmilk of a different species (or a plant, not breastmilk at all) can possibly be equal to the breastmilk of your same species. This is why no one takes kittens and gives them to a dog to nurse unless there is no other choice.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

For one formula does not help prevent breast cancer breast feeding not only can help protect mama but it can help protect her children as well.

I am thinking she is either defensive about FF or she is one of those people that refuse to face facts or both.

Honestly someone like that probably wont take anything you say seriously.

[1littlebit]

if she did research and said its no better i would think its because she doesnt want to know. even the formula companies say its better. plus its common sense.

[Swan3]

I also have a friend who swears up and down that there is NO difference between the two and that one is not better than the other. I mean, what do you say at that point? I said we'd read different studies obviously but really.

[~Mom2thhts~]

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/pre...-benefits.html

[/url]

What an awesome website with heaps info!!! Do you have any specific articles to recomend? There are so many, its almost overwelming!

I agree with everybodys responses. I couldnt find anything (medically) that said formula was just as good. She is pregnant and said she is willing to try BF this time. We'll see. I think these articles may encourage her to try harder. I know if I do give her something, she will at least read it. I think she just really looks at her kids and says they are really healthy so why would BM be better? I told her she just got lucky.

What do I say to her about sick BF'ed kids? The only response I had was the way you BF'eed such as starting solids later, not supplementing...

[Sagesgirl]

Oh, feh. I was formula fed and very rarely get sick. (I have had the flu exactly ONCE in my life.) Doesn't mean it's as good as breastmilk.

As for sick breastfed kids...Yeah, they get sick sometimes. I can only use my family as an example. The one time I got the flu, I was laid out for the better part of a week. Esther got sick the same time I did, and it took ONE DAY of doing nothing but nursing her for her to get better, and she didn't get sick again.

You probably are on the right path with how you breastfeed making a big difference. Chances are, though, she's being very selective in her recollections so that she can continue to support her beliefs. I'm not saying she's lying, just that perceptions can be deceiving. (Note how many ER nurses believe full moons effect people's behavior, when a review of hospital records shows no corresponding bump.) She probably notes down every sniffle and sneeze in a breastfed child as illness while ignoring those same symptoms in her children. We all think better of our own kids, don't we?

[LeslieB]

Not that she'll necessarily read this, but it's one of my favorite articles on breastmilk vs. formula.

[bunny's mama]

has she not seen the horror that is going on in china right now? those poor, poor babies with the kidney failure and kidney stones. just saw a photo of an 8 month old getting an IV put in his head...that should be enough to turn any thinking person from formula.

[Swan3]

Originally Posted by LeslieB

Not that she'll necessarily read this, but it's one of my favorite articles on breastmilk vs. formula.

Whoa. This is the best article I've read on the subject. I love how they actually point out that we've divorced ourselves not only from our BF culture but from our bodies and their natural processes period.

[1littlebit]

note the part where she ff. why would she say that bm is better? that wouldnt make much sense considering she chose not to do it. i realize it defies all logic but then so many things do in regards to parenting. though even if they were 100% equal ff still wouldnt be worth it.. what an expensive waste of time. if i never wash another bottle for the rest of my life it still wont be long enough. not to mention preparing for the end of the world evertime you leave the house since there is a possibility of running out of food ... with bfing your pretty much set.

[limabean]

Hmm ... it seems that what she needs is a remedial explanation of anecdotal evidence and why it can't be used in place of broad-based scientific studies.

[Twinklefae]

She does read her own formula can where it says "Mother's milk is best" or whatever lip service the forumla industry is forced to pay, right?

[MommyJoia]

promom's 101 reasons to breastfeed is pretty cut and dry.

[velcromom]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

What do I say to her about sick BF'ed kids? The only response I had was the way you BF'eed such as starting solids later, not supplementing...

Nobody claims bf kids don't get sick. They just get sick less often (meaning you have to take less time off work to keep them home) and when they do get sick, they usually have an easier time recovering and end up in the hospital less often (bf babies will usually still nurse, when ff babies may refuse all liquid and get dangerously dehydrated needing an IV).

But dismissing the fact that breastmilk has live immune cells and ff doesn't is just denial!

Plus, it would make no sense to never get sick during the years your immune system is developing. Mild illnesses stimulate the immune system without harming the child, that's not a bad thing. Bfing gives their immune system the support it needs to develop properly to deal with illness.

The best document I know of to show the difference between ff and bf for a huge number of illnesses and conditions is at the La Leche League site - www.llli.org - do a search there for the word "Outcome" to find an article titled "Outcomes of Breastfeeding" FORTY pages of proof. From asthma to diabetes to even positive psychological effects.

[velcromom]

Originally Posted by limabean

Hmm ... it seems that what she needs is a remedial explanation of anecdotal evidence and why it can't be used in place of broad-based scientific studies.

Exactly. My favorite is

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.

[Sagesgirl]

note the part where she ff. why would she say that bm is better? that wouldnt make much sense considering she chose not to do it. i realize it defies all logic but then so many things do in regards to parenting

You are right, of course. It's frustrating as heck for me, but no one says "Yes, I know formula isn't as good as breastmilk, but 'good enough' is just fine for me!" No, we all want to believe we are doing what is best for our children.

(ETA: OBVIOUSLY this should not be taken as a slam on mamas who have to formula feed. There's a difference between doing the best you can and, well, not.)

[CEVmommy]

Originally Posted by velcromom

Exactly. My favorite is

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.

Haha - that's awesome. I will totally use that!

At the minimum, there is the fact that formula does not have and never will have the antibodies that are present in BM which help the child's immune system. And not just any generic antibodies, but ones that are specific to what that child has been recently exposed to! It's amazing, and formula will never come close just for that reason alone!

Here is a study which is often cited because it shows that even in affluent communities breastmilk confers many medical benefits:
Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants
Kathryn G. Dewey, PhD, M.Jane Heinig, PhD, Laurie A. Nommsen-Rivers, MS, RD

To determine whether breast-feeding is protective against infection in relatively affluent populations, morbidity data were collected by weekly monitoring during the first 2 years of life from matched cohorts of infants who were either breast fed (BF) (N = 46) or formula fed (FF) (N = 41) until at least 12 months of age. Cohorts were matched for characteristics such as birth weight and parental socioeconomic status, and we controlled for use of day care in data analysis. Mean maternal educational level was high (16 years) in both groups. In the first year of life the incidence of diarrheal illness among BF infants was half that of FF infants; the percentage with any otitis media was 19% lower and with prolonged episodes (>10 days) was 80% lower in BF compared with FF infants. There were no significant differences in rates of respiratory illness; nearly all cases were mild upper respiratory infections. Morbidity rates did not differ significantly between groups in the second year of life, but the mean duration of episodes of otitis media was longer in FF than BF infants (8.8 ± 5.3 vs 5.9 ± 3.5 days, respectively; p = 0.01). These results indicate that the reduction in morbidity associated with breast-feeding is of sufficient magnitude to be of public health significance. (J PEDIATR 1995;126:696-702)