Decision to Breast or Bottle Feed

I breatfed all my three of my children one way or another. With my son who is now almost 8yrs old, it wasnt east but not that difficult at first, but after a few day him and I got the hang of it (breastfeeding him only lasted for about 3 months), and now its like he is always hungry, coming home from school always saying "Im hungy", "when are we going to have dinner?". Now my soon to be 4yr old, when she was born she had problems and had to be in the NICU, tried my hardest to breastfeed her but she didnt want to take, but I was wanting her to get it, so I got a free breastpump from the hospital and pumped food for her, but was only able to for a little less than 2 months. Now with my soon to be 9 month old, I tried breastfeeding her but it was like her mouth was too small, and she only latched good about a few times, so I pumped for her as well, and that only lasted for less than 3 weeks. But I knew after I got pregnant with my son that I was going to breastfeed all of my children, because as their mother, that is the best start I gave them. Plus breastfed babies are much healthier, and dont get sick as often as bottlefed babies. My son doesnt get as sick as his cousin that is 2 and a half months older, and she was never breastfed and she gets sick way more than he does. All 3 of my kids rarely get sick at all.

I was determined to breast feed from the time I knew I was pregnant, but just couldn't usually get it to work. So, I pumped like a mad woman. It gave me the convenience of others being able to feed her and let me off the hook of struggling with the football hold. I felt strongly that it was the healthiest choice. We ended up having to supplement a few bottles here and there, but it worked for 9 months that way.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Hi T., I breastfed both of my boys along with a bottle. I pumped so when I had to leave them, they where already use to the bottle. I chose to breastfeed because it is better for the baby and formula is very expensive. However I only breastfed for the first six months. The longer you breast feed the harder it may become to wein them off. I hope this helps.

Hello T.,
I can recomend breast feeding with complete confidence after doing so myself with 6 babies youngest 6yrs, it has been a huge blessing in my childrens IQ, they are very healthy and I can say I truely made their meals with out even trying:)also I did shed a few pounds back when I was breast feeding and it was a very convenient way to be self reliant!!!
There is a time in the first 2 weeks that I could have called it quits cause of soreness and it lasted about a week...very uncomfortable, I had to remind myself of all the positives in that time when going through agony...support plays a huge key role in breast feeding.

Breast is best!!!! Formula doesn't even come CLOSE to breast milk. In fact, recent research shows that NOT breastfeeding is as damaging as smoking during pregnancy! Here are just a FEW of the reasons why I chose breastfeeding, all of which formula does NOT provide for your baby:
-It's healthiest for your baby. Period.
-reduces colic because breastmilk is already digested, so it does not upset your baby's stomach.
-It helps your body heal after childbirth... it contracts your uterus to get it back down to normal size AND best of all, it sucks the fat right out of you and helps you get back down to your normal size much easier!
-Your baby gets all the antibodies it needs to keep illness away from your breastmilk... so it won't get sick nearly as often.
-Breastmilk reduces your baby's chance of developing ear infection and tons of other infections.
-Breastmilk content changes within a feeding, so your baby will get EXACTLY as much as it needs every time. This prevents your baby from getting overweight because you don't have to measure out how much it needs. Overweight breastfed babies don't exist!!!
-Your baby is exposed to many different flavors with breastmilk. Depending on what you eat, your baby will be exposed to all kinds of different foods, usually making for a much less picky eater later on.
-the sucking motion required for breastfeeding helps babies develop necessary facial muscles... bottles don't.
-Studies show that breastfed babies have higher IQs later on in life.
-Nursing is extremely comforting for the baby... it soothes a fussy or upset baby instantly... bottles don't.
-Breastfeeding stimulates a natural "mothering" hormone within the mother that is very important for you as the mom. It makes you feel attachment to your baby even when you're ready to chuck it out the window because you're sleep deprived and upset and hormonal :-).

Breastfeeding is what nature intended! I chose to have a completely natural unmedicated birth right from the get-go, and I never even considered using a bottle over the breast. The benefits of breastfeeding are amazing. Honestly, I HATED breastfeeding at first, too! It was very frustrating for me for the first 6 weeks... way longer than most people. I never had sore nipples or anything else, but I just didn't like the way that it felt or anything else... but I stuck with it and am SO GLAD I did. My beautiful daughter is 7 months old, very intelligent, extremely healthy, almost never cries, and sleeps beautifully through the night. It was worth it!

A book you should check out is "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by the La Leche League. Everything you need to know about the benefits is in there, and there's free breastfeeding support groups everywhere! Good luck and hope this helps.

I knew from the moment I got pregnant that I did not want to breastfeed. To me breastfeeding make me feel uncomfortable, it always has. I bottle fed my now 2 yr old daughter and she talks better and is smarter then other kids her age. I think it is totally the mother's decision. My mom didn't breastfeed me or my brother and we turned out okay.

I have read all of your replies to your questions. It is funny but I think I am the only one who has responded that hasnt breast fed. I have 3 children (20,9,6) I bottle fed all of them. It may have been a selfish decision but I just didnt want to do it. My doctor told me that I should do what I wanted to do regardless what anyone said. If you choose to bottle feed do not feel like you have made a bad or a wrong decision. All 3 of my children are healthy and have had no major illnesses. They have actually had less than a lot of my friends who did breast feed. I feel that it is a decision that should be made by you and only you and dont let anyone persuade you to do one thing or another if it is not what you really want. DO NOT feel guilty with your decision. I still had that special bond with all 3 of my children and whether it be breast or bottle, feeding time is wonderful . I wish you luck and dont stress about your decision. Good Luck to you and your baby!

