did you feel mroe empowered when you were breastfeeding, or bottlefeeding- {NOT a debate}.

[rainbow83]

This isn't supposed to be a debate but recent events have got me pondering.

If you have had several children, which method of feeding made you feel more empowered?

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

ermm not sure really - never though about it!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

oh and you do know that this will descend into a debate regardless of topic title

[LucyJones]

I don't really understand what you mean by empowered?
Breast feeding and bottle feeding was all about feeding my babies when they were hungry, it was not a feminist issue for me.

[coppertop]

Neither tbh.

[WigWamBam]

Empowered?

Can you please explain how feeding a baby is "empowering"?

Can't really answer the question as I've never bottle-fed, but am really interested to know what you mean by your question, and why you are asking it.

[divastrop]

bottle feeding i would say,as i felt more in control and was able to leave the house without having a panic attack if ds1 cried for a feed.

but im sure if i'd successfully bf any of my other dc then that would have made me feel more empowered,rather than like a failure as i did with ds1.

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

Only ever really bf (with some mixed feeding with DSs when they got a bit older)

Never really felt empowered either way - though for night feeds I was glad that bf "empowered" me to get back to sleep really quickly!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

now if we have to say when we felt "empowered" - it was when I got to go out shopping, on my own, without worrying about how Ds1,2 or 3 was doing at home/with friends looking after them

[JeremyVile]

Yes, i felt very empowered when bottle-feeding my son.

I knew i was making the best choice for him and me.

The first days when i was breastfeeding were a misery for us both.

Bottlefeeding gave me the chance to appreciate him and it was only then that he became a settled and contented baby.

[Peachy]

Both

with ds1 bottlefeedinga s it was the first time he seemed healthy and grew, and I finally felt that he was receiving enough care

With ds3 breastfeeding as it was working so well

Kinda believe that BF should be supported as a naturally healthy choice but that bottlefeeding does have a set of important benfits of its own- and that it should be aboput supporting one anothers attempts to be the best aprent we can, rather than judging

[belgo]

I felt empowered by breastfeeding. I could feed my babies whenever, whereever without the hassle of bottles / bottle warmers whatever.

[katierocket]

not sure either made me feel "empowered"
I love BF but happy to FF too.

[ProjectSeverus]

pmsl at not a debate.

never bottlefed so don't know. BF meant i could go out without a bag though...

[scootermum]

I feel better now Im FF'ing as it means I can go out alone more and not have to worry about expressing which I was ruddy awful at...dunno about empowered though...it is a bit of a bind having to lug a huge bag of bottles and powder round..plus I always spill the powder or the lid comes off and the water leaks and it all congeals into a mess at the bottom of the bag..but thats a story for another thread..

[MyMILisDoloresUmbridge]

Not a debate!! You do know it will be, don't you! Does EBM in a bottle count as bottlefeeding? If so, I found expressing empowering as I could leave the baby for a few hours. Didn't ever use much formula.
I found breastfeeding empowering on holidays as I didn't have to personally test the milk for airport officials!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

"BF meant i could go out without a bag though."

ermm did yours never do poos/vomit or manage to soak their clothes (via very wet nappy) when they were babies then???

[Cammelia]

When I had dd1 I b/fed her for 6 weeks and then bottle fed. I felt more empowered bottle feeding her as there were no mother and baby rooms in those days, it was completely unacceptable to breastfeed in public (would have probably got arrested) therefore I was pretty much trapped at home.

When I had dd2 it was not unheard of to breastfed in public, there were mother and baby rooms so I felt more empowered doing it. Did it for 6 months until she weaned herself off. No bottles at all.

[becklespeckle]

I enjoyed both - the closeness with my baby that BF gave me and when he got older being able to look into his adoring eyes while he bottlefed.

Did mixed feeding with DS1 which worked well, totally BF DS2 which was lovely until I needed to leave him for a couple of hours and he wouldn't take a bottle.

[MyMILisDoloresUmbridge]

QoQ, ds3 is 2.8 and I still go around with a big bag of nappies/wipes etc! Hardly ever have to use them but don't you know that if I went out without the bag, it would be a poo-down-the-legs day!

[tiredemma]

whats 'empowering' about feeding a baby?

I bottle fed by the way, I was content in the fact that my child was not going hungry. But it did not empower me by any stretch of the imagination

[rainbow83]

lucyjones (and anyone else who asked me what i meant), someone and I can't for the life of me think WHO on mn said that breastfeeding and providing support for breastfeeding women was all about 'empowering women'.

THEN came the whole jordan saga and in the article by the person who (I think?) is supposed to be the editor of OK (maybe i'm wrong, too lazy to track it down now), the idea was presented that whoever invented formula should become an icon for feminism, because bottlefeeding frees us from the constraints of our biology.

I wanted to know just whether women who have done both see breastfeeding as 'being tied down to your own biology', or as 'being empowered to nourish your baby all by yourself'.

This doesn't have to be a debate and so far, 20 posts plus down the line, the only debate I have spotted is all about whether this is going to be a debate or not! .

I'm sure we can all have a civil discussion about this as I find it interesting.

[ProjectSeverus]

Both of mine have vomited twice, total. Change nappy just before you go out and change nappy when you come back, not normally out for more than a morning or an afternoon. One nappy and a few wipes stuffed in a pocket in my sling - sorted.

PITA once solids sippy cups etc came along...

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

yes - I usually do change just before leaving.....but that doesn't stop them doing a poo half way to town