Here is a little tidbit of truth that most mothers won't tell you. If you breastfeed your child, you can save money and sleep through the night. When my daughter was born, I had decided I was going to stay at home with her. I figured she could be my job, and I was right... Boy, was I right. When they say 24 hours a day, they mean it. She had to be fed every 3 hours a night. If you have never had a child, you could not imagine the severity of waking up two, or three, times a night to feed your child.
I never thought I would breastfeed my children because I figured I devoted my body for 10 months to the nourishment of a baby. I wanted my body back. But, my husband believed it was important for a "bonding" experience between mother and child. I thought his reasoning was sound, and adorable, so I thought I would at least give it a try.
Let me tell you, it was the best decision I made, and have yet to make, during my tenure as a mother.
I should mention that to say my breasts are large is an understatement. My breasts are ungainly and, for the most part, have been a hindrance on my life. When I was breast feeding my daughter, they finally made sense. My breasts served a purpose. Now, breast size means nothing when it comes to breast feeding. Small and medium tits work fine. I have always hated my boobs but, for once, I could understand their purpose... Anyway, I felt more comfortable with my body when I was breast feeding. The bonding experience is not just a bunch of new age babble. It is real. When it was time to wean my little girl, it was harder on me than it was on my daughter. For 6 months of her life, she needed me to survive... Literally! When she got hungry, only I could provide her sustenance. But, that's not what I wanted to tell you.
What I want to express...
What I want to say is that breast feeding is so simple, it is almost unreal. My friend had a baby 3 months before me and she did not breast feed. When her baby cried, during the night, she had to get up, go downstairs, make a bottle, warm it, and come back up to feed the baby. Not to mention the bottles she then had to clean. When you breast feed, all you need is you and a baby. I could lay on my side, lay my baby next to me, and presto! We could fall back to sleep together. I am a pretty light, to moderate, sleeper so I didn't have to worry about rolling over on her. God, it was so easy.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is the cost. When my daughter was 6 months old, I learned a shocking truth... Formula is $7 a bottle. She drank about a bottle and a half a day. That was a huge pain in the ass.
As you know, I am pregnant again, and I hope that my son is as easy to feed as my daughter was. They say it is a different experience with every baby. I welcome that experience. I definitely recommend breast feeding to all the reasonable mother's out there. It is not just a "spiritual" experience. For me, it was the right choice. If you are lazy and cheap, like me, give it a try.
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