Boob vs. Bottle: The pros and cons of breastfeeding and formula feeding for first time mums.

As I mentioned in a previous post, breastfeeding can be a very emotive subject for many, and whether you choose to exclusively breastfeed or look to formula for your baby's nutrition, it seems like you'll always be getting someone's back up!

Ultimately only you can choose what suits you and your baby, but if you're struggling to come to a decision in the lead up to your little one's arrival, then here a simple list of pros and cons to give you something to think about....

BREASTFEEDING

PROS:

It's FREE!
You'll burn an extra 500 calories a day!
No need to spend ages sterilising bottles
It carries extra nutrients and immunity benefits that can't be replicated artificially
Breastfeeding can benefit the emotional attachment between mother and child
Instant boob job when your milk comes in!
Some research shows that breastfed babies may have higher IQ's and be less prone to various health conditions (such as asthma).
Produces a hormone release in mum which aids the contraction of the womb back to its normal size faster as well as helping the production of hormones to help you bond with baby
Keeps your period away for a little longer (who doesn't want a bit more of a break from that!)

CONS:

* Uncomfortable boobies!

* Potentially sore/cracked/chapped nipples

* Having to plan your wardrobe around easy access to your boobs

* Getting your boobs out in public...

*...Which can lead to unwanted attention (from potential busybodies!)

* It might not always be that simple (babies can struggle to latch on/ mum may find it uncomfortable or not be able to produce as much milk as baby requires

* All the responsibility falls on mum

* You can't tell how much volume baby has actually taken at each feed

FORMULA:

PROS:

Someone else can feed baby, meaning that you can go out, or share out the responsibility of feeds (also meaning other family members get the chance to bond with baby)
It's always there on hand if mum is unable to breastfeed for any reason, or baby needs more than is available from mum
Mum doesn't need to worry about what she's eating (e.g. alcohol and caffeine)
Formula fed babies don't need to eat as often as those who are breastfed (great news for catching some extra z's at night!)

CONS:

It's expensive
The nutritional and immunity benefits of breastmilk can't be replicated - even formula brands state on their packaging that "Breast is Best".
As well as the expense of buying the formula itself, you need bottles, brushes and sterilisers (as well as optional prep machines and bottle warming gadgets!)
Formula powder isn't sterile, so preparing feeds can take longer due to boiling kettles and then assuring its the appropriate temperature for baby to drink - not ideal when little one is hungry and screaming for breakfast!
Bottles and teats must be sterilised, which gives you an added chore on top of everything else you need to do
Formula can cause problems for baby such as constipation and uncomfortable gas

Remember, everyone is different, and there's no right or wrong answer; only you can decide whats right for you and your baby. But also remember to try and remain flexible - throughout my pregnancy I was determined to breastfeed exclusively, and planned to express as well, meaning family members could help out with feeds and if needed I'd have a bit more independence from being the sole care giver when it came to mealtimes. However it wasn't meant to be, Lochy struggled to latch to the breast, meaning he had to go on to bottles straight away and then had to have formula top ups to ensure he was gaining weight, and we needed to see that he was taking certain volumes each feed to ensure that he gained said weight! For me, this is the best of both worlds, merging the pros from each and balancing out the cons.

Whatever path you end up taking, just remember that so long as your baby is fed, (and loved!) he'll be happy.

Mama xx