- Free
- Convenient
- Bonding
- Formula recalls and shortages
- Health benefits for baby
- Health benefits for mom
Nursing is not the right choice for everyone. It is also not possible for everyone. I came close to not being able to nurse my youngest little love because of some health complications after her birth. Some mamas try and just can’t. Feeding your baby nutritious milk that is made for infants is the most important thing, whether it is breast milk or formula. You have to choose what is right for you and your baby. These are the reasons why nursing was the best choice for me.
- Aside from the cost of pumping materials, breastfeeding is obviously free. The milk is produced around the clock with minimal effort. There is a slight cost of vitamins or milk storage bags, but the milk itself is the most free and nutritious food that has ever existed (I made that bold statement up without scientific proof…but it seems really true). I estimated that I saved more than $1000 on the cost of formula by nursing my baby for 11 months.That was using Target’s yellow Up & Up brand that was $19.99 per container. We used this for supplementing at daycare, and still saved over $1000.
- One of the greatest things about breast milk is that it is always fresh and always the perfect temperature. There is no need to fiddle with bottles in the middle of the night. No need to prepare bottles before going out for the day. A warm fresh meal is available whenever it is needed most.
- My favorite reason for nursing my babies was the look in their eyes when they locked their gaze with mine and snuggled in. I have that look locked in my memory forever. It is the best. Even though it can be emotionally taxing to be the only one to keep your tiny human alive, there is also a strong connection that forms with the baby. It is hard to explain, and dads build their own strong connections in other ways. This is by no means a slight to the dads who work themselves to the bone doing other tasks with a newborn in the house, but there is an undeniable bond that forms from the forced snuggles every 2-3 hours around the clock for the first few months.
- In 2021-2022 there were quite a few formula recalls that led to shortages. It did not affect me, but I was horrified for all of the families it was affecting. I was very thankful that we had what we needed and we could be sure it was safe. Even as I am typing this, I see that the yellow Up & Up brand is not available anymore. Is that because of a shortage? A recall? Rebranding?
- There are some amazing scientific details to breast milk that just shout God’s creation. Breast milk actually changes to meet the baby’s needs. Antibodies from the mom pass to the baby to protect against diseases. I have not cross-referenced the sources to be sure that this is entirely accurate, but the website, Baby Chick, states that kissing your baby’s skin can allow some of their germs to enter your body, which causes your body to produce antibodies in the milk, which help to protect your baby from illnesses. I can’t rationalize that as anything short of miraculous. I could write a whole post about the benefits of breast milk for a baby. I just think that this is the best.
- The CDC touts breastfeeding as beneficial to mothers in that it lowers blood pressure, the risk for type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. I am also pretty sure I had stronger fingernails because of it. Again, this is not scientific, just my own observations.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding a baby. You and your family have to decide what works best for your lifestyle and comfort. Parents of newborns are rockstars no matter how you look at it. Babies are tough. Sweet, and cute, and squishy, and tough.
