what are your views on breastfeeding?? help please!?

Question

im really iffy about breastfeeding.. its just i dont see myself being able to do it in public and after i have the baby i am going to get back on medicine that i take the doc. says that it is ok to breastfeed while on the medicine but i am still not to sure.
what are the pros and cons of breastfeeding and what are the pros and cons of formula

Answer 1

I did not breast feed. I decided that the cons out weighed the pros. I know that with breast feeding it helps you lose the baby fat, and the baby could potentially be healthier. But if you are a drinker, you won't be able to that. I was on several medications that were not safe for breast feeding. There is also the factor that you have a limited amount of choices for birth control while breast feeding. And also if you are a mom that is going back to work soon, you may find it hard to get him to take a bottle while you are at work. With formula if you give them the extra iron types, then there is no lack of that. I guess the cons of formula may be that you have to mix it and that could be a hassle if you are not at home. I have had no problems with formula so far and my son is 14 months old. In my opinion, I say if you are having doubts about breast feeding then go with formula. But whichever you choose, best of luck to you!

Answer 2

Well you've gotten a lot of advice about the pros and cons of both, but I just wanted to add my two cents.
I felt the same way as you do about breastfeeding at first. For some reason I felt really uncomfortable with the whole idea of it, and at one point I decided on formula. But after continuously reading about all of the great things about breastfeeding I decided that if there was no reason why I couldn't do it, there was no reason why I shouldn't try. After I made that decision I started to feel better about it, and now I think I'll be really disappointed if for some reason I can't breastfeed. I don't think I'll ever be comfortable breastfeeding in public either (not that there's anything wrong with it) but there's always the option of pumping and bringing it with you if the baby will take the bottle. If breastfeeding just doesn't work for you then you can switch to formula.
If your doctor said you can still breastfeed while on your medication then it's probably fine. You could always get a second opinion about it if you're not satisfied.

Answer 3

First of all, doctors are very cautious about medicines while breastfeeding, so if your doc say it's O.K, then you should trust this information.

You don't have to breastfeed in public because there are mother and baby rooms in many places. But I breastfed in public and nobody said anything. The big advantage of breastfeeding is the freedom it gives you. You can go anywhere and not bother about bottles etc. And you are spared a lot of work making up bottles of formula, and it's free. You save so much money.

I can't see any cons, but if you don't want to breastfeed, you will almost certainly fail at it. It's not difficult, but you will see difficulties if you don't want to do it.

Breastfeeding is definitely better for the baby, but formula is a lot better than it used to be and resembles breastmilk more closely.

Answer 4

I can only share my experience. First baby is 5 mos old. Between breastfeeding and walking many days a week, I was down to my pre-baby weight by 3 mos. There is no experience I have ever had like breastfeeding. I'm a type-A career woman who had to S L O W way down to focus and relax and take time with my son to breastfeed. Although it is not always convenient nor ideal, it is WONDERFUL. I can kind of compare it to the feeling I get when I cook healthy meals for my hubby and 11 year old step daughter. I love knowing I'm doing the very best thing I can for my son's health and nutrition. The bonding experience has been, overall, out of this world. Not every time, but collectively, it's been amazing. You just have to "own" it...if you decide to do it, take charge and make it work for you. Breastfeed in the car before running errands, etc. I suggest that you owe it to your baby and yourself to give it a very devoted effort for 2-3 months and if you want to give it up then, do so. That way, you are making an informed decision. Otherwise, you can't do formula for 2-3 months and then "switch" to breastfeeding. It's a once in a lifetime chance to experience one of the most amazing things you can as a woman.. why not try? :) Good luck!

Answer 5

Shera O, it is simply ridiculous that you say america's problems stem from not breastfeeding. America is the fattest country because most of the people here eat like pigs (compared to the rest of the world), and have large portions of everything (compared to the rest of the world), and don't excercise often-- not because we weren't breastfed!

I think breastfeeding is a wonderful thing to do. It is very healthy, with numerous benefits to both baby and mother. It passes on important immunities to the baby, contains things that help the babies brain develop, provides all the nutrients the baby needs, it helps mommy's uterus shrink down to original size, helps her burn extra calories, lowers her chance of certain kinds of cancer, it's FREE, and it is an amazing bonding time for mother and child (if you let it be). If the baby is hungry, all you have to do is lift up that shirt and latch. This would be great at night, because you wouldn't have to get out of bed to prepare a bottle-- just latch the baby on and drift back to sleep. It's hard to think of downsides-- but I guess "downsides" some people might give you are that it can hurt and be a real struggle at first, or that it would be nice to have daddy be able to feed the baby every once in awhile (although the dad can feed the baby if you pump). If you aren't comfortable breastfeeding in public, most places have rooms where mothers can go to feed their children. Or you could use a blanket to cover up. You can always pump and put the milk in a bottle before you go out, too.

The biggest downside to formula is that it isn't AS healthy-- it's healthy enough that a bay can still grow up healthy and happy, but it's not anywhere close to as good as breastmilk. It's also very expensive, even if you use generic store brands.There's also the fact that formula fed babies tend to be gassier and constipated more often. And you have to prepare the bottles, which could be a big pain when it's 3 in the morning and you have a crying, screaming baby waiting for food. I guess some upsides to formula are that daddy/baby's siblings can help with feedings, you don't have to worry about pumping if you go out for the night and leave your baby with a sitter, and you don't have to be as careful with your diet (what you eat does not go directly into the milk, but there are some babies that are sensitive to certain foods the mother might eat, so the mother has to cut that food out of her diet. Most BFing mommies don't mind having to do this though, if they have to).

