What Corporate "science" is behind this conclusion?

Thank goodness, now all the moms unable to breastfeed will no longer get the guilt trip from those who can.

BF-ing moms have no business giving bottle feeding moms a guilt trip...that being said, there are few moms that are truly 'unable' to breastfeed. It's a personal choice and either is totally valid, but I always find it strange when moms who don't insist that they "can't".

Really? Are you kidding me?

This is BS. I am a strong believe that Breastfeeding is better and healthier for babies that formula. I breastfed both of my kids for 16 months and I would never put any guilt of any mom who is bottle-feeding but this article offends me. We all know that nothing can replace mother's milk and that mother's milk is better than any formula out there. Sorry, Corporate "science" but this is BS!

I am shocked that the Today Show is supporting this theory. Everyone knows that milk which is made by the babies mother is much healthier for them. I do understand that breastfeeding is not for everyone, I also do feel that everyone should at least try it if they can. I only breastfed by kiddos for the first few months but due to working full time and not being able to pump very effectively I had to switch to formula but breastmilk is still best.

What is all the defense here?  If a woman wants to breastfeed, she should without being lambasted by those who choose not to. Come on, leave breastfeeding moms alone bullies. They are the ones who need defending, they are doing the ultimate best for their kids, and we should be promoting that. Period. For those who don't?  Fine.  Leave those that do alone!

I notice this article says the study was done by a Norweigian group. Hmm, Norway, plenty of nice clean water to make the formula with, plenty of healthy dried milk to make the formula with. Yes there is very little difference for between bottle feeding and breast feeding in countries where the water is safe, but in countries where the water is unsafe or very hard to find there is a BIG difference. For mothers in Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and other such countries there is a choice use a bottle or not, you'll still probably have a healthy kid. For women in other parts of the world, breast feeding is most likely the only choice and the safest one.

Of course the point that the mother should be healthy is getting lost in the battle between to use bottles and or not. When of course the health of the mother should be closely examined. Let us not forget that for an industrialized, first world country the US has a very high death rate among new mothers, mostly due to the fact that many women in the US aren't as healthy as they should be and many still don't have access to adequate maternal care.

I breast feed my baby for a year and two weeks and he didn’t have ear infections or run fevers not even the common cold. I knew of babies that where bottle fed and they did get ear infections, run fevers, and common colds. I was bottle fed by my mother and don't put down any mother that chooses not to or can't at all! But if you can, do it, your child will greatly benefit from the natural nutrition that comes from breast feeding! I would recommend ever mother to breast freed for up to a year regardless of what studies have shown!

So I just looked up the article on PubMed and read the published abstract. The professor measured hormone levels in pregnant women and then looked at whether or not the women were breastfeeding at certain times after the baby's birth. The conclusion was that women with higher male hormone levels during pregnancy were less likely to breastfeed. The study DID NOT appear to evaluate anything regarding the health of the babies so, based on this study, it is not possible to say whether or not breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding or vice versa. The author of the study apparently has some strong opinions on the value of breastfeeding, but these things WERE NOT part of the study. Bottom line: this study did not actually show that bottle feeding and breastfeeding were equally good for babies' health. This conclusion was the professor's opinion and was not based on the study.

Breastfeeding is more healthy for your baby while your breastfeeding (even if in a few years it might not make much difference in the childs health) it keeps them from being vulnerable to germs like colds and such, it's also way easier, cheaper, and provides benefits for mom that will help now like weight loss and that will make a difference even years from now (in the health of her breasts and uterus).

I was not able to B F my son and he is not almost 3 with no illnesses what so ever. I think I may have taken him to the Dr's 1 time for Croupe and that is it. Now that I am about to have #2 I am going to see if what god gave me will work but if it doesn't I am not concerned what so ever.

The study says nothing about what is the most important thing about breastfeeding which I believe is the incredible bond with your baby. Also, I would never make anyone feel bad about breastfeeding because it is such a personal issue and you need to decide what is best for you and your babies. All moms need to stick together and stand up for each other breastfed or not.

I personally feel that bottled milk is no substitute for breast milk for a new born. Breastfeeding ensures giving wholesome nutrition to your child as also the immunity to fight with diseases along with this it creates an incredible bond with one's baby.It is God's gift to a mother for her child and that just cant have a substitute.So i request all the new moms and moms to be to actively breast feed your infant for atleast six months.

