In terms of women not being “able” to breastfeed, unfortunately this is not the case – nearly all women CAN breastfeed, but are not given an appropriate level of support in our society (or access to enough knowledge and support) to do so. Breastfeeding is not easy, and paying privately to get a lactation consultant in (if you even know such a thing exists!) is not always inexpensive. There are very few special circumstances in which a woman can’t – it is usually a lack of support and defeatist attitude that will do in the breastfeeding relationship.

In the end, if you can make it through and get appropriate help and support, there is no reason to say “I plan to breastfeed.” Saying “I WILL breastfeed” can make all the difference in the world …

Even given all of that, I’m sure there are situations where it just isn’t feasible. But, I’m starting to think that our collective desire for more and better stuff is crowding out some of our common sense.

[...] one is apparently an essential for the breast feeding mother.  These can range from $250 at Costco to $600 at the furniture store.  Needless to [...]

Ps I know this is very late, but I felt I should share. I’d love to know what you all think.

There are drugs and herbs one can take, but I decided I wasn’t willing to do so due to concerns about how things that would increase my milk supply might affect my infant son.

At one month, my milk supply got better, but it never got great, and we have always used both formula and breast.

For us this has worked out well. I don’t have to do every feeding or leave the house worrying that I MUST get back in time for the next feeding (or worry about whether I’ve left enough pumped supply to serve in my stead). But I enjoy breastfeeding my son and would have preferred not to need formula, honestly, had I had a choice in this matter. Still, a month or so in I decided it was better to use both and therefore not be stressed/exhausted and be able to breastfeed longer, than to stress myself out trying to breastfeed exclusively and quit earlier than I otherwise would (now still going strong at 8 months and planning to continue as long as he wants to nurse, within reason. I do want to bear a second child and am too old to wait several years to start trying again).

In comparing the cost of formula to breastmilk, though, I’d say it’s important for most of us to factor in the cost of a decent pump (around $150 used on Craiglist), a half-dozen good nursing bras (around $25 each), and several meetings with a lactation consultant (I was lucky, these were covered by my insurance, no idea what they would cost). So breastmilk isn’t really free, and of course if you’re pumping (and realistically, most of us will be if we breastfeed for any amount of time), you’re also looking at bottles and the rest.

As for logistics, my son happily takes his formula just generically “warm,” we use straight tap water to mix (no need to sterilize with a full-term baby, my ped. advised me), and from about 4 months he’s been able to hold his bottle himself — I do sometimes cradle him, but it is nice to be able to lie him down and, say, fold laundry while he tops up.

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Don’t forget to ask parents if they got milk. A decent milk pump is about 500.00 or you can borrow them.

All my neighbors breastfeed it is great but there is another cost that people forget to figure and that is the cost of clothing. There is some great stuff out there for easy breast feeding in public so that is a cost some people forget.

Also there is the cost of body matenance such as cracking nipples or leaking. So don’t forget to add Lanoline, breast pads, nursing bras and shirts to your finicial formula.

It’s a great adventure. Good Luck

I nursed both of my children. Not only nursed them, but practiced what is called “extended nursing” (allowing each child to wean him/herself) and “tamdem nursing” (nursed The Daughter as a toddler while also nursing The newborn Son).

One benefit to breastfeeding that no one touched on yet — I kid you not — is the absence of stinky diapers. Babies’ poop doesn’t stink as long as they are exclusively breastfed. Considering the fact that you’ll be changing diapers for 2-3 years, 6-8 months of stink-free diapers is nothing to wrinkle your nose at.

Another point is that the cost of formula is only one portion of the expense involved when you don’t breastfeed. You also have the bottles, the nipples, the bottle brushes, the water/electicity use of washing and sterilizing, the cooling and then the warming up. Also, if you use a powdered formula, what will you use to constitute? Tap water? Even when you’re traveling?

Some people worry, “is the baby getting enough to eat?” True, with a bottle you can see clearly how many ounces were consumed. Don’t sell yourself short — you’ll know. Baby will let you know.

Also, in regard to the time spent nursing — yes, the time investment is rather heavy when they are newborns. Nursing is a great way of mom to slow down, rest up, and bond. As baby gets bigger, nursing time decreases. And unless you’re planning to prop baby up in a seat with a bottle, the time investment is the same whether baby’s eating directly from the source or from a bottle.

True, dad can’t nurse but there are so many other ways that dad can bond with baby and contribute to baby’s care. Remember the stinky diaper point ;-)

I agree with the point made by several commenters — getting the hang of breastfeeding can be a challenge. With The Daughter, I was holding her wrong and ended up with very sore and painful nipples. Having the baby latch on was agony. Luckily I was pigheadedly determined to make breastfeeding work so I reached out for help and got it. I got rid of the picture-perfect “baby in my lap” position in favor of the correct “belly to belly” position and everything became good. With The Son, I kept getting mastitis (breast infection due to plugged milk ducts) — a condition that made my earlier problems with The Daughter seem like a walk in the park. I finally threw away my underwire nursing bra and the infections stopped.

If you do decide that breast is best, go into it knowing that it doesn’t come as naturally as you might think. And know the phone number for your local Le Leche League chapter before baby comes.

One last point — there’s not much money to be made off breastfeeding. On the other hand, formula companies have a lot to lose with each baby that is breastfed. Now that breastfeeding is making a comeback, formula companies are fighting back with hefty advertising budgets.

Best of luck. I applaud you for thinking ahead on this topic — this gives you plenty of time to do your research and make an informed decision.

Even with all the support and research, one twin and the singleton had a hard time learning how to “latch on,” but one twin was a very fast learner.

It was a great experience, and I was lucky that I didn’t get any kind of infection.

This is how intense the bond is when you nurse — when they weaned themselves at a little less than a year each, *I* had a difficult time letting go. My arms would literally ache to hold them.

[...] 2. The Breast is Best (31 comments) – maybe it was the flashy title? ;) [...]

[...] The Breast is Best by Million Dollar [...]

1) Pampers Baby Dry – There are by far my favorite and usually Walmart and Dominion put these on sale a lot. You can buy a super size box for about 35 bucks on sale with about 150 diapers (approx).

2) Dominion or Superstore Generic Brand (duck) – These were decent, if you want to use a no name brand I would try these first.

3) Walmart Generic Brand (White cloud) – We did not like these at all. I found especially overnight they were not effective.

Honestly the best idea when it came to diapers was having my friends throw a “diaper party” for me just before the baby came. We lived off these diapers for almost 2 – 3 months and got to try out many different types.