I encourage you to try breastfeeding. It's a lot easier to try breastfeeding and switch to formula, then to start on formula then try to re-lactate. Formula is a good choice, but breastfeeding is the BEST choice. If you try it, it might be hard at first, but stick with it! Many of the reasons women quite breastfeeding are problems that can easily be fixed, so don't give up unless you are positive it is the best thing for you and your baby. However, if you try and breastfeeding doesn't pan out for you, don't beat yourself up too much-- your baby benefited from what breastmilk it did get and formula is a good way to feed a baby too. Just remember that the most important thing is that your baby is fed.

Also, if you do decide to go ahead and try breastfeeding, educate yourself now as much as you can on breastfeeding. The more you know, the higher your chances of success.

Answer 6

When I started breastfeeding it only lasted for about a month and then I quit because it just seemed like neither of us were getting the hang of it. My nipples hurt so bad I cried and it seemed like she wasn't getting enough milk. After three weeks of formula with a gassy, unhappy baby I went to a lactation consultant and she helped me get back to nursing. My daughter is almost a year old and we are still going. The beginning is rough, but think about the lifelong advantages you are giving your child. What a wonderful way to start your life. It's also an important bonding point--my daughter and I are connected at the brain, I swear!! Here's the pros of nursing from my perspective:
1. You don't have to get up and prepare a bottle. My husband brings her to me from her crib and she nurses on my left side so she can go back to sleep safely inbetween us. (Co-sleeping is sometimes frowned upon, however I feel she is old enough that there won't be any suffocation problems--plus I am a light sleeper). We can all just pass right back out, no mess, no fuss.
2. No packing formula stuff for short or long trips. All you need is you.
3. No having to buy formula at $20/can.
4. As soon as we picked up nursing again, Lila's upset stomach and stinky farts (lol) went away. Breastmilk is easier to digest for them.
5. You lose weight!!! Plus it's an excuse to eat like a queen.
6. You will bond with your baby so quickly and closely, it's the best feeling in the world.
I understand your nervousness about nursing in public. Just throw a blanket over your shoulder and your baby and go at it. Breastfed babies have the same rights as formula fed, they can eat when and where they want. It's not as big of a deal to everyone around you as it is to you. After almost a whole year of nursing when she was hungry regardless of where we were I got one strange look, and who cares anyways?
Also--buy a breast pump if you want other people to feed your baby.

Answer 7

Breast feeding for me has been a very positive experience. My daughter had problems in the beginning, then I went to a Breast Feeding Clinic and they helped me out a whole bunch. And I was never unable to nurse in public. Seriously, how many people eat in public every day? Your baby needs to eat, its just like take out. It may be your breasts, but there are ways that you can cover up. It is no reason not to nurse your baby period. And there are private places that you can nurse too. I nursed my daughter every where, even on the bus. Personally for me, my daughter being fed was far more important to me then nursing in a public place. It didn't bother me one bit. I wouldn't just whip out a boob, but I would nurse her discreetly. And I was on birth control and did enjoy some drinking, while nursing.
Now my son is here and he is 8 days old. I can't nurse him for a week, due to some medication that I am on, for an infection in my Uterus. And I have to pump. I really miss being able to nurse him. I miss the closeness, the great feeling I get when I look down and see him eating the milk that I am producing for him. I know the benefits of nursing. My daughter is a huge proof of that. I love nursing. I just love it so much. It is me and my son's time together, that really we can only share.
Formula is expensive and a pain in the a**. Your always heating and cleaning. At odd hours. Its really nice to just nurse. Its always available, and the perfect temp.
Seriously, go with breastfeeding. You can be on birth control, have a few drinks, ect. And it will be better for your baby.

Answer 8

Breastfeeding is convientant, and of course free, and it's believed to be better overall for baby. Formula is expensive if you can't get on WIC, however, a baby on formula needs to be fed less often (3-4 hours versus 2-3 hours), which may not seem like a big deal, but at 3am can make a world of difference.

Don't let anyone tell you that you NEED to breastfeed your child. You don't. Your baby will not be fat, stupid, or deprived if you don't breastfeed him. He will be perfectly FINE.

That being said, it's definitely worth a shot. It's always a good idea to give it a try, and if after that, you feel it's just not for you and your baby, then that's FINE. :) Good luck.

Answer 9

I breastfed my baby, but am not a nazi about it. I think it's great if you can do it. If you can't it's okay, too. I really think that it's important to try if you at all can. You may find that doing it in public isn't as bad as you thought it would be (or you may get creative like I did and breastfeed in the dressing room at Walmart!)

Give it a shot. If it works, great. If not, at least you tried.

Answer 10

Breast milk has the perfect blend of nutrients that your baby needs, however many babies are bottle fed with formula and turn out just fine. Do whatever works best for you and your situation and never let anyone give you a guilt trip either way. One benefit to bottle feeding... Daddy is perfectly capable to help with midnight feedings.