re: ok Breastfeeding moms!!!!

pro
-I love that when she's hungry I don't have to scramble to get a bottle ready while she's screaming and hungry. I just whip out the boob.
- money saving
-less poops!
-I don't worry at all about her not getting enough, or getting proper nutrients.
- no sterilizing bottle/caps/nipples all the frigging time
- the bond is incredible
- her spit up doesn't smell like awful formula haha

con
- EBF is very demanding. I feel like I can't get a minute alone to do anything for myself. she refuses bottles.
-other people get jealous that they can't feed her|

thats all

Quoting kate & tilly:" If my opinion there is nothing that would be a con about breast feeding."

The con is that you can't be away from you kid for more than 3 hours at a time and the LO is constatly on your boob. It is very demanding. Beneficial to baby, but very demanding. I'd say the other con is the possibility of your LO getting thrush multiple times or Mom getting mastitis. Those are just the experiences I've seen.

Quoting Lizplustwo:"   I guess I can understand someone choosing not to breastfeed...but to not agree with breastfeeding entirely? That makes no sense to me. "

She thinks it's repulsive but says she can understand newborns doing it but only until they are old enough to eat "real food" or can talk. She does agree with older children. She is definitely anti extended breastfeeding. She thinks it's weird that my LO can walk and talk and still bfs. I've hardly seen her in 2 years because of it, she's hardly seen my LO because of it despite her always saying she wishes she was. Her loss really.

Quoting 36-24-36OnlyIfshes5-3:" She thinks it's repulsive but says she can understand newborns doing it but only until they are old ... [snip!] ... in 2 years because of it, she's hardly seen my LO because of it despite her always saying she wishes she was. Her loss really. "

sounds like my best friend. she told me it's wrong to breastfeed once the baby is mobile. it "disgusting and wrong" actually.
she gets super uncomfortable if she's over and I feed the baby.

Quoting Dallas ♥ Isla:" sounds like my best friend. she told me it's wrong to breastfeed once the baby is mobile. it "disgusting and wrong" actually. she gets super uncomfortable if she's over and I feed the baby."

People are so immature.

Quoting Dallas ♥ Isla:" sounds like my best friend. she told me it's wrong to breastfeed once the baby is mobile. it "disgusting and wrong" actually. she gets super uncomfortable if she's over and I feed the baby."

My whole family thinks this. I feed ds in a different room from everyone so I can avoid it.

Going to throw a bunch of cons out there since the pros have been covered.

Cons:
- You no longer own your own body. You are your baby's milk bitch.
-It's not easy to induce lactation when your baby is in the NICU and physically not ready to latch
- Not convienent for working moms in the least bit.
- You might as well live with your shirt off the first 6 weeks.
-If your baby refuses a bottle, throw "me" time out the window.
- Nipple confusion's a mother smurfer
- Supply problems if you have to pump long term
- Your LIFE will revolve around breastfeeding the first few months, and at certain times during the first year... and second year...
- Toddlers like to bite.
- You may end up leaking fenugreek out of your pores.
- mother's milk tea tastes like smurf.
- Letting down 2 years after you stopped breastfeeding and soaking your shirt.
- Nursing pads get stinky.
- Nipple cream is hard to apply in public.
- Quality breast pumps are expensive if your insurance won't cover it and you can't rent one.
-Other babies crying makes you let down.


I'm sure there's more... that's all I can think of right now  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Destinite:</b>" The con is that you can't be away from you kid for more than 3 hours at a time and the LO is constatly ... [snip!] ... of your LO getting thrush multiple times or Mom getting mastitis. Those are just the experiences I've seen. "</blockquote>




None of that has ever bothered me at all. Dd has been breastfed for 10 and a half months so far. I'm a sahm though. It's not like I have anything else I have to get done. I could see not being able to seperate for well any length of time being a con for someone that needs to go to work.

Quoting kate & tilly:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Destinite:</b>" The con is that you can't be away from you ... [snip!] ... get done. I could see not being able to seperate for well any length of time being a con for someone that needs to go to work."

My sister really struggled with this. Watching what she went through almost made me not want to BF any future children. I still will, but it won't be for 15-16 months like she did.
Some people need the flexibility to have others feed the baby for their own sanity purposes.

Pros
1.) Babies love it.
2.) The bonding time.
3.) The first time your baby looks up and smiles at you while nursing.
4.) It's biologically normal and the most comforting thing you can do for your infant.
5.) Any other way of feeding increases the risks of certain diseases in mom (breast cancer, ovarian cancer.)
6.) Any other way of feeding increases the risks of certain diseases in baby (obesity, diabetes, eczema, ear infections, etc.)
7.) You never have to worry about not having enough food for baby.
8.) Your baby will have food in the case of a crisis that could knock out power and water (hurricane, blizzard, etc.)
9.) In most cases, it is much easier than bottle feeding, especially after a few months.

Cons
1.) The first few weeks to months can be very rough.
2.) Many areas (and families) have a lack of support - many people still think it is perverted, gross, or something that should be done in privacy.
3.) Leaking is very annoying.
4.) If you get mastitis, you may find yourself wondering why you ever, ever, ever chose to breastfeed (but it goes away fast enough! )

<blockquote><b>Quoting Destinite:</b>" My sister really struggled with this. Watching what she went through almost made me not want to BF ... [snip!] ... be for 15-16 months like she did. Some people need the flexibility to have others feed the baby for their own sanity purposes."</blockquote>




I'm sure some people do. It can be difficult at times I won't say it's not. I struggled in the beginning. It was really hard to start especially with dd in nicu. I felt like a failure because we were struggling so much. After we finally got the hang of it though it got easier. I feel like breastfeeding as long as dd wants too because we struggled so much and worked so hard to do it in the first place. I guess maybe I view it as a huge accomplishment for us so it changes my view of it altogether.

Quoting kate & tilly:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Destinite:</b>" My sister really struggled with this. Watching ... [snip!] ... to do it in the first place. I guess maybe I view it as a huge accomplishment for us so it changes my view of it altogether."

It is an accomplishment!

Quoting Destinite:" It is an accomplishment!"

I may be biased but I don't view breastfeeding as an accomplishment. It's just doing what our bodies are made to do.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Fatty McRunnerPants:</b>" I may be biased but I don't view breastfeeding as an accomplishment. It's just doing what our bodies are made to do."</blockquote>



I think this is exactly the way I would feel had all the nicu nurses and lactation consultants not told me I should just give up. It is what our bodies are supposed to do. I don't think I would feel this way about it had that not happened. I never even questioned it or my ability to or my child's ability to before.

It is what our bodies are supposed to do, but in this day and age (when breastfeeding doesn't seem to be the norm), it really does take a lot of commitment. Especially if you work outside the home.