My sister did that. All her life she had a cat. They moved to a house with no pets and she immediately developed a horrendous allergy to cats. This is the freak who had eczema and asthma despite being fully breasfed.

My sister was fully breastfed for 7 months and is asthmatic, severely eczematous from infancy, dangerously allergic to cats and ant powder. I'm asthmatic and allergic to mosquito bites and the colour purple (in things like fabric softener/shampoo) but I wasn't breastfed. And my other 4 breastfed siblings are all normal. How very curious!

Defective!

The statistics aren't the same. Formula feeds to not contain antibodies. They do not provide the same support to the baby's immune system. Breast fed babies get fewer infections than formula fed babies. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from allergies, asthma, eczema, and diabetes. They are also decreased risk for SIDS. Breast fed babies have a 19% lower incidence in ear infections and a 50% lower incidence in diarrhoea and constipation. THOSE are the statistics.

Read more: http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/reasons_to_breastfeed_your_baby

Agreed...and I went back to work when my son was eight weeks old and pumped twice a day while I was there.(giving up ALL my breaks and copping a very hard time from workmates and management and almost ZERO support)..I fed him until he was eight months old.
Its definately a personal choice but I have to say it infuriates me when women stop breastfeeding for THEMSELVES rather than any other reason. This is probably not a popular opionion....but if its all too hard....toughen up princess because you have a lifetime of now putting someone else before yourself. get used to it ;)

can you tell I am a huge advocate for breastfeeding :D

*applauds*

Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from allergies, asthma, eczema, and diabetes

i never heard that, but it makes sense to me. my boyfriend was adopted and he has allergies and asthma, i dunno if that's the cause of it but it makes sense

I don't have any of those, and I was bottle fed.

This is what I meant on the other thread about people who bottle feed being bullied. I am sure that 98% of bottle feeding mothers know the pros and cons of both methods, and they decide based on the facts. I don't know why people can't stay friendly about these things! It's like the anti-vaccination argument. Everyone is going to make their own mind up so why argue?

I'm going to write an entry on this thread when I get round to it. Most mothers who give up breastfeeding seem to do so through poor support and education. They're the ones I'm more interested in. The women I personally know who have bottle fed from birth have generally done so so they aren't 'tied' to their babies.

just because most people on here agree that they prefer breastfeeding, doesn't mean they're mean. and i don't feel like it's an argument, people are stating what they prefer and why. if you feel bullied then stop coming back :| not everyone is going to agree with you.

I don't feel bullied; I don't even have kids! But I find that the pro breast feeding movement seems to be militant (not necessarily the people here), and nobody likes that.

Regardless of what anyone says, eventually, it WILL be just the same.
not possible. I highly doubt anyone BM will ever contain rocket fuel or melamine which will result in many many sick babies and a few deaths.

lol, exactly!

I am still breastfeeding my nine month old son, and I plan to breastfeed the baby I'm currently pregnant with. I'm generally mad at myself that I did not breastfeed my first child though. The advantages are it's cheaper than formula, and it's easily accesible. There is no need to make a bottle in the middle of the night, you just pop out your boob and go. I think a disadvantage would be that in some women, it may hurt when they try to breastfeed and that could cause them to give up early. I've been breastfeeding my son since he was about a week old, and he's been an amazing eater ever since. I did not breastfeed my first child because I was young and my first thought of it was "Gross, I don't think boobs should be used for that." Now that I'm more educated on the subject, I think it's an awesome thing to do.

1. Have you or would you breastfeed your own baby? Or, if you're a bloke, would you want your partner to breastfeed your child?
Currently 100% breastfed, not bottles, or anything else for almost 6 months and no end in sight

2. What do you percieve to be the advantages or disadvantages?
Advantages? I would have to say the #1 is the bond with your child. I ADORE breastfeeding time, I love watching his little face and snuggling with him, something no one else can d0
#2 - the convenience. I don't have to worry about bringing a bottle when we go out. I just feed him at the grocery store, restaurant, swimming lessons, etc etc.
#3 - the cost. No cost to it. I bought a few nursing shirts, entirely optional
#4 - all the health benefits. There are millions, including lowering MOTHERS risks for breast cancer.

Disadvantages? There are none. Everything came and went quickly. Like the nights when he would cluster feed from 6pm-11pm non stop. They have ended. I hate thinking of "disadvantages" because really I just reminded myself that it would be over with so soon. The baby stage passes way too quick. Who cares if your husband can't feed the baby? In a few months time they can feed them solids.

