Preparing For A Little One: Breast Feeding Vs. Formula {Link Up}

My friend Jennifer and I came up with a great idea that I absolutely love. As you know, I am expecting my first child. This can be so overwhelming and I know that other first time moms probably feel the same. I have so many questions and would love to hear the opinions of moms who have already been through this a time or two before.

Because of this, we are hosting a weekly series for a few weeks to try and get some answers to some of the most common questions.

We divided the series into two mini 4 week series grouped into questions Pre-Baby & Post Baby. 

The first mini series will be:

Friday, April 5: Registering (Everything you need to know, Must Haves, Don't Bothers, etc...)Friday, April 12: Nursery Organization & IdeasFriday, April 19: Packing For The Hospital: For you & the babyFriday, April 26: Birth Stories (The good, bad, and ugly) / Birth Plans (yes? no?)

The second mini series will be:

Friday, May 3: Bringing Baby Home / Surviving The First Few WeeksFriday, May 10: Breast Feeding vs. FormulaFriday, May 17: Calming Your Baby & Sleep MethodsFriday, May 24: Losing The Baby Weight

So without further ado, let's get on with Week 6: Breast Feeding Vs. Formula! Since I do not have any children of my own yet, I will be featuring a blogger each week and their expert advice on the topic at hand (:

Breast Feeding Vs. Formula:

Breast Feeding

Hi! I'm Samantha and I blog over at Hooah and Hiccups. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I was going to breastfeed Bubba. If we're being honest, the whole idea of it just really grossed me out. I didn't think it was beautiful or natural or anything of the sorts; until I saw that perfect baby boy staring up at me.
They say a woman becomes a mother the minute she finds out she's pregnant but for me, it was the first time I held him. I was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness and I did what felt right; I nursed him and it was meant to be. 
The first few weeks were really hard; you literally have to teach them how to do it. Yes, it's natural but you still have to assist them in latching on correctly and finding the position that is most comfortable for the two of you. I had to use a nipple shield while in the hospital because Bubba wasn't able to latch on correctly and it HURT. But don't worry, once they learn what they're doing the pain subsides. 
If you're worried Daddy might feel left out, don't be! He can help by assisting with the latch on, moving the Boppy or pillow to make you both more comfortable, keeping you awake during the middle of the night feedings, and the most important in my opinion, keeping you hydrated and well nourished. If you aren't receiving enough nutrients or fluids, your milk supply will go down. I wasn't very hungry for the first few days and literally had to force myself to eat and drink; have your partner assist with this!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing formula, as it has to be a decision you make together, really. Some babies have trouble latching or sucking and such, so even if the mother really wants to, it just doesn't work out sometimes. Never let ANYONE make you feel bad for choosing which way to go. You're the mommy, and it's YOUR decision. If you're stuck on what to do, consider these things:
Pre-baby:
Read any material you can get your hands on: There are so many books, articles, and pamphlets out there. Make sure you do your reading and really weigh the pros and cons of both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. 
Don't knock it before you try it: You may really enjoy nursing, or you might hate it. If I have any advice, I'd say to give it a try. You'll never regret trying but you may regret not trying.
Invest in a good pump: The best pump I've found to date is the Medela Pump In Style Double Electric Breast Pump. I didn't pump often since I work from home, but it's great to have a supply for emergencies and a little break if you need one. For those of you who work outside of the home and will be going back to work, you will NEED a pump. Invest in a good one, trust me on this one. 
Financial readiness: Formula and bottle feeding supplies can get very pricey. We chose to breastfeed because it's free, easy, and convenient. Obviously this depends on each individual's situation but for us, free was the best option. Take a look at your finances and make sure to add feeding supplies into the budget; it will be less of a shock when it comes time for it. 
Supplies: My best friends in the first few weeks were Medela Tender Care HydroGel Pads; they're AMAZING. Also be sure to grab some topical breast cream and nursing pads (you will leak for a little bit until your baby gets your milk on a schedule). 

Post-baby:
Don't be afraid to ask for help: Your hospital should have a lactation consultant, but there are also lactation consultants your doctor can refer you to as well. Talking to friends about it helps too! Hell, I've even physically helped my friend get the hang of it. A boob is a boob people, no shame here. 
Set a small goal: No one says you have to nurse 15 months, or any amount of time for that matter. If you can do it at all, the first few months are the most important. Maybe set a goal; originally, mine was 6 months. Do what you can (if you decide to) and stop whenever you feel it's time.
Practice makes perfect: There are a few different positions (refer to your reading material) and it's best to try all of them. You may find one works better than the other and some babies prefer certain positions over another. 
Don't give up: There are days you'll want to throw in the towel, but just take a deep breath and take a break. Bubba never took a pacifier but try that, or supplement with a bottle of pumped milk. I'd be happy to talk to anyone that has any questions! I've come a long way from being completely disgusted to absolutely cherishing it. If I can help educate anyone on what I've learned, it will have been more than worth it. 
But I promise you, it already was. 

Formula

Hey there, Wifessionals readers! My name is Jenni and I blog over at A Dash of Sunshine! I was asked by Kaitlyn to write a guest post about my decision to use formula. I was super nervous when I told Kaitlyn I would write the post, simply because I know this is a pretty controversial topic.
Whenever I was pregnant I remember reading all of the message boards on "The Bump" and there were a ton of posts about how "Breast is best!" and other postings that would surely make you think that formula was some crazy poison that would kill you. Well I am here to tell you that my son, who is now about to be three years old (seriously, time fly's with kids!) had nothing but formula from the moment he was born until he was 1 year old and he is fine. I did not breast feed at all. It was a no brainer whenever my doctor asked me "Will you be breastfeeding or using formula?" I quickly answered "NO breastfeeding." For some reason the thought of it completely freaks me out, and still does to this day. The fact that a little person would be getting all of their nourishment from my boobs? I just couldn't do it. I know you are probably thinking that I am super selfish but I knew that if I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of it that it just wouldn't happen. You have to be ready mentally, physically, and emotionally all around to breastfeed. I was not.
My doctor was very supportive of my decision and was very quick to assure me that it was perfectly fine to use formula. He gave me the "expectant mom" bag that they give you with all of the coupons and samples of formula and vitamins and explained to me that formula now is just as good as breast milk itself. My husband was very supportive of my decision as well, even though this meant that we would end up spending A LOT of extra money on formula.
In fact, the only person that ever tried to make me feel bad about my decision was one of my very good friends boyfriend (who is now an ex!). They came to visit me after Brody was born and he asked if I was breastfeeding, whenever I told him no his response was "Are you serious? Breast milk is so much better for him!" In a nutshell, I'm super glad they broke up!
A lot of people think that formula fed kids are not healthy and will have problems in their future. In all of Brody's short three years I have to say we have not been in to see his doctor for anything other than wellness visits and the occasional strep/ear infection combo that he picked up at daycare. He is completely normal and healthy.
I did some research on the different brands of formula and talked to our doctors and they pretty much said it is all basically the same, just different brands. So I decided to stick with the brand that they used in the hospital, Enfamil, because if they are passing it out in the hospital it must be the best.
This ended up being the only formula Brody had his whole first year of life. We tried switching brands for cost purposes later on, but he was spitting up more with the new brand so we stuck with the Enfamil. I highly suggest if you intend on formula feeding you find out what brand they give you at your hospital and if it is not the one you want to use take your own. That way if they start out with Gerber you don't have to worry about switching and having complications with the new formula.  
I have no regrets about this decision. I know that some people don't agree with formula feeding, and that is completely fine. I am not against breastfeeding in any way, it just simply wasn't the route I wanted to take for our family.
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