I have bottlefed my daughter since she was 4days old, Mainly because my breast milk didn't come in and my little girl was hungry. I understand they are moms out there that disagree with bottle feeding, however I have found it to be the right thing for me. I had intended on breast feeding my daughter for a short period of time, because many of my friends said I would not be as good of a mother if I didn't. Looking back now my daughter was born with a low birth wieght and for us breast feeding didn't work, she was on soy formula and is on cows milk now. Her wieght has increased steadily, though she is still a skinny girl she is not unhealthy. The choice is honestly up to each woman and what is most comfortable for them.
I have read several posts saying that breastmilk is healthier for your child. From my personal experience with bottle feeding I have found that my daughter is very healthy, she as only had one cold in her entire life, and it was a small one. I understand that many people choose to breast feed which is good for them. Don't ever worry which ever one you do the choice has to be right for you. My daughter is very intelligent and very healthy. I have heard many times that many women believe it is the best way for all moms, but the turth is that it is the best way for some. Bonding with your child while bottlefeeding is not much different then bonding with tme while breast feeding. One of my favorite things about bottle feeding is that it gave my husband the ability to bond with our daughter through feeding time as well. I hope you are able to come to a choice that is peaceful and good for you and your child:)

C. H

I knew I would breastfeed my babies before I even got pregnant. My mom breastfed my brother and I, which I'm sure has a lot to do with my perspecetive on it. I think generally speaking, breasfeeding comes along with a certain approach to parenting. My partner and I are involved with and very close to our children. If I had to say we chose an "approach" to parenting it would be "attachment parenting", although I think that can mean something different for everyone.
I breast fed my son (now 3) for 2 years and am currently breastfeeding my 6 month old daughter. I plan to continue with her for as long as it remains a positive, nurturing expeience for us both. I made my choice for lots of reasons. The health benefits for baby and mama are HUGE. Among other things that formula won't provide are the antibodies that pass from mother to baby hrough the breast milk. Breastfeeding also releases hormones and chemicals in he body that help mama recover from childbirth more quickly and help o avoid post partum depression. In addition there is the bonding that takes place and the relationship that builds between mother and baby. Nursing is something special just for the two of you.
Nursing was also much cheaper than bottle feeding; it doesn't cost anything. Personally I also loved the fact that I never had to worry about all of the extra equipment and clean up with bottle feeding; as a new mom it's great to have one less thing to worry about or risk forgetting or loosing! I thought nursing made life with a new baby really easy in a lot of ways as well. It was such a natural experience.
I would encourage anyone I meet to breastfeed. The hardest part is the first couple of weeks when everyone is trying to figure it out. You will feel like quitting, you might even think about doing it, but STICK WITH IT- IT IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY WORTH IT AND ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I MADE AS A NEW MOM. I think it's a decision you have to make and just make your mind up that you're going to stick with it. Don't doubt yourself or get discouraged. As your baby grows and becomes more independant and self sufficient you will be so thankful for the experience as well as the benefits you both continue to recieve as he or she grows up. GOOD LUCK in your decision.

I breast feed. My daughter is eight months old and I plan to feed until she is a year and go straight to cow's milk. I decided it for two reasons, both probably silly. The first was because it is free, and my husband and I are not financially blessed. The other reason is that so many people said it is hard that I determined I would prove them wrong. LOL Then I thought about health benefits and thought that was a bonus. My daughter happened to be one who took to the breast in the delivery room with no trouble latching on at all. The nurse had to help me, but I'd watched so many videos on it that by the time she came back from the nursery, I was able to latch her on without help, although I had the nurse watch me. The lactation consultant was suprised the next day by how well she latched on and how long she nursed for. I guess most babies lose about 5% of their weight in the two days they are there, but mine lost about 2% because she nursed very well for me.

I've heard this is actually more common then I knew before I had her. Several people have reported that their babies latched on without having to be taught, although a friend of mine had trouble. She had to supliment with formula for the two days in the hospital but didn't give up. She said once she got home and a day had passed, her son starting latching on and she was able to breastfeed him. So even the most difficult times can be overcome.

The first two weeks were painful. I think it is because she couldn't latch on to the nipple as easily because my breasts were swollen. They went down after that initial three day engorgement period, but it took about two full weeks to establish the proper supply and demand. My friend with the son pumped enough so her nipple was easier to access and said it didn't hurt as much. It took about three little pumps with a hand one and that's it. They give you lanolin in the hospital and that works to sooth the pain. And everytime I woke up from sleep, I found the pain was down and I could keep going. So overall it wasn't too bad.

I decided to pump so she could be babysat so I could have some mommy time. I bought the cheapest pump at Walmart- an Evenflo- that is still working well for me. She takes one or two bottles a week but never from me. And she won't take one if we go out if I am around. She insists on feeding from me. I just wear a nursing bra so I can pull my shirt up a bit and then her head covers me. I found that nobody looks at her when she is nursing. They always look me directly in the eye when they talk to me, so there is no embarassment at all.

At eight months, she eats four ounces a feeding- five feedings a day. I heard that breast fed babies will eat less than bottle fed at this point- a bottle fed I knew ate eight ounces- because the breast milk is fatty. Don't know if that is so but I know four ounces is what makes her happy and even if she has six in the bottle, she will only eat around four.

I think breastfeeding is great, but I understand a lot of women don't feel comfortable feeding or they hurt too much or they work and don't to pump or the baby just won't latch on no matter what(that last one was me as a baby). I think that babies still come out fine if they are formula fed, and ultimately it is the mother's decision.

