The Right Source of Nutrition for Your Newborn

Once you have you baby in your arms, you need to decide on the right source of nutrition for your newborn. Without a doubt, how you want to feed your baby is a very important decision.

The feeding of a newborn is one of the most important things that parents need to discuss. When a baby is still inside the mother’s womb, they receive all of the basic nutrients they need in order to grow and develop.

Of course, once a baby comes into this world, feeding has to change in order to fulfill all of the nutritional requirements that their tiny body demands. According to the World Health Organization, the best source of nutrition for a newborn baby is breast milk. Breast milk contains all that a newborn needs.

Ask your pediatrician for advice about how you should feed your baby

Your breastmilk is such an amazing substance that it actually changes as your baby grows. Its properties are modified continuously in order to satisfy your baby’s needs according to their age. While you are breastfeeding, you will realize how perfect nature is and how your body will respond precisely to the demands of your baby’s body.

That being said, some moms don’t have the opportunity to nurse their little ones and therefore opt for bottle feeding. The best baby formulas attempt to emulate the characteristics of breast milk to a high degree of precision, aiming to guarantee the baby’s healthy development.

The best way to feed your newborn

A great number of institutions insist that a mother’s breast milk is the best source of nutrition for these fragile little beings that have just arrived in this world. However, as we mentioned before, not all babies have the privilege of being breastfed.

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s normal for you to ask questions like: Will my baby grow to be strong if I don’t nurse them? Will artificial formulas be enough for a healthy development? Is there any difference between babies that are given breast milk and those who aren’t? When faced with these questions, the best thing to do is consult your pediatrician and ask for guidance.

In the meantime, we want to present some differences between the two methods in order to help you answer a few questions:

Facts on breast milk:

Breastmilk provides multiple benefits for your baby, given that its immunological and bioactive factors form a barrier against thousands of infections. At the same time, it contributes to your baby’s healthy development, both physical and emotional, throughout his life.

If for some reason you cannot give your baby breast milk directly from your breast, you can create what’s known as a breast milk bank. If you store your breast milk under certain conditions, you can be sure that it won’t lose its properties for at least 48 hours.

If you decide that you want to breastfeed your baby exclusively, we recommend that you seek out guidance from a breastfeeding specialist. This will help you feel sure that you’re making the right decision. You’ll know that you’re always giving your baby the amount of milk he needs, and you’ll learn the most comfortable positions for breastfeeding.

Each mother is free to choose the feeding method that is best for her baby

Facts on artificial formula:

Artificial formulas are the result of more than a century of arduous research in order to find the appropriate substitute that will serve as a good source of nutrition for newborn babies. Its number one benefit is that it preserves the health of a newborn that cannot receive breastmilk.

The main disadvantage to artificial formulas is that, despite attempts to reproduce the same nutritional qualities of breastmilk, they do not contain the immunological substances that breast milk does, nor do they contain hormones that breastmilk provides in order to stimulate your baby’s growth.

Furthermore, using formula requires the parents to make a greater effort, given that they must maintain the baby’s bottle using proper hygiene, carry the bottles and the formula wherever they go, etc.

A personal decision

Every mother knows very well what possibilities she has regarding her child. There are no rules that define how she should feed her baby. You are free to determine what you consider best for your child, as long as you follow the recommendations of a specialist.

Little by little, you will be able to incorporate more options, with the implementation of a complementary diet. This begins after 6 months. Trust your instincts and focus on the desire you have to see your little one grow to be strong and healthy.