To Breast Feed Or Not? An Age Old Question For New Mummies

There are so many decisions to make when you find out you’re pregnant such as what kind of car to buy, whether you’ll need to move home or not, and how you’re going to approach parenthood when it comes to discipline. One of the oldest (and most argued) questions is whether you should breastfeed or not, and you may be wondering which route to go down with your new bundle of joy. Breastfeeding is wonderful for creating an instant bond with your baby alongside giving them milk that’s packed with nutrients that your body has created at the same time as growing your baby. Not sure which route to choose

Whether your baby can latch

You may have heard from friends and family that breastfeeding can be difficult if your baby won’t latch onto your nipple, and this could be the case for you. New Mums often experience feelings of guilt when their baby doesn’t latch, and that’s completely understandable! If you choose to breastfeed and this happens to you, don’t give up! Your midwife will be able to guide you and help you and your baby fall into a comfortable breastfeeding pattern. Remember that breastfeeding may be difficult if you had an early birth or you had a c-section, as your baby might find it difficult when forced onto your breast. Have patience!

Comfort levels

Another really important factor when thinking about breastfeeding is your comfort levels. New Mums often report sore nipples to begin with, and some Mums don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public. If you’ve got mixed feelings about all of this, then there are options available such as expressing to bottle feed your baby in public, and also buying nursing pillows For Your Little One to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Nipple butter is also recommended to prevent any soreness at the beginning, but you may find you don’t need it.

Convenience 

Many Mums around the world find breastfeeding much more convenient than bottle feeding, and that’s because once their baby is hungry, they can feed their child straight away without having to worry about sterilising a bottle and ensuring the milk is the right temperature. However, this again takes you to the decision of whether you’re happy breastfeeding in public or indeed, in front of family members and friends. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, but these feelings are completely natural, so you should do what makes you feel happy. If you’d like to try breastfeeding but you’re worried about doing it in public, you can buy discreet breastfeeding clothing that will help keep things inconspicuous. 

Fed is best

Finally, while breastfeeding provides your baby with loads of nutrients to help them grow, so does bottle feeding! Your baby will still thrive on formula milk. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t, or even if you don’t want to breastfeed. The process is completely your choice, and you should enjoy every moment of motherhood. If there’s one thing to take away from all of this, it’s that fed is always best!