First feedings: or why breast is(n't always) best

[mom_after_ed]

I don't breastfeed. And if I were ever to have another kid (which I'm 99.9% certain I won't), I won't breastfeed them either. In fact, I won't even attempt to--like I did with B.

But why?
Don't you know breast is best?The above is a (rough) transcription of a conversation I've had many, many times. And not with my pediatrician or nurse. Nope,

Comments

breast feeding

[ext_1637496]

Wonderful post Whit. I did not breast feed Todd or KV as I was not educated about it back in the early 70's. I did breast feed Amber and, as wonderful as that was, I can certainly applaud the benefits of the bottle. Berlin thriving is most important!

Re: breast feeding

[mom_after_ed]

Thank you Hannah. I've heard from several ladies who bottle fed in the 70s that the trend in a lot of communities was towards formula at the expense of breastfeeding--in fact I've heard that there was social pressure *to* bottle feed. Now it seems things have swung around. I'm skeptical of extremes and always relax when I'm in an environment that welcomes and understands the whole spectrum of feeding a kid.

[anonymous]

I'm going to try to take the BFAR approach, but I am prepared, because of your help, that I may not be able to. It's so nice to know that there are others out there who feel the exact same as I do and to know that it's okay to bottle feed if it means your child's life. Ultimately, that is the only thing that matters.

[mom_after_ed]

I'm glad my post helped you. Doing a bit of retrospective emotional analysis I think that there were two things that weighed heavily on me--the first was my own determination to exclusively BFAR at all costs, and the second was what I now would term unhealthy, unhelpful outside pressure on me to persist with BFAR despite the fact that it was not successful. I heard a lot about the evils of formula and for some reason was convinced at the time of my daughter's birth that using formula amounted to "giving up" or worse--that it would damage my baby. Fortunately I can say that I'm a lot better educated about the subject now--and in the process I've learned how to better evaluate pivotal parenting decisions in general. While I strongly believe in making breastfeeding accessible to all new moms for the first 6+ months, I know I made the very best decision for my own child. I also still understand that it may be a good idea for some to attempt BFAR. It sounds like you have the big picture in mind and like you said, that's what counts!