It sounds like you are considering which one to do yourself. Do you have a preference?

hi T.. i have 2 sons and i bottle fed them both. when my first son was born, i tried to breast feed. it just didnt work. i have memories of sweating and crying before i knew i had to feed him, because it was so uncomfortable for me. and i had postpartum depression, and i felt like a failure for not being able to do it. it just wasnt for me. im sure that if i had stuck with it and given it more time, maybe it wouldve worked, but i didnt. when i made the decision to bottle feed, i was so relieved and so much more relaxed with my baby. with my 2nd son, i decided even before he was born that i would bottle feed, which was good for me cause i didnt have to worry about the stress of it, adn the pain............sorry to be so negative about breastfeeding. many people enjoy it, im just not one of them. good luck with whatever you decide! J.

I breast feed currently, my daughter is six months old. It is and has been amazing. There are lots of reasons out there supporting breastfeeding...from your child's health, and resistance to disease, as well as bonding and emotional health. It's a great decision, all the way around. Check out the la leche league, there are some chapters here in Tucson.

What are the reasons that you want to bottle feed? Most of those reasons can be handled by doing things like pumping and storing milk (so your partner can feed the baby, or someone else can feed the baby if you want to go out, or while you're at work)

It's most important to breast feed for the first 13 weeks. It's ideal to breast feed for a year or two. but those first 13 weeks are essential.

I made the decision to breast feed right away, and it's important to be ready, because you need to start the baby suckling right after birth, or it gets harder and harder. Even just a little bit of breast feeding helps.

Hope this helps!

I committed to breastfeeding from the time I thought about getting pregnant. I chose this because it's the best thing for the baby and for mommy. Skin to skin contact cannot be replaced, and neither can breast milk. If you look at the ingredients in formula, you will notice how much sugar is in it and the huge number of unidentifiable ingredients that are listed. Besides, it being the best thing for long term health for the baby (strong immune system for life), it's also cheap, convenient and helps you lose the weight. When my daughter was 5 weeks old I had to return to work 4 days a week. I pumped and while I was at work she was bottle fed. But any moment I was with her I breast fed her. I made it 10 months, and hope to make it one year with my next child.

I do both! My son was 9 lbs at birth and I just did not make enough milk to satisfy him. So he would take about 1 bottle a day. I had a HORRIBLE time the first few weeks with breastfeeding, but stuck it out because I knew it was going to be the best food for him. If you have any problems (bleeding, cracking, engorgement...) call the lactation consultant at the hospital you delievered at. I eventually hired a lactation consultant (becuase I was ready to give up) and I figured out what I was doing wrong. I have had friends who bottle fed their babies exclusively becuase they just couldn't brest feed and they did just fine! Do what is best for you and your baby do not be pressured to breastfeed if it does not work for you.

Hi T.,

First, I would like to tell you of a great organization that can answer almost every question you could ever have about breast-feeding: The La Leche League (www.lalecheleague.org). They can tell you how awesome breast-feeding is for babies, how it can keep children from getting sick as often as others, how on average breast-fed babies have higher IQ's, how your bond with your baby is strongest when breast-feeding, etc. I am breast-feeding my 5 month old, decided I would before I was even pregnant no matter what people thought or how much pain was involved (and believe me, there is pain). But by 4-6 weeks after your baby is born, the pain is usually gone and if not, you can get help. I plan to breast-feed until my baby self-weans which, if you go to La Leche League's or Baby Center's website, is never before 12 months of age. In fact, I've heard a lot of women say that their baby self-weaned under 12 months, but this is actually not self-weaning, it's called a breast-feeding strike, and it's usually due to teething pain or that your baby is distracted by sights and sound around him or her. All you have to do is breast-feed in a darker, quieter place, or use a blanket. Just push through with it.
My baby is bottle-fed my breast milk that I pump during the day while I am at work, along with some formula, but when he's with me at night or any other time, I breast-feed him. I am trying to stay home so that I can get him off formula (which is much more fattening and full of sugar than breast-milk), because I feel it is the best for him. My milk production has waned since returning to work, so I am also adimant about staying home soon, as well.
What ever you decide, understand the pros and cons first and make an educated decisin you can both live with.
Good luck!

I feel breast feeding is the way to go, not only because it is free of cost, but also easy. You never need to worry about bringing enough formula or bottles. You don't have to go in the kitchen and make bottles in the night. Also it is the best for the baby health wise too. I always knew I would breast feed.

with my oldest, i had no problem getting him to nurse. it was really really easy. the only trouble i had was when he first started, and im talking the first minute or so. he kept pushing his tongue the wrong way. i nursed him for the first 2 weeks with almost no formula... then after a stupid mistake i ended up losing most of my milk supply so we gave him a combo of breastmilk and formula (nursing was ALWAYS first!). i weaned him at 6 1/2 mo ONLY becuz i found out i was about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant. with my daughter she got only breastmilk for the first few weeks, and at her 1mo check up the dr decided she wasnt gaining weight enough, was actually gaining/losing, gaining/losing, so he had me give her a bit of formula too but keep up the breastfeedings. i almost quit when she was about 5mo old becuz it just didnt seem like she was getting much. but i kept with it and im proud to say my daughter is now about 14 1/2 months, and i just recently weaned her. its been 5 days since i last nursed her and boy is it PAINFUL!!

