Whats best for Mum is best for baby (The Breastfeeding Debate)

Member Name: AmandaB123

Product:	The Breastfeeding Debate
Date:	22/10/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: -

Disadvantages: -

Breast vs Bottle is such an old debate, and such an emotive subject. Look on any Mums forum and you will find massive debates going back and forth, and people get very upset about the whole subject, to the point that there are tears and tantrums.

I am one of four children, and we were all bottle fed, so this may have influenced my descision to bottle feed my first son. I was determined, and I suppose a little niave at 17 but I didnt want to get my breasts out in public, and the idea of a baby feeding on me felt a bit unnatural to me if im honest. My Mother-in-law was an extented breastfeeder and so she was absolutely horrified. I remember telling her I needed to buy a steraliser and she looked at me like I had just eaten my babies head and then exclaimed 'your not going to breastfeed!', and so this started the rift between us that hasnt healed to this day. This might have made me even more determined, but I knew the choices I had and I had made mine.

When my second son was born 6 years later I was a bit more openminded, so I decided to try Breastfeeding. Looking back now I dont think I was given alot of help and I didnt really know about latching positions. I thought that my son was doing in right but infact he wasnt, so I found it painful, plus he seemed to be feeding constantly. After three days, tired and emotional I sent my husband on a late saturday night dash around Nottingham to try and find some formula because I just couldnt take anymore. I was so stressed and he was probably feeling it.

I felt like such a failure. It was supposed to be a natural thing and I just couldnt do it.

When my Daughter was born I wanted to give it another go because I wanted to prove I could do it and that I wasnt a failure. With my Daughter I had lots of support while in hospital and then with the midwives who visited, and although it was very difficult at first, after about 10 days we settled in, she seemed to gain more of a routine and she got better at latching so I felt more relaxed with it, and it did become natural. I also lost a few of my inhabitions, so I even managed to breast feed on a bus. I continued until she was 11 months and then we seemed to get comments about when we were going to stop, so I could win - dont breastfeed at all and get judged, breastfeed too long and people treat you like a freak!

So I have managed to see both sides of the debate, and I am resolute in my opinion that whatever is best for the mother is best for the child. I know that breast milk is best for babies, and I do agree that breastfeeding is much simpler - no fussy bottles to get ready or worrying when you are out, and there are no costs to think about either, wheras formula can be expensive. But it can be stressful, and as one Midwife told me - you may have breastfed before, but your baby hasnt, so they have to get used to it, which can be very difficult, especially if you dont have the help or support you need.

I do firmly that babies get stressed if thier mother is stressed, and at such an emotional time that can lead to real problems.

Your baby, your descision!

Summary: -