breast feeding

so i am 18 weeks 5 days pregnant boyfriend is really insisting upon me breastfeeding our child (i have 3 and have never had the want or need to breast feed) he keeps telling me that its better for both of us (baby and i) i know this i have read thru information and books and anything else out there i just dont feel i can do this i like the freedom of being able to go out with friends, have a drink i mean i have given up drinking since jan 08 when we started ttc and hes keepted on drinking almost everyday right in front of me is it selfish of me to not want to breastfeed and to bottle feed our child  

[Lance06]

I think if your reasoning is just because you want to be able to drink..that it is a bit on the selfish side...thats just my personal opinion. however, it is your body and you should do whatever you want with your baby.

[gillianl]

What your boyfriend and other people seem to forget is it's YOUR body and if YOU want to breastfeed then do it if not that's your choice.  I've never had kids though have been ttc for a while now but i know deep down i just couldn't breastfeed, i know it is supposed to be a natural thing but having a child suckle on my breast turns my stomach(no offence to anyone who does it).  My partner is lucky if he gets near my breasts lol as far as i am concerned they are your breasts on your body and you should be allowed to say yes or no to breastfeeding.  I hope this helps and again no offence to anyone reading this comment it is only my opinion on my feelings!!

[Mumita]

Breastfeeding has been proven to be the best nutritional milk for your baby, so he is right.  It is good for you because it helps to get you back to your pre-pregnancy weight, helps your mood and it helps prevent many possible issues on your baby and less visits to the pediatrician.  It is up to you, its your body and you can use it the way you want, he can't force you to do anything, but it is the best for you and your baby.

However, breastfeeding is more convenient and cheeper than bottle feeding, you don't have to buy anything, mix anything, clean anything and you can always pump your milk and feed him the pumped milk when you want to go out or drink etc.  

Men don't have the natural ability to grow another human being in their womb or being able to naturally feed them, so this "natural" sacrifice of growing a child (in and out of the womb) can only be done by the female.  I just don't see the problem with breastfeeding unless there is a medical reason for not being able to do it, like insufficient milk production, or your breasts can't do it for a reason or another not because you want to go out and drink.  which how often are you going to be doing that, that you can't breastfeed when you are not going out.??