Breastfeeding is a very personal decision between mom, dad, and baby. I don’t even recall when I made the decision to breastfeed. I think it was always assumed or known that that’s what I had planned to do when I had children. It was a part of my culture growing up. Breastfeeding was the natural, normal thing to do. It’s how you fed babies (and toddlers!) in my family.
It wasn’t until I became a breastfeeding mom that I began to really understand my reasons to breastfeed my children and why over time it’s become such an important choice for my family.
1. Let’s admit it, I’m kind of lazy. To be honest, I really don’t want to have anything extra to wash or to keep track of. My kitchen is a disaster on a good day, and I can’t imagine having to keep track of and clean bottles and nipples. I already know how we treat Tupperware in this house and most of it ends up in the trash after we discover science experiments growing in them. I shudder to think of what a lost or forgotten bottle of milk would smell like!
2. I enjoy my sleep! Once I learned how to master nursing on my side while in bed, I was able to lift my shirt up and feed my baby while I continued to sleep. Once my child got a little older, he was able to find my breast himself and often times not even wake me to nurse!
3. I’m selfish and want my baby to myself! There is nothing like those newborn baby cuddles or those special milk-drunk smiles as baby drifts to sleep– those moments are MY moments with my baby! Some people feel like they deserve to “feed the baby,” but because I choose to breastfeed my baby, feeding the baby is MY time, not anyone elses. There is an assumption that some people can only bond through feeding my baby but I disagree and I know for a fact that bonding occurs in other ways and that I do not have to share the act of feeding my baby with anyone else unless I want to.
4. Would rather spend my money on something else…. When I decided to quit my job and stay home with my baby, we took a leap of faith that financially we could figure it out. Breastfeeding doesn’t cost a thing! This is a smart choice for us because we never had to worry about affording our baby’s formula or bottles.
5. I forget my diaper bag at home a lot. Some moms feel like breastfeeding is a lot of pressure, but I am the opposite, I think formula feeding is a lot of pressure. There are things I would have to be sure to remember if we were to go out and I just don’t want that type of pressure. There have been more times than I can count that I have forgotten my diaper bag at home. Can you imagine the nightmare if I forgot to bring my baby’s food? A diaper is bad enough but luckily with breastfeeding I am able to go anywhere with my baby and feed him when he is hungry. Love that breastfeeding is convenient and easy on the go food for my baby that takes no planning on my part!
What are your reasons for breastfeeding? How have these reasons changed as your child has grown older?
