I didn't plan to bottle feed Ashley. I had all of the best intentions to breastfeeding her for the first 8-10 months however I had a lot of issues. I'll be the first to tell you that breastfeeding is not as natural as you may think. I had a c-section and it was almost 8 days before my milk actually came in - which I thought was a long time, however I have since learned that this is normal. But those 8 days were the most excrutiating of my life - I was blistered, cracked, bruised and bleeding while trying to feed Ashley. I was beyond stressed out and was in tears every time she wanted to feed which is not healthy for you or your baby. So, after 2 and a half weeks, I decided to switch to formula and had a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. My baby was happy, she was gaining weight, and I was much more at ease.
In those first few days, I was also tube feeding Ashley in the hospital since she wasn't gaining enough weight. Erin had a similar experience in the hospital as Emme was born prematurely. Emme had a nose tube and Erin had to save each diaper so that the nurses could check the weight to ensure that Emme was eating enough. However Erin was fortunate that Emme was able to make the switch from nose tubes and finger feeding to being breastfed.
As all of the girls will attest - you need to do what's right for you! A happy mom is a happy baby. The ladies weighed in on some of the benefits and highlights that we've found with both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. In our case, all of the girls are beautiful and healthy and hitting all of their milestones.
Breastfeeding:
- Nutrition - this is the best source of nutrients for your baby however we are not nutritional experts so we can't comment entirely. However, formula has come a long way - the formula that I give Ashley is Nestle Good Start with Omega 3 and 6 (which breastfed babies don't necessarily receive from breast milk)
- Burning Calories - breastfeeding moms burn LOTS of calories while breastfeeding!
- Convenience - a breastfeeding mother will always have a supply of food for their baby no matter where they are
- Bond - there's a very special bond between a mother and baby during the breastfeeding experience
- No cost
Bottle (Formula) Feeding:
- Nutrition - see above. Formula has come a long way.
- Bond - bottle feeding your baby gives others the opportunity to bond with the baby as well. In our case, my husband was able to feed Ashley during the night which allowed me to catch up on some much needed sleep while being able to bond with her.
- Cost Effective - based on Ashley's consumption in the first few months it was approx. $5/day for her formula
- Sleep - babies who are formula fed tend to sleep a bit longer than breastfed babies as formula keeps babies fuller for a longer period of time
- Nipple confusion - there's a lot of talk about nipple confusion but I don't think there's anything official that says it actually exists. In the hospital, the pediatrician told me that the only statement published on that topic is that "there is no concrete evidence for or against the notion of nipple confusion"
Again, you need to do what's right for you. Here is a interesting article from Canadian Family that certainly hit home for me, Sticking Up for Baby Formula: http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/-side-bottle-feeding/
Some other tips from the moms:
- If you're having difficulty with breastfeeding seek help. It's likely that your local hospital has a lactation consultant who can offer support/resources. If not, La Leche League is a very reputable service.
- At the very least, try to give your baby the colostrum - your liquid gold which is the most nutritious form of breast milk. It's the first stage of breastmilk before your milk actually comes in
- Try to periodically introduce your baby to a bottle with breast milk or formula to assist with the transition from boob to bottle when the time comes
As someone once said to me "There's no special spot in heaven for mothers who breastfeed, so if you're bottle feeding ... it's OK!".
At the end of each segment we are happy to share a "Mommy-Sential" with you:
- Baby Wrappers - www.babywrappers.com - Wash Cloth Mit
- Mally Bibs - http://www.mallybibs.com/ - Leather Bibs with Magnetic Closures
- Baby D Drops
- The Breast Experience, Breastfeeding Clinic in Brampton (if you would like more information on this service, please contact us)
- Breast Pads - there are several brands available to help with leakage, over-active let down etc.
- The Breast Friend Pillow - http://www.mybrestfriend.com/ - an excellent nursing pillow that straps on so that you are not fussing with the position of the pillow when trying to nurse your wee one.
Just as an aside, our prenatal instructor highly recommended taking the breastfeeding class BEFORE baby arrives, that way you are equipped to deal with challenges as they present themselves.
ReplyDeleteAlso breastfeeding moms who are wanting to give their baby the omega fatty acids need to include it their diet. I take fish oil capsules now as part of my prenatal regiment, and plan to continue taking them after baby arrives.
All that being said, I am hopeful to be lucky enough to breastfeed. Many moms do struggle with it.