For those people who haven't tried it, BREASTFEEDING HURTS!
Well, maybe not everyone but most people I've talked to. I only fed my son for 9 agonizing days. Feeding him in labour ward left me with bleeding nipples that just got worse as the week progressed. I even hired an electric pump for the first week but even that made me scream in agony. Yes, we obviously had attatchment issues, went to see a lactation consultant and still couldn't fix it! By day 9 I had mastitis, was in agony (yes agony.. would MUCH prefer labour anyday) everytime I fed my son, which was for almost a full hour every 2hrs (he was a 10lb baby), and was dreading him waking up because I knew that I would have to feed him again.
They say you should keep feeding when you have mastitis but I found it horrible to watch the pus (sorry for the imagery) coming out of my breasts with the milk and the thought that my child was supposed to drink that>????
So I bottle fed him. He is now a healthy 6 year old, best reader in his class and I don;t think formula has harmed him. And I don't think it is the same as second hand smoke. I'm not a negligent parent. Just one who wanted to enjoy time with her newborn without the pain.
I'm due for baby no 2 in Dec and keen to try breastfeeding again. So will see how it goes.