Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Which is better, breastfeeding or formula-feeding?
Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants. This includes premature and sick newborns, with rare exceptions. Pediatricians generally advise that full-term, healthy infants exclusively breastfeed when possible for the first 12 months of life and, thereafter, for as long as mutually desired. Advantages of breastfeeding include: (1) breast milk
is nutritionally sound and easy to digest; (2)
breastfeeding is believed to enhance a close mother-child
relationship; and (3) breast milk contains infection-fighting antibodies (immunoglobulins) that may reduce the
frequency of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, otitis media (ear infections), and other respiratory infections in the infant. Please see the
Breast Feeding article for more information.
Some parents choose formula-feeding either because of
personal preference or because medical conditions of either the mother or the
infant make breastfeeding ill-advised. Parents need not feel guilty for
choosing formula-feeding. Infant formulas are a time-tested, perfectly
acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. Even though
formula-fed babies do not receive infection-fighting
antibodies from the breast milk, they still will have
received a four- to six-month supply of these antibodies
through the maternal bloodstream prior to delivery.
Remember also that the majority of breastfeeding infants
end up on a combination of breast- and formula-feedings
before their first birthday.
Some common reasons for choosing formula-feeding
include:
There is an inadequate supply of maternal breast milk.
The baby is sucking inefficiently.
Parents are unable to quantify the amount of breast milk
received by the baby. Some parents want to know exactly how much their baby is
receiving at each feeding, and formula/bottle-feeding allows exact
measurement.
A significant reason for not breastfeeding is concern
about transferring certain drugs the mother is taking due to a medical problem
through the breast milk to the infant. Examples of medications that are
considered unsafe for the baby include cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), lithium (Lithobid),
gold salts, methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), metronidazole (Flagyl), cyclosporine, and bromocriptine (Parlodel). Numerous other medications have not yet been adequately studied in the context of breastfeeding and the possible effects on the baby. Mothers may choose bottle-feeding rather than risk any potential effect on the baby.
An increasing number of mothers must return to work shortly after their baby's delivery. Formula-feeding offers a practical alternative for mothers who may not be able to breastfeed due to work schedules. Formula-fed babies often need to eat less frequently than do breastfed babies because breast milk moves through the digestive system more quickly. Thus, breastfed babies may become hungry more frequently.
A benefit of bottle-feeding is that the entire family
can immediately become intimately involved in all aspects
of the baby's care, including feedings. The mother can
therefore get more rest, which can be critically important,
especially if the pregnancy and/or delivery were especially
difficult.
It's important to know whether you will breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby prior to delivery, as the breasts' ability to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding. Breast milk is easily digested by babies and contains infection-fighting antibodies and cholesterol, which promotes brain growth. Formula-fed babies actually need to eat somewhat less often since formula is less readily digested by the baby than human milk. This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of both forms of feeding.
Iron is a mineral our bodies need. Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from not enough iron in the body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause in the US. Iron deficiency is caused due to increased iron deficiency from diseases, nutritional deficiency, or blood loss and the body's inability to intake or absorb iron. Children, teen girls, pregnant women, and babies are at most risk for developing iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include feeling weak and tired, decreased work or school performance, slow social development, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and an inflamed tongue. Blood tests can confirm an iron deficiency in an individual. Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. Proper diet that includes recommended daily allowances of iron may prevent some cases of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the
leading cause of anemia in the United States.
Iron deficiency is due either to increased need for iron by the body
or a decreased absorption or amount of iron taken in.
Signs of iron deficiency include fatigue, decreased work and school
performance, slow cognitive and social development during childhood,
difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and
glossitis (an inflamed tongue).
Blood tests establish the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Dietary changes or iron supplements are possible treatments for iron
deficiency.
What is iron and why do we need it?
Iron is a mineral needed by our bodies. Iron is a part of all cells and does
many things in our bodie...
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