Hi all!

I don't want to spark of a war here and I know this can be a touchy topic. But I was wondering what arguments everyone has for why they want to or don't want to breastfeed their LOs when they come. I'd like it if we could talk about it without attacking anyone for going one way or the other, I'm just interested in seeing what everyone's reasons for or against are.

I've always assumed that I will be breastfeeding as I know it has benefits for health and I think it would be a lovely bonding experience. That said, I don't know what I'd do if I found out I can't. I don't think I'd want to stress me or LO out too much about it. But I'd definitely still feed breast milk.

I know there's people who consciously decide to not breastfeed though. I was just wondering what your reasons for that are?

I definitely will - in fact, when I'm feeling very broody, its that which I think about most.

I breast fed by DD - for three years! And it worked well for us. Here are the reasons why I'd choose it again, for me..

healthier for me and baby
more convenient (no mixing bottles in the middle of the night!)
less chance of infection / stomach upset through improperly sterilised equipment
less stuff to carry when I'm out and about
can do it in a sling, leaving both hands free to get on with other things, should I want to
made me feel powerful and successful and like I'd really achieved something
incredibly bonding with my daughter - she remembers being breastfed and still talks about it fondly
excuse to buy lots of new shirts after birth!
gets your figure back more quickly
reduces risk of ovarian and breast cancer
breast fed babies have higher IQs (apparently!)
milk adjusts to the growing baby's changing needs
can still express, if desired, in order to give partner a chance to do night feeds
pleasanter nappy changes
incentive for me to continue living healthily and looking after myself
means I have the excuse to sit on my arse and have OH wait on me hand and foot a lot over the first few weeks!

For me, it was the right decision and I'd do it again in a heart beat. Some women can't or don't want to, and I completely respect that right. I'm just too lazy, at heart, to deal with all the palaver of making up bottles, I think!!

Fly

I will be breast feeding, for me thats just how you feed a baby.

Then there is all the added health benifits for me and for baby, fly has said them above to i wont repeat and its cheeper.

Its also something that only i can do so if every one is hoggin baby i know i can say, pass baby back, they are hungry and no one can argue.

Really? Didn't know that! I always assumed baby will need a lot of support, i.e. both arms..

I used an ellaroo wrap - and as long as I was wearing something unbuttonable and I could shove the boob in her direction, she was away. It was also fairly discreet, as I could move the top of the wrap over her face so she could concentrate and no-one knew what was going on... I did it this way around the supermarket pushing the trolley from when she was three days old (I was lucky though - she was a very easy-to-feed baby.)

I intend to if I can and can express milk easily for the first few months. Reasons as Fly stated. If I find it hard to express milk I may need to think again as I;d love OH to be part of the feeding routine too as it is essential bonding time.

I did find expressing very hard. It was painful for me, and I never got enough out to make it worth while. I think I'll try again next time, because I want to be able to work after six months or so without loosing my supply. But if it isn't possible for me again, I'll rethink that.

I'll be *hopefully* BFing my next baby for a year. I BFed Niamh for 6 months and we went through so many struggles but it was so worth it. Really amazing. I'm confident now I've got through that, that I can BF my next baby with more confidence

All this talk about breastfeeding is making me horribly broody again...

I'm SO getting one of them lol. And Lozzy21 I'm going to do that too when people hog the baby XD Yes I'm selfish, no I don't care!
I'm going to be breastfeeding, though I don't disagree with bottle feeding either. I'll be expressing milk so OH can do his share of feeds (he's not getting away that easy!)