To hope that I can ask about FF without being shot down in flames?

[Darksideofthemoon88]

I'm interested in WHY people choose to FF if not for medical reasons (ie they can't because of medication they have to take, or because their baby was very premature and is unable to suckle) - I've seen a lot of threads where people assert that FF was best for them/their family/their baby or that they chose to FF without trying BF, and I'm curious as to why. Genuinely curious I'm not interested in fighting with anyone about what's best or right; I'd just like to read about why people FF because I honestly don't know. In the interests of full disclosure though (I know how MNs feel about this! ), I am a breastfeeding mother.

Worra

I guess all that mixed feeding has had an effect on me......

I personally know somebody who extended breast fed but let her children eat crap and drink fizzy drink because she said they were getting all they needed from bm and the other stuff were just treats

... not giving the tiniest of fucks would be something like even if I had access to the world's smallest penis and a stopwatch counting down from 5 Seconds. ....

.

Fairylea!!

I'm saying that as a society something very major and unprecedented has happened to the way we feed babies, that it's happen very very fast (in terms of human history), with no planning, precious little consistent, large scale, good quality research to support its long term safety, it's been driven by commercial interests and by the lifestyle choices of adults and it hasn't had promoting the well-being of babies as its primary focus

I think we've lost sight of quite how bloody brilliant it is to have a safe cheap almost-as-good-as-breast milk substitute for situations where breastfeeding hasn't worked out.

But Mini ffing is one of the most researched foods,sorry they still haven't found anything catastrophic they can lay without doubt at the door of ffing but there you go.

The fact is as with any parenting choice mothers are weighing up what they know against potential risk,they do it daily.Sorry the end result on this particular choice isn't want you want but accusing mothers of ignoring research or of complacency because it's a choice you feel strongly about is frankly patronising.

Nobody is overlooking research,it's rammed in your face continuously.The fact is the risks just aren't big enough on this issue,they're just not.Sugar and red meat pose bigger health risks and I haven't completely eradicated either of those either.I'm sure my kids aren't getting the ideal re exercise even though they're active,they certainly don't eat 10 a day.The fact is I do my best and their 6 months of ffing is at the absolute bottom as regards things I worry about as regards their health.I worry more re fruit/veg and exercise tbf.As for things things like screen time,dealing with misbehaviour,being a good role model......etc don't get me started.

Also I'm glad there has been a cultural shift,women should have more control over their bodies.Women not being forced to endured 6 months of misery and being able to enjoy their babies is a good thing.

It's really, really, really brilliant.

Thank fuck for modern technology and all it provides, without which many of us wouldn't be here today

Did I spy a thinly-veiled insinuation that ff mums aren't prioritising their babies? Was only a matter of time I spose.

It I safe to say most of the posters on here know about the benefits of bf, so don't need a lecture on it from the breastfeeding Police. It is insulting to think that we are soley governed by the marketing of formula, there is no generic formula so we have to pick one of the 3. Thank goodness fir formula, some of us would not be here without it!

And wasn't it just this week that research was published saying that the group with the biggest instance of PND is women who have tried breastfeeding and been enable to continue? Reason enough right there for all the debating and pressure to stop.

When a woman has a baby the conversation should go like this:

MW - "how are you planning to feed?"
Woman -
MW - "Great, would you like any help/do you have any questions about that/what support can I give you?"

Every mother, regardless of feeding choice or the reasons behind that feeding choice, should get whatever support and assistance she needs to feed her baby. When I had DS1 I was just left to it because I was FF. I didn't have a bloody clue. I was sticking a bottle in his mouth every time he cried, the hospital MW only realised when I mentioned he was feeding every hour but only taking a few mouthfuls whereas with DS2, breastfed, I've had no end of help and support. I realise this differs from area to area but I was given phone numbers for 24/7 support lines, invites to BF groups, contact details for peer support, a BF expert on the postnatal ward visiting me, Lansinoh on prescription, all sorts of stuff. And it's wrong. Every woman should be getting help (if she needs and wants it), there should be no breast is best and no BF vs FF. So long as a baby is fed a suitable milk and is taken care of physically and emotionally does it really matter!?

I breastfed for two weeks and then decided to switch to FF because:

a) I was in agony
b) Cluster-feeding is frustrating and tedious
c) I wanted to put my baby down occasionally
d) I wanted more than two hours of sleep in any one stretch
e) I don't believe the hype about the superior intellect and health of bf children.

Took me ages to get the shiny shite joke

My BF baby is currently attempting to chew his own foot off. If that's superior intelligence then Lord help the two that I formula fed!

Try telling my self-settling, sleeping-through-the-night, putdown-able baby that she isn't prioritised.

Also I don't know anyone who prioritises their baby/children 100% of the time. I didn't stop being a person when I had children, I still have my own needs and wants and I should be allowed to fulfil those needs/wants without guilt or shame being piled on me. Those needs/wants include sleep, hot food and five bloody minutes to myself.

If you don't strike a balance re prioritising you crumble as we're not machines or even milk machines.

You allow yourself hot food bear?

I was pregnant 22 years ago breastfeeding was recommended by midwives then when my baby was born bf was encouraged they couldn't just say here is formula you had to ask for it back then they did provide it in hospital so breastfeeding culture has been around for 2 decades it isnt new and ime it was rammed down youf throat by some hcp

Ooof tricky subject this

Well I have no shame in saying I prioritised my own mental health and sense of wellbeing because otherwise what kind of state would I have been in to be able to take care of my baby?

I see that this thread is continuing to be a friendly place despite the efforts of a couple of posters.

I haven't read any defensive comments as soneone suggested just a lot of women being honest.

I'd give the hot food a miss for the chance to be able to poo in peace. Having a toddler standing next to you asking if you're having a nice poo isn't tantamount to the best experience and unlike a baby you can't plonk them down and prioritise your own needs - toddlers follow you.

They also announce to all of Starbucks that "you've just been for a wee Mummy". Yeah, cheers dd.

I hated breastfeeding at first. I hated how sore and full my breasts were, cracked painful nipples, latching issues, cluster feeding like mad, barely slept and had no time to even get changed out of pyjamas most days, dreaded every feed!
But I still did it because i knew it was the best for my boy. I find it unfortunate when people say they didnt breastfeed because they just 'didnt like it', once you have a child you should put them first. Genuine serious issues/medical problems is different though of course.

I don't want to read 17 pages.

How has it gone so far?

I found the first page interesting.

Did it go bonkers after that?