Breastfeeding: pros and cons
Breastfeeding is a tricky one to talk about. I always thought I'd give it a bash. Why not? Nothing to lose, breast is best blah blah.
However I also always had it in my head that I would failure and end up using formula. And I didn't mind this, I wasn't breastfed and I grew up just fine.
Turns out though as well as being best for baby it is SUPER convenient for you and that's why I really would recommend sticking it out if you can.
The first few weeks are shit there's no doubt about it but with some perseverance and nipple saving methods, if you can get through it, it is worth your while. You're told that if your baby doesn't latch on properly then it will hurt. What they don't tell you is, regardless of the latch it's still going to hurt the first two weeks. I used nipple shields and expressing occasionally to get me through and a whole lot of nipple cream.
There are some negatives that formula feeding does eliminate:
- Boobs are milk machines and they sometimes will leak.
- No one can help you feed without forward planning. It's all on you. Every late night and early morning duty is yours.
- It hurts, a lot at first.
- Can't really drink alcohol.
-Bit embarrassing getting boob out in public.
However the positives do outweigh these I believe and I won't even include the nutritional aspect. These are all completely selfish reasons:
-You don't have to fuck around with formula or bottles. No mixing, sterilising, warming, shaking, washing.
- In the middle of the night you don't have to leave your bed. Or turn any lights on, just grab the baby and stick it on.
- It's free! And you know what they say about the best things in life...
- It makes you feel all proud and gooey over your body and your baby.
- It burns 500 calories a day and you're not allowed to diet so you can continue your pregnancy eating whatever the hell you want. Score.
-No alcohol = no hangovers.
-Breastfed babies have less smelly sick and poo. Joy.
- They get less wind and therefore cry less keeping you up to silly o'clock.
- You don't have to carry bottles around or plan how much to take out.
-It's always the perfect temperature and right amount.
I know sometimes nature gets in the way and you run into problems and can't continue which is a shame but certainly not the end of the world. I just wanted to write and encourage anyone who was on the fence about sticking at it in the early weeks when you have enough on your plate coping with parenthood let alone with a small person attached to you every couple of hours!!
Breastfeeding is a tricky one to talk about. I always thought I'd give it a bash. Why not? Nothing to lose, breast is best blah blah.
However I also always had it in my head that I would failure and end up using formula. And I didn't mind this, I wasn't breastfed and I grew up just fine.
Turns out though as well as being best for baby it is SUPER convenient for you and that's why I really would recommend sticking it out if you can.
The first few weeks are shit there's no doubt about it but with some perseverance and nipple saving methods, if you can get through it, it is worth your while. You're told that if your baby doesn't latch on properly then it will hurt. What they don't tell you is, regardless of the latch it's still going to hurt the first two weeks. I used nipple shields and expressing occasionally to get me through and a whole lot of nipple cream.
There are some negatives that formula feeding does eliminate:
- Boobs are milk machines and they sometimes will leak.
- No one can help you feed without forward planning. It's all on you. Every late night and early morning duty is yours.
- It hurts, a lot at first.
- Can't really drink alcohol.
-Bit embarrassing getting boob out in public.
However the positives do outweigh these I believe and I won't even include the nutritional aspect. These are all completely selfish reasons:
-You don't have to fuck around with formula or bottles. No mixing, sterilising, warming, shaking, washing.
- In the middle of the night you don't have to leave your bed. Or turn any lights on, just grab the baby and stick it on.
- It's free! And you know what they say about the best things in life...
- It makes you feel all proud and gooey over your body and your baby.
- It burns 500 calories a day and you're not allowed to diet so you can continue your pregnancy eating whatever the hell you want. Score.
-No alcohol = no hangovers.
-Breastfed babies have less smelly sick and poo. Joy.
- They get less wind and therefore cry less keeping you up to silly o'clock.
- You don't have to carry bottles around or plan how much to take out.
-It's always the perfect temperature and right amount.
I know sometimes nature gets in the way and you run into problems and can't continue which is a shame but certainly not the end of the world. I just wanted to write and encourage anyone who was on the fence about sticking at it in the early weeks when you have enough on your plate coping with parenthood let alone with a small person attached to you every couple of hours!!