My son never latched on, so I pumped for 11 months. You may not get your first choice of what you want to do.

There are a few good things about pumping and bottlefeeding. Your baby gets a food that is very suited to her, and the diapers are a lot less smelly, because it is much more thoroughly digested. Others can feed her. If you live close enough to a mother's milk bank, you can donate your excess and save the lives of preemies and allergic babies. (The preemies need to eat right away, but their mother's milk usually takes a while to come in.)

But you can donate milk even if you are breastfeeding (you just have to pump every now and again). It takes rigid adherance to schedule to keep breastmilk production up when pumping, and manditory tv watching while doing it I think. I used to freeze extra in ziplock sandwich bags, only had one break, and they were loads cheaper than the special breastmilk bags.

The most time consuming thing about bottle feeding whatever is constantly cleaning bottles, and nipples, and breast pump paraphanelia, though they have a microwave sterilizing for the breastpump stuff now at least. The least time consuming is breastfeeding. There is no preparation time, there is no cleanup time or stuff.

Well that is unrealistic in this day and age. If you work, you will have to pump while at work to keep production up, and to provide for the next day food for the caregiver.

There will be such important issues to deal with, that modesty will probably be the least of your worries.

Oh yeah, and if you are going to pump at all, rent a nice big pump, and a battery, and car power converter for it, because sometimes when it is time to pump, there aint no power in a suitably private place. Bathroom stalls never have outlets.

Breastfeeding makes night feedings go a whole lot smoother.

I breastfed both my boys. Getting started was tricky, but once we caught on, I was glad not to have to worry about sterilizing bottles or getting the formula the right temperature or any of that. And yes, AMEN on the night-feeding thing. By the time my sons were 6 weeks old I could nurse them in my sleep and I had no idea how often they were waking up in the night because I wasn't waking up.

Also, apparently women who breastfeed are less likely to get breast cancer. Also re public nursing, the baby's head covers the boob, so you're really not exposing a lot.

A friend forwarded me a "101 Reasons to Breastfeed" email a few days ago. It's pretty biased, but if you want to read it, let me know and I'll pass it on.

Well, I was breastfed, and I was one allergy-havin' little kid. Also, an allergy-havin' adult. And my mom and I aren't close either, so there goes that theory. I totally hear you on not wanting a kid hanging from your teat in public. All I want to say is DON'T LET ANYBODY SWAY YOU on this.

I was practically producing like a cow after "birthing" my triplets - literally I could pump a gallon or more a day if I'd have had the patience. I pumped for them while they were in NICU for two weeks and then for another 2 months after. I couldn't do it any longer than that - I was going to lose my mind. None of my boys ever latched on well - they were kinda little at first and well, I had boobs that LOOKED like they could produce gallons of milk - tiny mouths and big boobs (w/flat nipples - a "technical" term) are a recipe for frustration - that and they would practially drown from my overzealous boobage. I also hated the constant, painful, full feeling and the leakage. I loved being pregnant and loved my little babies, but I wanted my body back as my own. I was giving all I had to them and to add that on was one thing too many.

My nieces both breastfed their kids. One because she is one of those "I'm so in love with my baby" people and one because she set it as a goal and doesn't back down. She hated every second of it (both times) and was bleeding and in pain much of the time but wouldn't stop. Me, I'm much more practical. There are some great formulas on the market and I think that pumping for as long as you can stand it, even if it's only a couple of months is a viable option and makes it easier on your husband to participate in all aspects of childcare and it also makes working outside of the home much easier, as well.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone make you feel guilty for your choice. It's your choice, your baby, your family and your body. You do what you feel comfortable with. Be careful, because the Pro La Leche League folks will try to tell you that you are "less than" if you choose not to breast feed. Don't believe them. Also, don't let anyone make you feel creepy because they don't like breastfeeding and don't want to "see that". It's their problem, not yours.

Pros - cheaper, less mess, better diapers, always at the ready, "supposedly" better for baby, although I'm not so sure with the new formulas on the market, you burn a lot of calories, ovulate less - fewer periods.

Cons - You have to watch what you eat - spicy or gassy foods may upset baby, if you are a modesty freak, this is a little uncomfortable, although believe me you lose a lot of modesty with pregnancy and childbirth..., pumping for times you are not available (yuck), LEAKAGE!, having to feed baby more often - breastmilk is less filling, having to dress so that breasts are ever-available, ovulate-less and have fewer periods, but still capable of getting pregnant and really shouldn't take BC pills while breastfeeding.

I could think of more stuff, but you'll get lots of advice on this subject. It's a personal decision based on your lifestyle, your personality and family. BTW, my boys are quite healthy. I've only had trouble with one of them having ear infections and one with allergies, but those started when they were already big boys. My totally breastfed nieces and nephews have all been allergy ridden since infancy and two of the four have had tubes in their ears since age 2. Make of that what you will. You can make a good case for either decision. Good luck!

Bottom line: it's a personal choice, and it's no one's business but yours and Scott's. Period. Opinions are like assholes: everyone has one, and they all stink. LOL.

I was breastfed as a child. My mom and I weren't close until after my father died 4 years ago, and even now, I wouldn't say we're VERY close at all.

I was adamant about breasfeeding my own child for health reasons; until my milk farm ceased to exist after ONE month, and the little piglet just wasn't getting enough food after TWO weeks. Our pediatrician said it was OK to supplement her with formula, and we did. Once the milk was gone, she went to straight formula, and rice cereal, which our pediatrician also said was OK. (Thousands of them will gasp and tell you not to feed your baby rice cereal at such an early age. WTF ever.) Guess what? She's a perfectly healthy & active child. Oh, and I never breastfed in public either. In the back of my car, yes, but on a parkbench, no.

As a mom, you will usually instinctively know when and what your baby needs. It's part of that great bond between mom and child. :)

(Gee, i had to go back and edit that to say "mom" because the spam filter you have in place wouldn't allow "m*ther". LOL)

So, whatever you decide, good luck!! I'm sure it will be the best decision for all of you. :)