Breastfeeding Versus Formula milk with Dr. Madhusudan Kayastha

Breast feeding is the normal way of providing necessary supplements to a new born through new mother"s milk.Exclusive breast feeding is encouraged till baby is six months because a new born born is supposed to get high amount of nutrition only through milk.However , not all mothers are supposed to breast feed because either they have low tendency to produce milk by their body or some cant manage to breast feed exclusively due to their work routine.

We have interviewed one of the senior Pediatrician consultant at Kanti Bal Hospital , Dr. Madhusudan Kayastha regarding the pros and cons of breast feeding versus Formula milk.Dr. Madhu has been a child specialist since decadas and he has even strongly recommended to breast feed a new born exclusively for six months.

We have done few Q & A"s below with Dr. Madhusudan as below:

1) Doctors generally suggest for exclusive breast feeding for new borns till six months.What is the reason behind this procedure ?

There are various benefits behind exclusive breast feeding in initial 6 months of life. Exclusive breast feeding supplies all the necessary energy and nutrients for first six months of life. No other foods or preparations can overcome it. Beside this, it protects babies from allergies, strengthen the immune power to fight with germs. It's easily available, no requirements to prepare just feed the baby so its healthy and clean. It's easily digestible so lessens the episodes of diarrhea or constipation. It is said that exclusively breast fed babies have higher IQ in later life than the others who are not exclusively breastfed. It also have benefits to mother like reduces the incidence of breast and ovarian cancers, helps lose pregnancy weight gain, heals delivery wound earlier, also act as natural contraception. Another important is, it helps to build up bonding between mother and babies.

2) Not all mothers can be able to produce required amount of milk or there are so many mothers who do not even lactate.What is your view on this? Is it okay for baby not to have mothers milk and take formula milk.

Yes, there are few situations where mother are not able to produce enough breast milk or else they don't produce milk at all. As far as possible the cause should be treated and consult your doctor for the management. Some modifiable situations could be as soon as a baby is delivered s/he should be breast fed like within half and hour of normal delivery and 4 hrs in case of cesarian section. Earlier you breast feed, more is the chance of milk secretion. Breast feeding is a vicious cycle. Though there in not enough milk production, you should not stop feeding. In other way more the babies suck mother's breastmilk more is the production. So one should not be discouraged with no or less milk secretion. Mothers should also receive appropriate diet with foods rich in energy and nutrients. So as far as possible these technique should be applied for breast feeding. And if there is no any improvement in breast milk production, only then babies are given age appropriate formula feeding.

3) Some mother their capacity of producing is so strong that milk spills out most of the time. What do you suggest such mothers if they are working . 

They should discard those milk routinely, otherwise it may discomfort them and lead to various medical problems.

4)Is there any difference in mental or physical health of a child who is formula fed, not breast fed?

I haven't come across such studies but various books say exclusively breastfed babies have higher IQ than those with formula fed in later part of life. And obviously physical health has direct relations as breast milk contains immunoglobulins which fight against germs and prevent infections, thus less incidence of diseases and babies are physically healthy.

5)It is told milk can cause diarrhoea in babies, in such case which milk is better for babies, breast milk or formula milk.

As mentioned earlier breast milk are easily digestible so less incidence of diarrhea in exclusively breast fed babies. Beside that there is no chance of contamination in breast milk, so no chance of infections that leads to diarrhea.

6)What do you want to say on the belief that a baby is intolerant or sensitive to what mother is eating . When a baby coughs or has a sneezy nose, here in nepali community we are told , may be a mother has eaten something bad like cold food, curd, citrus fruits which is directly affecting the quality of breast milk, to what extent this belief is acceptable.

This is totally unacceptable. Whatever mother eats, except few medicines and narcotics, they are not secreted in breast milk. So its just of no use to restrict mother's diet thinking it may get passed on to babies via breast milk. Rather it does more harm compromising with the nutrition for mothers thus decrease breast milk secretion.

7)Whether that is a myth or a medical reason, mother are told to breastfeed within two hours gap only( 10 minute on one side and other 10 on other side).  But a new born does not or cant wait till 2 hours, or otherwise he will get uneasier/irritated. Does this time limitation make a good routine for baby.

It is not necessary to feed every two hours. We say baby to be fed on demand, that varies accordingly. Only the thing to be cared is babies should not be repeatedly overfed as it can cause vomiting and there is always risk of aspiration.

8)Is it true if a breast feeding mother gets pregnant , she cant breastfeed her earlier baby?

No. She can breastfeed her earlier child.

9)Should a mother stop breast feeding if she gets sick ?

Not necessarily in all illnesses except for few diseases and if she is taking some medicines that needs caution in lactating mother.

Breastfeeding is the first most important part of motherhood because in a way it lets a mother remind that now she is a mother and she holds the responsibility of well being of the baby.The mother"s milk is the first requirement for a new born .The medical fraternity believes a new born should always be exclusively breastfed till six months.Then after, baby can be fed with other supplements but should be breastfed quite often looking after requirement of the baby.