@Jen- With my first I had a little bit of a change once he was born and my milk came in. I could have had surgery that would have enabled me to breastfeed but decided not to. Then, when he was born, there were about 3 days (the most painful!) when I thought I should have done it. It felt like it would have been so nice to bond with him that way. But then I found other ways to do it and it was okay.

It also depends on how you breastfeed as far as the bottles go. For women who pump, there can be just as many bottles and sometimes more, depending on how often they have to pump. The diapers can sometimes be worse, too, because sometimes breastfeeding can cause more bowel movements. NOT that this is a reason not to do it, of course. :-)

For practical reasons, it doesn't work well for us, either. I am gone sometimes a week at a time and so even if I pumped and stored it it would be very difficult. And I would lose out on one of the incentives, bonding, since I wouldn't be there. Won't be such a problem this time around because I won't have to be gone until she is almost 3 months old, but in the past it's been an issue.

One thing to consider: some babies will have allergies to formula, and they have seen links between crohns disease and formula. My mom used formula with my sister - and she had lots of trouble as she was allergic to everything they brought home. Babies won't be allergic to their mothers milk - according to most doctors. My mom breast fed my brother and I and we had no stomach issue. She swears it was a great bonding time. Its not for everyone, but it is free and good for your baby.

Bledpub, I do understand that it's not for everyone, especially if they have to pump more than anything. I am fortunate that I'll be able to be with my baby pretty much all of the time, so I don't even have to think about bottles right now. I think it's different in your case, too. There's not being able to and there's just not wanting to. And of course, I'm not talking about practical issues. I'm talking about the mindset I used to have on breastfeeding, how it was outdated and I didn't think it was something women should do in public. I guess you could call it the hollywood view as they joke about it all the time in movies.

I'm still not anti-formula, though. I think we can all agree that it's different for every woman and not everyone is able, either physically or practically, to breastfeed.

@gcinOhio, you actually CAN be allergic to breastmilk. This was the case with my nephew. I don't know how rare it is, but I do know it's possible. The newest Duggar baby was also allergic to her mom's breastmilk. My nephew has to have soy formula, I don't know what the Duggar baby drinks, but I'd guess it's the same. Lactose intolerance is lactose intolerance; it doesn't always matter what animal the milk comes from. Though cow milk allergies are the most common, they're not the only milk allergies out there.

That's really interesting about the babies being allergic to their mother's breastmilk. I hadn't heard of that before. I just recently learned that you can be allergic to your partner's sperm, though, so I guess you learn something new everyday! :-)

I'm touchy about breastfeeding. When I was pregnant the first time people were asking me about breastfeeding and I would tell them that I wasn't going to do it. I would then get long speeches about it and chastising and you would have thought that I was saying that I was going to dangle my baby off a balcony or something. I would then have to explain the medical reason and it was embarrassing, but the only way to get them to stop. Made me feel very guilty and defensive.

I love the idea of our bodies being able to produce something that can keep our babies nourished and thriving. My husband loves the porn star style boobs that develop when the milk comes in. He's always sorry to see them go...

Well, no one has to try to make me understand their decision, it's their decision, not mine. I might privately wonder why they wouldn't want to give breastfeeding a try, just because of the benefits, but I would never judge a person for it. There are so many reasons why some babies can't be breastfed, some that I might not even know about. So, it's none of my business.

I'm sorry people gave you such a hard time about it and made you feel guilty. Some people just don't get it. I've noticed that the people who the worst about making you feel like a terrible mother are the people who've never had any issues at all. They don't know what it's like to have complications; they just assume you're being selfish, when that's usually NOT the case. Oh well. I know my sister got a really hard time for not breastfeeding, too. She still talks about it, her son is only a year old, but there was truly nothing she could do. And the whole thing about formula being terrible ...I disagree. I've heard people say it's the absolute worst thing you could give to your baby. No, I think the worst thing would be giving them nothing at all. If it weren't for formula, a lot of babies would starve.

so, no. No judgement here.

I will admit I am very passionate about breastfeeding. I have doula/ location training as well so am VERY educated on the topic. This does lead me to be slightly judgmental about it but only when its the mom who has ruled it out due to " I don't want to ruin my breasts", " I don't want to show my breasts when nursing", " formula is easier", "itvhurt too bad", "formula is just as good for the baby"......not for medical conditions such as breast defects, medication that CAN NOT be stopped or substituted long enough to at least get the 1st few months of nursing in, since its best for baby. I find a lot of women selfish and ill of excuses that let them "off the hook" both in theory own eyes and to the rest of society. I love how WIC is no longer providing formula the 1st few months due to the strong encouragement and evidence ofhpw perfect breastmilk is for your child. They are not allowing formula to be readily available without at LEAST giving nursing a try. I have seen ONE case, in alllll my cases, where the mom tried against her initial desire, and her babies latch was off..her pallet was too deep so she would never latch on property even with location support. Mom didn't go through the extra effort of nipple shields which would have worked because she was already turned off by stand her partner was not an advocate either for selfish reasons of wanting to share the feedings. Bottom line is...we have this gift that provides the absolute best nutrition for our children (Unless you are the VERY rare case of your child being allergic to your milk, like one .of my nephews) and the most amazing way of bonding with your child...why substitute this with something that may or may not be sufficient if you don't HAVE to. I know some of you think I sound harsh or bitchy and that's ok...as long as I can help just one person open their mind to nursing..I have fulfilled a passion of mine personally.