I never had a doubt in my mind that I wanted to breastfeed my son. There are a great number of benefits to it that I wanted to take advantage of, especially the antibodies that I knew he would get from the breat milk. And I have to say that there is something very special about nursing your child. From the very beginning, though, I had to supplement my son't diet with some formula (he was always hungry and I just couldn't produce enough for him). When he was about 4 months old I went back to school full time and it was impossible for me to pump, so he was on formula during the day and nursed only at night. By 6 months he was on formula only.

The best advice that I can give you is to do what works best for you. There are alot of people out there who are really adamant about the whole breastfeeding thing. But, honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula (there are tons of healthy kids out there who never once tasted breast milk) and there are alot of women who are unable to breastfeed despite their willingness. So, only you can decide what is best for you and your baby. Try not to get too worked up about it. No matter what you decide, I am certain that your baby will be perfectly healthy.

B.

i chose to breastfeed both of my children, but with the first child things were so hectic and i was so overwhelmed that it didnt really work out. with the second child i was more confident and i breastfed her for 7 months. it was a wonderful experience with both children, and i have always felt very strongly about breastfeeding. neither of my children have been sick, but my first has allergies. alot of really random mysterious allergies. i think that if i had breastfed him longer than he would not have allergies. my second has no problems, no allergies, no illnesses, and i think she is alot smarter than her older brother, even though most of what she learned she learned from him. i am very close with both children, breastfeeding didnt affect that, but at the same time, my son and my daughter were both bottle fed for a time. and i think they are both perfect. while i regret not breastfeeding my son for longer, i wouldnt change anything because i dont feel that bottle feeding is bad. i didnt quit breastfeeding my daughter. she quit all by herself, her independence was quite overpowering. she wanted to be on the floor, she wanted to eat and run so to speak, and i couldn't get her to sit still for a breast. i couldn't even get her to eat more than four ounces at a time when she was 8 months old. they were both healthy, smart, happy babies, and in my experience, as long as they are eating, they will be happy. dont stress about the choice, there is no right one. whatever works for you is the right choice.

I am currently breastfeeding my third child. All of my children are exclusively breastfed-13 months each- (mostly because they didn't want to take a bottle and I stayed home anyway).

Breastfeeding is a great time to bond with your child--you hold them for every feeding--which is especially nice as they get older and you hold them less.

It is easy--you never pack bottles, wash, or sterilize anything. You can also breastfeed anywhere--most people don't even notice and it is easy to be discreet.

It is cheap. You just need to eat healthy yourself.

Comforting--if your baby is hurt or upset, it is an easy way to comfort them (ie after shots, etc.)

There are many reasons to breastfeed, but you have to do what works best for your and your baby. TRY IT before you decide.

Hi T.-
I breastfed my son for the first 7 months and then switched to formula when he seemed to wean himself off the breast. When he was a newborn I worked and had to pump and all of that, which is tough, but I had decided that I would breastfeed when I was pregnant just because of all of the health benefits. I will be honest and tell you that it is not easy in the beginning and really takes a bit of commitment. Once you get it figured out it is great and a wonderful bonding experience for you and your baby. You will always have food at the ready, no bottles, no measuring, no heating! Plus, babies that are breastfed tend to spit-up less and have fewer digestive problems. Either way, it is a personal choice and you should do what is right for you.
I am pregnant with our second child and really looking forward to getting to nurse again and know what I am doing this time!! :)
Hope that helps.

I breast feed both of my daughters because I felt it was the best thing I could give them and it helped to boost their immune system. It wasn't always the easiest method, but I'm glad I did it. I knew from earlier on that I wanted to breast feed, but I also worked in OB/GYN, so I had already done my research.
I don't believe their is a wrong choice. If you decide to breast feed invest in a good pump. With my first daughter I bought a pump at Target - it was usless. With the my second, I bought a Medela pump from Breast Fed. The difference was night and day. It was totally worth the investment.
Good luck

I breast fed because I thought it was the best thing for my son. It wasnt always easy and had my son not had an allergy to formula I probably would have quit. I nursed for 10 months and the experience was wonderful and I cant explain how I loved those bonding sessions with him. I would recommend a quality pump like Medala (I never felt comfortable nursing in public)
I think its a very personal decision and you should not feel pressured either way. You have to do whats best for you or you will end up being resentful.

Hi - I breastfed both my kids. It was great at helping lose the pregnancy weight but I have to say I didn't really enjoy it like a lot of people seem to do. It is tricky to breastfeed in public modestly so I ended up staying at home more than I would like and being tied to the breastfeeding schedule. This wouldn't be a problem if your baby takes the occasional bottle (of either pumped milk or formula). Unfortunately my youngest daughter refused to ever take a bottle. In fact she never took a bottle once - we ended up having to have go straight to a cup and straw at one year old. We tried everything - I even left her alone all day with her dad once and she still refused to eat and just starved all day!!! So I would say that breastfeeding is good, but do make sure to get your baby used to the bottle early on so you have that option. Good Luck with your choice!

Tiffnay,
Please do whatever your body tells you. I wanted to breastfeed my daughter and I gave myself a goal of at least 3 months. No matter how hard it would be. I ended up with a C-section which made it harder for me to breastfeed, but I did. Well in the end my milk supply dwindled on it's own, even how hard I tried I only ended up breastfeeding for 1 month. My daughter is now 15 months and healthy as far as I can see.
Don't feel guilty about one or the other, many people will try to tell you different. As far as what Tamra says about reducing colic, I haven't seen much truth in that. I have known 3 very close friends that breastfed until their children were one year, and all 3 were Colic.
It is your choice. I do believe that breastfeeding is a bonding time for you and your newborn, but it won't make you closer and bottle feeding is still a great way for you to bond along with your partner.
Good luck and Congratulations!

