Breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, what I've learned.
Nov 13 '00 (Updated Nov 15 '00)
Especially with all of the press it's been receiving, the choice to breast or formula feed your infant is one most expectant mothers have to consider today. As those of you who have read some of my other reviews know, I am not militant in any of my beliefs, as I don't believe that many issues are truly black and white. But I am more than willing to share my opinion or Epinion on the subject!
I must begin by saying that I have two children, both girls, Alexandria (Alex) who will be three this week, and Zoe who is 16 months. Alex was formula fed, and Zoe was and still is breastfed. Having said this, I whole-heartedly believe that the breast is definitely the best. I feel that since I have experienced both sides of the issue, I speak with some more knowledge and creedence than some others may have.
I hope to share some things that I have learned with you that you may pass on to a woman you know faced with some of the same situations as I encountered.
When I decided to breastfeed my first child, I did so with some preconceived notions which only diminished the enjoyment and succeeded in making the process more difficult. My first problem was thinking that since breastfeeding is the natural thing to do, then it should be easy. Well, it's not!
I have never been more depressed, agitated, or broken-hearted than the first six weeks after my first daughter's birth. Not only was I dealing with becoming a mother for the first time, a death in the family, the holidays, and postpartum depression, I was having the most difficult time getting her to nurse! Here are some of the things I learned to starting a successful nursing experience.
Nurse that baby as soon as possible and preferably before anyone gives him or her a bottle!
After some complications and a long labor, Alex was brought into the world at 12:21am on November 16th. I was exhausted, drowsy from the narcotics, and still reeling from the thought of it all. After being checked out in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), because of some of the complications) they brought her to me. They asked if I wanted to nurse her or give her a bottle so that they could check her glucose. I tried to nurse her. She just wouldn't latch on. She was still drowsy, irritated from being poked and prodded, and I wasn't in much better spirits. After only a couple of tries, I gave up and fed her the bottle.
Oh do I wish the nurses had warned me! Alex truly was a lazy sucker. She didn't want to work at all. When I tried to nurse, she would scream and rear back if she didn't get milk right away. It was only later that I realized she was suffering from nipple confusion. I might add that I did have a wonderful lactation consultant, who helped me the first two days. Once I got home I thought I could do it on my own. Boy was I wrong!
Your nipples have to stick out some to nurse I know, this is kind of graphic, but it's a fact! Part of the Alex's problem was that my nipples weren't erect enough for her to feel and latch on to properly. Once again, kind of graphic, but pinching them (softly please!) or rubbing them with ice can help. Another solution is to use the breast shells for a few days. I didn't have these offered to me, but a friend who had the same problem said they solved it for her.
Don't count on pumping to tell you how much milk you really have!
Because Alex was not nursing well, I just assumed that I didn't have enough milk. I thought pumping would give me a good idea what I was producing. So after pumping for a full 30 minutes and getting less than an ounce, I was convinced I had to supplement. My body just wasn't working! Wrong! The breast is made to work best in conjunction with the suckling mouth of an infant. Not only does your baby suck, but her tongue and roof of her mouth massage the milk down and out, as well. I nursed Zoe with no supplements for 4 months and she grew like a weed! Not to mention my nightgowns and shirts were soaked half of the time with all of the extra.
RELAX!!!
If you aren't relaxed, your baby will sense that. Especially if you have a high-strung child like my Alex, you will need to keep yourself as calm as possible. Latching on the first few weeks is a learning experience for both of you. It may take several times to get it right, and it may be painful. Keep in mind that both of these things work themselves out as you both learn what you are doing. Other than Zoe using my nipple as a teething ring a couple of times here recently, there was no pain in nursing after the first two weeks. Her mouth was big enough to latch on properly, and your nipples do toughen up a little.
Some of the benefits I have enjoyed from nursing Zoe.
Talk about a money saver!
With formula a whopping $11 a can for the least expensive powdered variety, breastfeeding is a life-saver! Other than keeping up with your vitamins and a few extra calories a day, your cost is none! I can't tell you how much we saved in this way alone. No bottles, no nipples, no liners, amd no bottled water. I think I only had to buy two boxes of breast pads the entire time. That in total came to less than $10!
No preparation necessary!
I hated getting up in the middle of the night and making a bottle for Alex when she was a baby. By the time I got up and made it, then fed her and burped her, and cleaned up her puke (which she got everywhere), I was up at least 45 minutes once or twice a night. With Zoe on the other hand, I laid down on the couch or in bed with her, let her get started and dozed off. I woke up enough to burp her a little and roll over to switch sides. I was awake maybe 10 minutes during the whole thing. And packing the diaper bag is so much easier. You don't have to determine how long you will be gone, or think about how you will warm the bottle. You are your own cow! Sorry, I couldn't resist!
You get to enjoy some extra time together.
With a new baby around everyone wants to hold her and play with her. You are pretty tired from lack of sleep and the physical strain of labor and recovery. Nursing is a wonderful "excuse" to get some much needed rest and private time. I, personally, nursed just about anytime and anyplace, but it was always nice to be able to take my baby back into my arms and get away with her alone after a long day of visiting. Plus, that wonderful hormone that your body releases as the milk lets down makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. I don't think I stayed completely awake while nursing Zoe a single time during the first few months.
You lose weight more quickly!
Other than a couple of pounds that your body retains for nursing purposes, you lose weight so much more quickly. With both girls I was back to pre-pregnancy weight within two weeks! What a plus!
The baby has a stronger immune system.
Alex had her first cold by the time she was three months old. Zoe lasted until she was nine months old. Even when Zoe does get sick she gets over it so much more quickly than Alex ever did, or even does now.
Research suggests that children who were breastfed routinely have higher IQ's than those who were not breastfed as an infant.
This is one of those things you can take or leave depending on how you view the research, but I feel that anything that might give them an edge is worth the try in my book! I think I already see the results with both of my girls, even though Alex was only breastfed for a short time.
Most importantly, don't feel like a failure if it doesn't work out!
I felt so awful, like I had failed my daughter after I gave up nursing Alex when she was six weeks old. I know I lasted long enough to give her a little head start, but it wasn't what I had wanted. I didn't stop to think at the time that my self-pity wasn't getting her anywhere either! She needed a happy healthy mama most of all. I had given her my very best effort, and I feel she did benefit from that in many ways.
I hope that I have at least given some hope to those of you who have had some problems in the past, or who would like to try this in the future. Good luck!
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Epinions.com ID:
hlcooper75
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Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Reviews written: 54
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