Breast or bottle? A touchy question. A touchy subject.
My 'disclaimer'
I think it is probably safe to say that we all know 'breast (milk) is best'. It is also probably safe to say that not everyone is able breastfeed and/or produce breast milk. For some, it will come down to free choice. Instead of lecturing (or perceiving to lecture) anyone on how best to feed your infant Miss/Master, I aim to offer some things I have learnt that make feeding time easier - whatever your choices.
When I started writing this blog, (some weeks ago now), I felt pretty confident it would not be a challenging one to write; more fool me for having such false confidence! Yes, I have practical experience of feeding infant Miss and Masters. Yes, through volunteer work and mummy friendship circles I have further exposure to the feeding of infant Miss and Masters. Do these experiences make me an expert? No. Certainly not, and I cringe to think that what I blog may be read as 'expert advice'. Do I have a right to an opinion on the matter? Yes. Of course, as does everyone. My starting aim was to share some things I have learnt that make feeding time easier, which I will do. But I felt that more is needed from this blog. So here goes. Please remember, I am not preaching or making any Daddy Pig claims of expertise...
Breastfeeding has a number of benefits....
Travelling with a breastfed Miss/Master means no feeding supplies need be packed, nor declared or tasted if travelling through airports, and you are not reliant upon supplies or services from others (eg airline staff) to feed your Miss/Master. Offering top-up feeds during road trip stops is a great way of keeping Miss/Master happier for longer. Immediately feeding Miss/Master upon stopping and (for longer stops) directly before departure may just prevent a hungry belly en route. Mama's 'never ending' milk supply is a perpetual back-up plan for short outings that run unexpectedly long, which is great if you are easily lost in a cuppa and a chat like I am. And, as garish as it may be to bring money into the equation, (it is a fact of life for most of us), in its purest form, breastfeeding is a healthy feeding option that is completely free.
Bottle feeding affords different benefits...
In addition to milk (breast or formula), bottles make great non-spill containers for food on the run (eg home made soups, powdered or pureed food) and can convert into sippy cups. One of the most obvious bonuses is the sharing of feeding duties, but there are others; feeding during travel does not require the release of safety harnesses, Miss/Master will eventually hold the bottle without any assistance and parents may more easily get parent time (suitable childminding arrangements permitting). My best tip for bottle feeding is to use the period after bedtime to ensure every feeding related item is clean, prepared and ready for use during the night and the early part of the following day.
Breastfeeding provides a bonding experience between mother and Miss/Master, but one could argue that bottle feeding provides a similar opportunity for both parents.
Breastfeeding has a number of benefits....
Travelling with a breastfed Miss/Master means no feeding supplies need be packed, nor declared or tasted if travelling through airports, and you are not reliant upon supplies or services from others (eg airline staff) to feed your Miss/Master. Offering top-up feeds during road trip stops is a great way of keeping Miss/Master happier for longer. Immediately feeding Miss/Master upon stopping and (for longer stops) directly before departure may just prevent a hungry belly en route. Mama's 'never ending' milk supply is a perpetual back-up plan for short outings that run unexpectedly long, which is great if you are easily lost in a cuppa and a chat like I am. And, as garish as it may be to bring money into the equation, (it is a fact of life for most of us), in its purest form, breastfeeding is a healthy feeding option that is completely free.
Bottle feeding affords different benefits...
In addition to milk (breast or formula), bottles make great non-spill containers for food on the run (eg home made soups, powdered or pureed food) and can convert into sippy cups. One of the most obvious bonuses is the sharing of feeding duties, but there are others; feeding during travel does not require the release of safety harnesses, Miss/Master will eventually hold the bottle without any assistance and parents may more easily get parent time (suitable childminding arrangements permitting). My best tip for bottle feeding is to use the period after bedtime to ensure every feeding related item is clean, prepared and ready for use during the night and the early part of the following day.
Breastfeeding provides a bonding experience between mother and Miss/Master, but one could argue that bottle feeding provides a similar opportunity for both parents.
Having the luxury of choice and experience of both, hypothetically, what would I do next time?
Breastfeeding is my hands down winner. Forgetting the health benefits for a moment, most of our family live abroad and breastfeeding, for me, is the only way when facing travel that is great in time, distance or frequency. The cost of a little forward planning far outweighs the bottle preparation, expressing and formula-weaning* palaver. On the other hand, why breastfeed past the point of 'nutritional benefit'**? In this situation I choose convenience; if Miss/Master is old enough to dispense with sterilisation then Miss/Master is old enough to dispense with breastfeeding.
Returning to that coffee morning. If you listen carefully and closely, you are listening to parents fiercely defending their choices to best help their Miss/Master thrive under the care of a happy Mama***. You may well wonder, what did I actually choose for my children? The answer is simple; the choices that offered my Miss and Master the best opportunity to thrive under the care of this happy Mama. I have breastfed, bottle-fed breast milk and bottle-fed formula milk; I have fed all options for different time frames, including adding weaning into this mix. The common denominators in all feeding decisions regarding my Miss and Master were, and will always be, a thriving Miss/Master and a happy Mama.
* A pharmacist once told me that weaning is needed to minimise the likelihood of tummy trouble due to 'sudden' change of diet. Note, this is not intended as medical advice or guidance, please consult your own medical professionals for advice appropriate to your situation.
** when Miss/Master is deriving appropriate nutrition from food
*** I specifically note the mother as it is she who must either breastfeed or express breast milk
Next time: Pimms, anyone?
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