I have two boys; Joseph, who is nearly three and Jacob who was born on July 14th. As I write this article he is just over four months old. The reasons I chose to bottle-feed are many and varied. Let us start at the beginning.

From the first moment that I spoke to a doctor and confirmed I was pregnant, I was given a leaflet on breast-feeding. The maternity hospital Joseph was born in were very very pro breastfeeding (In Preston) and I felt uncomfortable even talking about bottle feeding.

This was a very unfortunate experience and not every maternity unit and group of midwives are like this. As Joseph was my first I decided to give breast-feeding a go. Hey I was a mature woman and if it didn't work and I struggled, then at least I had tried it and then could swap to bottle-feeding. You never know we both may take to breast-feeding like the proverbial duck to water.

The first few days of Joseph's life as well as being wonderful were very stressful. I just couldn't get the hang of this ‘breastfeeding thing’ and Joseph was obviously hungry. The midwife did try and help by doing such things as whipping my top off in front of my dad and getting my breasts out — A bit embarrassing to say the least! I also had the battle of the mothers - one saying get him on the bottle and the other saying no persevere with the breast-feeding.

After weeks of being in tears all day I decided to give a bottle a go. He wolfed a bottle down then slept for 3 hrs. I thought that is the way the way I wanted to go and from that moment on Joseph thrived and was sleeping 10hrs a night by 6 weeks.

Oh boy did I have the guilt. A failure, terrible mother, totally ashamed etc etc I joined a small NCT group and myself and another lady would huddle in the corner both feeding their babies formula!!!! Shame shame shame.

Now I realise that a lot of this was to due to how I felt. Other mums were probably not looking at me and thinking anything at all. It was just what it felt like to me.

When I fell pregnant again I decided that I was not going to even try to breastfeed.. To be honest I was frightened that if I started and it didn't work all those feelings of shame and failure would resurface again.

However, there are other factors in the reasons why I decided to bottle feed from day one with no 2. Firstly, it meant that my husband could give feeds and therefore I could also have time playing with Joseph. Jim ( husband ) could get up in the night and help with feeds !!! Also, both sets of grand parents have given Jacob feeds which they totally enjoy. It means that I have more time for Joseph.

Do I feel as bad as I did with Joseph? No way, my little boy has slept 12 hrs at night since 3 weeks old (He could have done this on breast feeding too ) he is happy , gaining weight and more importantly and I can't stress this enough HIS MUM IS HAPPY!!!

My advice to anyone is do what is right for you, as a happy mum is a happy child.

However, I will finish by saying that to make the decision to bottle feed is hard. There is so much literature out there about how beneficial breast feeding is to the child, yet there are no posters out there to say that bottle feeding can work too.

I have read and seen so many articles that have the headline "Bottle feeding versus breastfeeding. " It should not be a ' versus' war but a decision that the parents can decide once they have read all the information. I have yet to see a pamphlet at the maternity unit or doctors saying ' the advantages of bottle feeding ,' it is all seen in such a negative light.

All these comments are my own. I admire and totally respect mums who manage to breastfeed but to be honest I admire and respect mums who decide to bottle-feed more.

Sometimes I feel like saying bottle is best too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you wish to discuss any issues raised in this article please contact our Breastfeeding Counsellor Susan Page on 01506 843 592