Breast Feeding: good or bad?

Question

i am 4 months pregnant and wonder weather i should breast feed or not. Just wondering from someone who knows or is experienced with and without it. What is better for me and the baby?

Answer 1

if you can do it go for it,not alot of people can, cause their breasts are tender and sometimes babys have a hard time to clasp on and they are not getting enough food. its a nice bond when you breast feed between you and baby.

good luck

Answer 2

I have done both.I tried to breast feed my first son but had many problems and had to put him on formula when he was 2 months. He is happy healthy and not malformed in anyway.I succesfully breast fed my youngest son untill he was about 16 months old.He is happy heathly and does not have supper powers. Both have thier bennifits and set backs, neither is better or worse. Here are some of the pros and cons I found with each.
Formula:
Cons: It's expencive
Its messy,smelly, and a pain in the *** a 3 am
Just one more thing you have to make sure you have when you go out.
It's sitll fake milk even with all the added vitamens
Pros: Daddy can help too
You don't always have to be the one to get up a 3 am
People do not stare when you bottle feed in public.
Breast feeding:
cons:Your breasts get swollen and hurt for a time
It is much harder to get a sitter to go out,
daddy can't help as much
Sleep is not an option at times,
people tend to stare and say rude things when you nurce in public.
I actualy had a woman grab her daughter and move tables in a resturant when she figgerd out what my baby was doing under the blanket.
Pros: Its free
its always ready,and the rite temprature,
if you have no boobs you will get some even if only fo a little while
it's full of antibodies and all kinds of other good stuff for your baby
Its all natural
it will help you lose the baby weight faster
You just can't beet the mommy baby bonding time you get when you breast feed.
All in all i say its your choice, If you want to I say great good for you go for it but if not you are in no way a bad mom.Do the reascerch and make an educated chioce.There is never only one best way.I personaly enjoyed it and wish i could have nurced my oldest longer .Hope this helps some.

Answer 3

Everyone knows that breastfeeding is better for both mom and baby, that is easy to look up. But beyond that, the satisfaction you get from being able to give your baby nature's super food is amazing. A study looked at the intestines of 30 year old adults and where able to tell whether they were nursed or not, know those are long lasting benefits. Formula is a substitute, and your baby would grow on it, but if you have the real thing, why would you want second best? And at $30 a week or so, plus bottles, and the extra Dr.s visits formula babies need because the don't have the illness protection that mother's milk provides, and we're talkin' a couple grand by the time you're done! Breast milk blows formula away in health benefits and it's free! If you are prepared and have help, it shouldn't be a problem learning to nurse with your little sweetie.

Answer 4

I breastfed my first child until he was 7 months old and my second were twin who came at 32 weeks and couldn't nurse. So I've had both experiences. The doctors will tell you all about the health benefits for you and the baby and there all true, It is the best thing you can do for your baby. Now here the real deal There is nothing as powerful as the bonding that happens between you and your baby when you breast feed. At that time you have to rest and focus on your baby. Honestly It's not easy at the beginning but it doesn't take long to figure it all out. Just remember that your baby hasn't done this before either so just relax and be patient . CONGRATS

Answer 5

Well you here it all the time breast feed breast feed its better.I beleive that.Breastfed babies are healthier but the bottle fed babies are just as fine.Breastfed babies get better immune systems faster.Well thats not only why I say breast feed.Do it for yourself.The bond you and your baby will have will be wonderfull.To me the best part of breastfeeding is loosing the weight fast while doing nothing but breastfeeding.So think how much more you could loose if you put some exercise into it.I lost 30 pounds before my son was even 6 weeks old.I gained alot for my pregnancy about 50 pounds.Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I did not breastfeed. I ended up formula feeding after a very long struggle with my son not latching on. My husband was deployed when I had my son and it was very hard to do everything without him there and without his support.

I support all breastfeeding mothers and hope everyone would at least try. It is natural and really what is best for the baby and for the mother.