I have 2 kids, a son who is 2 1/2 years old and a daughter who is 2 1/2 months. I breastfeed my son and I'm breastfeeding my daughter. I chose to breastfeed before I was even thinking of having a baby, I just always knew it was what I would do. When I got pregnant with my son I learned that the benefits were more than formula feeding. Breastfeed babies are less likely o get sick because they receive antibodys through the mothers milk to keep tem healthy, this includes ear infections, among many other illnesses and the milk is made specifically for that baby, so every womans milk is different according to the needs of her baby. A woman who breastfeeds also is less likely to get breast cancer in her life and breastfeeding helps to burn off a lot of calories so you lose your pregnancy weight also.
With my son especially he needed the breast milk because he was born 3 1/2 months premature and the only things you can do for your baby when they come that early are pump your milk so that when your baby is finally mature enough to get milk he has a milk made espcially for him to help him mature and grow and Kangaroo Care. I did both and my son is now a very healthy little boy who you would never expect to have been born so early with a 50% chance of survival. My son had no complications and I believe that my milk, the Kangaroo Care and God where why he is so healthy.
As a breastfeeding mother I strongly encourage you to breastfeed as it is the most wonderful God-given gift, and an awesoe way to have a deep bonding experiance with your child. But everyone s different and some mothers prefer to formula feed which is their choice and I have nothing against that. I just know how much I've enjoyed my experiences with my children breastfeeding them. If you do decide to breastfeed I recommend using Lanolin before you have your baby to help condition your nipples for breastfeeding and when you have your bay to keep them from getting to sore and painful. I use Lansinoh and it is wonderful! For the first three weeks or so your nipples will get sore because they have to learn to stretch in the babys mouth but it will get easier and soon you won' even think about it. I wish you the best of luck with making your choice and with yor baby!
KC Ruey

I chose to breast feed both of my boys. It was easier, I believe it was healthier for them and healthier for me, and it was also a lot less expensive. Making time during they day at work to pump was often a bit of a challenge, but I'm really glad that I did it. I nursed my olderst son until he was about 20 months old and my youngest lost interst just recently (13 months old).

I formula feed my son. He is 5 months old now. He would not latch on. I tried every time he fed, and it only led to frustration for both of us. I wanted to breast fed, but he was not interested. I pumped until he was 6 weeks old, then I gave up. It was double duty pumping and feeding. My husband was able to feed him bottles. I think he felt very left out the first few weeks when we really tried breast feeding. Our son is the happiest baby, and very healty. He is right on track developmentally. I think if we have another, I will try to breastfeed again, but I have no regrets in formula feeding my baby.

T.,

The decision is totally yours. But there are great benefits to breastfeeding, cheap, lots of vitamins and lots of mommy and baby time to bond. I decided as soon as I found out I was pregnant, my other 2 were unable to nurse, my son was unable to latch on so I gave up after 2 months and my daughter was born with special needs so I pumped for 4 months before I was too worn out to keep that up, so I decided the 3rd time is a charm, now my dilemna is getting her to take a bottle. Good luck to you, in the end whatever you do will be the right thing for you and for your baby.
N.

I have a 5 week old little girl. I chose breastfeeding for the many benifits to both mother and child. For the child, formula cannot compare, your milk actually changes to accomadate their changing needs. You have antibodies in you milk that will help them not to get sick. I found one something online that said that their IQ will be 9 points higher (aprox) and they will be less likely to need orthodonic work when they are older. It is also a great way to bond with your child, often times just holding my little girl in the position used to feed her will calm her. For the mother, it will help shrink your uterous, and help you lose weight quickly. for every once of milk produced, you burn 20 calories, and the average woman will produce a quart a day! You can't get that with an hour at the gym. It's also a lot less expensive then formula feeding. A couple drawbacks- I don't like feeding in public, If I'm shopping, I will usually use a dressing room. You have to be careful what you eat, some foods will cause her to be gassy, or keep her up all night (caffine). And the worst part is that it hurts little at first, I don't think it was as bad as I had heard it would be :). I've heard that some parents do both formula and breast milk.

Right now I think I will do it for the first Year, but it's hard to say for sure.

We currently breastfeed and my son is 4 1/2 mos old. It was definitely very difficult at first, but the benefits were what I focused on and committed to making it work. The health benefits for both Mom and baby can not be disputed and why pay for some chemical version of a natural milk that your body already produces. Although I have had to supplement on occasion so I'm not anti-formula.

Regarding breastfeeding in public, that also gets easier. It took about 2 1/2 months before I felt comfortable breastfeeding in public and all you need to do is bring a light blanket and drape it over your shoulder to be discreet. I've never had any problems with that. Or often times I would go out to the car to feed if I was out and about. That was really easy and convenient. Not to mention most anchor stores in the malls have ladies lounges specifically for that reason. And Babies R' Us also has a special family lounge to feed so worst case you can stop in there for a bit and then go on your way.

The best advise I have is to take a breastfeeding class and form a support group becuase you will need (and want) it at first and it's great to socialize with Moms in your similar situation. I didn't take a class and didn't realize how helpful that really would have been.

My personal vote is that you should at least try it to give your baby the best first start and if it doesn't work then you know that you have another option.

Good luck!
J.

