Should I Breastfeed or Not?

Should I breastfeed or not? This is a question that has boggled the minds of every expectant mother at some time or another. You need to weigh your options and decide what is the best for you. Why has this become such a heated debate? From personal experience, I will share some pros and cons. However, it is up to the parents to decide; no one should feel guilty either way. Most important is which works best for your family.

Breastfeeding is natural, and it is actually the easiest for a newborn to digest. But on the other hand, the formulas of today are so comparable to actual breast milk, there is not a lot of difference. Therefore breastmilk is the easiest for babies to digest. They will spit up a lot less too. More important, babies absorb up to 70% of nutrients in breast milk. Many studies have also linked breastfeeding to lower health risks and better physical,emotional,and mental development.

Another great advantage is breastmilk is free. Formula can cost you over $150 a month. While it can be time consuming, you can use a breast pump to serve the milk in a bottle. A breast pump will run you about $30-300 for a good one. Mothers can pump during the day and have the dad bottle feed the breastmilk at night to give mom a much-needed break. This will also allow dad and baby to enjoy the bonding that occurs during feedings. But if mommy wants to return back to work full time right away, it may not be possible to breastfeed because there may not be enough time to pump in your work day. If you do not pump or feed your baby often enough, your body will produce less milk.

Sometimes the best solution is to do both. If you start your baby out on both, it will be much easier when it comes time to wean. Breast and bottle feeding also come in handy whenever a baby goes through growth spurts and suddenly eats like a horse. This can take a lot of stress off you and your baby. I, personally, have mixed both formula and breast milk for both of my daughters and it has worked out quite well. I have the flexibility of doing what I want, or returning to work right away, but I know my daughters have gotten the nutrients they needed.