Nursing vs. Bottle Feeding

I can't believe my nursing experience is coming to an end. The most surprising part is that I am actually sad it is over. I repeat, I am SAD it is over. Nobody is more surprised than me that I feel that way. I didn't nurse with Emma, I thought nursing was for sickies. Then with Lydia I wanted to see what all the fuss was about so I thought I would give it a try. I had a lot of encouragement from friends and I think that really helped me see it through. I am so glad I had this opportunity to enjoy one of God's many genius functions of the human body. Nursing was so much more than just being 'functional' for me and I am truly happy that I gave it a chance. I really think I would have nursed for a few more months, if not to the year mark, except my body AND Lydia conspired against me and have both decided that they're not really into it anymore. I am also thankful that I bottle fed Emma. I don't regret that decision at all and I am thankful that I feel like I have a great view of both sides of such a sensitive debate. So here are MY PERSONAL opinions on the rumors and arguments about nursing vs. bottle feeding.

#1. Nursed Babies have better Immune systems--- FALSE!!!
Ummm, Lydia seems to be sick every other week. Granted she does have an older sister home dragging germs through the house. But even still, the way people carry on about the antibodies in breast milk I just had higher expectations for our winter flu and cold season. Plus, some of the sickest kids I know come from a devout nursing mother. So this argument for nursing seems pretty invalid to me.

#2. Nursing helps you lose weight--- TRUE!
I thought that only naturally skinny people said this and it only applied to people with great genes. But not the case. I lost my baby weight with Lydia in a matter of two weeks. Then by the time she was 6 months old I had lost an additional ten pounds. I know some women don't lose weight until they STOP nursing, but that wasn't the case for me. So I would say this statement was definitely true.

#3. Nursed babies have a greater bond with their mother--- UNDECIDED
So for the most part I think that statement is absurd! I didn't nurse Emma and my other two sisters didn't nurse their boys and the love from a child to mother is just as great as any. I don't think Nursery teachers can spot which kids were breast fed and which were bottle fed. Seriously, it's insulting to mothers who don't nurse and especially to mothers who simply can't nurse. HOWEVER, what makes me undecided is the fact that MOST babies I know who were nursed have a VERY ANNOYING attachment to their mother. They cry when she leaves the room, hang on her leg all day long, and sometimes even cry when their dad is holding them. So it is possible that those kids are on a case by case basis, but it seems the kids that have the separation anxiety the worst are all kids that were nursed. I will admit that my little Lydia prefers me over anyone. And I will also admit that sometimes it is nice. After all, I'm the one who carried her, birthed her, and wakes up with her in the night and devotes my whole day to her. I should have a special preference in her life. I just hope she out grows it soon so she can be a well rounded child. Nobody likes kids who cling to their mother's leg and cry when you look at them. Emma has always been soooo friendly and so well adjusted and I take so much pride in watching her interact and brighten the day of the elderly, sick, and disabled. Do I owe it to the formula? No, she just came that way and I wanted to brag about her for a moment ;)

#4. Bottle fed babies sleep better--- FALSE
My little Lydia was sleeping through the night at 2 months. Sleeping 12+ hours at 3 months. Of course when she was sick I wasn't so lucky and had to get up with her multiple times. But over all she has slept just as sound as Emma did. So this myth is totally busted!

#5. Nursing is cheaper than bottle feeding--- TRUE
Nursing comes with a good amount of required "tools" that I was unaware of. I had to come up with a breast pump(that I borrowed) nursing pads, nursing bra, and ointments. So although the monthly bill is definitely cheaper than formula, nursing isn't without it's expenses.

#6. You can't get pregnant while nursing--- FALSE (duh)
However, in the defense of women who believed this to be true, I will say that I haven't had a visit from "Aunt Flow" since I became pregnant in October of '08. So I can see how this myth would be easily believed. I do still get the monthly grumps and cravings though.

#7. Nursed babies have higher IQ's--- FALSE
I haven't done any scientific studies, but seriously? Come on. I do believe some kids are naturally smart, but they're also socially awkward. For the most part our kids are as intelligent as we are willing to work with them.

#8. Nursing leaves you with a AA cup size--- TBD
As far as I am told this is pretty true. Either an A cup or saggy waggy. But guess what, boobs are kind of sicky to begin with. So how bad could it really be? But we'll see if I still feel that way when all is said and done.

These are just MY personal findings. I am so thankful I nursed and I am really proud of myself for seeing it through. There is just something special about it that is hard to describe without sounding like a "sicky" that I was referring to earlier. I do think that mother who bottle feed are just as loving, caring and nurturing. For the most part they are getting more sleep and can also get more help at times, which probably also gives them more patience. As we all know, patience is a quality that makes the very best mothers. So I think everyone should stop being so hard on each other as women and just be more encouraging of the personal choices we make of what we think is best for our children and best for our families. I'm so thankful to see both sides of the spectrum and to have truly cherished each different experience with each of my girls.