Is breast really best?

I believe many studies have shown health benefits, such as resistance to desease, of breast feeding. Here is one site that is pro-breastfeeding. Also, I understand there are physical and psychological benefits to the mother also.

On a personal note, my daughter-in-law was devastated when she was unable, due to physical limitations, to breastfeed her latest child. She was looking forward to it and said she thinks it helped her bond with the children. My son was also upset because it meant he was up for 3 am feedings this time.

Yes, it really is best.

I’ve breastfed all of my kids… so I can’t compare to exclusive formula feeding. But I have supplemented with formula, so I can compare to that. Also, I am a pediatric clinical data analyst… so I’d be happy to discuss infancy and childhood outcomes and clinical research about breastfeeding. Feel free to PM me.

I absolutely love breastfeeding… but I fully acknowledge that it can be quite rough (but if it is, you really need to see a lactation consultant). The positives are quite clear: less feeding difficulties (gas, colic, feeding intolerance, allergies), healthy gut bacteria, frequent sweet-smelling poop (seriously), less ear infections, lower risk of obesity, you don’t have to pack bottles and formula to feed your baby when you leave the house, it costs less money… and on and on.

The negatives: your breasts can get engorged with milk. You might wake up in the morning (or middle of the night) with hard, swollen breasts and wet pajamas/bed sheets. Your nipples might crack and feel sore as you get accustomed to breast feeding (although if it continues, you need to see a lactation consultant). It is harder to be separated from your baby as you must plan on either pumping or having full breasts while away for a feed. If you work, you must pump your milk and store it. You might pump less than your baby eats and need to supplement with formula. After birth, breastfeeding will cause your uterus to contract (which will be painful… but will also help get your belly back into place quicker). Your baby might end up with feeding intolerance anyway and you may have to limit certain foods (like cow’s milk) from your diet. If you drink alcohol, you may have to pump your milk and throw it away. You might feel uncomfortable breastfeeding your baby in public.

It is the default choice, the custom-designed beverage for baby, the easiest way to avoid KP duty and a built-in immune system enhancer for the drinker.

That depends on whether the mother can provide and the baby can drink it.

If then and in general yes.

I really don’t think it matters much. I breast fed my two youngest kids till they were 17. MONTHS! 17 months. :D My daughter was sick a LOT, my son wasn’t. I really don’t think it would have been any different if I had bottle fed them. However, my daughter also had colic. I know that today they have special formula to address that, but they didn’t then. If they had, I wouldn’t have hesitated to bottle feed her.
It’s a very special bonding experience, though.

Yes, breastfeeding is best. It’s not just a slogan. It does matter.

Oh, absolutely it’s best!

@Dutchess_III: “I really don’t think it matters much.”

We’ve covered this before. This question isn’t an opportunity for opinion. There is a right answer and a wrong one. The science is pretty clear on this issue. “It doesn’t matter” is actually incorrect (scientifically, and stuff).

Breast feeding is best.
Some changes you can get ready for:
Breast pads. For a while, it seems only stuffing a diaper in there will do any good for very long!. Things even out eventually, but until your body becomes accustomed to your baby’s individual feeding habits, it can get wow.
Pumping. You don’t have to, but if you can handle it, then it is a way to store milk, and also good for aiding with the leaking. Pumping helps with schedule issues,
There are aspects to breast feeding which are more convenient, and those which are less convenient. Powdered formula stores for longer than breast milk. Breast milk is always with you, you never ever forget, and leave it at home! If you have ever dozed off when the nipples are boiling (bottle nipples), you would also see an advantage there. My God! That smells awful! Going on vacation is easier, if baby is going to come along. The diaper bag will be lighter, and many times you will likely have that eerie, “I forgot something” feeling. I found that having an insex card which read, “Bottle feeding items I don’t need” ended that problem for me. The act of packing that covered it!
La Leche League is an organization which provides breast milk for babies who, for whatever reason, can’t get it, or maybe enough, from Mommy. They have equipment available, and information for anyone who asks. You may end up considering donating some milk. They always love to find new donors.
One last thing. Not all babies are born ready to latch on. Some have to be coaxed, and taught. If you have this happen, do not worry. Your nurses are well educated for helping you with this. It is a bit weird, having them sort of, “Take over”, but they can help work past the awkwardness and frustration.

