Got Milk?! (The Breastfeeding Debate)

Member Name: starfish2000

Product:	The Breastfeeding Debate
Date:	13/10/00 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: best for baby, easy, free

Disadvantages: none

Breastfeeding is wonderful!
I'm so glad I can say that, it is something I really really wanted to do so while I was pregnant I got as much information as I could about it. I read books written by brestfeeding mothers for breastfeeding mothers, with realistic and very helpful information, I spoke to women who had breastfed successfully and tried to ignore other women's horror stories (they love to exagerrate!)so by the time it came to doing it I felt prepared. I was also nervous... would it hurt? would I hate it? What if I just couldn't do it? Luckily my baby latched on right away and seemed to know exactly what to, I was helped by midwifes in the hospital to find the best position and it's been plain sailing ever since... It doesn't hurt at all, not even a bit, especially when the pain of childbirth is still fresh in your mind!!
It's really helped me bond with my baby and I love the fact that only I can feed her, it's a special time for us that noone else can have.
Personally I don't know why anyone would want the hassle of bottle feeding, when I see other mothers washing and steralising bottles, making up feeds, taking to time to heat them while their baby screams with hunger, I simply pop out a breast at the first signs of hunger (ie before she starts to cry) and get on with it, fast, easy and so much better for my baby. Ok I can't put my baby on a strict schedule like they can but I don't live by a schedule so why should I expect my baby to?!

People often talk about the advantages of breastfeeding, I think this attitude is wrong... breastfeeding should be seen as normal and rather than looking at the advantages of breastfeeding, we should really be talking about the disadvantages of bottle feeding. Formula milk is absolutely nothing like breast milk, whatever the formula companies say about how much their products have improved, breast milk is basically alive and unique to every woman, it changes from
feed to feed to suit baby's needs and no formula can copy that.

Another thing which is often talked about in relation to breastfeeding is guilt. Many women feel guilty when they stop breastfeeding for whatever reason, and many of those women blame other breastfeeding mothers, midwives and health visitors for making them feel guilty. I would say this, guilt comes from within and is caused by making a decision or doing something that deep down you know isn't the best. I don't believe that other people can make you feel guilty, they just remind you of your guilty feelings. I know that if I stopped breastfeeding my baby I would feel guilty and I think it would be important for me to acknowledge and accept that guilt, there's nothing wrong with feeling guilty. If you're feeling guilty about not breastfeeding many people will say 'don't feel guilty, you shouldn't feel guilty', I think feeling guilty is natural and I would say 'it's completely normal and ok to feel guilty'.

Breastfeeding is great and for those of you who think breastfed babies don't thrive, my baby born less than 2 weeks ago at 7 lb 13 oz is now a healthy 8 lb 8oz and growing bigger by the day!

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