Trying to figure out what grade school my daughter is going to go to or rather be accepted into, has been nothing shy of a mini nightmare. Getting all of these applications in "under the gun" in between work and life trying to make the deadlines, fingers crossed she gets into a decent school for kindergarten has had me nail biting anxiety ridden as the lottery results roll in. Like most parents, quality education for your children is a big decision to make and trust you want to make the best one.

However I can remember a time not too long ago (5yrs to be exact) when I was faced with, like most new moms, another big decision that I needed to make for my little one’s nutrition was breast vs. formula. Well it was a no brainier for me to breastfeed because when my daughter was born, she literally latched on like a champ and had no problems getting her food from day one. Although there was a situation when she was first born when she wasn't making the normal scheduled bowel movements that infants are supposed to make according to the hospital and for the first 4 days of her life she was constipated. She had made her first poop out of the womb but after, she was just urinating and as stated above she was nursing right away so she definitely should have had at least one poopie diaper? So of course in my new mom haste, daze, and confusion I scheduled and urgent pediatric appointment right away to find out what the issue was. One latex glove with Vaseline on the index finger and a swift poke in her behind with that same finger.....EUREKA! out comes this dark, tar-like substance of impacted poop that my baby had not been able to expel since her birth. Not only was I astonished at how much had come out, but I had his overwhelming feeling of sorrow and literally rainfalls of tears in the doctors office, because not only did I feel guilty but of course my mind was racing thinking she was going to be scarred forever and was going to have a life-long condition of not being able to poop properly. 

After my hysteria had subsided, my pediatrician suggested to me to give her a little bit of formula for a few days, alternating in between normal scheduled breast feedings.  I remember being immediately confused because I didn't think it was possible to give formula to an already established breast fed baby? Plus I didn't want her to be seduced by the taste of formula and reject my milk once the temporary formula feeding was over.

Turns out I was wrong because that is exactly what I did and formula being mostly comprised of sugar acted as the right amount of laxative or I should say stimulant to move her bowels, and going forward she became regular. I only had to use formula for three days for that specific situation but I didn't like remembering all the rules that came along with formula feeding; has to be a certain type of water to mix, have to mix the exact amount, have to discard after two hours, room temp vs heating it up, etc.....It was a lot to keep up with vs when she was hungry, I would feel it in my breast and pop my boob in her mouth and instant food ready to go! So back to the original question: Breastfeeding vs Formula: What is the best nutrition for your baby?

Some people can be uncomfortable around women while they are breastfeeding. However, if you pull out a bottle of formula, there are those who may criticize you for not feeding your baby what they might consider "nature's perfect food" -- breast milk.

Welcome to mommy guilt. No matter what you decide, other people will surely have an opinion. Only one thing really matters: Which choice is right for you and your baby?-WebMD

Prior to becoming a Postpartum Doula, my immediate answer was always yes to breastfeeding and I can admit looking back to being judgemental to other women who would opt to use formula over what nature had already created. Like most things in life, you live and if your lucky, learn and I learned very quickly its not so black and white, cut and dry. Through my experience as a post support practitioner, learning from clients and my own experience as a mom, everyone's situation is different, varied depending on the circumstance, and tailored made for each individual. All one can do is learn, be informed, know the facts, and make the best decision that best suites you.

The AAP also recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months. Beyond that, breastfeeding is encouraged until at least 12 months, and longer if both the mother and baby are willing.  Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations. Breast milk can also be pumped which will allow for public feedings and other family members to participate in feeding.

Formula feeding is also a healthy choice for babies. If you use a formula, your baby will get the best possible alternative to breast milk. (You should not attempt to make your own formula or feed an infant cow's milk.)