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I am a huge fan of direct breastfeeding. These are my reasons it is more convenient to directly breastfed your baby rather than pump, formula feed or any other combination.
I realize not all mothers are able to easily breastfeed.
I also realize not all mommas have the luxury of being with their baby the entire time they intend to breastfeed. Going back to work and sending your baby to daycare is a common scenario.
This post is for those who are interested in breastfeeding, but do not know if it is worth it.
Some unique points are brought up besides the commonly heard reasons of bonding and money saving benefits.
Let’s dive into my 17 reasons direct breastfeeding is more convenient than bottle feeding!
Direct Breastfeeding
1. No Dishes
This one doesn’t need much explanation. Dishes are not fun. Bottles and breast pumps often come with tons of tiny parts. Directly breastfeeding your baby keeps you away from the sink.
2. Bonding
Breastfeeding your baby is bonding. Not going to argue the science, but your baby enjoys being fed. They appreciate that you feed them and bring them comfort. It is a great bonding experience.
3. Weight Loss
Breastfeeding a baby burns a ton of calories!
It is not a guarantee that you will lose weight. I figured if I lost weight great! No complaints there.
Let’s just say you are more likely to lose weight from breastfeeding than bottle feeding.
4. Cost Savings
Directly feeding your baby from your body is FREE! This is amazing.
People make a huge deal about how much it cost to have a baby and how expensive they can be. Feel free to check out my article 7 Smart Ways to Cut Costs and Save Money when having a Baby. Breastfeeding this way does not require you to own pumps or bottles.
Things you may need or want include: a nursing cover, nursing pads, nursing bra, and nipple cream.
5. No Storing Milk
Those pumping mommas out there are champions. I cannot imagine what it takes to stick with pumping. With pumped milk you have to pay attention to proper storage and temperature care.
Directly breastfeeding eliminates this task.
6. Always with You
As a breastfeeding momma anywhere you go you have milk with you. On a plane, at a playground, in the car, or anywhere else in life your milk will come along with you.
7. One Less Thing to Pack
If you are directly breastfeeding you have one less thing to remember to pack for an outing.
Any time you leave the house with a baby you must think about what goes in and what comes out. Got to think about feedings and bowel movements.
By directly breastfeeding you eliminate one major component of packing the diaper bag.
If you want to read more about what you may need to pack in your diaper bag check out my article A New Parent’s Guide to Packing the Perfect Diaper Bag: Tips and Trickn.
8. Quick Night Feedings
When your baby cries at night you can immediately go to them to nurse them. You do not have to fumble around the house to get a bottle from the fridge, heat it, and then tend to your baby.
You are ready to go at the perfect temperature.
With the speed at which you can tend to your baby’s needs you often can get them to go back to sleep quicker. You didn’t take as long to meet their need, so they didn’t have as much time to become fully awake.
For nighttime feedings I was quick to enter the room and also quick to exit the room.
Obviously, this depends on your baby’s age and sleep journey.
Pumping
If you are a pumper you are doing twice the work of direct feeding. Not trying to criticize any mommas who are pumping because direct feeding has not been successful for them. Just trying to express the true advantages of direct breastfeeding.
Pumpers you are awesome! I have mad respect!
Pumping is like breastfeeding and bottle feeding combined.
I am not a pumper myself, but do know of a momma friend who had success with the Elvie Pump. This pump is expensive though, only get it if you are serious about pumping.
9. Double the Work
Like I said pumping is double, if not triple the work.
First, you use the breast pump.
Then you transfer that milk to a bottle for immediate use or to storage bags for later use.
Now you get to wash your pump.
If you decided to use the milk fresh it is time to feed the baby.
Afterward, you will wash the bottle.
If you decided to store the milk for later use you need to label it and place it in the freezer.
So many steps!
With direct breastfeeding you put baby to your breast and they nurse.
10. Difficult with Multiple Children
Pumping, like I previously said, takes the most amount of work and time. This makes it the hardest option if you have older children to be caring for as well.
Anything that takes more steps and more work if more difficult.
11. On the Clock
So many people argue that pumping is great because dad can feed the baby. But if you truly want to keep up your supply, every time baby eats you need to pump.
Say you are in a restaurant and find bottle feeding to be an advantage. Well great, but what about your boobs. By the end of the meal if you need to pump you are feeling the pain.
Even if your baby takes a bottle at whatever time and environment is convenient, you still have to pump.
12. Night Time Feedings
Yay! You have pumped milk so your significant other can take turns waking up to feed the baby. Sort of true, sort of false. If you do not get up to pump when your baby is eating you are not keeping up your supply with their demand.
If you are pumping at night you have to put that milk somewhere for proper storage. So you are getting up, grabbing a bottle or milk bag to put it in, then labeling it if necessary, and either storing it in the fridge or freezer.
I think it is just easier to feed the baby directly.
Formula
13. Overfeeding
Formula-fed babies can be overfed. Breastfed babies cannot. If you are constantly feeding a breastfed baby your milk will adjust to being less fatty. That is the coolest thing about breastfeeding. It can adjust.
14. Expense
This is the reverse of before, but formula is expensive. Direct breastfeeding is money-saving.
Check out my article 4 Big Baby Expenses to Plan For: A Practical Guide, spoiler formula is one of the big 4!
15. Washing Bottles
Formula feeding means you are going to be washing bottles. Constantly.
16. Packing the Diaper Bag
With a formula-fed baby you need to take bottles, water, and premeasured formula. Unless you are using formula that comes in liquid form.
These are things you need to store and pack for outings.
With this, you also need to know how many feeding will occur during your outing. Say for example you plan to spend the day at the zoo.
How much do you pack?
How long will you be there?
17. Increase Quantity
When do you know it is time to go from 4-ounce bottles to 6-ounce bottles? This is something you have to figure out with a bottle-fed baby.
When directly breastfeeding you get to feed your baby until they decide they are done.
They set the pace.
I found this to be one less thing to worry over.
Conclusion
I am not shaming or criticizing any families who choose to feed their baby via the bottle. We are blessed to have many tools and options available for our use.
What I am here to do today is show you why direct breastfeeding is easier. This is for those debating how they want to feed their baby.
It is not judgement, but rather information.
There are strong pros to directly breastfeeding your baby. It comes with cost savings, convenience, and less work in general.
If you choose to go the breastfeeding route good luck to you.
Look below for articles related to breastfeeding.
It is a journey filled with ups and downs.
Check Out My Articles
Everything You Need to Know About Introducing Solid Food to Your Baby
The Haakaa: a Simple, Affordable, and Effective tool for Breastfeeding Moms
7 Smart Ways to Cut Costs and Save Money when having a Baby
Why I Regret Exclusively Breastfeeding! The Huge Mistake I Made!