You have gotten a lot of responses. I breastfed my first and did both with my second. My second didn't wean until he was 2 1/2 years old! Every bit of breastmilk your baby gets is good for it. Later, I was a breastfeeding counselor and I learned that there is really no comparison in the makeup of your breastmilk with what they put in formula. I like natural choices, so it was easy for me to decide. I only ended up supplementing my second because he was tongue-tied and I hadn't been producing enough milk. (Then, I used goats milk after he was 6 months old.) I did try with supplemental nursing system, herbs, etc to increase my milk, but he liked both, so that's what we did for a long time! btw- according to my dr, that is a common problem with babies who don't latch on. If you have any bf problems, they should be figured out. Babies who are tongue-tied and don't get it fixed turn into children who can't talk well and do years of speech therapy. Bottom line- breastmilk is liquid gold. A baby should get as much of it as possible. If it doesn't work to give breastmilk all the time, you can do BOTH! It does not have to be either/or (although you need to be consistent enough to be able to continue nursing). For the last several months, I only nursed my son once or twice a day.
Hope this helps. -M.

i wish i could have breat fed my baby, but he was in the hospital for a month after he was born, & had a feeding tube for the first 3 weeks, so once i tried to breat feed he didnt know what to do & never picked up on it

I breastfeed all three of my children and absolutely loved every second of it!!! It was great to have that alone time with the baby.

The decision is yours, what would YOU like to do? I am sure that either way you decide to nurture your baby you will find others to support you.

S. Tuke
Doula, CCBE

I have a 15 month old daughter and am pregnant with our second! I breastfed my daughter until she was 12 months old, and I will be breastfeeding our other child as well! I chose to breastfeed mainly because it is so much healthier! It is also a lot cheaper, since formula is so expensive! Also, it is very convenient, since you don't have to take any time to make bottles! But, do be aware that many mommies have a hard time breastfeeding, and can get depressed while breastfeeding! I never had that problem, I found it very easy and it was a great way to bond with my daughter! Good luck with the decision!

I know this response is 2 years late, but I just signed up for this site! With my first daughter I wanted to be SuperWoman. I wanted to have a natural child birth, breastfeed, the whole nine-yards. Then the reality of it all hit me along with those labor pains, and I quickly remembered that SuperWoman did not have any kids!
Needless to say, that epideral sounded better and better with each wave of pain, and after 11 hours, I was screamin' for it! I could not sign that paper fast enough!
That is also the way I made my decision on breastfeeding. I knew it was best for my baby, so I opted for it. But time dictates everything. I enjoyed breastfeeding, but yes it hurt, and my breast were already big, now they were even bigger, which my husband enjoyed, but my back didn't! I leaked all the time, and soaked through all them nursing pads. So about 3 weeks into it, I decided that maybe the bottle, and least sometimes during the day when it was a little more convienient, would be beneficial to both of us. I bought formula for the day,( I was a working mother so it made it a little easier when I was away in case I ran out of pumped breast milk),but at night, I found it easier to breastfeed so that I would not have to worry about bottles at 3 am when I was still half asleep!

I breastfed

I chose to breast feed for several reasons:
1: low to no cost
2: healthier
3: gave me a secure feeling to know that my daughter is getting my antibodies, especially during cold and flu season

I made the decision that I was going to at least try breastfeeding when I found out I was pregnant. I knew it was going to be hard and difficult challenge so I set little goals for myself along the way and tried to not stress about it. I knew that not everyone can do it, and it's ok if I fail.

I wanted to breastfeed, primarily for my child's health. Breastmilk is easier for baby's to digest, has more of the key nutrients in it (except iron which formula had more of, just breastmilk is better absorbed), baby gets Mom's antibodies, breastmilk is cheaper than formula, studies have shown higher IQ's in baby's who were nursed. For Mom's it can lower the risk of developing breast cancer and helps the metabolism - can aid in loosing weight after birth. I also had a preemie, so I felt that pumping (before he was able to nurse) was so important to his health since he had an immature digestive system. They did later fortify my breastmilk with high calorie formula though to help with weight gain.

My son did have problems with nursing though - it wasn't easy since he was a preemie, was on oxygen, etc. I nursed/provided pumped breastmilk till he was 6 months old. I wished I could have gone longer. I'm thankful I was able to provide him with what I could!

I knew that I wanted to breastfeed immidiately when I decided to parent my daughter (I am a never married mom and I had considered adoption before she was born); however, I also knew that it was going to be very difficult and that I may not succeed. I did a lot of preparation before she was born to get ready to breastfeed: books, lactation consultants, etc. One thing that most people agreed on was that breastfeeding is an excercise in willpower. At the beginning it will probably be difficult and painful (although I have known women who have not had any pain, bleeding or any problems), and it will definitely be a learning experience (for both you and your baby). You also must remember that if you bottlefeed your baby at all you MUST pump the same amount of milk that your baby was fed within 24 hours, otherwise you risk losing your milk (this is true at any age or stage). A lot of people say that if you can make it past the first six-weeks, you feel like you've been doing it forever (I found that this was true for me). One thing that is for certain is that breastfeeding is very rewarding and a great bonding experience for you and your baby (and healthier for both of you too!), but if you cannot or do not want to you and your baby will be just as close and the most important thing that you can give your baby is love. Good luck.

T.,
As many other mothers have offered as advice, I will do the same in suggesting to breastfeed. It is the most wonderful experience for you and your child. Not only is it the best for you child healthwise, but it provides many benefits for you as well. Breastfeeding your child helps you by lessoning the chances of sever post-pardum as well as stimulating your uteris to get back to normaland loosing that wonderful baby weight. There are to many benefits to not at least give it a chance. Your bonding with your child is one of the most awesome things ever.

