I breastfed my first son as long as he would do it, and I'm glad I did, but it was NOT easy. I breastfed my second son for 2 weeks, and quit for various reasons (postpartum depression, constantly screaming baby, bleeding nipples, unsupportive partner, and the list goes on). I regretted quitting for a long time, but he's now 5 and every bit as healthy and smart as his older brother so I'm finally accepting that I did what I had to do at the time. I plan to breastfeed this one (I'm pregnant) and pump if the breastfeeding doesn't work out. Good luck with your decision!

With my first child I only promised myself that I would breastfeed her for 6 weeks and then figure out if I wanted to continue. I knew it was best for the baby (breast milk) but I having never breastfed I didn't want to put undue pressure on myself. I had the most difficult time getting the breastfeeding thing down. I spent a lot of time with a lactation consultant bound and determined to survive for the first 6 weeks. Anything that could go wrong, did. I think because of the adversity, it made me commit even more because I wanted to be the one to decide when to stop... I didn't want the decision made for me. And I ended up nursing my first daughter for 13 months.

With my second baby I thought, no problem. I have been through the ringer with the first... I was going to be a pro. Wrong. We had another set of difficulties. I nursed her for 8 months.

Now I have my third baby and she's 6 months old. I promised myself I would nurse her for 6 months and then I would reevaluate. But she's the last baby I will have and I am loathe to stop. My only problem with nursing is that I can't lose the bulk of my pregnancy weight gain until I completely stop nursing. This happened with my other two. So my desire to get my old body back is fighting a battle with my desire to continue to breast feed this baby forever (kidding). I am giving myself until the end of the year when she will be almost 8 months to decide when to stop.

I do believe breast milk is best for babies. This is pretty much the only reason I nurse. Many people tout the money savings (formula can add up), the convenience and the bonding experience for the baby. I think it is a deeply personal decision and it has to work for both of you. I gave my 2nd daughter formula (as I stopped nursing at 8 months) and I can tell you, formula is not that inconvenient. And as for breastfeeding promoting a deeper bond between mother and child... I think that is ridiculous. Whether my baby is nursing from my breast or drinking from a bottle... I could not love her more.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

thank-you both, I was just wondering though, how come you couldn't lose the baby weight until you were done breast feeding? I'm really new to all this and don't know anything LOL
Anyone else, with any opinions I'd be glad to hear them.xx

I had a hard time losing all the baby weight while nursing, too. You can't really diet while nursing. Some people say the breastfeeding helps them lose the weight, but it didn't work that way for me.

I chose to bf all 3 of my girls. The 1st one I nursed for 7 motnhs and pumped for 8 at work. The 2nd I nursed for 4 months and pumped at work for 6. With my last one, 4 months old now, I am still nursing, but supplementing with bottles. I am not returning to work, but did pump in the early stages to help with milk supply (didn't work).

I think this is a very good topic of discussion since every person has a different reason either for or against. I think breastmilk is best, but I don't ever look down on mothers who choose to use formula, hell, my mom ff me and I'm jsut fine!! (At least that's what I tell myself) LOL

As far as losing the weight, I was always told that nursing burns more calories and you lose weight faster, but I have to agree with the pp that you don't lose the weight as quickly.

I forgot to add that I am going to try to nurse a little longer with this one due to the costs of formula. We will still supplement, but I'm not going to stop nursing all together, I'm aiming for 8 months (or until teeth come in then I'm done).

Everyone is different.... for many, breastfeeding is great for weight loss... the extra calories you burn to produce milk helps the weight come right off. But for me, breastfeeding affects my hormone balance and makes it really difficult to lose the weight. When I stop nursing completely... the weight comes off very steadily and I can get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight (not overnight... but it comes off). I gain about 65+ with each pregnancy and have always taken it all off. But the serious weight loss doesn't occur until I stop nursing. But everyone is different and it has even varied slightly for me. With my first, I lost all but 20 pounds. When I stopped nusing, I dropped those 20 pounds in a month. It just fell off.

The 2nd time I stopped nursing at 8 months and it took another 8 months to lose the 35 pounds I had to lose.

As you get older it takes a little longer. So with this third baby, I figure by the time she is in college I will be back down. KIDDING. I'll figure it out when I decide to stop nursing.

