Why I Don't Breastfeed - Advice For Pregnant Women

Every expecting woman faces a choice: do I breastfeed? I am mother who chose not to and I have absolutely no regrets. Allow me to tell you why I did not breastfeed, how healthy my son is despite never having a drop of my milk, and why this decision is ultimately yours.

Never once did it occur to me to have a suckling infant attached to my chest. I am fully aware of the statistics that show the benefits of breast milk and the maternal bonding associated with this method of feeding. Due to a variety of factors, I knew very early into my pregnancy that I would not be among the women leaving the hospital with a rented breast pump.

My main justification for my decision was me. I was adopted at birth and fed formula exclusively. Throughout my childhood-and even as an adult-I have been very healthy. Most would argue that I'm armed with an abundance of intelligence, so clearly my brain development wasn't thwarted by Similac. There are quite a few outstanding individuals I know who were blessed with sharp minds and healthy bodies that were never breastfed.

The primary reason I opted to avoid breastfeeding involves drugs. Before you gasp in horror that I am unfit to be a mother, let me clarify. Prior to my pregnancy I was legally prescribed certain medications by my doctors. Most of these were psychiatric drugs. As soon as I saw that plus sign I stopped all of them without a second thought. I continued to take one prescription but only with the approval of all of my medical specialists-gynecologist, psychiatrist, and primary care physician. Given my history with depression I knew that a postpartum struggle was inevitable and I wanted to ensure that I was on the right medications to guarantee that I was in the best possible condition for my baby. Although the medicines I take are administered at a dose that is for an adult who needs them, I did not like the idea of heavy duty prescriptions being funneled directly into my baby's system.

Beyond any selfless reasons...quite frankly, I find the whole idea disgusting. Some say breastfeeding is natural. I view it as quasi-incestuous. Seeing a woman nurse in public doesn't bother me whatsoever. I don't think of her as doing something 'dirty' or acting inappropriately. Yet doing it for my own child just didn't sit well with me. My breasts are many things. A food source for young babies isn't one of them. The very idea of an infant with their mouth around my nipple gazing up at me with wide-eyed wonder is absolutely horrifying. Nor did I wish to deal with any of the consequences such as unexpected leaks or having to having to pump myself.

A final reason for my refusal to breastfeed was my diet. What you put into your body is what you put into your baby's if they are feeding from you. Quite possibly I have one of the worst diets known to man. I haven't eaten a fruit since it was pureed in a Gerber jar. Vegetables are disgusting. There is no such thing as too much cheese. Dr. Pepper and Taco Bell are some of my best friends. These are not the foods I wanted my baby to ingest. My six pack of Red Stripe waiting for me at home after I left the hospital wasn't something I wanted the little one to enjoy either. Perhaps this is selfish of me to want to be able to enjoy a drink here and there, but after nine months of pregnancy I guarantee you'll want one too even if you have never imbibed.

As I write this, my precious son is almost nine months old. He's never had to go to the doctor for anything other than his routine physicals. From the day he came home he has slept a full night and naps twice daily. I don't think I have ever seen a baby with a more pleasant disposition. A smile is always on his face and he rarely fusses. His appetite is healthy. Watching Baby Einstein videos and turning the pages in the books we read him are some of his favorite activities. Not only can he stand up and take tentative steps while holding onto his pen, but he can also stand unassisted for over a minute. He can't talk yet but he mimics sounds to the best of his ability. Does this sound like an unhealthy or unintelligent baby to you?

Regardless of your view on the topic, breastfeeding is a personal choice. Pregnant women should do what works best for them-not their husband, not their mom, and especially not that nosy coworker. With that being said, don't be the person who offers unsolicited advice to an expecting mother.