Breast feeding does not come with an instruction manual, and although it is natural for a mother to want to nurse her own child sometimes it is not possible. There are many different conflicting opinions on the merits of breastfeeding; some thirty years ago women were told that bottle feeds were best for their child, now the trend has reversed again with emphasis being placed on breastfeeding to give your child the best start in life. Women feel a lot of pressure regarding breastfeeding, at a time when really they need support and encouragement, and some women feel ostracised if they are not planning to breastfeed their child. However you are planning to feed your baby make sure you are comfortable with that decision and stick by it. The most important thing is that your baby is being cared for and fed, no matter how it gets it’s milk.

If you want to breastfeed your baby then you are giving it a good start in life. Breast milk is said to give a baby immunities from it’s mother to disease for the first delicate months of it’s life. There have also been references to breast milk helping reduce ear infections, eczema and asthma in babies. Your baby was designed to feed from it’s mother and to take all the nutrients it needs from you, as it has for the past nine months. However, breastfeeding is not easy and will take practice from both of you. It is also good if you take advice from a le leche league instructor or midwife who will be able to help if you are having feeding problems. Breastfeeding is also good for the mother as it helps bring the uterus back to it’s pre-pregnancy shape quicker and, if you are lucky, you many not have you period for another six months.

You may want your baby to have breast milk, but may not want your baby to suckle from you. There are good breast pumps now available for you to be able to do this; you can also freeze breast milk as well as chill it so that your baby will have a ready supply and you are not tied to the nursing chair. This is great for women who are intending to go back to work quickly or want freedom from continuous nursing. It also means your partner is able to be involved more with feeding.

Some women do not want to, or are unable to, breastfeed. As I said before, there is nothing wrong with making the choice not to breastfeed as supplementary feeds are very good these days and are full of everything a growing baby needs. There are many reasons for not breastfeeding; illness, medication, stress, feeding problems and fear are just a few. However, do not let peer pressure make a decision for you; if your mother bottle fed you she may feel that you must bottle feed your baby even if you want to breastfeed. You may also feel pressure from medical professionals to breastfeed if you want to bottle feed. Make sure it is your decision as it is one you will have to live with.

Some women should not breastfeed their babies; those who are on drugs or medication as it can be passed on to the baby, those who are suffering from depression as you may need to take medication to help, women who are undertaking radical dieting to get back into shape, women who are suffering from an illness that will require medical attention or drugs. If breastfeeding may impair your health you should contact your medical practitioner for advice.

As a mother of two I breastfed both of my children. With my first child I did have a few problems, especially as my milk was slow in coming through and by the time it did he was ravenous and I hadn’t slept for three days. He continually wanted to suckle which left me sore and exhausted as well as demoralized, but I stuck with it and he is now a very healthy little boy. So I was prepared with my second child. I decided that if my milk was as slow coming through the second time then I would supplement him with a bottle until it came through. As it turned out I till have the bottles, unopened, and the formula in the cupboard and he is still feeding now at ten months old.

Breastfeeding is good for you and for your baby and will help you bond. But giving your baby the best start in life is the most important thing to consider, however you feed your baby.

By: Donna Newnham

About the Author:

There are many tips and tricks for breastfeeding that might make you unsure which way to turn. For some tips that actually worked for a real, breastfeeding mother have a look at my hub at http://www.hubpages.com/hub/Tips-for-breast-feeding