Breastfeeding vs. Formula (Essay Sample)

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Breast Feeding Protocol and Relation to Evidence-based data
Studies relevant to the topic have revealed that breast-feeding is the best option a mother can take. A study conducted on the evidence-based support for breastfeeding conducted by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, and MPH. The paper by Dr. Bass informed on the advantages of breastfeeding and disclosed that breast milk offers nutritional content that cannot be supplemented by infant formula. Doctor Bass insists that breast milk offers unparalleled anti-inflammatory content and immunological properties that are impossible to replicate CITATION Evi15 \l 1033 (F.Bass & MD, 2015). In addition a study conducted by Ocilla Maria Costa Carvalho, Karolina Rodriguez Silva, Livia Zulmyra Cintra Andrade and Viviane Martins da Silva on the prevalence of nursing diagnoses of breastfeeding in the mother infant dyad basic health unit in Fortaleza-CE Brazil CITATION Oci \l 1033 (Ocilla Maria Costa Carvalho, et al., 2014). The study revealed the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of breastfeeding and from a sample of 28 children approximately 70% of them revealed important effectiveness of breastfeeding. In addition, the study revealed that many mothers advocated and followed breastfeeding practices. CITATION Oci \l 1033 (Ocilla Maria Costa Carvalho, et al., 2014)
Research has revealed that breast milk is necessary for an infant as they develop. Breastfeeding should be started as soon as the child is born, and skin to skin conducted for one hour each day to encourage feeding on cue. Ensure there are 8-12 feeds per day and do not allow supplements or formulas unless requested by mother or are necessary. There should be no nipple shields for the mothers and going home packs containing formulas should not be offered unless the mother asks for them. As a nurse you are required to offer instructions to the mother on, observing the baby for cues when it is breastfeeding, prevent muscle strain for the baby by positioning it carefully, implement the latch tool and the encourage the mother to assess each feeding for proper latch. Also encourage and show the mother how to check the sign for proper intake, ensure the mother has knowledge on adequate milk supply or maintaining an adequate milk supply. As a nurse, you should keep a chart on flow showing, breastfeeding effectiveness with every feed, problems with the mother, response to interventions, patient teaching, and the response to teaching.
When comparing the above breastfeeding protocol with the evidence article by doctor Bass, we can establish that breastfeeding is necessary and needs to be adequately followed. From the guidelines offered by Doctor Bass, we can deduct similarities with the above protocol. According to the article, a written policy on the necessity of breastfeeding should be offered to the mothers in an attempt to encourage the implementation of the steps of breastfeeding. As the protocol states mothers should breastfeed within an hour the article recommends that nurse help mothers initiate the breastfeeding. The protocol says the mothers should not be offered any infant formula and this is seconded in the article where it says infants should not be given any food or drink except breast milk.
The article on evidence-based clinical practice guideline by the Association of women’s health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses depicts quantitative data that positively compare to the breastfeeding protocol. It is important to note that according to the article, which references release from the United Nations Children Fund, which says that breastfeeding for the first 6 months, could save 1.3 million lives annually. The protocol compares to the statistics inconclusively, according to the article in the United States 75% of women initiate breastfeeding and 56% breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months, which compares significantly to the breastfeeding protocol CITATION Ass14 \l 1033 (Association of Women's Health, 2014).
The advantages of breastfeeding can be divided into health, psychological and economic effects CITATION Off11 \l 1033 (Office of Surgeon general, et al., 2011). In health advantage of breast milk studies reveal that breast milk offers immunological and nutrimental advantages that formula feeding cannot incorporate. Breast milk offers infant protection against a host of illnesses and diseases that both the infant and the mother are at a risk of conducting. On the other hand, formula feeding has been associated with numerous health risks, which include increasing the risk of a child or an infant contracting diarrhea and ear infections CITATION Off11 \l 1033 (Office of Surgeon general, et al., 2011). According to resea...