breastfeeding?

Question

pros and cons

Answer 1

I've been breastfeeding for 9 months now, and counting. I've done tons of research on breastfeeding and I suggest you do the same.
There are no "real" cons to breastfeeding. For every con someone suggests there is a solution. You CAN breastfeed and go to work. You CAN breastfeed and get out of the house without baby. You CAN breastfeed period!! There are too many benefits to name, but I will name my favorite.
When you have a child, and you are a good parent, you want what's best for your baby, no matter what the sacrifices are. Breastfeeding is the ONLY normal, healthy nutrition for your baby. Formula is far far less. So, the decision should be easy.

Here is a website that names 101 reasons to breastfeed. It is great!

Answer 2

The only cons are sometimes they eat more often, but only when they are newborns, if your shy you may be uncomfortable in public (just throw a blanket over you) you have to watch what you eat but its not hard to figure out, just limit caffeine and anything gassy (beans, broccoli)

The pros: first and most importantly It is the best nutrition you could possibly give your baby! No formula can compare. Its a bonding experience, its free, you dont have to get up at night and make bottles, you dont have to fuss with bottles at all, when you go out you dont have to pack, formula, bottles, worry about boiling etc. It burns about 300 calories a day, they dont get sick as much, they dont get as much gas from getting air in the bottles, Im sure theres more but I cant think right now.
The pros win by a long shot! If you are considering, they have some good books and you can take breastfeeding classes or talk to a lactation consultant.
P.S. I never had any pain after the first day or so

Answer 3

pros= that's what we were given boobs for, technically, so we were meant to breastfeed...as long as you eat right, breastmilk is the ultimate best nutrition for your child...less gassy than formula...FREE FREE FREE....she started sleeping through the night early...no having to get up in the middle of the night and grope around for water and formula and heat it up so that by the time you finish feeding the baby, you're wide awake...i lost about 20 lbs (not kidding) from breastfeeding for a whole year...

cons= the only con i know is the unbearable pain you feel for the first several weeks...but the pain does go away and you can always toughen up your nipples before so it doesn't hurt at all...if your baby's allergic to something you eat (which is usually your favorite food), you have to stop eating it...but it's only for a little while...so you see, there really aren't any cons...

let me just tell you that as much as it hurt, breastfeeding gave me a bond with my daughter that no one else could have...anyone can bottlefeed a child...not just anyone can breastfeed...it was the best time of my life!!! she and i are so very close and have an incredible relationship...she's healthy...

in terms of pumping milk...i basically just pumped 1/2 hour after she ate (that's how long it takes for your boobs to fill up again), so i didn't engorge and i had plenty of frozen breast milk for when i went out...if you use formula, you will always have to find some way of heating up the water first...with breastmilk, you can heat it up before you leave...

Answer 4

Everyone seems to have covered the pros (healthy, cheaper, bonding, convenient, etc etc.)

So here's some cons:

Not good for baby if you are a heavy drinker, as in alcoholic not a glass of wine with dinner drinker.

Not good for baby if you are a hardcore drug user (cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, etc.). Prescriptions, if taken as prescribed less often than not do not affect milk. Unless it's birth control, then it may dry up your supply.

Your sex drive may be decreased, you may experience dryness "down there."

Hard to do if you're constantly on the run, and don't like to have to stop for up to an hour as frequently as every hour, and can be bad for the baby if you make him/her "wait" till you get home, feel like stopping for a feed and suchforth.

Not pleasant if you develop some weird condition like Raynaud's of the Nipples or something.

But really, it's hard to find cons... And just a side note, if you smoke cigarettes, breastfeeding is still better for your baby than formula... Just try to smoke after feeding not during or before.

Answer 5

the only cons would be the fact that you have to do every feed so need to be around all the time, unless you use a breast pump. also, it is quite difficult initially.
the pros are obviously the huge benefits to baby, the fact that it costs nothing, once you do get it worked out, it is a really nice experience for you and baby. it is also very easy and you don't need to worry about making up bottles and sterilising etc etc it also helps the mother recover from labour faster and may help you lose baby weight quickly too. from my experience, the pros definitely outweigh the cons!