@Dutchess_III See, the bonding experience is what weirds me out a bit. I have heard that it creates a bond between mommy and baby but when I think of putting my breast in a baby’s mouth, I don’t think of that as a bonding moment. My son and I had (and still have) a very strong bond and I bottle fed him. I can’t say for sure obviously since I’ve never tried, so it’s quite possible that it might end up being a bonding experience for us.

@Cupcake I remember all too well how the engorged breasts feel. I suffered through that for awhile even though I didn’t breast feed with my son. Nobody warned me. I just woke up the day after giving birth, tried to roll over slowly expecting my c-section incision to be tender, but instead my breasts felt like they just had surgery! They grew 2 sizes bigger and looked as if I’d just gotten implants. It lasted quite some time. Milk spilled out all the time. It took several weeks for it to stop coming in.

Is it true that baby’s wake more frequently to eat when breast fed compared to bottle fed? My son was up every couple hours anyway so I don’t imagine it being much worse than that. How long can you store breast milk? I want daddy and baby to bond as well and if I’m always the one feeding by breast, I worry they won’t be able to bond nearly as much.

No don’t think about it that way! Really, you’ll just get used to it. It won’t be weird at all, I promise. What will change is how you view boobs, and you’ll realize that this fetish we have for them is ridiculous.

I had my little son with me at a grocery. We were in line and there was a “Cosmo” magazine in our face. My son goes, “Numma numma!” :D

If you pump you and Daddy can take turns.

As has already been said, breast feeding has been shown to be scientifically the best option for your baby. It passes on important antibodies to protect your baby’s health.

Apart from that, it’s a beautiful thing to do. I cannot express how wonderful it feels to be snuggled up with your baby suckling on your breast while it stares into your eyes. It’s an amazing opportunity for you to bond.

Yes, it hurts initially. I’m not going to sugar coat it. I had very sore nipples for the first couple of weeks, but that passes. There are things you can do and a nurse can help you to manage that time.

Not everyone can breastfeed for various reasons. I’m not in the game of making women feel guilty for their choices. However, if you can breastfeed, I would strongly recommend trying it. Be patient. Don’t expect it to be perfect in the first day or even first days but know if you can get through that, it will be something positive you’ve done for your child.

Oh and it can help you lose that baby weight and get back into shape. I don’t know that this happened for me, but if it works for you, that’s got to be good. Plus it’s convenient. No getting up at night to make up, warm up, feeds. Ready made, perfectly formulated, milk. On tap.

@Earthbound_Misfit The convenience of not having to walk all the way downstairs and warm up a bottle in the middle of the night is great! I remember being half asleep and trying to measure formula and not spill it all over the counter while trying to fit the scooper in the small bottle hole. If I can breastfeed this time, I sure won’t miss that.

:-) I hope it works out for you and congratulations too. When are you due?

@Earthbound_Misfit Thank you! I just learned my due date is April 25 :)

I breast fed 5 kids. Hubby bonded by putting our babies on his chest and singing to them. They loved it. There were times when nobody would comfort baby like Daddy. In other words, daddies just have to BE there. They can bond over bath time, or story time, or singing, or whatever.

Breast feeding twins was very difficult with 3 older needy children. I had to stop at 4 months when we moved cross country and I had to drive one of the cars.

@ItalianPrincess1217: “If I can breastfeed this time”

Note: It takes help and support to get this down for most women, but the U.S. isn’t designed to easily accommodate this. You’ll likely have access to a lactation consultant for a short time in the hospital (if you go the hospital route), and then you’re on your own. Reach out to your local support groups (is there a La Leche League nearby) and consider seeing a lactation consultant if you have any concerns.

