Will you/did you breastfeed?

Question

If you did or are going to, are you completely into it as a total right thing to do, or out of obligatoin because of the emotional and health benefits? (good for you, either way!) If you aren't or haven't, how do you justify it if there is no physical reason you cannot do it, when the World Health Organization has left no doubt that it is not only healthy, but VITAL to a baby's developement physically, emotionally, and in every other way? I feel some things just should not be a mere 'choice', where if you don't do it, everyone just says, "Okay, cool". We are so out of touch with nature, and confused about sex and afraid of our bodies in their natural form in this country, that some will deny their baby the healthiest possible start - not to mention the BONDING experience - because they are not taught how absolutely important it is. I do no judge. I have friends who have bottle-fed. I do not want to be inflammatory. I just think it is so very sad.
www.myshininglight.com/BoobEase

Answer 1

Yes.:)

Im sure your health care giver has given you lectures on this. it's really a personal decision. But think of the consequences. I fyou keep yourself healthy, it should give a nutritionally complete food. breastmilk is even more nutritionally complete than synthetic formulas. For the baby, he develops stronger facial muscles and immune system. Therefore, chances of him gettig sick is heavily decreased.

On your part, it helps your body system return to closely pre-pregnant state. Why? because hormones involved in breastmilk production are also the ones needed for involution (the process of returning to normal).

Breast feeding is not the only way to bond with your baby, but it will highly add to that. It does entail sacrifice but it will help you and your entire family in the long run.

If you don't have the time to breastfeed everytime he demands it, you can place it in a bottle using a breast pump. Milk production will decrease if demands decrease.

Formula-fed Babies usually will reject breast milk because formulas taste better. That should be considered before initiating other food.

Answer 2

WELL it IS a choice for some people...they cannot make anyone breastfeed...do you think that a women can just magically start producing milk for a adopted child... or how about the hundreds of babies born prematurly that cannot breast feed and either get fed by a bottle or by IV??? I'm a RN on a OB floor and there are about equal parts of women who bottle feed compaired to breastfeeding. Also some women either dont feel confortable or start off breast feeding and stop because of the soreness or bleeding that it can cause on your nipples! Granted I didnt directally breastfeed I pumped and fed my daughter a bottle (she was premature and wouldnt latch) So dont Bit*h at other people because you think EVERYONE should breastfeed before you know every possible situation.

Answer 3

I'm going to breastfeed because i want to. Not because it's healthier, not because i may be able to bond more with my baby...i just WANT to.

I don't think women should look down at other women who don't breastfeed. You don't know their story. You don't know if they tried and couldn't. You don't even know if they do at home or not. Some women have troubles breastfeeding because of the amount of stress they are under or perhaps they tried breastfeeding and developed unhealthy feelings about her baby while breastfeeding; in which case is healthier for the baby to be bottlefed.

The fact is it is the mother's choice and NO ONE should make judgments upon that woman. Whether the mother is feeding her baby formula from a bottle or breastmilk, the bottom line is that baby is getting food and most of all LOVE! That is more than some mothers provide for their babies.

Answer 4

I intended to completely breastfeed. However, by the seventh day, my milk had come in as much as it was going to, and my baby was screaming with starvation. She was not gaining weight -she was losing even more after we came home from the hospital (she lost 12oz at the hospital). I tried everything possible...oatmeal, fenugreek (I smelled like IHOP for a month! :-), pumping every hour on the hour, round the clock. The LC I saw after we came home from the hospital said there was no problem with her latch. We *had* to start her on supplemental bottles, and, once she got a bottle, there was no going back to nursing.
So, now (she's 3mo1wk), I pump and give her that (generally 10-14 oz a day), and supplement with bottles. It generally ends up being about 50/50, but when she goes through growth spurts, she gets a lot more formula (she took about 30-34 oz a day total during the three growth spurts she's had).
I strongly disagree with you on the bonding experience. I am generally the one to give her the bottles because of my husband's work schedule, and I don't know how you can imply that people who don't nurse don't enjoy the level of bonding that nursers do. I don't think it's true, and all that does is serve to make those who can't nurse feel guilty. If I could have, I would have exclusively nursed; God knows that would be easier than having to rush home every two to two and a half hours to pump or drag the pump with me everywhere I go (yes, I pump that often, and still only get 10-14 oz). But there are many valid reasons for people to choose not to nurse. Quite frankly, I'm tired of the lectures from people who tell me how I'm doing a disservice to my daughter by bottle-feeding her (and, for all you busybodies, how do you know it isn't breastmilk in there...half the time it is for my daughter), and, when I mention the problems I had nursing her, tell me that I should have just "tried harder" and I "must not have been doing it correctly".
Breastfeeding may be healthier, but, in most cases, is NOT "vital" to a baby's development. An entire generation of babies were brought up on formula (ye gads, my mother put rice cereal in my bottle at 2 weeks. Horrors!), and, the majority of us turned out perfectly healthy, physically, emotionally, and developmentally. People will make many decisions regarding their children, from formula to breastmilk, organic vs. non-organic, public school vs. private school vs. homeschool, working vs. SAHM, etc. , and, so long as their children are happy and healthy, it's no business of anyone else's what they are doing.
M.Y.O.B.

