BREASTFEEDING VS. BOTTLE

OKAY HERES MY QUESTION.. ALONG WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AS TO WHETHER I SHOULD BREASTFEED OR BOTTLE FEED. I HOPE NO ONE JUDGES ME BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT BREASTFEEDING IS BEST FOR MY BABY AND TRUST ME I WILL DO ANYTHING FOR HER!! MY QUESTION IS.. HOW DO I NEED TO PREPARE MYSELF TO BREATFEED.. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN WAY TO PREPARE YOUR NIPPLES SO THEY WON'T BE SO TENDER AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS ANY ADVICE??

[monic95]

breastfeeding is the best its healthy and the baby doesnt get sick. i didnt prepare myself once he was born he took one suck and was hooked for 3 years he is 7 now and hates milk he always ask can i make him milk from my breast lol

[girl0319]

HAHA.. WHEN YOU PUMP LIKE TO GO OUT SOMEWHERE DO YOU NEED AN ICE PACK TO KEEP THE BREAST MILK COLD OR ANYTHING??

[monic95]

i didnt pump it hurt too much. no need for an ice pack. when u pump he can freeze the milk up to a year i wouldnt i went back to work when he was 3 months my mom taught him how to drink from a sipper cup with juice he didnt like bottles only the breast and when i got home he attack me i felt like a cow during the day at work i would go to the restroom and squeeze some milk out

[Linzola1]

The reason I am not breastfeeding is because I dont want my child getting hooked on the breast and never being able to ween the child off!

[monic95]

he was hooked being i didnt force the bottle but if he give the baby the breast milk from the bottle it will be easy. its harder to get a baby off a bottle and pacifier

[JoyRenee]

I breastfed and bottlefed. It is a myth that you can prepare your nipples before birth. You can actually destroy them if you do rough washing/scrubbing. There are these glands on your nipples/aerolas that produce a natural softener for your nipples. You DO NOT need to do any "prep" work. Our bodies were made to do this.

Breast VS bottle is such a hot-button issue with mommas, but the truth of the matter is that we're just trying to give our babies the best we can. Some women CAN'T breastfeed (I am one of them... I TRIED for 2 months straight with my last one, wearing nipple shields until I was raw).

Whatever you choose, do not be apologetic! I fed my daughters Prosobee Lipil, a soy-based formula, and they are HEALTHY, they have no allergies or asthma, they have NEVER had an earache, etc. I have nieces who were breastfed and they have bowel problems.

Every child and woman is different. Just do what works for you and do not feel guilty!!! I cried so hard when I switched from breast to bottle. I felt like I was failing... but the truth is I am just a mother trying to give her child the best. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

It is definitely a personal choice on which you choose to do.  I wouldn't feel guilty if you decide to bottle feed.  But, I have 5 kids and have breastfed all of them.  Infact, I'm still breastfeeding now.  One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that it is pretty much impossible for a breastfed baby to get constipated.  It is a lot more common with formula because of the iron.  I love that because once I make the switch, I always have the constipation problem.  You don't have to not breastfeed because you don't want your baby to be attached to the breast only.  You can do both.  That's what I do.  I work full time.  If you decide to breastfeed though, it is better to do only the breast for about the first 4 or 5 weeks.  After that, it's important to go ahead and introduce the bottle.  It might be a little confusing for the baby for like the first 2 or 3 feedings but after that the baby will learn to adjust to whatever you put in his/her mouth!!  

[candygirl0123]

I agree with the ladies here. It really is a personal choice. I breastfed my son for about 4 months, until I had to go back to work, and then slowly weened him off. But, I also have a good friend who breastfed her son for over a year, and pumped 3-4 times a day at work. Some women cannot produce milk, which is nothing to feel bad about either. It is very difficult to breast feed and work full time, and some employers are not willing to let you take 3-4 breaks a day to pump. Whatever you decide, make sure you are doing whats in the best interest for you and your baby

[alaysha]

I agree with everyone else that it is a personal decision. I'm breastfeeding and supplimenting with formula. She didn't have any problems switching from one to the other or back again but again each baby is different.

As for "preping your breasts" like Joy said it can actually be bad and hurt your nipples. When you deliver all the hormones in your body go into full force to feed that baby. Its so natual that no prep work is needed and they'll teach you a lot of things about breastfeeding at the hospital after you deliever and even help you to get your little one to latch on. Lactation nurses are just wonderful! :)