Breastfeeding maybe
Uncertainty is a really discomforting feeling, isn’t it? I remember feeling this way about whether I was going to venture in the breastfeeding world or opt out. Are you there now? Deciding if you are going to breastfeed or not? Maybe try it out? Eh, good 
luck! Just kidding lol. Oh my gosh what exciting times! So, you’re debating on what to do and I’m sure you have some opinionated people trying to sway you in both ears. Yes! You must breastfeed! Breast is best! No! Formula feeding is WAY easier than nursing! Don’t do it your sanity will cease to exist! Ah, so much information to take in and decisions to make, and fast. Hopefully I can help…even though I know the final decision won’t be happening until the big DD.
There are pros and cons to each decision and with each decision comes different sacrifices. In my post today, I’m going to go over some of the main wavering pros and cons on each side. I chose to breastfeed, so I’ll start there. Here are what I love most about being able to breastfeed:
- You can take your milk anywhere
- No need to worry about bottles, feeding supplies, if you packed enough formula etc.
- More room in the diaper bag for fun stuff
- It is free to supply (money wise)
- Formula is expensive! You save hundreds if not thousands from nursing depending on the type of formula your baby would need
- It has the most health benefits for your little one
- Protecting antibodies produced to help ward off sickness via chemicals from them sent to you through sucking.
- Milk changess as your baby grows to supply them with what they need to excel at each stage
- Comforting benefits of mom
- The bonding experience is so amazing
- The bond again, just can’t get enough cuddles with my little man
- Have you ever thought about what is actually in “formula”? creeps me out lol
There are so many wonderful and amazing things about your nursing journey that is unexplainable unless you have gone through the journey yourself. Not helpful but like birth, until you experience it, everything I say is irrelevant. It is so hard and so worth it, like with anything worth working for. The harder the journey the better the reward. I love being able to nurse Michael, the relationship formed through nursing is the most heartwarming and fulfilling experience. I believe everyone has the choice to nurse or not and I feel everyone should at least try it out and see if it is for them. It isn’t easy I’ll tell you now, it is hard work. The main things I didn’t like about breastfeeding are:
- No Freedom
- My biggest drawl back of taking on nursing and making the sacrifice was the lack of freedom. Nursing is a FULL TIME JOB! Think about it, the baby starts out eating 12+ times a day. Early on ya’ll are still developing your feeding relationship and it takes awhile to get them fed. Some are luckier than others and it goes quick. For Michael and I, it took anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour sometimes! That is 12 or more hours a day just feeding! Ouch! It takes its toll on you.
- It hurts in the beginning!
- As you’re developing your feeding relationship and your breasts are adjusting so many changes happen, and it can have a ton of various side effects. Cracked, bleeding, and sore nipples, engorgement to name a few
- Me time goes bye-bye
- You are on a very short intermission break schedule. The days will not be around what you want to do but around a feeding schedule. You’ll learn if you nurse when you begin feeding is when you start the clock down to your next feed, not when you finish. Example: you start feeding at 12am. You finish feeding at 12:45am. The next feed should be starting at 2am. Savvy? (yes, I quoted Captain Jack Sparrow)
- Sacrifice- Just another self-explanatory word to describe breast feeding.
For me there wasn’t too many cons when weighing the pros, but each journey is different. DON’T EVER COMPARE YOUR JOURNEY TO ANYONE ELSES! If I were to be looking and comparing (which let’s face it I’ve done but it sucks) you just give yourself an excuse to have yet another pity party. Maybe you want one, I can tell you though, you don’t need one, at ALL. Now we are well along and have begun eating solids! AH! Where did the time go?! In doing so we have been implementing some formula feeds into the routine. Talk about a game changer! I cannot speak about exclusively formula feeding since I did not take that journey. Jokes on you! Just kidding but since implementing and talking with a bunch of other moms who decided it was the best route for them we came up with pros and cons of formula feeding for you.
Pros:
- You get your body back
- You get your freedom (a little)
- Instead of being on a tight schedule and having to find a place to nurse (if you didn’t pack a pumped bottle) you can go anywhere without the worries of when baby will want to eat again
- Life is plain easier- in the feeding world
- You can ask for and receive help with feeding to give yourself a break when needed
- It doesn’t hurt you physically
- I believe your sanity comes back a lot faster
These all sound pretty grand, don’t they?! Saying no to breastfeeding isn’t a bad thing there are a ton of benefits for you when
you make that choice. What’s best for mom is what’s best for everyone. Right? Yes, duh! If mom ain’t happy no one is happy let’s be real here. These pros may sound great and a much more feasible option for you and your family, so formula feed!
Cons of formula feeding are as followed
- Your baby doesn’t get the health benefits of your breastmilk
- Breastmilk is made for and catered to exactly what your baby needs, and formula doesn’t offer those benefits
- The bonding of mother and child experience isn’t the same
- You don’t get to go through the journey of breastfeeding with your little
- Its “formula”
- Formula is expensive
- There is more to clean and things to buy
When looking at the cons and pros of both you must make the choice on what is more appealing to you and what you want your journey to look like. I wish I had thought more about the decision before the time had come. I also wish I had an article like this to weigh out both sides of the scale for me. I know I didn’t list every single little thing you absolutely must know to make a firm decision, no one would be able to read something that long let’s be real. Lol. And truthfully as much as you may want to make a firm decision before hand, life can throw some funny curve balls at you and will completely change what your “plan” is. This just leaves you for an even bigger upset when the time comes. SO. With all the new information you just absorbed hopefully I helped you waiver in which direction you might lean towards. Leave all options open because you never know what is in store. Know that if what you wanted isn’t what you get to do, the benefits of either journey will outweigh the cons. Everything happens for a reason and you aren’t in this alone! If you haven’t read about saying yes to breastfeeding and saying no to breastfeeding, you MUST check them out! After reading about each side more in depth you can feel more assured in whatever choice you make. Make sure and SUBSCRIBE to my posts to get updated on the latest! As always beautiful, cheers!