If I remember correctly, the question was benefits of bottlefeeding to the
baby, nothing was said about what was *in* the bottle.  Furthermore, one
can exclusively formula feed with an SNS...

I actually can think of one, and only one, potential benefit.  For some
reason many in the lactation world has this idea that bottlefeeding is some
cold, uncaring, unfeeling, unemotional task.  I snort loudly at this
assertion.  Not all bottlefeeders just pop it in like it's a plug and
remove when empty ignoring baby and baby cues.  To assume all are like this
is a grave disservice to those who do feed their babies tenderly, with
love, with a bottle.

There's also this assumption that babies don't like being bottlefed, think
of it only as food, not as a comfort time.  I am sure breastfed babies
don't. (smart babies ;-)  But this is certainly not true for any bottlefed
with love baby I've met.  To offer these kids formula from a spoon or cup
or syringe before they were well over a year old would have been cruel.
They adored curling up with a loved one, bottle in hand, 'nursing' the
bottle, sometimes to sleep, sometimes just for a lull in their busy day.
and yes, for many, if not most bottlefeeding toddlers the person component
*is* necessary!  You can't just leave them there with the bottle if you
haven't trained them to do that sice birth, they come get you!

So, that brings me to the one and only benefit I can think of: other people
can comfort the baby.  I know some breastfed babies are comforted other
ways... but not mine.  and not many of the *really* breastfed babies I know
(as opposed to the ones that are formula fed with breastfeeding
supplement).  If, god forbid, I die or am in a coma or something, there
will be *nothing* my family can do with my baby while she screams her head
off for me until she decides to calm down and trust someone new.  Who knows
how long that will take.  Yes they can feed her, but not comfort (I have
left a detailed plan on how to help her including instructions on SNS use
for my MIL and the note that if I come around or am looking on from the
great beyond and see my baby screaming because she's too squeamish to use
it I will be *peeved*).

Now of course, the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh all that.  Strongly!
I mean really what's the likelyhood of me dying?  Yes, mothers (even
breastfeeding mothers..) can and do die.  But it's not very likely.  So
there's the only benefit I can think of.

-Wendey (Studying LC in Montreal, Breastfeeding Peer Support Counsellor)

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