Oh Jess, I don't mean to sound like that is the only way to go! I know there are instances where mothers can't breastfeed. My sister-in-law has Lupus and just had a baby girl and can't breastfeed because of her medication. Sometimes there are reasons why women can't, but at least they tried. Formula is not a bad thing if you can't breastfeed, and you can bond with you baby if you are holding him/her while giving a bottle. I am sorry you had to go through all that with the mastitis-I had it twice in the first 6 weeks after my son was born; it was awful. But it sounds like you had a worse case than I did. Maybe the next time you will be able to breastfeed; my other sister-in-law is breastfeeding her new baby and wasn't able to with her first child, but is doing well with it now. I do promote breastfeeding and encourage all mothers to try; but you are not a bad mother if you bottle feed your baby.

There are a number of pros and cons to breast and bottle feeding. Yes, breast milk is best for your baby. Hands down scientifically proven and all that. However, there can be any number of reasons why a woman may not be able to or should not breastfeed or use breastmilk. I think everyone that can should give it a try. However, I also think that women who don't breastfeed shouldn't be made to feel guilty about it. My middle child had breastmilk jaundice and we spent the first 2 weeks of her life getting her heel poked every day so they could test her bilirubin levels, we spent 2 days under the lights and we were going to have to go back in again. The doctor said she should be through it by 4 months of age and we should just hang in there. I went home that night and put her on formula, the jaundice was gone by the end of the next day. I couldn't stand to take my little girl in and have her blood drawn every day for 4 months and then spend more time with her in a bassinet under lights and not be able to hold her. I bonded with her just as strongly as my other 2 children who I did breastfeed, and I realized that bottle feeding has its own benefits. I didn't feel even a little guilty over my choice to stop nursing because I felt it was in my baby's best interest. It's an individual choice for individual reasons, do what's best for you and your baby.

iluvandy wrote:

QUOTE:
I'm hoping to get a job in a doctors office. I'm just a CNA, but some doctors offices around here hire them so thats what I really want to do. Maybe they will allow me some time to do it. I just dont want my breast to leak all over me and soak my shirt! That would be embarrassing!!!!!!:blush: :ohmy:

There are nursing bras and pads that you can purchase to control leaking. There are disposable and washable pads, I used washable. There was a time when I had to double-up my pads to control leakage, but it didn't last long. Good luck.

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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt, 'This Is My Story,' 1937

I don't believe there was anything negative in this post regarding formula feeding. The formula they make today is eons beyond what they used to make.

But the question was asked on whether to formula feed or breastfeed and the benefits of breastfeeding were encourage. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, breastfeeding should be encouraged.

I am sorry about what happened to Jess and Silversky32. I believe you both made the best decisions you could for your families and that is all anyone can do.

I don't believe this started out as a negative post and the fact that it has been turned into one saddens me greatly.

I wish the best for you all.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to come off as defensive about breast vs. formula. I was just trying to make the point that it is important to try to breastfeed, but if it doesn't work out then that's ok too. I think that a lot of women develop a fantasy of what having a baby is going to be like and they don't take into consideration things might not go by the book. This can apply to everything from having a ceserean instead of vaginal delivery, to the ability to nurse. When things don't go as planned many women feel like they have failed. I think it's great that ILuvAndy has decided breast feeding is something she wants to try. I just wanted her to realize that pregancy and parenthood are full of surprises and sometimes you have to be able to roll with whatever is thrown at you. I didn't mean to be negative at all, I apologize.

Thanks everyone for telling me experiences and suggestions about both. I'm sorry those of you who didn't get so lucky with breast feeding. I definetly will try it at first and if it doesn't work then I will have to go to formula. There are a lot of pros and cons to both. I hope it works out though. I'm kinda scared of the fact of my nipples being so sore. (I know it very personal), They get sore sometimes even when I'm on my period so I can imagine what they might feel like after having a baby then with them sucking on them. Did anyone else experience pain with that?