Breastfeeding Opinion Review

My story in breastfeeding: My son was born at 32 weeks, weighing in at 4 pounds. Nearly a month in the NICU was tough on all of us, and I have a strong memory of being told by a lactation specialist when my son and I were having trouble nursing that if I didn't pump for him and he didn't latch on soon, my son would die.

I was hearbroken and eventually was SO stressed out from the multple trips to the NICU and that lactation specialist that I gave up on pumping and nursing altogether. I had this glamorous mothering idea of breastfeeding, and I was devasted. When my son had colic and another mother told me I should have breastfed, I was devasted.

With my daughter, I was able to breastfeed, and I wouldn't give that up for the world. It was the best 3 months of my life.

Obviously I've been down both paths. I've seen the good and bad sides of breastfeeding and very obsessive mothers and lactation specialists.

 The Pros:

1) An amazing bond - even at 2 AM, it feels amazing
2) Always available - no need to make up a bottle; you have everything you need on your body
3) Great health benefits for the baby - Less chance of allergies, asthma, diabetes, etc.
4) Great health benefits for YOU - Baby weight be-gone!
5) Always in supply/cheap - you just need to keep the calories up and be sure you nurse enough to keep the supply in demand

The Cons:

1) Daddy time? - Sure the father can change the baby for you and hand her off, but it's tough on him sometimes
2) Exhaustion - some babies nurse every 2 hours and nurse for 30 minutes at a time. You do the math. That's one exhausted Mama!
3) Sore body - sore nippled, sore, overfilled breasts...you learn a lot of places will eventually become sore that you didn't even know could!
4) Feel unsexy (for some women) - some women I know have felt completely unsexy while nursing. Sure they were following what nature intended and keep their child healthy, but they just didn't  feel as sexy  as they did when they weren't lactating.
5) Baby just doesn't latch - let's be honest, if the baby doesn't latch on quickly, it's tough to stay motivated. It's easy to feel like you're a bad mom because you can't.
6) Leaking - nothing is quite as attractive as leaking through a nursing bra and breast pad.

In the end, this about YOUR baby. This is your YOUR right to make the decision. I can tell you from experience that the worst about NOT breastfeeding are having other mothers make you feel inadequate because you decided not to breastfeed. That's the worst part - whether or not you decide to breastfeed is up to you.

I found it an amazing experience and an incredibly frustrating experience. Just have the confidence that you are doing what's best for YOUR CHILD.

I should add that babies may or may not be less sick. My son was in daycare, formula-fed and was only sick twice in 18 months. My daughter was in daycare, breast AND formula-fed and has been sick 5 times in the last 11 months.