How to Decide Between Breast Feeding or Bottle Feeding
Deciding how you feed your baby is one of the very first decisions you will make for your baby. Here are a few pointers to help you decide which is right for you and your baby.
Have you had breast surgery? Sometimes, but not always, breast feeding is not an option for mothers who have had breast augmentation. Talk to your doctor before the baby is born to find out if breast feeding is an option for you.
Will you be a stay at home mom? Stay at home mom's have a higher rate of success with breast feeding than mother's who go back to the office but it doesn't mean its impossible to continue to breast feed your baby. Many offices have nursing rooms where you may pump in privacy. Look into this before you leave for maternity. If it is not in place already, ask them to assign a designated area. Pumping in the ladies room is not comfortable or very private and will discourage even the most seasoned nursing mothers.
Are you expecting to deliver the baby prematurely due to any health reasons for you or the baby? Statistics prove that breastfed premature babies have the best outcomes. If you cannot breast feed for one reason or another, there is a new technique called the kangaroo hold which is basically just holding the naked baby up to your naked chest. For whatever reason, premature babies really do well with this close contact.
New studies show that breast fed babies have higher intelligence. However, the reason is unclear. Many scientists believe that intelligent women chose breastfeeding over bottle feeding and these findings are actually caused by genetics.
Is there a history of allergies in the family? Breast feeding is supposed to reduce the incidence of allergies. Although, this writer is somewhat skeptical as my son's allergist believes his allergies to eggs and peanuts were from exposure during breast feeding. Breast feeding does come in handy when you have an allergic child as the hypo-allergenic formula is very expensive, tastes terrible, smells awful and is very "unnatural.
Are you expecting multiples? Breast feeding multiples is very time consuming. However, you should not be discouraged by others who tell you its not possible to make enough milk to feed them or that your breasts are too small. Your body is an amazing machine and will produce just what your babies need. Discuss this with a lactation specialist for more information or read, "Mothering Multiples". I can tell you first hand, it is possible! I never perfected the double football hold but I did just fine one after another. Bottle feeding multiples makes life somewhat easier as the father and grandparents will be able to help with feedings.
If you decide not to breast feed for one reason or another, remember, that's your choice and you should never feel you've made the wrong decision. There are now several brands of organic formula on the market. I hear they are wonderful and the babies love them. Be smart about your formula choice. Choose a brand that does not list high fructose corn syrup as one of the first few ingredients. Sometimes what the hospital gives you as a sample is not always the best choice for your baby. For example, one brand in particular does not break down the proteins as much as others and may actually cause an allergic reaction in the baby that another brand may not. (this information came from a well known pediatric allergist)