Hypothetical question - Breastfeeders, if formula was as good for your baby as breastmilk would you use it???

[Chequers]

Just wondered really, if they could come up with a formula with equal health benefits for the baby as breastmilk (unlikely I know) then would you use it?

Just wondered really how people feel about the other benefits of breastfeeding apart from for the baby's health - what do you get out of breastfeeding as an act in itself, if anything??

[NoBiggy]

No, if I didn't have to. Because unless they made it free and available instantly with no washing up I wouldn't want it.

[MrsHappy]

I don't think I would, because I have found bottles to be a massive hassle compared with breastfeeding. But then I was lucky enough not to have any problems with breastfeeding, so for me it is a no-brainer.

[TheNinkynork]

No bottles to wash or sterilise, no going downstairs in the cold at night, it's always at the right temperature and I could keep DH and the DC alive if we were ever stuck in a lift

[katierocket]

no because much less hassle than bottle cleaning/sterilising/carting around when go out plus I love BFing as a bonding thing.

[themildmanneredstalker]

i would mix feed.
because bottles are good for leaving babies with other people, and also good if you are not confident with public breastfeediing.

[thisisyesterday]

no, I wouldn't.

breastfeeding means that I:

don't need to buy formula

don't need to buy bottles/steriliser/teats

don't need to wait while I heat a feed up

don't have to clean all the equipment

don't need to worry about how to heat a bottle up whilst out.

I can feed ds2 anywhere, anywhen. I can feed him to sleep, I can nurse him when he is poorly, I can comfort him and make him feel better when he hurts himself.
I have an instant cure-all for any of his woes.
I have beautiful cuddles, just him and me that no-one else can do.

[DisplacementActivity]

Message withdrawn

[savetheplanetdontiron]

No, for all the reasons stated above. BF is so much more than nutrition. Of course FF and BF babies are just as loved but I love the way BF makes my baby happy the way nothing else does. Plus I am very, very lazy and enjoy not having to sterilise anything and tightfisted so like that it's (almost) free

[SoupDragon]

no because breastfeeding is free, always there and does not require sterilising or any other equipment beyond a pair of breasts, a comfy seat and a good book.

[superloopy]

No, for me it is so much easier not having to deal with bottles and cleaning them. I love to snuggle/cuddle/closeness with DS. Having milk "on tap" means I don't have to be too organised.
And finally...I love the fact I actually have boobs and cleavage when I am breastfeeding so I am not about to give it up in a hurry!

lol Theninkynork!

[SoupDragon]

Oh, and unless you have detachable breasts, you can't forget to take your baby's food out with you.

[Ready4anotherCoffee]

no, I'm too lazy and disorganised for all that faffing around with sterilisers etc.
and also too tightfisted. why fork out for formula whan I can eat vast quantities of cake

[SoupDragon]

(of course, if you had detachable breasts, you could leave one with your baby and a sitter and go out on your own...)

[DistractionTechniques]

That would be perfect SoupDragon! That I would go for, expressing can be a bit of a PITA.

[foxytocin]

cause you can't roll over and latch a baby in 3 secs flat then roll over and go back to sleep if you are offering a bottle.

or I guess you could but it is not good form.

[thisisyesterday]

and breastfeeding is a great excuse to sit on the sofa for most of the day.
dp can't say "oh, let me give the baby his feed while you wash up"
mwahahhaa

[Chequers]

Fab replies, thanks Going to keep reading this thread when I find my motivation flagging.

[SoupDragon]

I have to admit that my primary reason for bf-ing in the first place was sheer laziness.

[thisisyesterday]

same here.

ds1 ended up on bottles when I gave up breastfeeding and it was a nightmare compared to breastfeeding.
I can't stand washing up anyway, but doing the bottles was just soooooooooo tedious

[Lib76]

DispplacementActivity,

you say that bf "It reinforces my belief in my ability to be a good mother"

as a new mum who had to give up bf at 7wks due being hospitalised with mastitis. I have have experienced dreadful guilt at ff, what you are saying is the mothers who ff are not good mothers!!! be careful how you word things a lot of sensitive new mums about! ;-(

[Jacanne]

I wouldn't - why would you buy something when you have the same thing on tap for free? I also really enjoyed BF - I still miss it sometimes when I see a little baby all snuggled up to his Mum for a feed.

BF is magic for sorting out so many things - a quick feed would give dd2 a bit more energy to carry on when she was tired, it comforted them so easily when they hurt themselves or got themselves into a bit of a state, I could do it in my sleep and minimise my night wakings and I just loved the closeness.

Also I got such a kick out of the fact that my body was keeping my child alive.

BTW I'm not inferring that FF Mums don't feel close to their babies - I know they do from seeing friends with their children.

[Jacanne]

Oh and the fact that BF meant so much to both of my daughters - they loved it and I loved watching their blissed out, little drunk faces when they were feeding.

[PavlovtheCat]

No.
Breast Milk provides valuable anti-bodies from mother immediately
Breast Milk is free
Breast Milk is easy to give baby with any time of the day
Breast Milk does not need a bag all to itself when going out
Breast Milk promotes bonding with baby
Breast Milk promotes independent eating
Breast Milk gives me an enormous sense of wellbeing and confidence as a mother
Breast Milk is natural