<<As to the second part of your question, formula feeding is NOT easier than
breastfeeding (what could be easier than lifting your shirt and latching
your baby on?). People have been made to think that formula feeding is
"easier" due to the marketing done by formula companies. >>

I have a former doctor who related that bottle-feeding is about a 5 on a
scale of "difficulty." You have to purchase the formula, clean the bottles,
mix the product, feed the baby, clean up, on and on. It stays at about a 5
for the entire duration of feeding. Plus, others can help with the
responsibility.

In the first few weeks of breastfeeding, while learning the skills, the
"difficulty" level is about an 8, and for some couples, a 10. The mother has
to calm the baby, she has to find a comfortable position for herself and her
child, she has to care for the other people in the house, she has to
overcome societal and family pressures, she has to be completely involved
with a baby, who is tiny, but is not the only member of the family. It stays
at a "higher level" for a number of days to weeks. Long enough for many
people to give up in frustration. 

However, once the mother has learned to dance with her baby, the "difficulty
level" drops a 0, 1 or 2. It becomes no big deal. And it stays at the no big
deal level for the rest of the time.

So, for 2-6 weeks, the breastfeeding mother is putting in a lot of effort,
while the bottle-feeding mother is putting in medium effort. For the next 11
months, though, the breastfeeding mother is putting in little to no effort,
and the bottle-feeding mother continues to stay at the higher level.

In the long run, breastfeeding is easier, but in the early, vulnerable days,
it's hard to see the long run!

Best wishes,
Sam Doak

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]