There are lots of decisions to make when there's a baby on the way. One
of the most controversial is the ever raging "breast or bottle" debate.
There are many people who have strong feelings on both sides of this
issue, and many of them will try like a televangelist to get you on
their side. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to give you the facts,
and share some personal insight on the subject, which hopefully will
leave you feeling good, whatever your choice.
Scientifically,
breast milk is best. There are nutrients in breast milk that help your
child's brain develop, and try as they might, formula makers cannot
replicate these nutrients. Breastfeeding protects your child from
illnesses because, as long as he or she is nursing, they are protected
by your immune system, which is much more developed than theirs. Breast
milk is very well tolerated by babies, and hardly ever causes gastric
problems, and breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight.
But,
realistically, the scientific facts are not the only things to be
considered. Women who simply don't want to breastfeed will probably not
be very successful. Even some women who want to breastfeed will find it
so difficult, that they are miserable trying to make it work. Some women
will have difficulty making enough milk to satisfy their baby's hunger,
and some women will suffer more pain with breastfeeding than they can
endure. If you fall into one of those categories, don't beat yourself
up. Your baby can do quite nicely on formula, too.
When my
daughter was born, I was anxious to breastfeed. I had two boys, but one
is my husband's by a previous marriage, and the other was adopted at ten
months, so this was my only chance to be pregnant and breastfeed. I
read all the books I could get my hands on, and like a fool, spent a
bunch of money on a breast pump.
Well, it turns out that my nipples are not exactly a matched
set, so my daughter completely rejected one nipple. So, I nursed on the
side she would take until my nipples looked like ground beef. Plus, she
was an eight pound eating machine at birth, and no matter how long I
nursed her, I couldn't satisfy her appetite. Even with pumping from the
breast that she rejected, she was always hungry. I made myself crazy
from it, worked with two different lactation consultants and tried every
trick in the book, but still every attempt at nursing ended in tears.
After two miserable weeks, I gave in and put her on formula. We have
never looked back. I was happier because I wasn't constantly frustrated,
and she was happier because her tummy was full and because her Mommy
was much more relaxed.
Now that I've told you that story, I'll
tell you this. If I ever had another baby, I would try breastfeeding
again. Every baby is different, and a Mother's body is different with
each pregnancy. I would try again to give my child the best from a
nutritional standpoint. But, I understand now that sometimes it just
doesn't work, or it isn't right for you, and that doesn't mean that
you're not a good Mom.
Breast or bottle is a personal choice.
Weigh the facts and the preferences, and make the choice that is right
for you and your baby. Whatever you decide, you don't owe anyone an
explanation.
No comments:
Post a Comment