Breasts are best! The new father's guide to breastfeeding

» hardingbf - Sleep deprivation?? Uhm...no

While this is an otherwise good article on breastfeeding, I have a problem with an inaccuracy in it. Let me quote, "Suffice it to say that a commitment to breastfeed is a commitment to more-or-less brutal sleep deprivation."

Breastfeeding is no more a commitment to sleep deprivation than formula feeding, actually, much less so.

What do you think causes the most sleep deprivation?: getting up to mix and measure formula downstairs in the kitchen or simply putting a boob in your kid's mouth? Breastfeeding is so much easier and this comes from someone who has done it, not a well-intentioned but unpracticed man. Plus, if you let your baby sleep in bed with you, you don't even have to wake up at all; they just eat while they/you sleep.

I have to also say that I've never felt exhausted, emotionally or physically, by breastfeeding. On the contrary, it's a time of the day when I can actually sit down and relax.

This is a good article but a little misinformed.

-- posted by hardingbf

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» lexkief - Re: Sleep deprivation?? Uhm...no

In response to message posted by hardingbf:

You're right, hardingbfbf, my mistake. I should have said that a commitment to having a baby, period, is a commitment to sleep deprivation. Of course, my perspective comes from my personal experience, and everyone's experience will be different. Since my wife and I both worked neither of us had much of a chance to catch up on sleep. I don't know about you, but eight hours of constantly interrupted sleep will never be as rejuvenating as eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, in my opinion. I've noticed that advocates of breastfeedingng tend to be very defensive about the practice. The commitment statement was intended to be a lighthearted stab at humor. After all, keeping one's sense of humor as a new parent is nearly as important as a good night's sleep. Relax. I believe in breastfeedingng, I support it, and I promote it as much as I can. I only hope you're allowing your husband to get in on the act by letting him do some occasional bottle feedings (with breast milk, of course). It is a special, relaxing time, and men enjoy sharing the bond that develops during feedings, too. Incidentally, I do not advocate allowing infants to sleep with you. Nor do most healthcare professionals. It's a potentially dangerous practice that may lead to accidental suffocation of the infant. Better to put him or her back in his or her crib when feedings are over.

-- posted by lexkief

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» biogardener - satisfying experience

I can tell you from personal experience that the first time my infant son sucked mild from my breast was the most satisfying moment of my entire life. We had been through a rather traumatic delivery, and I actually died 5 minutes after the delivery. I came back to life 10 hours later. In the meantime, the baby had not had a chance to suck right after birth, and by the next day, he did not know how. I guess it is something that has to happen at a certain time.

It took a couple of days of feeding him my milk in a bottle before he finally got the hang of the real thing. That moment was the highlight of my life.

-- posted by biogardener

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