Is Breast Always Best?

I breast fed all 3 of my children (now 13, 6, and 5). I had problems with it, as I didn't produce much milk for some reason. It was difficult and I found myself having to feed them every hour or two no matter what. It was ok, I knew it was best for them so I did it. With that said, I have 2 sisters and NEITHER of them breast fed. My sisters children are sick a lot still to this day, and I have 1 sister who also has 3 children...all 3 children suffer from asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems year round. I feel that this is due to not getting breast fed as infants. I didn't breast feed for years, and stopped all 3 of my children at a year old. I do know a woman that breast fed her son until 4 years old and I think that is a little over the top. The benefits far outweigh the inconvenience. I am the only female in my family that has ever breastfed, and I'm proud of that.

Breast feeding counteracting femenism give me a break! There are strong independent women and yes femenists who succesfully breast feed their babies. Because it is the healthiest option. Yes many women are unable or choose not to breast feed and there are many options for those mothers. Nothing wrong with them for making that decision. Still we as women make breast milk for only one reason to feed our babies. I am so sick of people deciding that because they don't like or agree with breastfeeding that they should try to make other women somehow feel that their doing the wrong thing. What happened to presenting the fact or opinions and letting mothers deside. Instead of rushing to "ban the pump".

I sincerely believe in breastfeeding and it is why God gave us breasts. Ideally if a woman is able to produce enough milk and can nurse her baby, why not? There is a lot of research to support the merits of breastfeeding and there is research about the dangers of synthetic formula which recently has been tainted. I am a living witness that breastfeeding increases IQ, decreases childhood illnesses and decreases childhood obesity. Believe it or not, both of my daughters were reading at the age of 2 1/2. It was surprising to me. Yes, there are exceptions but breastfeeding is best. The best decision I EVER made!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe breast is best, I breastfed my kids. But formula is good too. I think the bond between my dd that I exclusively breastfed is stronger than my dd that I only breastfed once - twice a day

I formula fed my daughter and let me tell you the guilt is passed along at every step. I think this is a choice for every mom and people really overstep boundries with this issue.

I've personally done both. One was not by choice, but due to medical reasons. Another was chosen to be bottle fed because when you have so many children, aka I have four going on 5 (maybe 6 according to the doctor), you don't have time to just sit and breast feed. When feeding my second one, I did breast feed her. I don't think it should be forced, to be made that a woman feels like breast feeding is what she should do or to make her feel like should breast feed or feel guilty for NOT breast feeding her child. My fourth child, I done a little bit of both. I pumped and fed her by bottle, and I wasn't producing enough milk, so half of a feeding was formula and the other half was beast milk.

I do believe this is a personal decision and should be kept there. It is nobody's business why someone chooses to or not breastfeed.

I agree breast-feeding is very beneficial and backed-up scientifically. However, there were times ,my baby needed a bottle and pumping was the way to go. I had one very busy and nosey baby who I couldn't have publically breastfed so the healthiest way to feed her was to pump then feed her breastmilk by bottle. My other child was much easier and more serious about breastfeeding. I frequently fed her in public with no issues and very discretely. Agreed though, there is a timelimit to breastfeeding and 6-years-old is not appropriate for our country.

It's a personal choice, of course! Both of my boys were breast fed, and have turned out very healthy and bright (now in their teens). No allergies, never had ear infections-no tubes, still rarely get so much as a cold! I worked full-time then, and pumped in a nice, quiet room all by myself away from all of the gossipy women-it was heaven, and it only took about 15 minutes at a time. Nothing wrong with pumps. I personally feel human babies should have human milk as intended...but if you can't do it, it is your choice-no one should feel guilty or less of themselves.

BREASTFEEDING CAN BE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE IN DOING SO.SOME MOTHERS ARE NOT.I BREAST FED MY SECOND CHILD ,BUT NO WAY WAS I READY TO BREASTFEED THE FIRST. TO MUCH PRESSURE IS ON YOUNG MOTHERS TODAY WHO ARE TRYING TO DO IT ALL.

I breastfed my daughter till she was 14 months and fully intend to breastfeed my son (due in 4weeks). I don't think anyone should feel guilted into it. However it was definitely best for our family I would never trade the closeness I had with my daughter then for anything. I think the article is a little demented though. It is taken almost as if feeding the child is a chore and that the time you spend with them is a drain. I can honestly say I have never felt that way about breastfeeding. And as someone else said whether you breastfeed or bottle feed you still need to spend that time holding your baby and feeding them.

I know someone who breast fed until the kid was like 6 years old. That is overkill or demented or SoMETHING!

Breast is always best. But if there is a reason you can not, you are no less of a mom. Breastfeeding does not make you more of a mom or less of a mom. Though if you can not, like I could not, you have a hole in your heart for not being able to when you wanted to.

Breast feeding should definetely be a choice that you do not have to guilt someone into making. We have enough guilt to caryy around! I breastfed all 3 kids, but the last one I was only able to BF for 6 months because of back surgery. I felt terrible for so long! My mother never breast fed her kids and she is the best Mom I know.

I have breastfed each of my 5 children, and the time I've spent with them has been irreplaceable. When the first two quit of their own accord at 6 months, I was crushed! However, breastfeeding had its downfalls as well. My fourth baby was a "snacker", and I had to feed her for 10 minutes every hour to hour and a half. When I went back to work part time, it made things VERY difficult! That said, I think breastfeeding is a very personal decision, and I would never assume to tell any other mother what she should or should not do with her own child as far as feeding is concerned.