The Breast or the Bottle? Our Readers Write!

Name: sabrina • Due Date: 02/02/2008

defenitly if at all possible breastfeeding is best.i meen you cant replicate breast milk we have those extra special vitamins and they need that bond.

Name: Debbie • Due Date: 12/28/2007

as an african american woman i don't know very many women who have breastfed their babies. however, after questioning a few of my friends, i found that they breastfed their babies. i am not under any type of pressure either way, but i am concerned about the binding factor of it all. i know that breastfed babies are more attached to their mother and for the most part my life is pretty busy. the other factor is that my husband only wants me to breastfeed so that he doesn't have to spend money on formula, which has gone up since my last baby ten years ago. i haven't made any definite decisions and probably won't until the baby is actually in my arms.

Name: margaret • Due Date: n/a

Planning on breast feeding my twin is pressuring me to but I am pressuring mysef too. I hope and pray it goes well. Due January 3 2008

Name: Denise • Due Date: 08/08/2007

I am due any day with my 2nd and I plan to breast feed. I breastfed my 1st child and it was wonderful. Just the cost savings alone is enough of an incentive for anyone to try it. There is also the benefit of never being stuck without formula, heating up bottles, cleaning bottles, and just the overall bond you share when you nurse is amazing. The health benefits for your baby and yourself is also an added bonus. If you are unable to produce enough milk or the baby has issues with not feeding correctly, that is always disappointing, but breastfeeding would be my frist recommendation to any new mother.

Name: dawn • Due Date: 06/20/2007

I am expecting my first child. I think I prefer to bottle feed my baby as I think breastfeeding would feel uncomfortable.

Name: Dodi Baruzza • Due Date: 05/03/2007

I am 38 weeks along and will probably have labour induced in a couple of days as I have developed hypertension. My hope is to breastfeed for at least six months exclusively. I haven't found people to be pushy on this particular issue. Most people just ask out of curiousity and often share what route they chose and the positive/negative sides to it. My biggest fear is that the baby won't take to it, but only time will tell. I am fortunate as I have a niece who is just about finished her nursing course and has been focusing her future career on the pre-natal issues with some courses in breastfeeding, so I will have some extra help right close to home. One thing though, I will want privacy for the feedings as I'm not a big fan of making everyone watch or feel uncomfortable.