TV doc Christian Jessen sparks Twitter debate after claiming breastfeeding is ‘NOT always best’
EVERY mum wants the best for their baby, but there's an issue that leaves mothers divided on how best to look after their little bundle of joy... and it can get VERY heated.
Should you breastfeed or bottlefeed your baby?
TV doctor Christian Jessen says mums can happily opt for either.
While breastfeeding boasts a host of benefits that formula does not, he says that mums who can't breastfeed shouldn't feel guilty.
His views have sparked debate in the past - and most recently on Twitter last week.
Dr Jessen, who presents Embarrassing Bodies and Embarrassing Illnesses, was due to appear on Radio X to talk about about vasectomies, when pro-breastfeeding mums took to Twitter to voice their concerns about his views on the boob.
One user raised the feeding topic again, asking: "Bf [breastfeeding] can protect women from breast cancer and babies from many health problems.
"You believe that the evidence shows that formula-fed and bf [breastfed] babies have the same outcomes health wise?"
They suggested that "informed choices" are important and that "some breast milk is better than none".
Dr Jessen was quick to respond saying: "But if women don't [breastfeed], both they and their babies will do perfectly well too."
MOST READ IN HEALTH
So just what does Dr Jessen mean when he says breastfeeding is not always best and that mums and babies will be just fine if they use formula?
He told The Sun Online: "There are mothers who find breastfeeding difficult, who can't or don't have access to good advice, who then feel like they have let their babies down by not breastfeeding them and it makes them really miserable.
"Women who have had a double mastectomy for breast cancer prevention, or breast implants, women on certain medications, people who in certain situations are HIV positive - there are lots of incidences that people just don't think about.
"We are lucky enough to live in the developed world where healthcare is good and actually, when it all boils down, bottlefed versus breastfed children in the UK are all absolutely fine.
"Mum needs to be happy, baby needs to be fed and that is really the end of it."
Breastfeeding is always the first recommended choice for feeding a baby.
The NHS recommends women breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their baby's life before introducing other foods.
We are lucky enough to live in the developed world where healthcare is good and actually, when it all boils down, bottle fed versus breastfed children in the UK are all absolutely fine.
Dr Christian Jessen
Breastfeeding has far-reaching health benefits for babies, and also for mums.
Dr Jessen explained that he is is not promoting bottlefeeding ahead of breastfeeding.
But many women, no matter how hard they try, simply cannot offer their child breast milk and others choose not to, he says.
He explained: "I want to reassure women that if they can't or won't [breastfeed] their baby will be just fine.
"Formula milk is made up to be as representative of breast milk as possible without the mother's antibodies.
"And it's supplemented with vitamin D because breast milk is fairly scant of it because most people have a vitamin D deficiency.
"It has been designed to be a perfectly healthy and satisfactory alternative.
"The baby will be just fine, they won't be less intelligent or, in the grand scheme of things, less healthy."
THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
The NHS recommends babies should be breastfed for the first six months of their life.
In the UK, more than 73 per cent of mums opt to breastfeed their baby.
It is thought that even a small amount of breast milk has a positive effect on the baby's health.
The longer a mother breastfeeds, the longer this protection lasts and the greater the benefits.
There are many health benefits to breastfeeding a baby, according to the NHS.
It is thought to reduce a baby's risk of:
- infections
- diarrhoea and vomiting
- sudden infant death syndrome
- childhood leukaemia
- type 2 diabetes
- obesity
- heart disease in adulthood
Breastfeeding is also thought to help protect mum against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and obesity.
Source: NHS Choices
Studies have suggested breastfeeding prevents a whole host of health problems and diseases, including diarrhoea and vomiting bugs, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood leukaemia, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even heart disease in adulthood.
Many mums worry that not breastfeeding will put their baby at risk of these illnesses.
Dr Jessen said: "Breast milk covers the period of time when the baby's immune system is developing.
"The mother's antibodies protect the baby from whatever bugs she has been exposed to while breastfeeding.
Formula milk is made up to be as representative of breast milk as possible without the mothers antibodies.
Dr Christian Jessen
"What is important to know is that protection is only temporary and it tends to fade reasonably soon after breastfeeding finishes, and that is why we have a vaccination schedule.
"If breast milk was truly miraculous and provided us with all our immunity we wouldn't need to vaccinate anyone, but we have a childhood vaccine schedule children need to get that immunity from somewhere else."
Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health agrees that no woman should feel like they have failed their baby if they cannot breastfeed.
She said: "Breastfeeding is much more than a source of nutrition, it provides protection against infection and helps development.
"Breastfeeding is natural, but it might not always come naturally, so help is available if you need it.
"Women should be encouraged to breastfeed, but no woman should feel a failure if she cannot, whatever the reason.
"If you can’t breastfeed, safe alternatives are available.
"Breastfeeding is best, but formula from a regulated manufacturer is the safest alternative.
"There are lots of different types of formula available but first infant formula (or first milk) is all that is needed if you’re not breastfeeding, there’s no benefit to your baby from switching between formulas."
Sarah McMullen, from parenting charity NCT, said breastfeeding is not the only option for mums.
She said: "Many women find breastfeeding difficult and this can be a really miserable experience.
"Sometimes women don’t get the support they need or decide that breastfeeding isn’t right for them and sometimes women simply don’t want to breastfeed or aren’t able to.
"Whatever their decision and reason, women should be supported and not judged.
"We are lucky to live in an age where we have safe alternatives to breast milk, and women who decide to use formula milk should not be made to feel guilty or that they are failing to feed their babies properly."
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