When researching and communicating on the issue of breastfeeding your infant or not, heated debates form on the issue. Should one breastfeed, bottle feed, or try a combination? Four years ago, I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl. Taking into account my mother's view and my doctor's opinion on the positive nutritional value of a mothers milk, I chose to breastfeed. I breastfed for the first three months and then returned back to work, where the difficult task of pumping and working began. I made it through another three months, before learning I needed sinus surgery and needed to be on medications unsuitable for the baby. I felt guilty and listened to strangers comment on formula not being an appropriate choice for my baby.
I communicated with a few different women to help broaden my views on this topic. One was a stay at home mom that chose to breastfeed due to the closeness she feels as a mother and the cost, since she does not have a paying job. Another woman, a teacher, felt like the time it takes to breastfeed did not benefit her lifestyle. My neighbor is not able to breastfeed for medical reasons, so she buys breast milk from a bank online. These are very different views, but the common thread is that all of the women feel that their choice positively impacted their growth and development.
What are your views on breastfeeding and how does it impact a child's development?
I attached a link with some current statistics.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126743
