My mum really gets on my tits about it. (The Breastfeeding Debate)

Member Name: upsykimsy

Product:	The Breastfeeding Debate
Date:	03/01/09 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free, always available, raises IQ, protects against cancer (in the mother) contains antibodies

Disadvantages: Busybodies who find it offensive, and mastitis if you're unlucky enough to get it.

We read about it everywhere. Breast is best. Raises IQ, creates a bond, so many positives.

Unfortunately, they don't warn you about the anti breast feeding brigade. When my mother asked which milk I'd be using, when I was preparing for my son's birth, I told her, "I'm planning on breastfeeding." Straight away, her jaw dropped. "Why put yourself through that?"

My mother raised her eldest two children during the late 60's. Bottle-feeding seemed to be the in thing. By the time my sister had er child, Mum had already pushed the view onto her that breastfeeding was "repulsive" and "something that should only ever be done in private". So of course, my sister went on to bottle feed all three of her children.

I tried explaining the benefits of breastfeeding to Mum, and got dismissed as "being brainwashed by the midwives". Luckily, she managed to keep her mouth firmly shut while I was breastfeeding up the hospital. To the point that my poor father didn't realise I was feeding, and camera in hand, videod it. Of course, I was still exhausted from labour and didn't realise until a DVD landed on my doorstep a week later. Not only had he videod it, he'd also copied it to several DVD's and sent it to everyone in the family.

I had no problems breastfeeding my son to start with. Except for the constant pressure to move him onto bottles from Mum. Luckily, I became a dab hand at ignoring her, and tuning in again just as she was starting to talk about something else. when my son was 4 weeks old, however, he became colicky. I panicked, afraid he wasn't getting enough - something my mum had told me would be happening all along. On arrival, the health visitor (my godsend) weighed him, and pointed out he was still on the 98th centile. His weight hadn't dropped and all he needed was infacol.

When he was 3 months old, I contracted mastitis. This is where a milk duct becomes blocked and then infected. My temperature went sky high, but I felt freezing. My left boob felt like glass, and the agony I was in all over was horrendous. In desperation to not feel so much pain, I tried my son with a bottle, and with no luck. It turns out the fact he continued breastfeeding throughout that time helped the mastitis. By the time I could get to see a doctor, the symptoms had disappeared. My health visitor was in disbelief. "I've never seen someone get rid of the symptoms without treatment before." The doctor explained that he doubted it was anything else, because of the symptoms I had.

When he was 4 months old, I started weaning my son, very gradually, onto solids. He was only lasting 70 minutes between feeds and had started waking again at night. 8 months on and he's still a good eater. when he was 6 months old, we took him out to Cyprus to see my parents. All would have ben well, had it not been for my mother again. Everytime I wanted to feed him, she'd tut, sigh and insist I went somewhere where I wouldn't be seen to feed. Luckily, I found a saviour in a local waitress, when my mother asked if "I could use the toilet to feed my son," I got up to leave the cafewhen the waitress jumped to my defence. "Why would she need to do that? The baby needs to eat too". But on other occassion, I got shooed to the car, or the guest room in their villa. By the third day of our trip, I was begging my partner to find a way of us getting home then.

I still get the occassional comment from my mum and my sister in law (my sister and I aren't on talking terms full stop), especially with regards to the fact my sister in law and my brother are getting married next year. I get the whole "you can't breastfeed him at the wedding". In all honesty, I'd planned to have weaned him off the breast by then, but now my partners suggesting I continue, even if it's just to rile the bottle brigade.

I'd never criticise anyone for bottle-feeding. I've been criticised for my coices in feeding my son and it sent me to the brink of depression at some points. But now, I've read into the facts. It creates a stronger bond, provides protection against allergies and eczema, contains antibodies, lowers the risk of cancer, and best of all, it's nearly always availabe.

No-one should ever be criticised for how they feed the child, as long as the child is getting the nutrition they need. So breast or bottle, it's down to you. I just hope your family support you.

Summary: Just do what feels right for you, be it breast or bottle.