Expressed Milk vs. Breastfeeding

Your obstetrician, family and well-meaning friends have probably told you many times that breastfeeding is the best nutritional choice for your baby. While they're absolutely correct, not all mothers are able to breastfeed, and expressed milk is a good alternative for a mom who wants her baby to have breast milk. Know the pros and cons of both to help you make the right decision for your baby.

Breastfeeding Pros

Breastfeeding is free and you can feed your baby wherever you happen to be. According to HealthyChildren.org, formula can cost anywhere from $4 to $10 per day, which can really add up over time. Breastfeeding is more convenient, too, because you don't have to mix and warm bottles every time your baby needs to eat. Breastfeeding is better for the environment, as well, because you don't have to throw away empty formula canisters or purchase bottles and other supplies. Most important, breast milk is the most nutritious food to feed your baby, but it has health benefits for you, too. Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, the HealthyChildren website reports.

Breastfeeding Cons

Breastfeeding isn't always easy. The primary drawback for many a mother is that she can't get her baby to latch on properly, which makes feeding sessions painful. Babies who have a hard time latching on are also less likely to breastfeed for extended amounts of time because it's so hard for them to get enough nourishment. Another drawback is that a mother is often uncomfortable breastfeeding when she's in public, which means she might miss chunks of time at parties and family events while she's in a separate room nursing. It's also more difficult for a breastfeeding mother to take time away from her child since she is solely responsible for feeding her little one.

Expressed Milk Pros

Having a stockpile of expressed milk makes it easy to feed your baby and doesn't require you to run to the store to pick up a canister of formula. Breast milk is also more convenient for women who want their babies to drink breast milk, but must return to work before they wean the child. Again, breast milk is free, and pumping it even when you're not with your child is an economical way to feed your baby. Breast milk can be stored for up to a year, depending on where you're storing it, which makes it a long-term solution to feeding your baby, too.

Expressed Milk Cons

Many women find that they can't express breast milk at the same volume as when they breastfeed. That means that you might not make enough milk to last your baby until her first birthday when she can have cow's milk. It takes time to thaw breast milk and warm it up, which makes it slightly less convenient than nursing, which can be done immediately. You'll also need to take bottles and expressed milk with you when you go places, which takes time to prepare, too. Keeping bottles and breast pump parts clean is another drawback to using expressed milk rather than breastfeeding.