The Breast or the Bottle? Our Readers Write!

Name: Christine • Due Date: 06/06/2007

You won't catch me with a spoiled, pampered baby on my breast 24/7. I HAAATED nursing my first child so much that I felt like vomiting every time I heard her "hungry" cry. The worst part was that she would ONLY breastfeed - no bottle, even if it was pumped milk. Never again! Second baby was bottle fed, and it was so much easier. #3 gets the bottle!

Name: emma • Due Date: 04/03/2007

I want to bottle feed my incoming baby coz I'm a working mom. But I believe that breastfeeding is the better than bottle feeding. I experienced that with my first baby. My first baby is unsickly and he is seven years old now.

Name: Alison • Due Date: 10/14/2006

I am currently breastfeeding my little girl. She is 4 months old just now. At first I found it really painful and it was really difficult and Iwould sit in tears because I was torn between my conscience and the pain. However now that the pain is gone it is a wonderful experience and I am glad I persevered. I think there is a lot to consider with Bfeeding as it is quite a tie and there's the whole pain issue. I also think that there is a lot of pressure to Bfeed because it's the "best" thing for baby. I was bottle fed and I know many other bottle fed baby babies who are thriving just as much as my Bfed girl. Only you can decide what's best and I think the bottom line is happy mummy, happy baby.

Name: Melissa • Due Date: 08/08/2006

I was planning to and have successfully been breastfeeding my 6-month old since her birth. I never doubted that I would BF. It was frustrating at first when my milk didn't come in right away, but I stuck with it and am glad I have. There is discomfort at first (soreness), but you get used to it and when you balance it against the benefits to your baby, it's worth it! I went back to work after 10 weeks and still pump twice a day (pumping is more uncomfortable than BF in my opinion, but still important). I have supplemented with formula if I don't have enough milk to satisfy her as she grows, but she prefers breast milk. The bonding is great, although that means that I'm the one who feeds her in the middle of the night. But if you pump, Dad can get involved too. As for Julie's comment (due 9/14/06), if you get sick, you won't pass on the illness by breastfeeding -- on the contrary, you'll pass on important antibodies that you yourself are producing against the illness!

Name: Heather • Due Date: 08/08/2007

I am going to breastfeed also. Everyone is my family and extended family was, and we have all remain healthy. I have a friend who now has a 2 year old little boy who was bottle fed and is still super healthy. He has only been sick a few times. For the ladies that said they were going to bottle feed because they didn't want to take the bonding away from the father, you may think about that breastmilk can be bottled. New bottle nipples try to replicate real nipples, so I hope to be able to breastfeed and allow bottlefeeding for daddy (I hear the breast pump works). This baby will be my first; I am almost 10 weeks.

Name: donna • Due Date: 11/27/2006

This is my third baby, first one i bottle fed and found it alot of hard work washing and making bottles. second baby i breast fed and really enjoyed the experience that i myself was producing the food to keep my baby alive and well and contented but you have to also put in alot of time and patience learning to latch the baby on and feeds are more frequent every hour for the first 2 weeks hubby loved that he could stay in bed and had an excuse. This time i am planning to breastfeed again but i will take it as it comes