Disclaimer: My wife is a lactation consultant (and former La Leche League leader), and I have been surrounded by breastfeeding for 12 years.

@snowberry Did you ever pump?

I did. I did it by hand and froze milk for a relief bottle.

Ack! Manual pump. Now there’s a memory I could happily never revisit.

Sometimes it’s a relief.

I’ve got big boobs. I say this because to look at me someone might think ‘wow, milk factory!’ Not so. I couldn’t work one of those pumps. I don’t know why. I tried different types and just felt pain for very little result. Again, everyone is different. My sister used to take one to work and come home with a bag full of bottles. I think she was running a dairy.

Yes, breastfeed. It is an experience you will never forget. The early morning feed was the best. I would get up about five minutes before baby – she was like a little alarm clock – wash my breasts, change her diapers, and we would go to the verandah and I would watch the sun rise while she fed. It is a wonderful way to begin the day. For a whole year I spent not a cent on milk or formula. All she needed other than the breast was water on hot days. And the absolute satisfaction of being able to ignore the doorbell or the telephone: heaven. And just having her resting on my arm, and every now and then seeing her stop and look at me, then resume feeding – the feeling is indescribable.

I don’t see any reason not to try it. Nature gave new moms the perfect food for their babies. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and I don’t think moms should feel badly about that. Most women enjoy the bonding experience while breast feeding.

It’s more convenient. You don’t have to haul bottles with you when you take the baby somewhere and you don’t have to worry about the temperature of the formula.

I’m definitely a “breast is best” type gal, I breast fed my daughter until she was 34 months, loved the experience! Breast milk is free, always on tap, always the right temperature, does not require clean bottles and has everything your baby needs for good nutrition. I also highly recommend the La Leche League, I found them to be a goldmine of really useful information, especially once when I found myself with pleurisy and was prescribed a medication and told not to breast feed, they had details information about particular medications and what actual effect taking it would have on a baby. After that I went to weekly meetings and got together with other breast feeding mothers, having just moved to a new city it was a perfect way to develop contacts.

Breast milk lasts in the fridge for a week, and for months in the freezer.

The dad can change diapers, cuddle, feed bottles (if you pump) and all kinds of things to bond.

It really is good to find local support. See if you can meet with a lactation consultant before you give birth. You might be able to see one for free at the hospital where you will give birth. I’m in Western NY… not sure how far I am from you.

@ItalianPrincess1217; Don’t think of it as putting your breast in your baby’s mouth. He or she latches on to the nipple…designed exclusively for that. The sensation of someone, very very small, or much larger, sucking on a nipple is extremely pleasurable for most women (for a good reason), Nursing was one of the primal experiences of my life. Lolling on lots of cushions and watching your baby chuffle, gurgle, clench and uncleanch his little fist with the effort of it, and grow almost before your eyes…very little beats that.

I had to stop before I wanted to because both my kids got their first two teeth very early and even I drew the line at being chewed on.

@Cupcake I’m also in Western NY.

@ItalianPrincess1217 My twins (the last of 5 children) were born a month early and were too weak to suckle at the breast. They were perfectly happy to swallow it, but I had to pump it out and put it in tiny little bottles with very tender nipples. They never got the hang of nursing because they were too weak to try for close to a month. Later they never could make the connection. I also didn’t have an awesome breast pump. I found it easier to hand express than to use the store bought breast pump. Regardless of what method I used, I couldn’t completely drain my breasts, and as I understand it, it’s the actual sucking that stimulates milk production. Hand expression and breast pumps didn’t do that either.

It’s quite difficult to manage a household and care for newborn twins at the same time. Add to that sleepless nights and sometimes forgetting to drink enough water, and I struggled to have enough milk for them. I started having to augment with formula at about 6–8 weeks.

