Bottle feeding vs. breast feeding—what are your thoughts on which way to go? Is it really that much healthier to breast feed, and if you do, do you feel cheated because you are the one who has to get up each night?
Jenny Wescoat
I have breast fed all of my kids for about 15 months each. Lots of studies back up breast feeding as the healthier alternative, but I also think that maybe all that information has put a lot of moms who don't breast feed in the position of feeling guilty if it didn't work out for them. I felt very committed to it, but formula now given to babies is also so much healthier than it used to be.
I don't mind getting up at night very much. My husband has always been a little envious of my getting to carry the baby in pregnancy and having feeding pretty much cornered at first, so I don't feel like it's something I got stuck doing. Besides, once I had my second, the nighttime feedings have felt like the only opportunity I get to have the newborn all to myself. It's a short, sweet time in their lives. Not that I don't cheer the first time I wake up and realize we slept all night... But, there's no way around teaching a baby to sleep, so you might as well find things you like about it.
What I don't like about breast feeding is my kids' ability to spit up so much that I always look like someone threw a bucket of milk at my clothes. I was only familiar with cute, dribbling spit-up before I had my first, and had no idea what such tiny people were capable of producing. We recently bought a couch, but with number four on the way, we bought leather because every time I looked at upholstery, all I could picture was spit-up splotches all over the couch.
Jennifer AuBuchon
I honestly have come to believe that whatever will work best for the mom/family is ultimately what's best for the child. Having a newborn is such a stressful time (joyful and amazing time, but stressful nonetheless), that having to feel guilt over your decision to bottle or breast feed is an unnecessary pressure on new moms.
Of course new moms want to do what's best for their child. However, there are always factors that make a certain decision better for some than others. I had hoped to breast feed both my children, and did for a time. My daughter was 5 1/2 weeks early however, which set her up for a disadvantage. Though I pumped and they gave her my milk in the NICU, she was never a good "nurser" so to speak and we always had to supplement with formula anyway. After 6 or 8 weeks, we decided that we'd switch entirely to bottles.
My son was a little easier. I probably nursed for 3 or 4 months with him. At the risk of oversharing, I don't think all moms have the same quality of milk. Friends of mine who nursed looked like they were giving their babies heavy cream when their milk was in a bottle. It looked like I was serving up skim. Needless to say, I don't think it was as nourishing or filling, so ultimately we switched with my son as well.
My brother, who is an OBGYN, had no problem with his wife bottle feeding when they had their children either. It worked best for their family, which is ultimately what is most important!
Samantha Goswami
Bottle or breast feeding is a tough choice for some. For me it was. I do agree that breast feeding has its benefits but with me going back to work at 8 weeks for both kids. I decided formula was the way to go after I got back to work. I do feel like the breast feeding was putting more stress on me than I needed. It was definitely easier on me since both the kids were at day care. I did most of the night feedings anyway and it was fine while I was home to do so. I don’t believe bonding is any less if you do not breast feed your child.
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