subject: Nursing Is Less Convenient? [print this page] Before deciding that it is more convenient to use formula, take a moment to really examine the pros of breast feeding. Besides the fact that the breast is the most natural choice, there are a number of reasons that you may want to re-consider before you decide on a feeding method.
At night, it is definitely the more convenient option. When you are groggy and really don't want to be out of bed,breast feeding is by far the most convenient thing there is going. If you are doing formula, you are guarunteed to be up for at least a half an hour if not more while you go to the kitchen, mix and heat a bottle. If you're breast feeding, you get to sit down relax and nurse.. Along the same line of convenience, is the issue of travel. We were traveling a bit this summer and when my baby wanted to eat, she wanted to eat yesterday! There was no thought in her mind of waiting long enough for us to find somewhere, anywhere to pull over and make a bottle up. I was so thankful we were breast feeding and all I had to worry about was getting comfortable.
There are some people who find it nerve wracking to nurse in a public place but if this is a real issue for you, there are some very nice covers such as Udder Covers. They cover everything but have a wire or plastic insert at the top which pulls the fabric away from the baby's face and allows you to see what you're doing. You can also pump ahead of time and bottle feed when you are out. Even if you are pumping for feeding when you are out, the convenience of the rest of the nursing schedule still outweighs the inconvenience of periodic pumping.
Breast milk is designed specifically for the changing needs of your growing baby in a way formula isn't even close to replicating. All of a mother's immunities are passed on through her milk. A baby's digestive system is such that very little actually gets broken down in the stomach and their intestines are porous allowing the nutrients of the milk to pass through and fortify the body. A baby's digestive system is not sophisticated enough to handle anything other than their mothers milk. Formula contains hard proteins that pass undigested through a babys intestinal walls into the blood stream and wreak havoc on the immature body. They end up slipping whole past the porous walls of the intestines and wreaking havoc on the body causing problems such as allergies, sickness and other unpleasant side effects. Cow's milk proteins after they have been pasteurized are particularly hard to break down. Unfortunately most formulas are based either on cow's milk or soy.
Nursing takes a lot of work and some women encounter obstacles. . I am not going to even attempt to say that nursing is easy because its not. It is however, not impossible and with the right support is enjoyable. The learning stage of breast feeding is hard and somewhat painful but technique is everything! Find a good lactation consultant that can show you tricks and ways of latching that don't hurt. Learning to breast feed is a huge change that takes a little while to get the hang of but once you do, the bond you experience with your baby is almost impossible to replicate with bottle feeding.
If are in the middle of breast feeding and are struggling or are looking for tips on latching, check out my other posts on latching. Happy feeding!
