The American Academy of Pediatrics now recognizes the decision a woman makes regarding how to feed her infant to be a health care decision and not simply a lifestyle choice.
Obviously, there are a few cases when women can not breastfeed (see "But What If", and "When Breastfeeding is Not Best"). Also, women must decide what they are able to do regarding incorporating formula feeding, or breastfeeding, or both, into their lives. If breastfeeding is not chosen or is not possible, pasteurized human milk is the next best option. If this is not available or practical, then formula is the next option. Cows milk alone, or the milk of another species is less nutritious for the human baby than is formula.
With all that being said, when compared to breastfeeding, the risks of formula feeding include the following.
For baby:
- Decrease cognitive ability; decreased IQ
- Weaker immune system
- Increased likelihood of developing asthma
- Increased likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes
- More ear infections.
- Increased chance of hearing loss due to multiple ear infections
- Increased chance of developing childhood cancer, including leukemia or lymphoma
- Obesity
- Metabolic disease (hyperinsulinemia, pre-diabetes, Type II diabetes)
- Increased chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- Increased incidence of atopic dermatitis (eczema, etc.)
- More respiratory infections
- Increased chance of development of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in adulthood
- Dental malocclusion (underdevelopment of the dental arch leading to crowed teeth, cost for braces, other surgeries required to improve bite)
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Necrotizing enterocolitis in the premature infant
- Increased chance of peri-anal abcesses due to constipation, which is more likely with formula
- Unknown effects is the intake of genetically modified organisms as an infant. GMOs are found in most popular formulas.
For mother
Increased chance of
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Diabetes I and II
- Obesity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Alzheimer's Dementia
- Cardiovascular Disease
For the Family
- Increased cost of formula ($1500 to $3000 per year per baby, depending of type of formula)
- Increased number of days of missed work to care for sick baby
- Increased medical costs if formula fed child develops asthma, diabetes, and acute or chronic illnesses due to a weaker immune system.
On a microscopic level, it is clear to see that breast milk and formula are not the same. Both photos are magnified to the same degree.
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| Breastmilk. Note the macrophage in the middle of the photo. It's role is to destroy organisms which can make the baby sick. |
Breast milk is a living fluid. It changes during the day, and during the weeks, months and years to meet the baby's changing needs.
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| Formula. There are no living cells to protect the baby. |
Formula is processed food. It is not alive. It can not change. It must be changed from time to time. It lacks the proper nutrients to promote truly normal growth in the infant. It keeps most babies alive and allows them to grow with reasonable health in most cases, but can not precisely meet the changing needs of the growing baby. The negative effects of formula can occur throughout the lifespan.
References for this list are many. The reader is encouraged to do online searches for each of these risks in order to learn more. Photos of human milk are by Stephen Buescher, MD, taken at the request of Sandra Hess, BSN, RN, IBCLC.
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