The Breast or the Bottle? Our Readers Write!

Name: Laurel • Due Date: 11/03/2006

I am getting so much pressure from the older ladies at the office to breast feed. They just come out and ask me if I am going to breastfeed and when I say I dont know, they are so shocked and judgemental. They then start lecturing me about how much better it is etc., making me feel guilty about not really knowing. I wasnt breast fed, my husband wasnt, no one in my family was, I am having a c-section for medical reasons, I need to go back on 2 types medical medication that I havent been able to take since I was pregnant, and you cant take while nursing, I want my husband to have a bonding experience with the baby too through feeding him, but I dont feel I need to explain all of this to them so I just listen to them and dont really say anything back to them about it. I just nod my head and smile. I really feel like telling them it is none of their business and I feel that just them asking me is very innappropriate for the workplace.

Name: Leah J • Due Date: 10/21/2006

This is baby number three, a boy...I have two girls ages 8 and 5 already and I breastfed them both, the eldest up to 8 mths and the youngest up to her 13th month. While at home on maternity leave with them I bottle and breastfed, but only with breastmilk, just so the transition once they entered daycare wouldn't be too difficult. Its the healthiest and most convenient way to feed your kids and I would recommend giving it at least a month before giving up on it. Yes your breast will be sore but the overall benefit is a healthy baby who hardly ever has sick visits to the doctor, my girls only go for physicals once a year.

Name: Amber • Due Date: 09/25/2006

I will breastfeed as I did with my first. It was hard, time consuming, and sometimes frustrating. People have asked me if I have considered not BFing this time (to make things easier!) and I say certainly not! My first child was NEVER sick her first year. She has never had much more than a cold or sore throat since. Didn't have one ear infection until age 4. I would not risk denying my baby these benefits! And yes, I went back to work and pumped until she was 8 months old. After that, we supplemented with formula. A bonus: it was really easy to lose that baby weight nursing every two hours!

Name: star • Due Date: 07/20/2006

i bottle fed my first child and my 5 week old is currently breastfeeding. i believe in the benefits of breastfeeding but i also get bothered by the idea that bottle fed babies are not as smart as breastfed. my six year old is one of the smartest kids in his first grade class and he was always ahead of his peers. i don't see the difference in the development of my children they're equally bright

Name: J • Due Date: 06/02/2006

I had a tough start to breastfeeding and have compromised by exclusively pumping. It's time-consuming, but I'm still able to provide 3 bottles of my milk and 2 bottles of formula, but at least I can do that!!!

Name: Sheri • Due Date: 11/20/2006

Sure breastfeeding is the best option, BUT sometimes it is not an option. My son was born with a tumor in his neck and a torn neck muscle (we didn't know bout it at first), and he could not position his head in the correct way to latch on. Every time I tried breastfeeding he would scream bloody murder. I was so relieved to just feed him with a bottle after many days of trying. I HATE it when people comment that they would ONLY breastfeed because you don't know the situation that you will be in. Be flexible and do what is best for you and baby!