Answer 5

I didn't breastfeed my first 2 and I won't breastfeed my 3rd. I have no desire what so ever to breastfeed. If one more person tells me how it's VITAL to th baby's physical, mental and emotional health, I'm going to scream!! I chose to bottle feed my girls because the mere thought of breastfeeding made me squirm. My children are extremely bright and healthy girls. My eight year old is by far one of the smartest in her class, she is very emotionally stable and extremely healthy. My 4 year old is a smart, funny and healthy little girl who is full of energy and happiness. I have an incredible bond with both of my girls, as does my husband who had the opportunity to feed them as well. Had I exclusively breastfed, he would have missed out on that.

So, what is better for the baby? Breast milk from a mother who squirms and feels uncomfortable emotionally during breastfeeding or formula from a bottle given by a mother, a father, a grandparent, a sibling, anyone who loves that child unconditionally? Formula these days is an excellent source of nutrition for a baby...while it's not quite as good as breast milk, I think if you weigh the pros and cons of it, sometimes its better for baby to be bottle/formula fed.

Don't get me wrong...I think breastfeeding is fantastic, but it's not for everyone. And I CHOSE not to breastfeed because I only had the best intrest of my children at heart. Had I been forced to breastfeed, I fear the damage would have been far greater to my children than the lack of my antibodies in thier system.

Answer 6

I breast fed both my tigers but the first I had trouble with and she got 4 mths only and took to the bottle straight away

My son wasn't getting enough - which is odd because with the first I had HEAPS of milk. With him it just wasn't there and he was demanding feeds every 2 hours for three months so i was exhausted. One day I gave hima bottle and he actually slept for 4 hours. When he awoke I offered him breast but he refused and cried until i made a bottle he then slept through the night fo the first time.

I say breast is best but it depends on circumstance, Sometimes the bottle wins.

I also had a friend who breast fed her baby and he cried and cried for weeks. He wasn't gaining weight and it turned out her boobs were not producing much milk at all ... just a small amount of colostrum. She had been starving him because she wanted him to have boob and no bottle. She has three healthy babes all bottle fed.

Each case is different - it is sad I agree but you can only do what you can do. It is better to bond with your babe over a bottle than hate to breastfeed and have that feeling separate you and your babe.

Answer 7

I breastfeed my baby cause of the benefits it gives my baby.Plus its alot easier and inexpensive. I don't have to buy bottles or formula. I decided before I was pregnant that I would be breastfeeding. I don't feel like its an obligation though its just something that I wanted to do for my baby.I have been breastfeeding for six months now and plan on breastfeeding my daughter until she is a year old.

Answer 8

I breast fed I Loved it! And after he was weened he got very sick so I started up again and he soon got better started eating again and we were out of the Hospital in no time.
Looking back there were a couple of times that I thought about not doing it but now I would never trade that time together or the things it did for him.

Oh and by the way I was working soon after he was born and I pumped so my mother and Husband fed him and bonded with him so I think he did just fine.
And by the way I do think it's a choice it's better for them if you do I just think every one should read up on it for them selves.

Answer 9

I think it's a personal choice. I don't look down on people who don't. I don't believe breast feeding is a form of bonding. I think that's a sick way of looking at it. I mean, it's a baby, you are going to bond with it every second of everyday no matter what you are doing.

I have to talk to a pediatrician about breast feeding. I am on antidepressants and have tried to come off of them and can't function without them. My obgyn thinks I can still breast feed, but wants me to confirm with a pediatriciton.

My mom tried to breast feed my older brother but her milk didn't have enough nutrients and he wasn't gaining any weight. She didn't try it with me and I am very healthy. Don't have a lot of allergies or anything like that. There is a chance I won't be able to breast feed even if I could if I take after my mom in that department.

Answer 10

Yes, I breastfed all my children. You bond with your children more when you breastfeed. I have four kids and if I have any more children I would breastfed them to. Bottle-feeding a baby is good to but look at the flaws.1-colic, milk to cold. 2-testing the milk making sure its just right. ect.. Everybody feel different about breastfeeding, It is totally up to you.