breastfeeding or formula? [breastfeed] [breastfeeding]
Im just wondering how many of you breastfeeding and bottle feeding and why you chose one over another. Im breastfeeding for a few weeks, but am considering swiching formula.
Breastfeeding Simply
Reply:I breastfed for 3 month. I had Mastitis 3 times and it was a lot of PAIN involved. but i guess it is all worth it. I quit because i could not be with my baby all the time. i had work and i really didn't have the extra energy to pump and going through the extra trouble
Breastfeeding Made Easy
Reply:I strictly breastfed my baby for 3 weeks before supplementing with formula. He latched on from the very 1st time. My nipples were sore and blistered for almost the 1st week but I hung in there and now they are better and I do not have any more trouble with that. The reason why I started supplementing at night was because he would wake up to nurse every hour and would stay on there all night if I would let him. I felt like that was all I ever did, was nurse him around the clock. It was one thing to do it all the time during the day but then again at night, NO SLEEP was driving me crazy. The 1st time I gave him formula at night he slept for 4 hrs. that was the most sleep I got since he was born. I'm just thinking that formula would be much easier for me and it is not as stressful so I am enjoying him more where before I was just so exhausted. I still plan on giving him breast milk but just not all the time now. I still want him to have my milk because I know it is better for him but formula gives me some freedom. I now don't have to worry about running into another room when someone comes over, if I have company then I just give him formula. If I am alone I give him breast milk. I do pump, but it is just a little aggravating for me to do it all the time and to be honest I really do not have the time to pump all the time. The little one keeps me on my toes. I also think that the frequent breast feedings have definately spoiled him, I have to hold him ALOT now, he will barely let me put him down. I have to go back to work soon so I think it would be easier on me also . Do any of you do a combination of both breast milk and formula?
The 3 Day Thrush Cure
Reply:I'm breastfeeding. I had my baby six weeks ago and have had lots of trouble (poor latch, which led to blistering, and thrush), but I'm going to continue to breastfeed for at least a year. I know it will get better since these are the early days. I kind of disagree with the above post regarding women who have difficulty should switch. EVERYONE I know has had difficulty. Women should be told that it's totally normal to have difficulty, but that in most cases it gets really easy after a lot of work. Then they can either make a decision to work through it or to switch. But they should know that it's totally normal. Of course, it's my personal choice to work through it and I totally understand why many women decide to go with formula in the early weeks, especially when most of us are physically exhausted and overwhelmed with caring for a newborn.
Help I Can’t Poo – Solutions For Infant and Child Constipation
Reply:What is best for the baby usually involved what is best for the mother too. If a mother is having difficulty breastfeeding, or is unhappy breastfeeding, or having a difficult time, then she should switch. A happy mother makes a happy baby.
The Pregnancy Secrets.
Reply:I am just curious as to how many of you are breastfeeding and formula feeding and why you chose one over the other. I have been breastfeeding for a few weeks but am considering swiching to formula.
I am ttc my 1st and I plan on breastfeeding. I personally don't want to have to deal with washing the bottles, spending money on formula (when there are much better things I could be spending my money on), carrying everything around with me, etc.
I have been doing a lot of research because I want to do what is best for my baby. If you want to continue breastfeeding but are considering switching because of problems you may be having (you didn't say why you were considering switching) I would try and get help from a lactation consultant. There are quite a few boards out there dedicated to breastfeeding and you can also try the La Leche League – they have groups all over the world.
You should do what you feel is best for your child.
You’re Expecting Twins!
Reply:I bottle feed, I was never into the whole idea of breastfeeding .. its just not for me .. as far as washing bottles ..I dont have to! I use the liners and just wash off the nipples .. very easy very quick .. and packing .. again this is very easy for me .. the liners are in a zip lock baggie I throw in a bottle of water …. I dont fill her bottle with the water but a bottle of water like you drink out of .. the formula goes in a little tupperwear container no bigger than your average mans wallet .. and the bottle .. the whole day can fit in my regular purse
I feel that bottle feeding has offered me a good oportunity to bond with my child .. as well as my BF .. he can share in the late night feedings .. and bond just as well as I do.
Not that breastfeeding isnt wonderful .. its just not for everyone .. I will say this .. MAN is formula expensive! hehe still was the right choice for me
Goodluck in whatever you choose!
Birthologie – Empowered Online Childbirth Education
Reply:I nursed both of our daughters. It was very very difficult at first. My nipples cracked and blead, and I came very close to giving up. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but my milk supply was no problem… it just took some practice. I was working at the time and found it very difficult to pump every day at work. I only nursed her for about 3 months. She had some problems with Similac formula (spitting up after each feeding), but she was much happier being bottle fed (she ate a lot!!!)
