Combination Feeding: Breastfeeding

Thursday, June 21/18

Today's topic is all about combination feeding my little one, and this post is specifically regarding breastfeeding. My last post talked all about formula feeding, the pro's and con's, and the reason why I was combination feeding in the first place. I thought I'd share the pro's and con's of breastfeeding in this post, and I hope you enjoy!

A few things I didn't or don't like about breastfeeding:

- It's not easy. For something being considered so natural, a lot of fricken work goes into it. At first it's a struggle to get the baby to latch, then it becomes painful and it takes a lot longer than it would to give the baby a bottle.

- If, like me, your milk didn't come in very quickly and had to be built up overtime, the pressure to pump is overwhelming. The sound of the Medela double-breast pump will give me nightmares forever. For a while I liked my little Avent hand pump better, and then I realized the continuous pumping would likely give me a severe handcramp for life. Also, my nurse told me the best time to pump was around 4am- so add that to the pump hatred. 

- I cannot begin this point without being very clear that I am so breastfeeding-positive it's ridiculous. I am all for feeding wherever and whenever your baby is hungry- but for such an advocate, I didn't realize just how much I would hate nursing her in front of others. When I'm home alone, or when my hubby's around I couldn't care less and I practically walk around with my baby attached to my boob like it's my job (it kind of is, I suppose), but I've breastfed in front of my Mum, Mother-in-law and close friends, and honestly, I kind of hate it. I suppose it's all personal, really, but it's a negative for me, for sure. 

- The pressure that breastfeeding would increase my bond with my baby. I love my Mum so much, but she among many others just kept saying what a bond you have with your little one while you nurse, and this really bothered me. If I exclusively formula-fed there's no way I would have bonded less with my baby. It is a lovely experience having your baby feeding and bundled up so close, occasionally glancing up at you- but I think fear-mongering about how if you don't breastfeed you won't bond with your baby is nonsense. (For the record, my Mum didn't say anything like that, but being constantly told how great it is to bond with your baby sort of eluded to it)

- It takes ages. Breastfeeding takes a lot longer than bottle feeding, and in the middle of the night I am so thankful for the bottles. 

- You are the only one able to do it (unless you've employed a wet nurse), which means your baby solely requires you for sustenance. It's a lot of pressure!

This obviously isn't a picture of me nursing, I don't seem to have one! And if I did I'm not certain I'd post it online. But here I am with my little baby, and you can clearly see the no-padding, no-underwire nursing bra ready to whip out a boob in less than 2 seconds. 

Things I do like about breastfeeding:

- It can be quite convenient (particularly when I am home with little one). All you have to do is whip the boob out, and woo! A calm, soothed baby.

- The rooting. There is nothing cuter and more hilarious than watching your baby frantically wave his/her head at your nipple desperately trying to latch on. Mouth open, crazy head moving side-to-side- it's pretty funny. I don't even care how cruel it makes me sound. It's hilarious. 

- No equipment is required (unless you pump), and you know the milk is the perfect temperature each time!

- While I wholeheartedly disagree with breastfeeding meaning that you are somehow more bonded/closer to your baby, it is nice that it means you have to set aside the time to quietly sit and feed your baby for a good chunk of time. To me, this meant I got to look at her face so closely, examine her little hands and feet and just take it all in while she was feeding away. You can definitely do this with a bottle too, but when you're breastfeeding I find that there's much less mess, no bibs and no clean-up.

- No mess! (See above)

- The knowledge that breastmilk has wonderful nutrients, antibodies and immunization for my baby is a definite pro. Formula these days really is quite advanced, but this really is the part where I'd have to say 'breast is best'.

- It helps you to lose the baby weight because it burns a lot of calories to feed your baby. This isn't a really important pro for me, but it doesn't hurt either. 

I hope this post was mildly helpful to anyone interested in combination feeding, and who needed some pro's and con's from a relatively new mother! I totally understand that every mother and baby is different, so don't take any of this too seriously, it's just my experience and a ramble about what I like and don't like!