Isn’t breast milk customised to the specific baby based on the input the mouth provides the nipple? So if someone else were to use it, especially for just 4 days, they might as well use formula also?
Yes! And beyond being customized for what the baby needs at that given time, also includes immune stuff to help the baby fight whatever sickness the mom might be fighting at the time. So even for us, there’s a downside to not using fresh breastmilk. However, the understanding that is even with those differences, all the extra stuff breast milk is packed with make it better for babies even if not tailored for what that specific baby needs at that time.
The other important call out - formula is fine. Many moms feel pressured on breastfeeding because of the benefits, but there are tons of reasons outside moms control that breastfeeding might not work. Or even just so much challenge with doing it (like having to wake up in the middle of the night every night to pump). It’s perfectly okay to not breastfeed and use formula, and lots of moms feel undue pressure and stigma which is unfair if the don’t/can’t.
Isn’t breast milk customised to the specific baby based on the input the mouth provides the nipple? So if someone else were to use it, especially for just 4 days, they might as well use formula also?
Yes! And beyond being customized for what the baby needs at that given time, also includes immune stuff to help the baby fight whatever sickness the mom might be fighting at the time. So even for us, there’s a downside to not using fresh breastmilk. However, the understanding that is even with those differences, all the extra stuff breast milk is packed with make it better for babies even if not tailored for what that specific baby needs at that time.
The other important call out - formula is fine. Many moms feel pressured on breastfeeding because of the benefits, but there are tons of reasons outside moms control that breastfeeding might not work. Or even just so much challenge with doing it (like having to wake up in the middle of the night every night to pump). It’s perfectly okay to not breastfeed and use formula, and lots of moms feel undue pressure and stigma which is unfair if the don’t/can’t.