Baby Formula Just As Healthy As Breast Milk, Study Finds

Breast isn't best.


Article heading image for Baby Formula Just As Healthy As Breast Milk, Study Finds

Pexels

Feeding a baby formula is just as healthy as breast milk – with one caveat - a study has found.

A new paper published shows the breastfeed - and the consequential research into infant health and nutrition undertaken by mum-to-be is the real key to a healthy baby.

“It’s important to understand that we are not trying to imply that just intending to breastfeed is what’s leading to these health outcomes,” study co-author Jessica Su, an assistant professor in the University of Buffalo’s Department of Sociology, said.

“What we found is that ­intending mothers had more information about nutrition and diet, they more frequently consulted their physicians and had better access to information related to ­infant health than those mums who did not intend to breastfeed.

“Breastfeeding is not always practical and may not produce the health benefits mothers hope for, yet the ‘breast is best’ message is so strong that it can create undue stress and feelings of inadequacy for mothers who are unable to breastfeed.

“There is a high cost to this message, especially if the benefits of breastfeeding are overstated,” Ms Su said.

Catch up on today's headlines and download the Hit app here: iOS | Android

 

 

28 September 2018




Listen Live!

Up Next