A lot of people will tell you it makes children more intelligent, bonded, and better adjusted. Sure, it might do that but let me tell you a few things that I know from experience. Kids will be intelligent no matter IF you breastfeed or not. Kids will be bonded no matter IF you breastfeed or not. Kids will be adjusted no matter IF you breastfeed or not. All these things are pluses for breastfeed babies but in no means does it make a breastfeed baby better then formula fed. I'm bonded with my child. My son (at eight months) is standing on his own. My son is very well adjusted with everyone and everything. My son has never been sick in his life so far. My son and I are just as bonded as the woman and her baby who was at her breast day and night. My son is doing great being formula fed. It's not a matter of HOW you feed your children as long as they are being fed. I would really love to see the studies done on children being smarter or better adjusted. The question about them that I pose is how can you tell the difference on the SAME child?

Another study of mine is of the differences in my husband (breastfed) and I (formula fed). My husband has to be the only person I know that does not go through an entire month without getting sick. My husband is smart but it’s not a genius. I on the other hand am just as smart (if not smarter--haha) and I haven’t been sick for the past four years. It shows that sure there are pluses in certain cases--but it’s not a make or break situation.

Anyway--to sum it all up. Breast is best. Formula is second best. Whichever choice you make it is personal and you should stand behind it 100%. Best of Luck and Congratulations!

Answer 7

Mother of 3 all adults now, all breast fed.
Breast feeding means you never forget the food, it's always the right temperature, it's never the wrong consistency, no problems with germs. Medical opinion seems to indicate that breast fed children have less problems with allergies. There is the comfort and the bond you feel as you snuggle close.
But don't stress if it doesn't happen. Love and cuddles is what baby needs most, you can do that when you bottle feed too.

Answer 8

All the books say its good for both you and the baby. The baby won't get sick as often because mommies pass on immunities through the first milk...which doesn't look much like milk at all, more like clearish fluid. Its good for mommies because it decreases the risk of breast cancer, helps the uterus return to its former size more quickly. I breast-fed for the first eight months and I think it really made the bond between my son and I closer. I also dropped weight like crazy and my doctor said it was from the breastfeeding. You have to be careful about what you eat and drink, just like when you are pregnant. Its funny, I couldn't eat cabbage while I was breast-feeding, it would give the baby gas. But I ate like a pig and just dropped weight! My breasts never went back to their original size, like the books say, but hey...free boob job. Anyway, I'm glad I did. If you work, like I did, a breast pump (one of the electric ones) is a fantastic investment.

Answer 9

This depends on your own comfort level. Will you be comfortable breast feeding? Your discomfort effects your milk supply. I did not breast feed my first one because I was uncomfortable with it but as I got older I read the benefits nutrition wise of breast feeding so with my second I did it and now with my third as well. I am totally comfortable with it now. The breast milk contains antibodies that help baby when he/she gets sick or helps build up their immune system to prevent illness. Also there is nothing in breast milk that baby could be allergic to (providing you do not do drugs, drink, and smoke) So you need not worry about allergies. But you really do just need to decide with what would be more comfortable with you. Perhaps you would be happier as a pumping mom rather than nursing also.

Answer 10

I'm a dad, but I can share from my observations. My wife breast fed all 7 of our children (still nursing the 7th who just turned 1 year old). Nutritionally, you can't do anything better for them. You give them a complete protein that builds there immune system to the best it can be. There are all sorts of stats out there of the benefits, which include a higher IQ. Do some research. As far as for the Mom, the bonding is something my wife glows about. I think that the night nursings are a bit better too. No bottles to warm up (the sooner you can go back to bed). Of course, you can't share this chore! Anyway, hope this helps.

Answer 11

I breast fed my son, and it was great. Especially when he was a newborn. The first few times feeding, its a little akward, I found the football hold the easiest, but my baby was only 6lbs 5oz. Your nipples do get sore at first, just make sure you get the baby latched properly to minimise this, and the nursed in the hospital will help you, and they may even have a lactation consultant. After the first couple of days, when your nipples toughen up, it is totally comfortable. For me it was a great experience, however when my son was 6 months he sort of weined himself off, and because he wasn't nursing as much or as strong my mild dried up. We are TTC, and one of the things I look forward to the most is breatfeeding again. I hope to do it linger this time. Good luck.