One thing that the Food Issue has in common with choosing whether or not to have a drug-free delivery is the fact that everyone you meet has an opinion about it. The only one who should be asking what your choice will be is your doctor. That way you can have the proper information on how to administer the feedings.

I chose to bottle feed my child. And I recieved so much negative reactions it has prompt me to write serveral articles on the issue plus I try to voice my opinion as much as possible. When you find out that you are going to be a mother you are scared and excited during the nine months of pregnancy.

The last thing you need is people telling you that the decisions that you have made are wrong. You haven’t even experienced the true benenfits of being a mother and you feel that you have already failed. I searched and searched for information on bottle feeding my child but everyone I asked always promoted breast feeding. I did not find out information regarding bottle feeding until after I had my child and one of the nurses provided me with information.

I am not trying to knock breast-feeding. For those women who get up and feed their child every 3 hours and the go back to work after 6 weeks and continue to breast-feed, more power to you. I am just trying to get a point across that just because I chose not to breast feed that doesn’t mean I denied my child the proper nutrients.

I have listened to serveral stories from women who have tried to breast feed and they couldn’t produce enough or they were in extreme pain. And they always felt that the were letting their child down. I don’t think that we should be pressured to feel that if we can’t or don’t breast-feed then we are wrong and that our child is paying for our decision. What ever you decide, it should be what is comfortable with you. I have learned so much with my first child. I wouldn’t call them mistakes because every decision that I made my heart was in the right place and I learned from them. If you love you child then there is no wrong way choice. Life is a learning experience and having

children is the biggest experience of all.

If you are leaning toward formula feeding you can feel intimidated by the opinions of people surrounding you. Non-nursing mothers often feel obligated to fabricate some medical excuse for their failure to folow “Nature’s Plan”. To put it simply- MOTHERS DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT, JUST GOOD ENOUGH!

Below are some possible benefits of bottle feeding.

-Longer satisfaction for the baby

-Easy monitoring of intake

-More freedom for the mother

-More participation for father and older siblings

-Fewer demands

-No interference with fashion

-Fewer dietary demands and restrictions

-Less stressful feedings in public

-No interference with lovemaking

For Infant

Both breast milk and commercial formulas are nutritionally sound, although breast milk is best for your baby. Breast milk has everything your baby needs in correct proportions — water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. It’s also “living tissue” that provides many protective factors to keep your newborn healthy.

Even if you only breast-feed for a few weeks, breast-feeding is good for you and your baby. The longer you breast-feed your infant, the greater the benefits for you both.

For Mom

Breast-feeding has a significant health impact for the mother, as there are many physical and emotional benefits. There are socioeconomic benefits for the family as well.
Some of these benefits include:

Faster recovery. The stimulation of the breast by the infant within one hour of the delivery releases a hormone that contracts the uterus and helps to reduce bleeding. This enables your uterus to return to its normal size much faster.
Feelings of well-being. The hormones released during lactation help you to feel happy, relaxed and maternal.
Higher self-esteem. Breastfeeding can be an empowering experience for women. Your self esteem likely will increase when you realize that you are doing something for your baby that no one else can do. This may give you more positive self-talk that can help you get through the challenging days and nights of caring for a baby.
Faster postpartum weight loss. While breastfeeding, your body uses lots of energy and you will return to your pre-pregnancy size more rapidly. You can worry less about consuming calories and fat at this time.
Lower rate of cancer. Among women who breastfeed, there is a lower incidence of certain cancers: breast, uterine, ovarian and endometrial. This is an important benefit, especially if there is a history of these cancers in your family. The longer you nurse, the better the protection. This is related to lower levels of estrogen in your body at this time.
Less insulin. If you need insulin to control diabetes, you will require less insulin postpartum.
Lower cost. Breastfeeding costs less than formula-feeding, as you will not need to buy formula and you will need only a few bottles and nipples (for those times when you can’t nurse your baby). The yearly cost of using ready-made formula is about $4,000 a year, not including accessories such as bottles. The cost of using powder formula is about $1,500 per year. If you return to work while still breastfeeding your infant, you will miss fewer days of work because your baby will be sick less often. This is because of the infection-fighting quality of the breast milk.
Lower risk of osteoporosis. Studies have shown that breastfeeding increases bone density, therefore reducing the risk of osteoporosis in older women.
Less waste of natural resources. When you breastfeed, you need fewer items that are used and then discarded, such as cans from formula, rubber from nipples, water from washing bottles, etc.
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For Infant

The benefits to the infant are numerous and include:
Lower risk of infections and medical conditions. The infant who is breastfed may be at less risk of the following infections and diseases: diarrhea; influenza; ear infections; respiratory infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (bronchiolitis); asthma; allergy; eczema; herpes simplex; sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); obesity; AIDS; multiple sclerosis; inguinal hernia; undescended testicle; reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease; diabetes; oral malocclusion; childhood cancers; Crohn’s disease; Hodgkin’s disease; urinary-tract infections; and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Better vaccine protection. Breastfed infants have a higher vaccine response to the immunizations that they are given. They develop higher antibody levels to protect against these infections.
Higher intelligence. Components of breast milk encourage optimal brain development.
Better oral development. Breastfeeding enhances your baby’s jaw and oral development.
Higher oxygenation and temperature. Breastfed babies maintain higher levels of oxygenation and warmer body temperature while feeding than do bottle-fed infants. The baby is in control of the flow of milk when breastfeeding so he does not have to struggle to keep his airway open, as might happen when milk flows freely from a bottle and fills up the mouth. Easier breathing means more oxygen gets into the blood, which enhances development. When you breast-feed, your baby is next to or on your warm body, helping him to stay warm. This is especially important in the early time of the baby’s life when he has difficulty maintaining his temperature.
Baby-led feeding. A breastfed baby is controlling the feeding and tends to feed when he wants and for as long as he wants. This helps to maintain your milk supply. In response to stimulation of the breasts, hormones are released that tell the breasts to make milk. If the baby asks for more, your body will make more. Self-control of feeding also may help to establish better eating habits later in life.
Less waste. YYour baby’s body rapidly digests breast milk, absorbing more nutrients. After the first few weeks, breastfed babies often have fewer, less frequent stools.

It is good if you discuss about breastfeeding with your husband and your family. Their support will be of great value to you.You should make your decisions now and try to increase your knowledge and support.

You need to eat a balanced diet containing food from all food groups throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding -

1. Energy giving food, like cereals and their products, starchy roots, tubers, sugar, and those rich in fats like nuts, fats and oils.

2. Body building food, which include food of animal origin, like milk and milk products, eggs, meat, fish, poultry and plant protein ,food like pulses, legumes, nuts and oilseeds.

3. Protective food, which include green vegetables and fruits.

To meet additional requirements during pregnancy extra food should be taken. Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided during pregnancy.

During pregnancy take care of your nipple and breasts. There is no need for any special soap or oil.

You should always be confident of breastfeeding your baby successfully. Talk to a mother who has recently breastfed her own baby successfully as she can be very helpful in answering many of your questions.