I’ve always loved breast feeding. I loved knowing that my body was capable of providing everything my baby needed. I loved knowing that breasts were actually designed as food, not a sexual organ. When an older baby breast feeds, they love to play. Once their initial hunger is satiated, they’ll pull away, glance at mommy and laugh. Then they’ll rush right back to the breast, and pat it, and so on. It’s very very personal, fun, and not like bottle feeding at all. It’s a precious time between baby and mommy that can not be duplicated in any other way.

@Earthbound_Misfit is right – breastfeeding causes you to lose pregnancy weight. It uses up about 2500 calories a day! My wife lost half her preg weight the first month due to generating milk.

^^^ Damn! Wish I could breastfeed! Surely it would be easier than all that darn exercise and I could eat what I wanted!

just to be clear, I meant be the breastfeeder

No, that still isn’t clear is it? How about the one who provides the breast, not the one who derives nourishment from it

I simplify the argument this way:
Whether you believe in evolution or creation, the mammaries are there for one purpose: to nourish the babies. Breastfeeding nurtured countless of generations for millennia until mankind’s science and industry became so arrogant to think we could do better than nature.

Now science has proven itself wrong. Currently, a lot of research is being done on digestive tract flora and the micro-biome, and breastfed humans are again believed to have an advantage over bottle fed.

Yes, there are some cases where nursing is impossible or impractical, in which case it’s great that there’s an alternative. In my experience, the best benefit of nursing my child (until he was nearly 3 – not exclusively, of course), was the oxytocin – the serenity hormone. What an awesome, indescribable rush of calm that was.

A few years ago an acquaintance had a baby and she chose to bottle feed.

Then the baby developed a severe reaction to all formula. It was dying. I asked them why they chose to bottle feed instead of breast feed, and they were shocked I’d even suggest such a “nasty” idea. Apparently for some, “breast isn’t best” even if it can save a life.

@snowberry Are you saying the baby died?

@JLeslie I don’t know, but it’s a pity that breast milk was never an option. Very few babies don’t do well on breast milk. I know its life swayed in the balance for several weeks, however I never heard what finally happened to the child.

There are conditions where total breastfeeding is not the best option. PKU disease is one example: http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbsepoct98p153.html

@snowberry I’m pretty sure breastmilk can be purchased. If a doctor thought breastmilk was the cure the baby would be given breastmilk I think, even if under court order. Hell, I would volunteer my milk if it might save a babies life and I was lactating. I question some of the studies regarding breast milk and formula. I have always thought breast feeding was the most natural thing in the world and good for mommy and baby in most circumstances, but I need to see if the studies account for income levels and other things. When I was younger I thought people used formula because they had trouble breastfeeding, I didn’t even know some people chose not to do it from the day the baby was born. Back when I was a kid there were some recalled formulas and they did harm some children, but I have not heard anything like that in years and I hear stories all over the map on personal experience with how healthy children are or even siblings where one is breastfed and another bottle fed. My overall feeling is breastmilk is less worry, less room for regret, and moms worry they are doing the right thing for their babies.

Most moms really enjoy the bonding of breast feeding and if they don’t work find it much more convnient. But, I also know moms who have had bad experiences.

@JLeslie FYI – there are no milk banks in western NY. NY has chosen to regulate breastmilk like a highly controlled substance. There is no place from which doctors may send mothers with a prescription. Mothers are free, of course, to find donors on their own… but that comes with its own host of issues.

@ItalianPrincess1217 I hope you are able to overlook the judgement above. Good for you for considering breastmilk. All you can do is what is best for you and your baby, in your estimation. None of us walk in your shoes.

One nice thing about breast feeding is that you don’t have anything to mix up or measure. If it’s 3 AM and you’re half asleep and the baby is screaming, you can just go and pop a breast in their mouth. I was watching 16 and pregnant on MTV. I felt so sorry for the family that was up at 3AM frantically mixing stuff, heating it up and waiting for it to cool off.

I tell people I breast fed because I was too lazy to use formula.

@keobooks Also, when you go somewhere with the baby you don’t have to lug along bottles.