So how do you intend to feed your baby? (The Breastfeeding Debate)

Member Name: NizPerson

Product:	The Breastfeeding Debate
Date:	07/03/09 (357 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Too many to list

Disadvantages: Difficult to establish

When the midwife asked me this question during a routine ante-natal visit, I was flummoxed. How do you feed a baby anyway? Through its mouth of course! It never occured to me that she was referring to breast or bottle, as it never occured to me that some people would choose not to breastfeed from the outset. In my defence, I had just arrived from Sri Lanka, where 72% of 18 month olds are still breastfed. Nobody asks you if you want to breastfeed, and I haven't known anyone who has not been able to breastfeed at all.

So is breast best? For me, yes, undoubtably it is. Why do I think so? Well first, let me tell you about my experiences with breastfeeding.

Disclaimer: I breastfed both my children until they self-weaned, the first at 18 months and the second at 23 months. So please take my words and advice as those of a mother who breastfed rather than a health professional.

First of all, it wasn't easy. I didn't know just how painful it was going to be. None of the books said anything about the toe curling pain and the dread I felt whenever it was time for a feed during those early weeks. I wish it didn't just gloss over the issue like that, just one book mentioned that "You might feel a piercing pain initially when you start to breastfeed" and that some deep breathing would help you with that. Yeah right! It would have been much more helpful for me to know that yes, it'll hurt like crazy, but that's normal and it will go away at some point. The second time over was equally as painful, if not more.


The Latch
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This is the single most important thing to get right when you breastfeed. The latch is EVERYTHING. For this you make sure that you have as much breast in the baby's mouth as possible, not only just the nipple. The best way is to wait until the baby's mouth is wide open when he/she is crying (and you won't have to wait long for that as every new mum knows!), and shove it in quickly! I know that sounds crazy but I found that that's the best way to get it right. Although the baby roots for the breast and will try to suckle by itself if allowed he/she often needs help in latching on right. If you're not sure if you're feeding right log on to the website of La Leche League. They have pictures and advice which are very useful.


How do you know you've got it right?
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I found that feeding should be painful only in the first minute or so that you start on each breast. After that there should be no pain, just the sensation of the baby suckling. Some women can feel the milk coursing through, some cannot. If you're in pain throughout the ENTIRE feed then you're probably not doing it right and need to review the latch.


How long does breastfeeding take to establish?
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This depends entirely on the mother and baby. With my first it took about 6 weeks. With my second she had a poor suck as a newborn and therefore took a couple of weeks longer. Once breastfeeding is established it will not feel like a chore, but hopefully the easiest and most natural thing in the world.


What about breastfeeding in public?
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This is not something that should put you off breastfeeding. If your baby needs feeding and you have to do it in public you can do it discreetly. No one may even realise that you're feeding, it just looks like a cuddle if you are discreet. I have breastfed for 37 months combined but I have never done it in public. So don't let that be a deciding factor for you.


What other problems should I expect?
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It is ironic that with so much money being spent on campaigns for promoting breastfeeding there are still a large number of women who feel pressure to not breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding. Don't worry about what your friends or family think is the right option or the right time to stop. Just go with what feels right for YOU.

Breastfeeding also has it's complications. Oversupply issues, undersupply, mastitis, embarrassing leaks etc. Try to feed when your baby wants to instead of sticking to a time table, I found that this was the best way to make just the right amount of milk and avoid the problems.


What if you can't feed, or what if you don't want to?
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Unfortunately there is no universal consensus when it comes to parenting decisions. No one is going to agree with everything you do with your children - whether it be feeding, discipline, religion or whatever. Do what is right for you and your family, don't feel guilty or be pressured into justifying your decisions to others. I think more education is needed as to why some women cannot breastfeed and why some women choose not to, so that these women don't feel judged by society.


Why is breast best?
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For me, it's very simple. It's not about the scientific evidence of how it protects both baby and mother. It's not even the anecdotal evidence that I see around me. I can just google pages of information about the benefits of breastfeeding and post it here, but I think everyone is aware of them these days. For me the evidence is more emotive. Here is a live fluid, coming from the same host that nourished the baby for nine months. When the baby is born and you hold it against your heart for the first time, it roots around for the nourishment that it recognises even before the first taste. Within the first few days you start to notice that whenever the baby cries, even if they are not in sight, your body starts to produce milk. Therefore it just seems logical to me, even without the medical facts, that breast is best.

Both my daughters had a kind of an "anticipatory pant" when it was time to breastfeed. When they got to around 6 months they'd kick their legs and start bouncing in delight when it was time for a feed. They are 6 and 2 now and I have not yet come across any type of food that they are that enthusiastic about!

Summary: Well worth the effort