3. No ... I love my sleepless nights and sore boobs :)

3. Did you start off breastfeeding and then get put off by the sleepless nights/sore boobs/engorgement and stop? If so, did you wish you hadn't?

I don't have children yet, but I intend to try breastfeeding when I do. I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding, I think it's beautiful, natural, and it creates a stronger bond between the mother and her baby. Ultimately, I think whatever works the best for the mother AND her baby is the option that should be chosen, whether it's breastfeeding and/or supplements and formula. Everyone is different.

fate interved and i couldn't bf my son, however if i had another child i would. costs back on a lot of cancers.

1.I would if I could.
2.On a completely selfish level, a benefit of breast feeding is that it is free, no formula, no bottles and no sterlisers. The content of your milk changes to your babies needs, your body produces antibodies specific to your baby when they are poorly, it helps the uterus to contract, reduces the risk of SIDs, reduces the risk of allergies, asthma for baby, reduces the risk of breast cancer for mum. Disadvantages, unless you can pump occasionally you have to do all feeds, I imagine having someone suck at your boobs is painful for the first few weeks, uneducated people being rude to you in public, taking ill and need medications that mean you cannot breast feed until the medication is out of your system.

1. Have you or would you breastfeed your own baby? Or, if you're a bloke, would you want your partner to breastfeed your child? yep i breastfeed...still. lol. (21 months)

2. What do you percieve to be the advantages or disadvantages?
advantages: put the boob in and feed her back to sleep at night,
lose weight and eat more(!!)
protecting her from illnesses even when i'm ill....
and when shes ill knowing that shes eating something/helping her when i cant do anything else.
knowing that im giving her perfect nutrition for her needs.
as well as lesser risk of cancer for me,
less SIDS risk for her and all the other medical benefits etc.
not washing and sterilising bottles,
plus the smell of formula is horrid!
oh ITS FREE!!
the perfect comfort to her when she needs it/falls over etc.

disadvantages: having to do all the feeds (even when you're ill),
not feeling like your body is yours even after pregnancy,
rude comments (especially about full term breastfeeding),
not drinking alcohol on special occasions (though i saw somewhere they've brought out a test which checks milk for your levels!)
no medication when you're ill (but i am over cautious)
being the milk parent instead of the cuddles parent (if she wants to feel close to me, she wants to feed! if i want to be close to her, i want to snuggle!)

3. Did you start off breastfeeding and then get put off by the sleepless nights/sore boobs/engorgement and stop? If so, did you wish you hadn't? I came close ;) Also had to use formula to get baby to gain weight which was shit :(

I drink. Only ever one, maybe two. Jimmy's not reacted at all, not even green poo, so I presume my body is efficently filtering as it should be!

No alcohol? Oh my goodness, that's not for me then! ;D

The nine months of pregnancy should prepare you! Plus the money you save can buy you shoes!

I find it quite easy and I was a MASSIVE binge drinker before I concieved. I gave up drinking just before I got pregnant and now don't really care if I drink or not. Having babies CHANGES you in ways you don't think it will.

u can drink just not a ton. like a beer every now and then is okay. beer is actually supposed to help the milk supply. i drank 2 times while BFing, usually after lil man was down for the night. Then he would sleep ate in the morning after his midnight feeding. also there are test strips you can test your breastmilk before nursing. or if you are smart and wanna go out and party with ur friends pre-pump enough for the baby while u are out and enough to let the alcohol come out of your system. once u are in the midst of your partying stage u gotta remember to pump (to avoid the pain of engorgment) but pump and dump the alcohol contaminated breastmilk.

I as well as my partner will breast feed without question. As long as i can, i will induce lactation for any children i do not give birth to. Formula just isn't an option for us.
There are local BM banks and LLL groups who often give donations for mama's in need of some boob juice.
We also plan to extended breast feed and child led weaning. If the child weans earlier than 18 months then they will still be given BM in a sippy on a regular basis.
It is possible to consume alcohol with nursing as long as it is done in moderation. So we aren't to concerned about that either.
*digs up BF bookmarks*
A lot of nursing mamas i know found this chart extremely helpful.

http://www.beststart.org/resources/alc_reduction/pdf/brstfd_alc_deskref_eng.pdf