Pros
- Great bonding with your child when breastfeeding (skin to skin contact)
- As it's very intimate this helps bonding also
- Easy to latch on with practice
- Can go out with having to make up bottles (one less thing for the changing bag)
- Never run out off milk
- 'Breast is Best' the media loves to guilt-trip us into breast feeding as it really can contain more nutrients and is, after all, the most natural way
- Benefits the body - love hormones and helping recovery of the body after birth (encourages pelvic floor to contract back together we believe)
Cons
- Hard to weening them off after a year
- Don't get a break from feeds because babies are held when they are fed
- The only release is to pump milk, which can further stimulate milk production
- Risk of mastitis
- Feeding is frequent (it is impossible to rest or do household tasks to satisfaction)
- Not all babies latch well and can be tongue-tied
- Embarrassment and reluctance to feed in public
- Partner may not be supportive/ can spark jealousy as breasts are no longer 'his'
Mums on Mars: Pros & Cons - Breast
Pros
- Unique bond no one else has
- Both baby and mother working together (you both learn the technique together)
- Gives a use to otherwise unused boobs!
- De-sexualises the breast
- Can increase awareness of nature's intended use for breasts - just as other animals feed their young it is natural and normal
Cons
- Painful stomach aches whilst feeding as stomach muscles contract back together (or something like that - everything moves back and this f***ing hurts!)
- It's hard for anyone else to take over as expressing takes so long and your baby might be apprehensive about others feeding her
- Can be painful at first and takes a lot of practice
- My daughter would not take a bottle
- Not just anyone could take her out with pumped milk as even then she still refused it
Bottle Feeding
Pros
- Less leakages (breast-wise)
- Can be bought ready-made in most supermarkets
- Choice of formula
- Does not affect the woman's body
- Means any required medication can be taken safely by mother
- Other half can take over feeding duties
- More freedom as hands free (one-handed technique can be developed!)
- Can be easier for baby to latch if breast is not accepted
- Can still be intimate (holding hand, stroking face and hair)
Cons
- Constant washing-up and sterilising
- Anyone can feed - may decrease personal bond or result in others being over-bearing (wanting to take over duties)
- Fining a balance between partner feeding and mother feeding duties
- Must remember bottle warmers and other kit for outings
- More messy - can spill
- Remembering the correct scoops
- Water has to be boiled before using for bottles
- Waiting for milk to warm up/cool down
- Does not induce the 'love hormone' the same way breast feeding does
Mums On Mars: Pros & Cons - Bottle
Pros
- My daughter had to have prescribed formula (lactose free) which would mean she might not have got on with breast anyway
- More independence for baby - eventually can hold bottle on their own
- Easier to maintain eye-contact whilst feeding as baby at different angle compared to on the breast
Cons
- Less intimate
- Personally felt others could take over duties a little too much
Mums: I gave up after only a few days (literally). I had shooting pains down my back, my breasts were so ridiculously engorged that I couldn't wear any kind of bra (they could not be contained: I am usually about a 34 DD, this had swollen to well over 36 F). Every time I pumped I sympathised with dairy cows - the sweet relief was intoxicating and yet my attachment to the pump was loathsome.
However! The incredible rush of love hormones for my child were amazing - not like any other sensation and it appeared as though we were one entity again, as we had been whilst I was pregnant. The bond experienced is out of this world, but for me the pain was not worth it.
Eventually I was persuaded by my partner's Mum to switch to the bottle. Since doing so, my daughter slept soundly, waking every few hours and her feeds were like clockwork - rest assured at exactly 11pm she would be awake and ready to chow down!
I wish that my experience with breast feeding had been a joyous one, but it's not for everyone and I applaud any mother who has persevered with it.
Mars: I think there is never the right thing to do, as long as your child is fed and happy then that's the main thing. I have breastfeed, have gave my child formula. I think I prefer to breastfeed but that's my honest opinion. But trying to get them off is the hardest.
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