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North Dakota Babies
LIP article on the perceived Pros & Cons of BF'ing
Here.
I thought it covered, along with the comments after, a lot of the benefits/ drawbacks and varying opinions on breastfeeding.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: LIP article on the perceived Pros & Cons of BF'ing
I think that yes, breastfeeding is best overall. However, each mother has to do what works for her and her baby. Healthy babies are also raised on formula, so if that's what a mom has to do, then I don't think she should be bashed for it or made to feel bad. I also think that the US needs to do a better job of taking away the stigma of BFing in public. I never did this because I did not actually BF, but I plan to try again for baby #2. Even though I did some BFing early on at home I still get a little weirded out by NIP. Not going to lie, I just can't help it.
I thought this was the best part:
"We tell women that breast is best, we tell them to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, we even tell them it will raise their kid's IQ (and we should give that a rest), and then we send them home with formula samples, or with a baby whose throat is too sore to suckle, or a mom whose milk is delayed because of surgery, and we don't teach technique, and we are offended when a woman breastfeeds in public, so we make her feel housebound, and we don't give a mother and her partner paid leave, and we send her to go back to a workplace without on-site childcare, and so her only alternative to formula is to plug her nipples into a machine, and if she's lucky she gets periodic breaks and a "non-bathroom lactation room" in which to pump, and if she's not she gets a toilet, and so on and so forth."
While I am 100% committed to BFing, and it is honestly one of my favorite things about being a mommy, I will be the first to admit that it can be a HUGE pain in the arse. Especially now that I'm back at work. I have to plan my day around pumping breaks. If I want to go to the gym, I need to make sure my boobs are at a comfortable level. If I'm going to run to the store, I need to make sure there is milk available. If I want to have a glass of wine, I need to make sure that I pump first so that I don't become over engorged if we do a bottle feeding. I keep forgetting my pump/pump parts at home & having to run home to get them. I have to do all of the nighttime wakings. Even though DH offers to help, I would just get too uncomfortable if I went all night without pumping or feeding.
It's hard work, & it's a serious committment. But, I like knowing that I am providing her with the health benefits, I love knowing that I am her complete source for food & EVERYTHING she needs to thrive. I think it's AMAZING that the human body is capable of this. And, nothing can compare to the way she "pets" my boob & stares up at me while she is eating. That's what makes it worth it to keep going.
I completely agree with this article that everyone pushes BFing, but in reality, the medical & social support for it SUCKS. Moms have to do their own research & learning about it, & seek out lactation consultants, etc., & it's a lot of work!
I think babies should be fed and mommies should be sane. And however that happens is great in my book.
With that said, I hate breastfeeding. Everything that Dani loves I hate. I just do it because I am cheap, I am SAHM for now, and I am producing enough to satisfy Miss K. I have no excuse to not do it.
The only good thing about it, in my book, is that I know that I will get her back in 3 hours when family is over. When she was a newborn, I would say she was hungry (even when she wasn't) and take her into the other room just to cuddle her when everyone else was hogging her.
I hate that people have a comment on whether or not I am BFing. I get everything from "Oh that's so great. the breast is best." to "Why are you STILL BFing. You know she doesn't need it anymore, right?" Since when have my boobs become so important to the general public.
And one last note, there is nothing better than the comments at the end of an article. Thank goodness for internet articles. I will never read a newspaper article again, it just won't be the same without the comments. HA!
Ashley can I just say how proud I am of you for trying and sticking to BFing this long since I know you weren't planning it originally!! Seriously, I was so proud that you gave it a shot that is more than a lot of women are willing to do! Go you!
~Kimberly & Eric~ April 21, 2008 ~Tensing Pen ~ Negril, Jamaica ~ My Blog: One Sunset at a Time
Awww, thanks Kim!
Thanks for sharing the article. Its always good to read other information other than the insanely pro breast feeding literature that's out there. By the way did I mention I'm breast feeding? (just put that in to make sure you know I'm not anti-breast feeding)
I love the snuggle time and the fact that my son looked at me like I was insane the one day I fed him a bottle without breast feeding him first. (I was starving and it was dinner time and he was hungry early. But it was half breast milk half formula) He latched amazingly well immediately after my c-section which I was grateful for and it's an experience that I can't describe how I felt (in a good way). It was like he was telling me, Mom you can do this and you'll be a good Mom no matter what you do as long as you try to do what you think is best for me. A bit over the top but that's how I felt. At the same time I developed mastitis two weeks after he was born, that combined with little man not gaining weight because he was a sleepy baby and wouldn't wake up every 2 hours for feedings was enough stress that nearly made me throw in the towel even with a very supportive husband and family not to mention lactation consultants at my beck and call free of charge from the hospital I delivered at. So with an antibiotic in tow, 1 ounce of formula to supplement after breast feeding, and a few tears (and curse words until the antibiotic kicked in) we made it through it. Baby gained back his birth weight (plus some at this point), Mom got over infection, and I also got over the emotional attachment of "I can't give my baby what he needs" because I was giving him formula to grow to supplement. Honestly I'm usually able to see the good side of things which helped immensely but I did cry on DH's shoulder a few times which also helped me deal with the mess. It was an emotional roller coaster to say the least.
With all that said, I'd do it again. I don't believe that it raises IQ (in part because it's literally impossible to prove since you would need 2 identical kids raised in an identical way to prove it). But for me, giving the kid an immunological head start was a big deal since I have asthma and bad allergies. I think with something as challenging as breastfeeding you have to pick a reason to do it that you can stand behind because its just like everything else in life, if you don't have a good reason for doing it in your head, you'll be much more likely to stop doing it. Then again I was a formula baby the whole way and I turned out just fine. Formula is there for a reason, and as long as you're feeding your baby appropriately (formula or breast or combo), your doing your best to be a good parent.