Why would you choose to bottle feed?

[Sleeepdeprived]

I don’t mean to offend, I’m genuinely curious. I’ve recently had a baby and really tried hard to breastfeed but it just didn’t work for us (latch and supply issues, very unsettled baby, subsequent medication etc)

I really wish breastfeeding was successful for us, not only because it’s nutritionally superior for the baby, but there are also health benefits for the mum, and l if successful at breastfeeding it’s so much easier to latch baby on than to faff with making up formula and sterilising bottles etc.

So this isn’t directed at mums who tried to breastfeed and it didn’t work out so moved to formula, or mums who chose to combi feed because I understand the benefits of that. But for mums / parents who chose to bottle feed before even attempting to breastfeed - why?

Absolutely no judgment here - just curious.

Not being smug at all. Haven't gone far it all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Don't like it. You know where to go 👍

www.mumsnet.com/talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding

This Topic might be better fur the advice you want.

This!
Is it really so hard to understand that everyone is different, and have different experiences?
I didn't even try with my 2nd. I knew it didn't work out with my 1st so I wasn't about to go through it all again.
Didn't stop judgy arses (nurse/midwife whatever the fuck you were in the hospital) saying stuff like "oh well, if you don't want what's best for your baby...." and walking off 😡
Luckily I was on baby number 2 and inwardly rolled my eyes, but I know full well how vulnerable first time mum's can feel and that would have probably broken me first time round.
People need to learn to mind their own sodding business.

Because society and some midwives can make women feel like utter crap for not doing so.

Exactly

There definitely appears to be a case of thou doth protest too much on here…

I combi fed because I wanted to go back to work at 4 months and have a nanny take over (which I did), so I knew I wanted to get the baby used to both bottle and breast. I also was very grateful to be able to hand the baby to DH to do an evening feed and bedtime while I cleaned up or had a bath or whatever.

Yeah you love it.

I think we all get the picture now dear 😂

I BF my little boy but you are clearly here just to be smug so why don’t you toddle off and do something more useful 🙄

You are the very definition of ‘smug’ 😂

"No judgement here". 🤣

Not to mention all the guilt tripping as soon as the pregnancy test is dry.

Good luck when he is a little shit of a toddler and you want a break but you can't because all he wants is boobs. Have a medal.

I bottle fed as I didn't want a kid hanging of my boob at inconvenient times (or any time actually)
I was also going back to work relatively quickly so didn't want to have to swap from boob to bottle for feeding so it was bottle from the start.
Both of my kids are perfectly fine and I'm sure you couldn't pick them out in a line up of breastfed/bottle fed children🙄

Tried with my first. Didn’t really like it: painful, baby woke more and it was all down to me. Switched to bottle/combo and much happier. With subsequent babies I had the experience to know I didn’t want to. I bottle feed because I like how it makes feeding baby equal responsibility, babies sleep better (in my experience) and I don’t find the bottle cleaning etc any more of a faff than leaky boobs, pads, mastitis etc. Also with older kids now I can confidently say it’s not worth the angst: no difference between my bond /health etc of breast fed one and the others. I’d never dream of asking someone why they chose to breastfeed. Not for me but their choice. I hate the faux innocent questioning if you choose to bottle feed.

This.

I wasn’t bothered either way but thought I’d give it a go.

After 3 horrendous days of her permanently attached to me, the pain soreness and no sleep all night for the 3 days I’d had enough.

Bottles and formula purchased and it was such a relief.

second one straight onto bottles.

Because I had a horrendously traumatic birth and the thought that I was the only one who could tend to my baby’s most basic need terrified me to the point of tears. I think had I been ‘forced’ into BF, my MH would’ve suffered terribly

No way was I being the only person who could care for the baby for months on end.
None of my friends breastfed babies would accept a bottle even expressed.

My mental health would not have coped with no support and having a baby stuck to my nipple all day and night.

My children are all healthy, are rarely ill, no separation issues and slept like dreams so can’t say it did any harm.

Not being smug. If you feel that way not my problem 😊

'boobie'? yuk yuk yuk!

Do you question people's different choices with this faux-naivete and loaded judgement in any other area of your life, or just childrearing?

People have different value judgements OP. You do you. Butt out of other people's choices.

If you can breastfeed but choose not to, you are doing so for entirely selfish reasons.

You’re aware breastfeeding is best for babies and yet are choosing not do it because of X, Y or Z.

The reason these women get so worked up about it is because they feel guilty that they didn’t do it and didn’t put their babies first. But of course they’ll tell you otherwise.

I had severe mental health issues after birth. I don't think driving myself further towards suicide by desperately trying to breastfeed would have been "putting my baby first". Do you?

You’re going to be faced with a gazillion parenting choices far more worthy than breast feeding.Many you absolutely shouldn’t put children first. Parenting is a continuous learning curve which is all about balance. Often it’s in the best interest of children to put parents first and the benefits of doing so will hugely outweigh everything else.