As one already knows, there are pros and cons to breastfeeding. I will list a few below for you to look over.
The Benefits Of Breastfeeding
If you are a first time mom considering breastfeeding for the first time, you might be asking WHY is breastfeeding so important? Below are some things that are considered beneficial with breastfeeding.
Amazing health for baby -- This is the most obvious reason to breastfeed , because it provides quite an incredible amount of health benefits for your baby both now and in the future. Breastmilk contains a mix of antibodies, vitamins, fluids, and fat to help with growth. You may have even heard that your milk changes as they get older or sick. This is true. Your milk contains substances to help fight off diseases and infections quickly.
More affordable -- While this reason is not the main reason mothers choose to breastfeed, it is a huge benefit. If you add up the cost of bottles, formula, water, electricity, and cleaning supplies you may need, it can get costly! Breastfeeding on the other hand, is essentially free. The only thing you need to do is make sure you are well fed and hydrated. If you are a mom who will be returning to work, you may need to purchase a pump and bottles, but the pump may be covered under your insurance.
Can be more convenient -- Depending on how comfortable you are, you can just put baby to breast while out at the store or visiting family. No need to try to comfort a screaming baby while prepping a bottle because it is always available! Plus, if you are a mombie (zombie ;) ), it is much easier at night to just whip out the boob than to try to prepare a bottle while half asleep and baby is screaming.
It creates more bonding experiences -- Okay, I'm not saying bottle feeding does not create bonding experiences, but there is definitely a difference in bonding opportunity when breastfeeding. When baby is first born, they come into this new, big, bright, scary world and they are essentially terrified. But the bond of mom and baby being close provides comfort as well as the feeling of warmth, safety and protection.
It helps mom lose weight faster -- This is one of the most liked benefits of all moms alike. Breastfeeding burns calories, shrinks the placenta at a quicker rate, usually delays the return of the menstrual cycle (mine did not return for 2 years), and keeps mom's bones strong.
The Downside to Breastfeeding
Of course with benefits come challenges. Unfortunately, there are many uninformed mothers out there who are unable to breastfeed. Below are some of the disadvantages that can come with breastfeeding.
Can be physically challenging -- While there are a ton of amazing benefits, it can also be physically challenging. For example, there are tongue ties, lip ties, mastitis, and other things such as pain when your milk comes in. Not everybody is able to handle that, so they choose to bottle feed, which is okay! It is hard to make sure you are doing it right, making sure you are producing enough and not too much, and that baby is gaining weight appropriately.
Can only be done by mom -- Sometimes breastfeeding is exhausting, especially the first few weeks because your baby is feeding around the clock and you just want a break. That can be very hard when mom is literally the only person that can feed baby. Yes you can pump, but you want to avoid nipple confusion the first few weeks, so it is best not to at first.
It can sometimes make it impossible for baby to take a bottle -- A breastfed baby usually LOVES the boob, and some refuse anything else. If you want a date night, best idea is to leave right after feeding and be back before they are hungry again. I went through this personally myself with both my second daughter and son. My second daughter I didn't go out too often, but my son I did with his father. We had some events or date nights we wanted to go out to, so I had to make sure he was nursed before and we got back in time for the next feeding. It made it difficult, but the benefits to me outweigh the disadvantages.
Breastfeeding in public can be hard -- Some women don't care, some think it's humiliating to breastfeed in front of others. There will be people out there who glare, who tell you it is disgusting and go do it in the bathroom. Some women use a cover, and some aren't comfortable to do any of it. This makes it hard when baby is hungry, especially if your nursling refuses bottles.
I hope that these pros and cons help you to decide which direction you want that is best for your family and baby. Whether that is breastfeeding for the first few months, pumping, bottle or formula, you are the mom and whatever decision you choose, you are making the right choice for you, your baby and your family.
