Breast feed or bottle feed? See details?

Question

I work a very stressful, high demanding job with deadlines. If anyone works in the Transportation Industry, you know how hard it is to walk away from the desk. I am expecting a baby and I am single, so money is non unlimited. I would like to breast feed, but I'm concerned it will be too difficult. What do you think? I am already aware of the health benefits.

Answer 1

Breastfeeding has significant benefits for the mother, too, you know, including stress reduction. The hormones of breastfeeding actually help you relax. If you have a stressful job, this alone may make breastfeeding soemthing very important for you!!

Answer 2

I was lucky enough to work in an office with a wireless network, and I had a laptop. I bought a quiet pump and a hands-free pumping bra. Then I would reserve a conference room with a lock and a phone. I could pump and still take/make calls or work on the computer. And I was able to nurse each of my daughters for over a year.

I know other folks who've made the same sort of set up work from their cars, using battery powered pumps (or lighter adapters), cell phones, and Blackberries or tapping into other available wireless networks.

But I have a good friend who's a lawyer. She bills in 7 minute increments. She was able to stay home for four months, during which she nursed, but then found herself in a situation similar to yours. She reasoned that she could take time and find ways to make pumping work, or she could just work straight through the day and go home at 5 to spend more time with her son. The second option appealed more to her. So she just decided to bottle feed him during the day, and she'd nurse him at night and in the early morning as long as her supply held out.

I think only you can answer this question. You are the only person who knows what's right for you. And you shouldn't let anyone else make you feel bad or guilty for not making the "right" decision.

Answer 3

Try to breastfeed! But if you arent all for it you probably wont be able to stand the pain for the first couple weeks. Breast feeding is proven to be better for babies, they dont get sick as often as formula fed babies, plus its free! When you are having all the pain about 2 days after birth until 2-3 weeks just remember you will lose the weight much quicker also- I just had a baby 2 months ago and by the time she was a month old I was only 10 pounds over my pre pregnancy weight- Still eating whatever I wanted and however much i wanted

Answer 4

Babies tolerate breastmilk much more than formula. In addition to that, there are numerous health benefits. The medical literature has proven less risk of food allergies, asthma, eczema, & ear infections. Formula companies will never be able to make formula identical to breastmilk.

It may be difficult to breast feed, but breast pumping may be a great alternative. You can keep pumped breastmilk in the refrigerator for a week & in the freezer for a month. Because of pumping, breastfeeding is definitely possible.

Answer 5

You have already studied up on the health benefits, so you know that anyone telling you that bottle feeding is 'just as good' as breastfeeding is totally ignorant.

Plan ahead. Educate yourself. Talk to a Lactation consultant about your concerns. Talk to a local LaLecheLeague leader. Go to their meetings (it is for pregnant women and nursing mommies). Support is a key factor is success nursing. It is the biggest committment you will ever make. It is hard to accomplish, I won't lie to you. Thankfully there are now LAWS in every state protecting a Breastfeeding mothers rights, even in the workplace.

Stress does interfere with breastfeeding and milk production. If your job is very high-stress, it may not work out for you.

In that case nurse for as LONG AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. I applaud any woman who puts forth the effort, whether she makes it to 3 weeks or to 3 years.

Good for you, in wanting to do what is UNDENIABLY the BEST thing for your baby.

--SH, mom to 2 happily healthy nursed babies.

Answer 6

you could breastfeed when you first have the baby while you are off, and also begin pumpin while you are still on leave. Milk will keep in a freezer for three months and a deep freezer for 6 months. That way she won't have to go tottaly off breast milk as soon as you go back to work. You could also breast feed at home and bottle feed while at work. I did that. your body makes what comes out so if you only feed after 5pm, your body will only produce after 5 pm.
any amount of breastfeeding is good. I have 3 kids and have never dealt with ear infections, bad colds, ect..

Answer 7

Why not try to do both? I worked from home, but was still not able to produce enough milk for my baby. I would nurse first and then supplement with formula. By about 3 1/2 months she weaned herself and went just to formula. She is doing wonderfully and is developmentally about 1-2 months ahead (as said by her Dr.) With the DHA and ARA in formula - it is so much better than before. She has only been sick once and has had NO ear infections ( she is almost 8 months old). ANY amount of breast milk is better than none at all, but dont stress yourself out!

Answer 8

If you think breastfeeding is dificult, wait till you start bottle feeding.....My first baby was bottle fed, I used to wake up in the middle of the night , the baby was crying and I was desperated to prepare the formula....was too hot, than too cold, by the time I was ready, the poor creature was exhausted....not to mention my own sanity.
With my second, I decided to breastfeed....and here I go, the second my baby wakes up, the feed is there, right temperature and best taste.....Not to mention the thousands of $ saved ....Nothing is difficult if u really want the best for your child....just get some advice from LLG....
Good Luck.

Answer 9

you can pump even while working if you use a whisperwear. they are a handsfree and very discreet pump. i used one and just had a little cooler that i kept everything in. they are very quiet. i am a nursing student who had to pump in the bathrooms at school or sitting in the parking lot between classes. it was no simple task but i did it and i am glad i did. people find all kinds of creative ways to do this! yahoo has a really good breastfeeding support group and those women can give you ideas i have never dreamed of because a lot of them have been doing this for 4-5 years. hard to imagine but true! look it up and join and good luck! if you just need a shoulder to cry on or some uplifting words email me! i am a single mom thanks to her dad being in the military so i know how demanding and tough it can be! good luck!

Answer 10

You can at the least breastfeed while you are home. I tried to and it was too difficult and I had no one to help me with it. So I ended up quitting. Not even my mom was encouraging, she was trying to get me to go against it because it was too hard to pump at work. I just like the cuddle time, but she got thrush in her mouth (no one told me anything about it) and she gave it back to me making the already painful experiance (she wasn't latching right and was chewing on me rather then sucking) worse.

I would recommend trying to breastfeed, I mean you could pump when you go back to work. I was greatful i got to breastfeed (no matter how bad the experiance) the little time I did because of the colostrum (the stuff the baby eats before your milk comes in) was very healthy expecially because she was born in the winter.

Anyways, go with your gut. If you decide to bottlefeed that is great, I found you can get plenty of cuddle time then too.

Answer 11

I had the benefit of breastfeeding my first child but when the second came I couldn't breastfeed him-I didn't produce enough to satisfy him. I used a wonderful formula and he was perfectly healthy on the formula. If you are stressed and trying to breastfeed it will not only cause stress for you but also your baby. The formula may cost a bit but there are programs in many areas that can help with this especially if you are trying to support yourself and the baby.