I stopped working after we had our second child. I nursed her for about 8 months. It was much easier the second time around. I still went through a short period of pain (cracking and tenderness), but it didn't last nearly as long the second time. She was much happier being nursed and didn't take kindly to bottles. It was difficult weening (sp?) her from nursing.
I plan to nurse our third child also. I really love the bonding experience, but each baby is different.
You'll know what feels comfortable, and whatever decision you make will be the right one for you and your little one.
Nourishing Pregnancy
Reply:I had planned to breastfeedbut but when Austin got here he had a cleft lip/and palate and he just tryed so hard and couldnt quite get the hang of it (he was loosing weight because he couldn't latch on) so we switched to formula. It is a hassle washing bottles, packing to go out, etc. But, I still get to bond with him and we enjoy our feeding time. I think that there are pros and cons to both decisons but YOU have to decide whats best for you and your baby. Either way, your baby will still thrive and grow properly. It's just such a personal choice…when the time comes you will know what to do:) Good luck!!
C-Section Recovery & Health Guide
Reply:I breastfed my son till he was 8 months. At first I absolutely HATED it. It hurt and my nipples were cracked and I also had thrush on my nipples as well. I would cry during the feeding. Once I had learned that all the pain was from the thrush, and me and Jack were just passing it back and forth, I was given medicine for me to take orally and cream medicine to put in his mouth.
Finally I decided I was going to follow through no matter what. All my family had and practiced this and I really wanted to do it too.
Well I tell you! After about a week (and all healed up) I ended up LOVING it. It was so convenient, didn't have to buy anything or do all the work you have to do with formula. I felt so close to my son, I think it was Coppertop who mentioned that it was so special that it was something I could do, and only could.
I think breastfeeding is easier in the night as well. We barely had to wake up. My husband would get the baby out of his crib and gave him to me. I would lie down on my side and nurse him. All in all we only we're awake for 1 min. Jack would then stay with us nursing when he wanted to between sleeping.
At 8 months Jack began to wean himself off. At that time he also began a little biting…discovering his new teeth, so I wasn't too upset about stopping.
But my son has just turned 3 and still I miss nursing SO much! It was an incredible feeling. I dream about nursing at least 2 times a week.
That's my story. Just like others have said, do not feel bad in choosing formula! You still feel a bond when you are giving the baby a bottle. Some say that when you give him the last bottle of the night, you could take your top off and hold him close and you would experience one on one skin with the baby which he loves.
Trust your instincts. If you want to nurse and you are afraid, just try it for two weeks to see if you like it or not.
Sorry for this long post!
Meg
New* The Organic Pregnancy Bible – 2010 Edition
Reply:Hi, I breastfed my first two boys and am currently breastfeeding my third son. I absolutely love it, it is the most amazing thing to see your child grow and thrive from your body. Its similar to the wonder you feel after your child is born and you just look at him/her and think "wow, you grew inside of my body". I just love knowing that I can give my child something that nobody else can give him. My best friend bottle feeds and I watch her pack her bottles and formula, make the bottles and wash the bottles and worry about how long the formula has been sitting out, hear about extra trips to the store for formula (not to mention how much it costs) and I am just so glad I don't have to do that.
So many women give up in the beginning when its really rough and they never get to experience the good side of breastfeeding. I could go on and on and on but I will just end by saying that the first few weeks are very hard and if you just hang on a bit longer it will get easier.
Reply:I'm currrently formula feeding my baby which i and bub found less stressful than breast feeding, and my baby is extremely healthy being a formula fed infant.
I admit i wanted to breast feed but was unable because my milk dried up after a week. They feel i wasn't getting letdown because of the tension of it all (my nipples were bleeding and i was reluctant to put my bub on). Even when i switched to bottle feeding they told me i would become engorged but i never even got a drop of milk in.
I'm all for breast feeding if you can do it, but if not, you gave your bub the best start (colostorum is what has all the antibodies and hormones in it that you bub needs in the first few days of life).
Whatever you decide, don't feel bad for switching like i did. What they say about breast fed babies not getting sick and having a higher IQ later on in life is rubbish. I was bottle fed from my first day of life (my mum couldn't breast feed), and i had a high IQ (top of my class) at school, and i'm never sick!
Whatever you decide, i hope it all works out for you and your baby.
Reply:I was going to breastfeed but I decided to use formula because honestly I was afraid of the pain involved with breastfeeding…My SIL got mastitis while she was feeding and it was terrible for her and I guess it kind of scared me into formula feeding..
Take Care,
April
