Breast is best, but Bottles can be too
Jan 03 '01
I used to be considered a breastfeeding "Nazi". I was so proud of the fact that with my son, I was able to nurse with no problems for over a year. I told everyone I knew how wonderful breastfeeding was and how it really was the best choice for babies. I was so arrogant about my abilities. I even judged my son's cousin (5 weeks older) based on the feeding choices. All her ear aches and colds just had to be cause she was bottle fed, not because of living conditions etc.
Then I got a rude awakening 5 years later. My daughter was born. My big head got in the way and I suffered through 4 months of pure hell. Forget my suffering, my poor daughter was miserable. I tried everything! We watched my food. I cut out soda and chocolate. We tried a zillion trips to the Dr. While Emily was gaining weight, she was miserable.
We had her checked for ear infections, but there wasn't any. We tried putting her on a schedule, that didn't help. I contacted several breastfeeding groups on the net. All I got was that I wasn't trying hard enough and wasn't dedicated enough. I did not go to La Leche League because I was not that impressed with them when I had my son. I was so devestated and sleep deprived.
Finally my husband sat me down and said that we were going to have to try formula. I fought tooth and nail over his suggestion. He said that I wasn't helping Emily any. I was irritable, angry, short tempered and borderline out of control, not to mention lack of sleep. He asked me how I expected Emily to calm down when I couldn't. I agreed to giving her a small bottle of formula every now and then so that I could get some rest.
Her first feeding broke my heart. I sobbed the entire time. Emily on the other hand, gobbled down an entire bottle and slept for 4 hours straight for the first time in her 4 month life. I sat in a daze all afternoon, not knowing what to do. That evening I again tried the breast. Afterall it is the best. She was back to screaming and crying.
So I gave in and started her on formula. The change in my daughter was amazing. Even the Dr. noticed it. We cannot say for sure what exactly was wrong with breastfeeding this go round. All I know is that we were miserable and I probably prolonged the agony more than I needed.
A few months later a friend of mine had her baby. She also tried to breastfeed. Things didn't go well for them but she had run into a lady that gave her a suggestion I wish I had thought of, or that someone would have told me to do. This woman suggested pumping and "nursing" by giving the breastmilk in the bottle. Ok this might sound easy, but when you have had no sleep, a crying angry baby and a family/house to take care of you lose your brain.
Breastfeeding is best. Every mother should give it an honest try. But we also need to realise that because we have to give our children a bottle does not make us failures as mothers. Not every child will take to breastfeeding. I was more than happy to have a content bottlefed baby than to have an angry upset breastfed baby.
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Blackwid00
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