Oops...typos sorry..
Doula/ lactation training
Both in my eyes and the rest of society
Turned off by it and her partner was not

As always things become a debate on here..she's just looking for opinions..we can't control what others do and the most important thing is to feed and care for Ur child. Nothing wrong with the breast it has great benefits but it is an emotional choice too. It can be a lot for some moms caring for another child or women with other personal issues...nothing wrong with formula except it's costly at times...either way U have to do whats best for baby and mom:) Best of luck to U

PLUS WE'VE ALL BEEN POSTING ON A COMMENT FROM 2007..LOL

someone came in a few days ago and responded to a few different topics from ages ago. I have no clue why; obviously the person who originally asked the question is no longer pregnant (at least not with the same baby) or wondering whether or not to breastfeed. I was ignoring this because I thought it'd be silly to make a reply after three years, but then other people started moving the thread, so I jumped in, I think mostly just to kill time.

Though, I didn't read all the replies. Just mine and Bledpub's, lol.

Hmmm...I had not heard that about WIC. I took a friend to the Health Department just two days ago and she got the formula without any trouble and her baby is less than a week old. I still think breastfeeding is a personal choice and I don't like the idea of the government basically mandating it by making it impossible for low-income families to buy formula. Having worked in social services (with children) I can say that the WIC program has provided hundreds of families in my county the means to feed their children. The majority of the families that I worked with would not have turned to breastfeeding as an alternative if the formula wasn't a part of the WIC program, but would have instead turned to less safe methods, such as using regular milk or other liquids. I have seen it all.

I don't think formula is "easier." There were many nights that I would have loved to have turned over at 2:00 am and picked up my baby and fed him instead of trudging down the stairs, mixing the powder, shaking the bottle to dissolve everything, going back up, and trying to get comfy int he rocking chair. Or making sure that I packed enough cannisters for road trips. Or the frequent "uh oh, did you bring the bottled water?" when we're out at the mall or somewhere and then having to rely on Starbucks or someone else to give us some. Or having a very hungry baby and going through the WIC formula too quickly and having to pay the $15 per canister for the forumla. One month, our formula alone came to $175-and that was AFTER WIC had paid for a month's supply.

I am afraid that this is a topic that I get a little passionate about. I believe in choice and I'll support whatever anyone wants to do. Physically, I can't breastfeed. But even I could I would more than likely choose not to. I think I'll go ahead and stop replying now before this gets too stressful.

Bledpub, the WIC in Washington state is pretty forceful about breastfeeding, too. I am not sure if they pay for formula, they probably would if you had a very good reason not to breastfeed. But most of the time, if there are latching issues, they make the mother and baby come into the office to get a lesson and pretty much force a mother to prove that her baby won't latch before they'll offer to help her pay for formula.

I am always amazed at how some topics can be so emotional and heated. As women and mothers we should support each other in any decisions we make on how to feed our babies. Either way YOU choose will have it's challenges. Educate yourself with both methods. Some resources listed here are good places to start. If it is Breastfeeding you choose it is important to get info before the baby gets here and alot of support in the first hours after birth (hospitals can sabbatoge the breast relationship with a bottle) I would consider the breastfeeding bible a book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." If it is bottle you choose the only advice I would have is don't go out and buy a bunch until you find out what your LO tolerates- I just saw a listing on Craigslist of someone stocking up and their baby had to be switched to some special formula-yikes)Either way you choose it will be right for you. It really does not matter what anyone else thinks or tells you. Good luck

I LOVED it, but had to stop at 6 weeks due to health issues. I am really hoping that I can breastfeed longer with my twins, due in August. LIke eveyrone says, it is very personal. You either feel the satisfaction from it and desire to do it, or you don't and while there are advantages, like saving $$ and immune system advantages, it doesn't mean your baby will be unhealthy if you bottle feed.

Breastfeeding definitely has it's pros and cons and is a personal choice.
I do believe it is the better choice as we were designed to breast feed and be breast fed.

I have three children. My oldest would not latch on. I tried for six weeks pumping milk and trying all kinds of things to get him to nurse and he wouldn't. I met with two different lactation consultants. He did fine on formula and it meant dad could feed him a bottle any time without extra work from me.

My second latched on in the delivery room and nursed like a pro. there is some discomfort as you learn how to nurse, but in the middle of the nigt your milk is ready, there is no bottle to mix or warm or clean. I was able to nurse everywhere we went, but I had to pump while I was away so he would have some milk.

My third is also a breastfed baby. I am glad I do not have to wash bottles because I am so busy with the older kids who are in elementary and middle school, but at the same time when I am exhausted I am the one he needs, he doesn't care when I need to cook dinner or take care of a chore.

I personally enjoy breastfeeding. I love to hold my son in my arms and feel his baby chubiness and know I am providing him with nutrition just like when I was pregnant (he is 11 months so he is on solids as well). My oldest is 13 and i am well aware at how fast they grow up and how quickly you lose the opportunity to cuddle yur child in your arms. I cherish this time....even when I am sleepy or sick.

It is a personal choice and one you might want to discuss with your husband because support is necessary to be successful. Best of luck.