Breastfeeding versus formula is a very touchy subject for most moms out there. Being the new mother of a six month old baby, whether to breastfeed or use formula was one of the first things I considered even before becoming pregnant. There was no doubt in my mind I wanted to breastfeed. Not only does it bring closeness between mother and baby, but the breast milk contains needed immunity and nutrients for the growth and development of the baby. Making that decision, however, was easier than implementing it.

My baby has a high palate and couldn't properly latch on. To add to that, my nipples wouldn't stay properly erect and I produced hardly any colostrum. They say that babies don't develop true hunger until at least three days after birth, but my baby wanted to be full on the second day. We struggled with nipple shields, different holds, and nothing worked. Meanwhile, the baby was starving and I was stressed because the nurses were pushing us to continue.

Sometimes, there isn't a choice. Most mothers would tell you that they choose breastfeeding because of the obvious reasons. But what if they choose not to for others? If they have to go back to work, and would rather use formula because it's easier. Or perhaps they would just like to pump instead. Maybe, they simply don't want to breastfeed at all.

There really isn't completely concrete evidence that babies will suffer terribly from never being breastfed. I know plenty of people who have grown up on formula and they're very healthy, hardly suffering from any illness. Formula today also has added nutrients that are said to be almost as good as the ones in breastmilk.

I think the most important thing is that your baby is nourished. If it had worked out, I definitely would have breastfed. But I don't beat myself up for not being able to. My baby is happy and healthy, in the 75th percentile of growth and moving along at the pace suggested by experts. He didn't get sick for the first time until five months old and weathered it well. I think genetics, more than breastmilk, will determine how healthy he is in years to come, as well as how he takes care of himself.

So the decision between formula and breastfeeding should be made based on your lifestyle, milk supply, or other things. Either way, your baby will be healthy as long as he or she is well-fed.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Bond.
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