I nursed six adopted babies, with fibromyalgia. The first two, I only managed to nurse for a short time, so they were largely bottlefed, but the last four weaned themselves. Also, I bottlefed my fourth child for four months, while I tried to teach her to accept the breast, so i have alot of experience with bottlefeeding. My FMS was first diagnosed (after 15 years of being sent to psychiatrists because of it) when my third son was 6 months old. I was told to get on amitriptyline, but that I would have to stop nursing. There was no way I was going to do that, so I said I would just have to wait until Thomas weaned. Well, I did a little further research and learned that drug was actually safe for during lactation, so I went ahead and started taking it. I would think that alot of the moms who think they have a choice between no meds and bottle feeding could find meds that could be taken during lactation, that would not render breastfeeding more hazardous than formula feeding. I found that having a comfortable place to sit and nurse was essential. I started keeping pillows and whatever else I needed, in my recliner, all the time, and I sat cross-legged alot. I always tried to have the baby supported so that I did not have to hold them up with my arms. That way, it was alot easier to nurse, even with the Lact-Aid, than to feed a baby with a bottle. I could get the baby started and then let my arms relax. Eventually, I found that, with a cervical pillow to support my head, I could even go to sleep nursing, which was definitely beneficial. I don't think bottle feeding is really any easier for a mom with FMS, unless she lets someone else feed her baby, or props the bottle, and then she misses out on the nurturing with her baby. Also, it is important to consider the fact that formula fed babies are more likely to be sick and the stress and sleep loss from having a sick baby can make the FMS syptoms much, much worse! I think anyone who tells moms with FMS that it would be easier for them to bottlefeed hasn't really looked at all the issues. One more thing is the calming effects of the increase in prolactin, which bottlefeeding doesn't produce. I found that picking up and carrying babies was hard on my body, but that breastfeeding, even with a partial milk supply and using the Lact-Aid much of the time, was much better for me, as well as my kids, than bottlefeeding. Aloha, Darillyn *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html