Answer 6

No matter how you look at it, breastfeeding is the best feeding alternative to keep your child healthy and
strong. Breast milk, according to the experts, contains proteins, fats, and antibodies that help protect your child
from infection and disease. It also provides your child with enzymes that help with his or her digestion.
Yet no matter how long the list of benefits is, there are still some mothers who can not do it because of time
constraints or low milk production. Others combine formula feeding and breast milk. There are no disadvantages to
breastfeeding. Rather, there are factors that may prevent some mothers from breastfeeding. Here are several of
the Pros and cons of breastfeeding:
PROS:
1. Breast milk contains such nutrients as vitamins, minerals, and an enzyme that aids in digestion and prevents
diarrhea.
2. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off infections like otitis media and respiratory problems like
meningitis and bronchitis. It has been found to reduce the incidence and intensity of atopic diseases. Babies who
breastfeed tend to suffer from colds less frequently and have fewer incidents of colic.
3. Breastfeeding protects babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as sepsis in pre-term babies.
4. Breast milk is free -- you save a lot of money not having to buy formula.
5. The high protein content of breast milk aids in the development of the baby's brain and may led to higher IQ (as
mentioned by a study which claims that breastfeeding can add as much as eight more points to the baby's IQ).
6. Breastfeeding helps moms lose weight and get back to their pre-pregnancy size.
7. Breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mother and baby
8. Breastfeeding lowers the mother's risk of developing pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer.
9. Breast milk protects children from developing food allergies.
10. Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size.
11. Breastfeeding is effective in combating postpartum depression
12. Breastmilk is convenient and readily available
CONS:
1. Blood-borne viruses and diseases like Hepatitis B and HIV can sometimes be passed on from parent to child
through breast milk. It is important that mothers have a thorough check-up prior to breastfeeding.
2. Babies who breastfeed need to be fed more frequently than those who drink formula.
3. Pumping milk can be difficult and sometimes painful. It requires somewhat expensive pumps and numerous
bottles.
4. Breastfeeding can occasionally be painful for the mother. A few women develop wounds and soreness on their
nipples due to the baby's strong sucking reflex.
5. Babies who breastfeed sleep for shorter periods of time than babies on formula.
6. There are times when a mother just doesn't produce enough milk. Some mothers produce less milk than others.
This is why there are mothers who opt to combine breast- and formula feeding.
It is clear that, nutritionally speaking, breastmilk is best for your child. Unfortunately, while breastfeeding is ideal, it
is not something that some mothers can do. Examine your options carefully when deciding between breastfeeding
and formula feeding, and get advice from a physician or a lactation consultant. Ultimately, only you know which choice
is best for you.

Answer 7

Breastfeeding is the best thing you can give your baby. Its completly natural so baby's have less digestive problems. It naturally gives babies all the nutrients they need. Besides the feeding benefits for your baby, through breastfeeding the two of you get to share in this amazing bonding experience. Besides that, one great benefit for mom is that it helps to shed babyweight from the pregnancy. Also, it is so convenient when going out...no need to worry about bulky bottles, formula, water to mix the formula, etc. With breastfeeding you already have all the supplies you need!

Answer 8

it's all pros. Good for the baby and great bonding time for you and your child. The only con is a lot of pain for about the first pain. but good creams and a little sucking up gets you through it. After that it's a breeze and a good experience.

Answer 9

PROS: nothing to cleen up.
nothing to get around.
can pump to have mom's milk if you can't be there.
CONS: If you want baby to have fress you arthe only one.
Might be hard to do when in public.
You tend to leak when you hear a baby cry.
Must take care of what you eat.
Have to pump for when you can't be there.

Answer 10

Well, my daughter was not breastfed and she turned out to be the healthiest of them all. My middle son was breast fed and he has asthma terribly, and my third son was not breast fed and he has asthma as well, along with ear infections. So not sure which is really better for them. I know that you should stick with iron fortified formula if you choose that route, unless the doctor says that they should not be on it,.