Here comes another guilt trip. According to a New York Times article published yesterday, public officials have determined that not breast-feeding may be hazardous to a baby’s health. I already knew that breastfeeding was best (It even says that on the cans of the formula I use!) but I didn’t know that feeding my daughter the powdery stuff could be harmful to her.

Like many mothers, I thought I was going to breastfeed. I planned on it. I wanted to be like the women I saw in magazine ads who had their babies nestled to their breast, looking lovingly at their child. But my plans were dashed when my daughter decided to fall asleep minutes after I gave her my breast. Repeatedly. Nothing was clinically wrong with her. Her doctor’s advice for me? To pinch her nose and/or feet. I did once. And she woke up suddenly, crying. Then I began to cry. And that was the end of the breast. Well, almost. I supplemented her feedings with formula, and then exclusively used formula a month later. Four months later, I continue to feel guilty. But I realize for me to continue breast feeding, I would’ve had to have my daughter permanently latched to my chest, and that wasn’t going to happen.

Is she a healthy four-month old? By her bright smiles, happy gurgling, and grabbing for my glasses, I’d say yes. But, the experts referenced in the NYT article say that my daughter has a higher risk of serious chronic diseases later in life, including asthma, diabetes, leukemia and some forms of lymphoma. And I shouldn’t forget that my daughter has a higher chance of becoming obese than a baby who has been breast-fed the first six months of his or her life. So what’s a formula-feeding mother to do?