Don't rule out the bottle either though. You can provide your child with a bottle of breast milk. I breastfeed and bottle my child and he is doing wonderful. I will suggest as the doctors will as well, in not to introduce a bottle to your child if you do decide to breastfeed until they are about 6 weeks old is it is a bit confusing to them. Let your child get used to one thing before introducing another. Anyway, don't let the small things of weigning being difficult later on, worry you because every child is different. Breastfeeding is a great thing for you and your baby, so take the opportunity because many mothers are not able to.

Hope this helps.
M.

T.,
I have three children the first two I breast fed for a few months and then went back to work so they were formula fed from there on. My third is currently breast feeding. I find it much easier because Im homa full time now to breast feed rather than bottle feed plus it is way less expensive. I never have to take anything more than a few diapers and wipes with me wherever I go and formula sometimes is so messy! But I think you should never be preasurred by family or anyone else to breast feed I think that is your decision and you should make the choice that best fits your lifestyle

I chose to breastfeed with my son who is now 3. I chose this option when I was pregnant based on research of all the health benefits for him. I was probably in my first trimester when I decided but continued during my entire pregnancy to research the topic.

Now in all that research I never realized the work that goes into it! They leave that part out. My son had a hard time with learning the new skill so the first few weeks were rough and i even bottle fed him some but within 3 weeks he was a pro but a LONG 3 weeks! The bonding is worth every bit!

Good luck in your decision!

I think it's great that you are looking into this issue and educating yourself before you make a decision. I did my research long before I got pregnant and talked to women who had breastfed exclusively, formula-fed exclusively, breastfed then used formula, and did a mixture of both for various reasons. I have breastfed my son exclusively for 9 months and consider it one of the best decisions I've ever made. I chose to breastfeed for my son's health (the immunological factors in breast milk have never been duplicated in formula, to lower risk of many illnesses and allergies), for my health (lower risk of breast cancer, lose pregnancy weight), for the convenience (no washing bottles or worrying about carrying around formula or purified water), and for the unique bond that is created between a nursing mother and child.
I found the website www.kellymom.com very helpful. Good luck to you and your family!

I have 2 kids
Breastfed both
Many reasons - convenience; many, many health reasons for both baby and myself, financially easier, advice of peds/nurses. I never really even thought about bottle feeding
Decided prior to giving birth
Hope this helps!

I breastfed my daughter for about 6 months until I could no longer pump enough milk for her at work, then I switched to bottlefeeding.

I chose to breastfeed because of the bonding time that you get with the baby. Nothing beats getting to watch your baby that close while they bond!! :)

I decided to breastfeed when I found out I was pregnant. They say the benefits are better for the baby and that breastfeeding for 6 months protects the baby from diseases, like another form of immunizations without the needle pricks.

I knew from all the research that breast feeding was the only way to go! I heard from a doctor that formula is not good for a baby because it assaults the brain with nutrients the baby's young brain isn't ready for. Also the breast milk has built in properties that protect your baby's immune system. Both my kids are hardly ever sick. Formula will never be able to duplicate that.

I breastfed my first for two and half years and my second for 8 months. With my second, I was very bummed out because I never got the supply of milk I did with my first, I got my period after 8 months and it all dried up. But at least she got 8 months.

Let me tell you one other thing: It hurts at first to breastfeed. I almost gave up, it was so painful. But my doctor said "Hang in there." And I did. In about two weeks after her birth the pain was gone. My oldest is seven. She is an amazing student and child. And I attribute some of it to breastfeeding and the closeness she felt to me early on.

Do what feels best for you. I am breastfeeding my 7 1/2 mo. old son, and hoping to keep going until he's a year. However, he has a milk intolerance, so he wouldn't be able to take most formulas, so it's just easier and cheaper to breastfeed (and I have gone off cow's milk, too, so it doesn't come through my breast milk). I do work full-time (went back when he was 5 mos), so I pump at work and my sitter gives him bottles of breastmilk. When he was first born, he had a problem latching because my nipples were a little flat, so we used a breast shield for about 3 mos until he got a little bigger and a little stronger. Now he's a pro. I also pumped and froze a lot of milk while using the breast shield (the baby can't drain a breast effectively on the shield, so the pump helps with that). When I went back to work, it seemed he "forgot" how to take a bottle (we had worked so hard to get him to latch, that we had stopped giving bottles). My doctor said that once he gets hungry enough, he'll take the bottle. After the second day with the sitter, he took the bottle and hasn't had a problem since.

The decision is personal. There is no right or wrong answer. Weigh the pros and cons for how they fit into your life. Good luck!

Breast feeding has never appealed to me. I know that is the way God created us but that does not change how I feel. I am a big breasted woman and I just have never had the desire to breast feed. None of the statistics rang true for my son. He is healthy, in fact he has no allergies and only has had about 3 colds in his 10 years. He is in the gifted program at school and very intelligent. I am his entire world so the bond is definitely there and so on and so forth with everything else they say. I think it's a personal choice that we as Moms get to make and no one should force their choices on others. I am 10 weeks pregnant and I will bottle feed again and be confident that I made the right choice for me. We all have to be comfortable with our choices, that is what is most important.

I just want to say first that there is NO WRONG DECISION! Do what you feel is right for you & your family!