Wow! Great way to get a response, but poor way to inform an already gullible populus! I think a story to counter this propoganda is only fair. Some of the most obese populations in this country have the lowest percentage of breastfeeding babies. With the diabetes epidemic we are facing, especially as American ways of feeding babies ie. bottle feeding seems to be followed by increased obesity rates in other countries, I would love to see a study of the comparison of obesity rates in children who are Exclusively Breastfed for the first 6 months with absolutely no formula or supplemental foods, the way the WHO, CDC, and other health organizations recommend! Lets really look at the benefits of breastfeeding in the modern world before we throw the baby out with the bottle! Granny Pants

Many kudos to Tiffany-1546864 and I thank this person for the comments.  Ditto.  I too used a breastpump (the best one on the market) when I was working full-time after maternity leave.  And I still breastfed every morning and at night too.  While things started out okay, by 6 mos for kid one and 7 mos for kid two, a 15 minute pump resulted in maybe 1 oz. of milk.  I was very upset when I couldn't breastfeed anymore since I planned to do it for a year, but I knew I had done the best I could, so that helped me feel a little better.  Better some than none.  I wish everyone who says you should breastfeed at least 6-12 mos remember that some moms do dry up before that and can't do a thing about it.  Such comments can make an already homonal mom feel like they're failing.      

this study was probably funded by a company that makes formula! they are getting nervous because people are relising that breast feeding is the best for the babys. you cant trust anything scientest say who knows whos is telling them to say it.

I haven't read the article, but I'm going to take a wild guess based on the title...the study was sponsored by a formula company or retailer that benefits from the sale of formula, right? Yeah, OK!!

I have to agree I breastfeed two of my 5 children for 2 years. They are always sick and both have allergies. My other 3 chidren that I formula fed rarely get sick and they have always slept through the next since birth. Also breastfeeding made me gain weight becuase it took so long for my babies to eat, the weight just feel off me when I was formula feeding because I was sooo active. Again its a personal choice.

Most adults born before 1970 were bottle fed. Its amazing we are still alive and amounted to anything. I bottle fed all my children and they were rarely sick, they all have above-average IQ's and are slim. Breast feeding does have economical advantages. It's free.

You, Jane, are promoting the continued clash of bottlefeeding vs breastfeeding (creating the defensive comments) by making the statement that breastfeeding moms "are doing the ultimate best for their kids".... and, bottlefeeding mothers aren't?  Who  is anyone to judge about the personal choices of another person?  BFing doesn't make you mother of the year.  You can still be a lousy mother in tons of other areas.

I think we should keep our noses out of other mothers' bras and focus on raising our kids as individuals. I breastfed my first and plan to breastfeed my second. I am happy to live in a country where I can choose to do so. I hear breast is best...okay, but it is it is also probably best not to be giving our kids (and ourselves) refined and processed sugar. How many of say that we follow these other "best" rules of nutrition for our kids? I am more concerned with whether a parent raises their child in a way that benefits the world and does no harm to other loved children.

Why did I choose to breastfeed? My business! But I will share that my food budget didn't change a bit during the time I was breastfeeding.

Let's stop cutting eachother down. Women have enough crap to sort through when trying to make good decisions for their kids. I love and support all moms doing this work (and dads) because IT AIN'T EASY!

I have two perfectly healthy children..6 years old and 3 years old.  Hardly ever visit the pediatrician, maybe a handful of ear infections combined, no asthma, very thin build and they were both bottle fed and never breast fed.  I think a lot of times, we tend to judge woman who don't even attempt to breastfeed as if they are somehow doing something "wrong".  Great to read a study that is FINALLY on the other side of the spectrum!

Momof2 - you are totally right. Your reasons - and many other mothers with medication situations, medical problems, hell - even just a baby who is tongue-tied - are prime examples of women who truly can't nurse. My point is that some mothers don't want to be bothered with the commitment of breastfeeding and claim they just can't (in my experience as a mothers' groups coordinator, i've seen this dozens of times). but given the superior attitude of many bf-ing moms, maybe it's just an easier route...

I honestly don't mean harm/judgment - I just don't think it's fair for moms who don't want to nurse to lump themselves in with women who have real, valid obstacles to nursing by claiming they can't.

why is it that everyone knocks bottle feeding. I tried to breast feed cause I was pushed into it by family, doctors, nurses and guess what after 2 weeks my daughter was starving! I didn't produce any milk! Well guess what if there wasn't bottle feeding my daughter would have died. well she's healthier than my nieces and nephews that were bf exclusively! don't open your mouth unless you've done or at least tried both!