Parentpedia

What Experts Say^*

All new mothers have heard the slogan "Breast Is Best." And, undeniably, there are a myriad of benefits to breastfeeding for both you and your baby.

First are the health advantages for your child, who receives valuable nourishment and infection-fighting antibodies from breast milk.

Then, there is the close bond that develops between the mother and baby through the breastfeeding process.

These well-publicized benefits, touted by advocacy groups and many parenting experts, have greatly changed society's expectations for new mothers in the last 25 years.

Breastfeeding has become so widely accepted as the norm that new mothers often feel like it's the only safe option for their babies. But what about the women who cannot breastfeed or choose not to? Those moms are not alone. There are different reasons women cannot breastfeed their babies, all of them legitimate.

• Health Reasons. New moms taking certain prescription medications or with particular health conditions should consult with their doctor before breastfeeding. Some medication can be transferred to the baby through mother's milk, and with the side effects unknown, formula may be a better option.
• Work-Related Reasons. Moms who go back to work full-time often find it impossible to continue breastfeeding their babies. Few work environments provide lactation rooms, private places for women to pump breast milk. Though progress has been made on this front, U.S. society still has a ways to go in supporting lactating women in the workplace.
• Physical Reasons. Inadequate breast milk supply or inefficient sucking by the baby may be other issues that prohibit breastfeeding. And then there is the pain. While conventional wisdom says that if it hurts, you're doing it wrong, most moms experience some breast tenderness the first few weeks. In rare cases, some women experience intense or prolonged pain, and switch to bottle-feeding.

Whatever the reason for bottle-feeding, new moms need not feel guilty over their decision. Formulas are time-tested and an acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. Bottle-feeding is also a way for the whole family to get involved in caring for the new baby. And, as the venerable Dr. Benjamin Spock acknowledged in "Baby and Child Care," most working mothers end up combining breastfeeding and bottle-feeding during their baby's first year.

In all cases, as a new mom, you should consult with your doctor, and make the decision that is best for you and your baby.