I had wanted to bf since I was old enough to understand it. When I got pregnant with my first child, I read everything I could and took a class. I loved breasfeeding my child and I have now nursed three children. Ben will be 1 in Dec. and I haven't yet decided when I will ween him. I will base it on his level of interest.

I have fibromyalgia and I cannot imagine having to take the time or the energy to wash/sterilize bottles, make formula, heat them, etc. in order to feed my child. Breastmilk is ready anytime the child is. I don't have to worry about taking enough formula with me when we go out or worry about forgetting the bottles. I always have it with me and don't have to worry about running out. Hugs, Fern

I breastfeed because for one its the best choice for my son. And for 2 the bonding. I love the closeness I have with him. I get to nurture him and have him all to myself for that bit of time. I watch him grow everyday and know that its because of my milk and I love that feeling. The antibodies are very important as well. We have had at least 4 bad illnesses come into our home since he was born 10 weeks ago and other then a tiny bit of congestion and an upset tummy for a day he has been fine and I know its due to the fact that he breastfeeds. Good luck!

For me it was knowing that it was something that only i could do for my children. My body was making milk for my child and nothing has been more natural or bonding. I have breastfed four children and am still nursing my 19 month old. I think no matter what your feeding choice is you can still bond and love your baby. good luck and best wishes

I have 4 kids and breastfed them all so I have no idea what it would be like not to breastfeed but I can tell you breast milk is best for the baby and the emtional bond you develope when you nurse is amazing.

I know that this is going to stir the pot, but....

don't mothers who bottle feed also get an emotional connection to their babies? sleonard, I'm not singling you out here. I've noticed (not just on this board but IRL) that nursing mothers seem to think that they are better than bottle feeding mothers. Why is that? As long of the babe is getting fed who cares how they get it.

Maggieloo, I know for me I don't feel like I am better than anyone because I have breast fed my son. However, I have from time to time seen mothers put other mothers down for not breastfeeding, which in my opinion is wrong. We don't always know the reasons a woman has chosen to bottle feed and we shouldn't judge. Maybe she couldn't do it physically, maybe she needed to take medication that wasn't good for the baby, maybe she doesn't understand breastfeeding and doesn't feel comfortable, etc. etc. There are lots of reasons for the choice to bottle or breast feed.

But having breast fed two sons for a lengthy period of time and one for a very short period and switching to bottle feeding, I can honestly say there is bonding occurs faster and deeper when you breast feed. That's not to say that a bottle feeding mother doesn't bond with her child, just that it seesm to be a slower process when bottle feeding. But if a bottle feeding mom spends time cuddling her baby and holds the baby to feed, then bonding still happens. But lets face it, there are mothers who are not as interested in bonding or being the best parent they can be who prop bottles and don't try to bond with their child. And in that case even breast feeding probably wouldn't make them better parents. So if you love your child deeply and want the best for them and you choose to bottle feed, there is no reason to think your child won't get everything they need from bottle feeding.

However, your comment "As long as the babe is getting fed who cares how they get it," also infers a lack of understanding on your part of breastfeeding. Breastmilk has been proven to be the best form of nutrition for the baby and there is a different level of bonding that occurs when breast feeding (and again I am speaking from experience.) So it isn't just a matter of which way the baby gets their food, there is a huge difference in the quality of the food and in the level of bonding that occurs.

So maybe if bottle feeding moms wouldn't be quite so defensive and breastfeeding moms wouldn't put other down, we could find some common ground. Hugs, Fern

I decided to breast feed initially by weighing the pros and cons of both. Its obvious that breast feeding is so much better health wise. So I had my son and went to breast feed and it was so not easy at all. No where did anyone ever tell me how difficult it could be!! The nurses in the hospital were so horrible when I cam home I quit for 48 hours out of pure frustration!!! So I decided I had not put enough effort into it so my BF helped me to try to breast feed my son. It was not easy but after a month we were doing it!! I was so proud but we worked our butt off to accomplish the task. I wanted to quit often but I kept just thinking of the benefits and I had alot of support from my baby dad which helped so much. I tehn breast fed baby 2 with no issues. She was so easy just a natural. I will also breast feed baby 3. Its a personal decision but its not too early to think about it at all! I wished I'd thought about it more when I was first pregannt with baby 1 and read up on it more. I was not prepared at all but in the end we did it!!