I breast fed & feed both of my childen (almost 3 & 6 months). I did so because it was cheaper, easier, more convenient & better for the baby. My son gets formula (about 1 bottle/wk) thru babysitters/husband if I don't have anything pumped. I don't stress about the little amount.

I read through most of what everyone else said & no one said that with breastfeeding you have less dirty diapers! My daughter had 1 about every 5-7 days & my son is about every 3-4 days. Their bodies absorb more of the breast milk, so there is less waste. Good for those of us that don't like changing diapers!

And another thing I want to add - is you should definitely try to get them on a bottle after both you & your child are comfortable with the latching on, etc. That doesn't usually take 6 wks as some other mom stated. "Nipple Confusion" I think is for the birds - by 6 wks old, neither one of my kids were confused - they knew exactly what "nipple" they wanted ;)& I was having issues with them taking a bottle. My daughter NEVER took a bottle & it took me almost 6 months to wean her off me (19 months total). I read AND was told by quite a few drs that usually 3-4 weeks is enough time to get the whole breast feeding thing down & to start a bottle. Doing both is great too just cuz now I can date my husband for longer than 3 hrs & have a little bit of ME time + altho I breast feed at night, you COULD have hubby do it, so you could get some extra sleep!

Good Luck with whatever you decide!

T.

I just had my second baby. My son who is 4 now- I breast fed for 2 months- it was stressful and a struggle the whole time for me. I finally quit at 2 months due to the fact that it was so upsetting to me because he would not latch on. My daughter is now 2 months old- I also tried breast feeding with her, but all she would do is scream the whole time that I tried, so I now feed her formula. I read through a lot of the other responses saying breast is best and that it is easier, but it doesn't work for everyone. I would give it a try, but don't stress yourself out if it doesn't work. I did that with my son and it made the experience horrible.

I hope this helps

E.

I did both. I breastfed both of my sons, but I had my husband give them a bottle of formula or breast milk so that they would be used to getting a bottle. It also made it easier on me so that if I was just to warn outmy husband could get up and feed them. It takes a little responsibility off of you and still gives them the benefits of breastfeeding

Well, I planned on breast feeding from the beginning, but I did it for a week and switched to bottles. I know God made us to breast feed, but why is it sooo hard!?! :) I know the stats, but I wasn't breast fed and I am by no means a dummy. :) My 8 month old son is developing wonderfully. He's healthy and right on developmental milestones. So, don't feel pressured to breast feed if you don't want to! Bottle fed babies are fine! And they are making the formula so close to breast milk now, I get a little frustrated with the people who breast feed who seem to judge the women who decide to bottle feed :) (I'm gonna get yelled at for that comment, hehe) Ok hope the input helps.

C.

I breastfed all my kids. The first one was harder than my other two. I chose to breasfeed because formula does not provide the much needed immunities that breastfeeding does. I breastfed my first until she was 7 months old (when she started to bite!), my son when he was 6 months old, and my last when she was 5 months old.
My decision was made prior to giving birth, and seemed the most natural way to go. When each was weaned from the breast, I was blessed to have been working in the hospital field, and I never bought formula because it was given by the manufacturer to be given away to new moms. Because there was an experation date that they could be used, they did not want to stockpile the formula, thus being a new mom each time,(and employee too) I was the lucky recipiant! (Oh, and I did not pay anything to give birth to my little blessings either)!

My first son I just bottle fed, it just felt more comfortable to me. I felt really pressured to breastfeed... and I think it pushed me in the opposite direction, plus you hear all the horror stories about how hard it is. My second son I decided to try breastfeeding and did only for a few days. It wasn't so bad except I was so worn out and had a 9 lb baby that acted like he was just starving to death. The books say they don't need that much food in the first few days (they obviously weren't talking about my son!) So I decided to try bottle and breast... and once he saw how easy the bottle was I could not get him to breastfeed anymore... and I TRIED. Anyways... unless you're really opposed to breastfeeding I would at least try it. I just realized that it doesn't really work for me. My sisters however, both breastfed all their children and loved it. Just do what feels right to you, and don't let anyone pressure you either way, it's your choice. :]

I decided while I was pregnant I wanted to at least try breastfeeding, so I did. I loved it. My son loved it so much that he did it exclusively till he was a year old, he refused solid foods all together. I was sad when my son weaned a little before his second birthday. I still miss it sometimes and he is 3 now. It is difficult in the beginning, but I think it is well worth the difficulty. If you have questions, I know one woman suggested the La Leche League, but I joined a breastfeeding mommy and me group through BestFed. It is a store with Lactation Consultants and other breastfeeding items and information. There is a location in Glendale and one in Mesa if either of those are close to you, I'd suggest contacting them and going to a group before your baby is born. We had soon-to-be mom's come all the time to ask questions. You can always try breastfeeding first if you're unsure, and if you don't like it or doesn't work out, you can always change later. Good luck in your decision!

I know you already have a ton of responses, but here is one more!

I breast fed my first daughter until she was 15 months. (She is 20 months now.) I am pregnant and due in March, and plan on nursing this baby at least to one year, but preferably 15 or 16 months as well.

I chose to breastfeed because the idea of formula never appealed to me. In fact, when the nurse suggested I give my daughter some formula in the hospital, I was surprised at how against it I was! Nursing was just the right choice FOR ME!

I committed to nursing as soon as I found out I was pregnant, but I think I always knew I would nurse my kids. I have a lot of friends and family who are very supportive of nursing, and that helped a lot.

It's important to know the pros and cons of both nursing and formula feeding, so you can make the right decision for yourself. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about your choice.

J.