Nevertheless, some mothers may not be able to breast feed
because of specific maternal or infant medical conditions. For others,
the choice to use a human milk substitute is based upon personal, family
and career considerations. As a pediatrician, I encourage expectant mothers
to exclusively nurse their infants if at all possible (a position fully
supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics). However, when a formula
feeding approach is chosen, parents should be made aware of the available
products and their uses.
Formula Versus Breast Milk
In an attempt to mimic the composition of human milk,
commercial infant formula manufacturers have come very close to providing
a similar content of amino acids (the
building blocks of protein) fats and carbohydrate in their products. However,
despite technological advances in formula preparation, these human milk
substitutes lack many compounds found in human milk, including:
-
Anti-infective agents: Human
milk contains cells, antibodies and other factors that inhibit the growth
of potentially harmful bacteria in the intestine and provide protection
against specific bacteria, viruses and potentially allergenic foreign (non-human)
proteins.
-
Enzymes: Specific compounds,
found in human milk, aid in digestion of nutrients, especially fats.
