Everybody is always arguing which is better Breastfeeding or Bottle Feeding. I am here to tell you the answer. Yes, breastfeeding is best. Yes, bottle feeding is best. Yes, pumping is best. Yes, whatever you have to do to feed your baby is best. Yes, it is hard no matter what path you decide to take. Yes, as long as your baby is fed it is good. Yes, as long as you are doing whatever you need to make you more of a sane mom is great.
When my first little lady was born it took a little time to fall into a breastfeeding rhythm. Once we did it was awesome for us. For me and Audery the bonding was amazing. We loved breastfeeding, the price was free, and I conveniently always had a boob available for her. That was my experience and I did not think it was the only way people should feed their baby. She was a strong willed little lady and decided to stop at 9 months old. We navigated perfectly and did what was best for both of us.
The experience with my second little sweetie was severely different. In the hospital my lactation consultant told me I was veteran breast feeder and I was doing great. Confidently I thought Aggie and I would fall into a similar rhythm. However, when my cuddly baby girl was only 3 weeks old we knew something was wrong. Aggie never seemed satisfied even after my milk had come in. Experiencing some severe nipple damage from her violent sucking, we took her to the lactation consultant at the predication's office to figure out the problem. The appointment was extremely enlightening. They weighed my baby girl then she fed on one side, then they weighed her again and she fed on the other side. After she was done with both boobs they weighed her one final time. It seemed like witchcraft and was completely eye opening. In our case they discovered my lovable little Agatha was getting 4 oz out of me and still needing more. We started supplementing with formula and my itty bitty 3 weeks old was needing to eat 8 oz of food every 1-2 hours. This was an immense amount of food for a tiny baby. The doctors determined that she had an uncommonly high metabolic rate.
Breastfeeding my second child was the hardest thing I have ever done. Literally every 45 mins for thirteen months I had to produce a breast. All night and all day this adorable little redhead was connected to my teat. If we did not supplement with formula my tiny Aggie Rose would have been very unhappy. If we did not supplement with formula this extremely tired momma would have probably not even had the slightest of breaks. Not to mention I still had a strong willed 2 year old that needed lots of things. This time of my life stretched me. I learned how to breastfeed while sleeping. The lactation consultant told me that this was a necessity. She explained that I needed to sleep to live. She was extremely right. I was breastfeeding while cooking dinner. I was breastfeeding while sitting on the toilet. I was breastfeeding while trying to eat one handed. I was breastfeeding while wiping a 2 year old poopy booty. This wee babe that I loved more than life itself was literally sucking the life out of me. Well Aggie grew up to become a voraciously eating 5 year old who only weighs 30 lbs and she now eats more than most grown adults.
For decades there has been a huge debate of Breastfeeding vs. Bottle feeding babies. We may all have our own opinions and experiences that shape those opinions. However, there is never a "one size fits all" answer for children. I am here to tell you that there should be no debate. Whatever is best for the baby is obviously the right answer. Most people fail to realize that what is best for the sanity of the Mom is also what is best for the baby. A Mom knows what is best for her baby. Not all babies are created equal, why would anyone expect for all Moms to be created equal as well? Ignore the outside noise and enjoy these sweet little baby times, because toddler madness is coming soon to a theater near you.
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