Experts: 'You cannot compare breastmilk with formula'

According to experts worldwide, breastfeeding not only reduces your baby’s risk of illness and obesity but also the mother's own risk of breast and ovarian cancer. To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from  August 1st – 7th, experts at Touchstone Breastfeeding in Blackrock Hall Primary Care Centre (near Mahon Point) in Cork, have put together some helpful tips and advice to educate and inform expecting and new mothers.

Geraldine Cahill IBCLC, Lactation Consultant at Touchstone Breastfeeding, said, “There is no comparison with formula as breast milk contains just the right amount of nutrients, antibodies and immunities that are designed specifically for babies. It also changes over time and throughout the day to respond to the needs of your baby, which of course formula does not”.

Geraldine meets with expecting and new mothers who are nervous about breastfeeding, unsure about techniques, or who previously found that breastfeeding did not work for them.

“A common fear for women is that they feel they do not produce enough milk to feed their baby." she continued. "However most mothers produce more than enough milk to satisfy their baby and the more a baby breastfeeds, the more breast milk a body will produce. Mothers just need to understand that breastfed babies have different eating patterns to formula-fed babies, so you cannot compare the two”.

If you need information, guidance or support on any breastfeeding issues, contact Geraldine Cahill IBCLC at Touchstone Breastfeeding in Blackrock Hall Primary Healthcare on 021 423 1166.  A private one-hour consultation at Touchstone costs €60 and a range of in-home services are also available.
 

Tips for Breastfeeding:

- Try to breastfeed within the first hour or so of giving birth.
- Keep your baby with you as much as possible for the first week or so to bond.
- Breastfeed exclusively for at least six months.
- Appropriate complementary feeding should be gradually added at six months.