Amber
good on you for exploring all the options.

i've only been a mum for a short time (my bub is 18months old) and i reckon, as soon as you become pregnant EVERYONE has something to say to you, no matter WHAT decisions you make, there is ALWAYS someone banging on, judging you - usually complete strangers at the supermarket !!!! It gets very wearing to put up with it all, i coudln't believe it, it started when pregnant, i thought i would get a break then, but no!

I cop it FOR breastfeeding, so sorry to burst your bubble hon, but WHICH EVER way you go, FF or BF, people STILL make comments!!!! I've been told - since five months "when are you going to put her of FF"?

I've noticed, the majority of people use FF, the majority of people use disposable nappies, that is the norm right now.

i breastfeed and use modern cloth nappies, so i cop it quite a bit.

but i am doing exactly what you are doing - and i believe most mums do, i think about things first, then make up my mind and make a decision based on MY FAMILY -not all the stickybeaks who put their oar in.

it's like having a bub makes you become an advocate for your bub - you ahve to stand firm, cos if you don't, who else will look out for your bub?

So i reckon you're on the right track, and really what else can you do?

you can learn about different ways of doing things, and then when you come to the relevant time in your life e.g baby arrives, armed with what you know, you make a choice at the time. I don't believe it's something you can decide AHEAD of time. Before having a baby, i was such a control freak! now i'm learning, you have to go with the flow, continually revising what you're going to do.

it does help to be well prepared.

e.g i made the mistake of going into labour NOT knowing about c-sections - which i lived to regret. In retrospect, i should have schooled up on ALL ways of hving a baby, not just the one i thought i wanted.

So don't let anyone bully you, educate yourself on all options, and then choose what is right for you. ANd don't be boxed in, it's not one or the other exclusively. Some people FF part of the time, adn BF part of the time.

i remember finding BF-ing so hard at the start, i used to tell myself, i will do it for today, but i cant guarantee tomorrow. cos thinking too far ahead, just couldn't get my head around that.

mothering seems to have all this GUILT attached to it.
SO MANY decision you have to make on behalf of your baby!
and all these people happy to make their comments!
so have some supportive people nearby to back you up.

and don't worry, which ever choice you make, you are the mum, you make the decision with love for your baby, don't forget that, you are the best person to make the decision.

hope your labour goes great for you Amber!