Your Sentiments on Breast Feeding in Public

[Aroura]

I never used a bottle. Ok, not never, but the one time we did pump and take it, our little one got very gassy, cried a lot, and then burped half her meal back up.

Breast feeding reduces gas (and crying) in infants.  I would think everyone would cheer on mothers breast feeding!  Do you prefer the babies that spit up on everything and cry all the time from having gas and indigestion from bottle feeding?

I am glad bottles (and formula) exist for women who cannot, for health or other reason, breast feed.  But it should be encouraged for all women who can, for soooo many reasons.  It's such a good, healthy behavior. It is physically good for mom and baby (reduces cancer risks for mom, releases endorphin's to help keep her from strangling her own kid when she's operating on autopilot + exhaustion, increases the child's natural immunities to disease FOR LIFE, and creates a closer bond between mother and child, just to name a few).

But it can be difficult and stressful on the mother.  Sore nipples, painful engorgement, difficulty holding the baby and feeding (I'm very tiny, this was a problem for me) and any discouragement can drive a woman away from an otherwise healthy behavior.  Woman need all the encouragement they can get when they haven't slept more than 3 hours in a row for the last 6 months, and have a little one sucking away what little energy they have.

I encourage everyone to encourage breast feeding!