Both of my girls were born in Florida, during hurricane season. When we were preparing for Honeybun, I was genuinely concerned about what we would do with a baby if a bad storm hit. What if we had to evacuate? What if we had no power for a while? What if we had no clean water for a while?
My solution to the last question was buy bottles with disposable liners, extra nipples and I kept the ready-to-feed formula I received in the mail and at the hospital. I put it all in an “emergency” bag so I could quickly grab it and go if necessary. I figured this was the safest option for feeding my baby in an emergency situation. At that time it never even occurred to me that the actual safest vessel for nourishing my child would be my breast even though I knew I was going to exclusively breastfeed as long as possible.
The most common object, picture, idea associated with a baby is a bottle. It is so culturally engrained in our society that it is assumed that is how babies are fed. Even with breastfeeding awareness increasing and more mothers choosing to breastfeed and breastfeed longer, there is still a bottle assumption. For example, my well-meaning neighbor offered to watch the girls one night so hubby and I could go out and added “I’ll keep the baby too, just give me a bottle with milk.” I explained he goes everywhere I do because we aren’t giving him bottles yet and she didn’t quite know how to respond.
I don’t think it’s strange anymore for mommies to breastfeed, but I do think it is still considered strange for babies to not get bottles too. I guess most people who haven’t exclusively breastfed can’t wrap their heads around needing to be accessible to your baby around the clock and only being able to be away for short periods. Most people assume breast and bottle are equal and for many families providing bottles in mommy’s absence or so mommy can get away is fine. But there are situations when bottles are not ideal.
Many breastfeeding advocates warn of the risks of “nipple confusion,” that is giving a young baby bottles and him/her developing a preference to the bottle instead of mommy’s breast. Not everyone worries about nipple confusion, and I have to say with my girls I wasn’t concerned about it after the first few weeks once my milk supply was established and my girls were nursing well but I have held off longer with Doodle due to my oversupply issues that we are still struggling with (see “Too Much of a Good Thing” for info on oversupply). Doodle still sometimes fusses at the breast when the milk lets down to forcefully, especially when he is tired and wants to go to sleep and is really looking for comfort more than a meal. I am still worried that if he receives too many bottles he may decide bottles are better than me and I am not willing to jeopardize our breastfeeding relationship for the chance to “get away.” I would much rather have him with me all the time in order to ensure 9 ½ more months (Doodle’s 1st birthday) of successful nursing, which is my minimum breastfeeding goal.
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