Boobs and bottles

At the hospital when they asked me if I would be breast feeding, the way they asked felt like:

 "do you love your baby?" 

Yes! So, I guess yes...

And so I did, it wasn't easy at first but we finally made it work.

Would a bottle have been easier? No question, it would have been easier, both short term and long term.

But all the medical professionals I interacted with made it clear that "breast is best" when it comes to baby's health.  (My pediatrician recommended breastfeeding for the first two years.) Not to mention the benefit to mom.  If you gained more weight than you wanted during pregnancy your baby will help out with that by drinking caloric rich breast milk.  Thus transferring your bonus calories to someone who needs them more than you.  Breast feeding can also (when things are going right) be relaxing and pleasant.  You don't have to buy it or take care of how you store it and you don't really run out.  The body works to make supply match up with demand.

You will never forget your boobs at home.  But you will also not be able to pass a boob to your child if you are driving and they are in a car-seat in the back of your car.  Though if you are particularly well endowed you might be able to make the reach if you are sitting in the back next to your baby.  (Though this is not a pleasant option.

If you have time breast pumping is an option that makes bottles look fairly nice even if it's not quite the same bonding experience as breast feeding.  It is at least the same nutritional content.  Which is good because apparently breast milk is this magical liquid that isn't fully understood, but is definitely good.

But what if you can't be there to breast feed and you don't have time to pump?   What if you do pump but ran out of milk for your hungry baby? Well baby formula still an option.  

And bottle feeding has the advantage of being something that you can do any time any place.  No creepers leering at you.  No ultra conservatives looking at you askance.  No strange children overly interested in a baby that is currently attached to your chest.  

Just remember that once you put the powder in the water it's only good for two hours.  (Then you have to dump it)  There are liquid formulas that are easier to use but they cost more too.  Not to mention the maintenance of cleaning bottles and having enough with you at all times; just in case.

The important thing to remember is that you know best what makes the most sense for your circumstances.  Don't let others try to make you feel bad for how you feed your baby.  For there will be people on both sides of the argument (and it is an argument) who will be more than happy to try to make you feel bad which ever way you go on this rather personal decision.