AIBU to not breastfeed?

[Stephieee]

DD is yet to arrive, but I never breastfed with DS and my goodness, I was made to feel terrible about it! I've told people that I'm not going to, this time around, but their views haven't changed :(

Ffs always the same old zealots banging their bf drum. I hope you aren't health care professionals as you would really make me not want to bf as id be worried I'd turn out as cunty as you

Was that directed at me Sharon?

Are you a boring repetitive patronising cunty chops? If so then yes- it can be aimed at you!

Hmm. What is your opinion on it? Presumably you're prepared to name who you're attacking?

I breast fed my little boy until he was 13 month and am currently breast feeding my little girl. I didn't particularly want to breast feed my little boy but felt it pushed on me by my partner and midwife etc. Il admit now it was the best thing I ever did but it took a bit of getting used too. With my baby now it was totally different, breastfeeding wasn't even mentioned to me and I was actually given formula in the hospital!

Dont wry about what other people think, you do what you want and screw anyone who tells you that you will be a shit mum. Breastfeeding isn't the be all and end all. Your baby will still grow up healthy and happy xx

Can you imagine going up to a friend in rl and telling them you don't understand why they didn't want to try bf? fuck that

I was bottle feeding my adopted son in a shopping centre once and a group of mothers with babies of a similar age specifically came over to me to tut, shake their heads and refer to my son as my 'poor baby'. I was incredibly upset about it and even 10 years later that experience still epitomises all the feelings I had at that time about feeling like a fraud and that I couldn't provide my lovely (but very needy) boys with everything they needed. Of course logically I know that is bollocks and they were just a bunch of harridans but it was really difficult.

Well I think YABU not to even give it a go. It might be easy for you, you never know.

But I don't see why you should care what I think

I had a friend who said her boobs were her DH's 'toys' and for nothing else. Also another friend said she wasn't going to BF as her baby was too big.

Didn't think it was my place to make any comment at all. I am sure they didn't want my opinion anyway.

Formula is an inferior product but for many a superior choice. If you want to FF that's up to you, you don't need validation from mumsnet.

No, I said it is a superior choice for many. In comparison to breast milk, formula is an inferior product. That's not pro breastfeeding rhetoric, that's fact.

And in some cases formula is the only choice. Inferior/superior or whatever.

You aren't reading my post properly. Formula, as a product, is inferior. As a choice, for a mother who can't/doesn't want to breastfeed, it is superior.

Yes, Salem, that's quite true.

YANBU. I FF my premature DD. but TBH, I never, ever wanted to breastfeed. If I had another, they would be FF too. So many benefits. Of course, these will be flamed by MN. Formula feed with pride and confidence!

Giles, I had nearly the same experience you had with your low milk supply. My supply was days behind after my EMC. I pumped and bfed (topped up with formula) 24/7 for two months. I was exhausted, sore and permanently reeked of fenugreek. Developed bad pnd from the sleep deprivation, isolatio and feeling of failure/disillusionment. Finally at around 3 months DS point blank refused the breast when he developed reflux (developmental -not CM allergy), which also ment that I had to hold him vertical day and night (he was a sling refuser). Paediatrician prescribed thickened formula and DS never looked happier than when having that bottle. Tried to bf a bit longer, but got absolutely nowhere. So, finally after 3 months and a week gave up on bf with some sadness, but with the knowledge nothing more could reasonably be done. I woved to go straight on to ff with any subsequent babies, but didn't have any more in the end.

I found "breast is best" to be a massive stick to bash myself with and measure myself against. I now work with parents with perinatal mental health problems and see this a lot with them. Good mh is so important for parenting -I wish there was more kindness and understanding around...

It is inferior in comparison to breastmilk.

What a bizarre question - I haven't started this thread have I? I'm responding to a discussion on breastfeeding.

We all know breast is best, we all know the most natural thing and the best for our baby is feed it breastmilk. Some people still choose not to breastfeed. I don't care what start anyone gives their baby, they're not my baby and so I don't care about their outcomes. Make your decisions OP that suit you and defend them or tell people it';s none of their business if they comment. People will judge you though, it's human nature.

Shame people in RL can't judge in their mind, and not actually say anything.

But this is a thread about formula feeding

Did I say that it was the only inferior product a parent can give to their child? I'm not disputing that their are other parenting choices which will not always be superior. Really struggling to follow your logic here...