Breast, bottle or both???
Sep 13 '00
I am the mother of 2 breast fed babies, 2 bottle fed babies, and 1 baby who was fed by breast and bottle. Since I have experienced all issues, I like to give a little insight to what each is like.
My oldest and youngest sons were bottle fed. Both received breast milk (for the antibodies) a few days, but because of medical conditions, they were placed on bottles. My oldest son was 7 weeks premature and my youngest has asthma. My first born was both bottle and breast fed so I could resume working while she was little. My middle son and newborn daughter were strictly breast fed children.
BOTTLEFEEDING
PROS: With bottle fed babies, it is easier to have a little more freedom. You don't have to worry about where you are when it is time to feed your baby. If you are busy at that moment, you can have a family member or friend share the feeding with you. You do get more sleep because bottle fed babies eat less often and fathers can help with the feedings. This also gives the fathers bonding time with their child. You know exactly how much your child is eating and that they are receiving the right vitamin and minerals. It is also, more socially accepted in public.
CONS: I found that feeding your child by bottle is more expensive. You have bottles, nipples and replacement nipples, liners, formula, and more stained outfits. Infants spit up more frequently and have more tummy aches and constipation. There is less eye contact between mother and child because they have the ability to look around the room more. It is to easy for a mother to "PROP" the bottle and continue working. With less frequent feedings you have less bonding time.
BREASTFEEDING
PROS: With nursing babies, you have more quality one on one time. You must sit down and nurse your child. You don't have to take the time to make the bottle when your baby is fussy and hungry. Night feedings are simpler and easier. Your child will recieve your antibodies meaning they are less likely to become ill. With nursing, you are giving your child a natural product. You don't have to worry about additives. Your baby will recognize you sooner because they are facing you as the nurse creating a bond.
CONS: Anything you eat can affect the taste of your breast milk. So goodbye onions, mexican foods, liquor, cigarettes and caffeine. Nursing is completely up to you, you can't share the responsibility(unless you opt to use a breast pump, which I didn't try). Your child will hungry more often, usually every 2 hours in the beginning. With more nursing could mean sore nipples to treat. You have to watch their wieght gain and count soiled diapers in the beginning to be sure they are eating enough. If you become ill or are away from your baby for an extended amount of time, it is hard for your infant to adjust to the nipple. Society is not comfortable with nursing mothers.
FEEDING WITH BOTH BREAST AND BOTTLE
PROS: It does give you the best of both worlds. Freedom to shop and visit friends. The quality bonding time as you nurse.
CONS: With less frequent nursing your breast milk decreases. A newborn will become confused and might refuse one or the other or both. While using the bottle, a baby might choke more often because with nursing they have to suck harder. It is harder on their little systems, so they might become colic. It isn't you who choses which to give your child at a certain time. Your child might refuse the bottle or breast when they want the other.
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
I wasn't going to add this part but as the review began to unfold, I decided I had to say a little on this subject. Society is very uncomfortable with nursing mothers. With my bottle fed children. I never was confronted by older people about feeding them in public. I never had children point or men stare or woman whisper. I was not one of those moms who exposed themselves. I wore nursing bras, shirts and always cover myself with a light blanket as my child nursed. Yet, I have been told "Do you have to do that here", "You should be ashamed of yourself doing that outside the home", or my all time favorite(which burns me to no end) "Can't you feed your baby in the restroom?" Really, this had happened to me twice. Both times, my dander rose and I commented back "Would you like to eat your dinner in the restroom?" I think not. Nursing a child is a natural process. Women don't do it to make draw attention to themselves out in public. They do it because they feel their decision was the best for their child. The same for mothers who chose to bottle feed their infants.
In my personal opinion, it is whatever is best for you and your child. Just make a well informed decision, know you are doing what feels right with your beliefs and raise a happy well loved baby.
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Member: Maddison_chaos
Location: Small town, Ohio
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Smalltown USA girl, loves to travel, comfortable in cowboy boots, loves Lobster and J.ROGET!
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