Breast Or Bottle - Which Is Right For You
There are lots of decisions to make when there's a baby on the
way. One of the most controversial is the ever raging "breast or
bottle" debate. There are many people who have strong feelings
on both sides of this issue, and many of them will try like a
televangelist to get you on their side. I'm not going to do
that. I'm going to give you the facts, and share some personal
insight on the subject, which hopefully will leave you feeling
good, whatever your choice.
Scientifically, breast milk is best. There are nutrients in
breast milk that help your child's brain develop, and try as
they might, formula makers cannot replicate these nutrients.
Breastfeeding protects your child from illnesses because, as
long as he or she is nursing, they are protected by your immune
system, which is much more developed than theirs. Breast milk is
very well tolerated by babies, and hardly ever causes gastric
problems, and breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight.
But, realistically, the scientific facts are not the only things
to be considered. Women who simply don't want to breastfeed will
probably not be very successful. Even some women who want to
breastfeed will find it so difficult, that they are miserable
trying to make it work. Some women will have difficulty making
enough milk to satisfy their baby's hunger, and some women will
suffer more pain with breastfeeding than they can endure. If you
fall into one of those categories, don't beat yourself up. Your
baby can do quite nicely on formula, too.
When my daughter was born, I was anxious to breastfeed. I had
two boys, but one is my husband's by a previous marriage, and
the other was adopted at ten months, so this was my only chance
to be pregnant and breastfeed. I read all the books I could get
my hands on, and like a fool, spent a bunch of money on a breast
pump.
Well, it turns out that my nipples are not exactly a matched
set, so my daughter completely rejected one nipple. So, I nursed
on the side she would take until my nipples looked like ground
beef. Plus, she was an eight pound eating machine at birth, and
no matter how long I nursed her, I couldn't satisfy her
appetite. Even with pumping from the breast that she rejected,
she was always hungry. I made myself crazy from it, worked with
two different lactation consultants and tried every trick in the
book, but still every attempt at nursing ended in tears. After
two miserable weeks, I gave in and put her on formula. We have
never looked back. I was happier because I wasn't constantly
frustrated, and she was happier because her tummy was full and
because her Mommy was much more relaxed.
Now that I've told you that story, I'll tell you this. If I ever
had another baby, I would try breastfeeding again. Every baby is
different, and a Mother's body is different with each pregnancy.
I would try again to give my child the best from a nutritional
standpoint. But, I understand now that sometimes it just doesn't
work, or it isn't right for you, and that doesn't mean that
you're not a good Mom.
Breast or bottle is a personal choice. Weigh the facts and the
preferences, and make the choice that is right for you and your
baby. Whatever you decide, you don't owe anyone an explanation.