AIBU to choose not to Breastfeed?

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Pretty much that really...
The thought of Breastfeeding makes me feel a bit queezy.
I can't even stand my partner kissing/touching them, so the thought of a baby sucking them makes me physically recoil.

I have my reasons, obviously, but I feel that I'd be failing at motherhood before I even began.

FFS I don't even know where to start with that, Ropsley. I guess you avoided taking your children into cars, didn't give them any sugar. Moved out to the middle of the countryside where there was no pollution. I'm sure not every parenting decision you made was perfect, just good enough. Formula is good enough, especially for someone who obviously has a history that might not allow her to BF.

Ropsleybunny you must be very hard of thinking, life must be a real struggle for you.

If a new mother is repulsed by breastfeeding, then formula feeding is, for HER, the best thing for the BABY.

And also, no sane person "would have preferred to have been breastfed", what a crock of shit. And for that reason, I believe you're a Goady Fucker. Good luck climbing the career ladder of trollery...

lelapaletute
I dion't Think ANYONE should be judged.
Just because ff being judged may be in the minority doesn't make it right.
They are still new moms! All new moms can be in a delicate frame of mind.

Does the baby get a say? My mother bottle fed me but if she had asked I would have chosen breastfeeding.
Lol there's another.

Happy mum = happy baby. End of.

As adults don't we have a responsibility to do what's best for our children? Yes, babies don't have a say but that's all the more reason to do what's best.

Yep very true. We do have a responsibility to do what's best. Which is feeding your baby when they need feeding.

Whatever that may be, breast milk or formula, is upto the mother.

Now how about you take your sanctimonious opinions elsewhere and stop trying to make mothers who make different (and not inadequate) decisions to yours feel bad.

Yanbu at all. I chose to bottle feed for similar reasons to you. You feel how you feel and that is that. If I were to have another I would do it again.

CBA reading the whole thread of the same subject over and over again!!!

YES you are BU for not even attempting BF your child. You are a mum and have to sacrafice lots of things you don't like !!!!
Bf is nothing like having DH suck on your boobs at all!!!
FFS

Ignore anyone whos says you abu for not even trying. I felt the same as you. I went through a lot to get pregnant and had 2 horrific births. I had already decided not to bf before my first was born. Tokd all the midwives beforehand so nobody hassled me in hospital once they were born. Dh helped woth 50% (if not more) of all night feeds and both kids totally fine. Its what i needed to do to keep me sane. Kids havent suffered at all. Do what ever is right for you and dont listen to anyone else!

My DM ff'd me as she wasn't comfortable with bf and also felt my dad could be better involved with formula feeds and support her. I think she made the right decision for us and for our family life.

vinisgroot has come up with a corker as well.

Also the mws and Hv all go "wow" "that's brilliant" I kinda found it ott but it shows they obviously don't see it a lot so once again you will be in the majority

Yes I've had this, and a lot of "well done"s.
It's nice but sad that it's become such a rare thing.

I tried feeding my first for a month but used to ignore her crys when out as I couldn't stand to do it in public (horrible I know) and second but only lasted a couple of days as it made me feel sick. I can't stand my boobs being touched and I am really shy so couldn't cope with people being around on the ward when I was trying to do it. Also the midwife who pulled my top up in the night to shove my dd on like i was some kind of cow didn't really help matters.

With my third I didn't even try I had a few mw saying I should etc but I just stuck to my guns. I only had one negative comment by a member of the public when I was out with him at a week old telling me I shouldn't be using a bottle as that's not natural but most people can't care less. I was so much happier that way. Its personal choice and no one else's business.

YES you are BU for not even attempting BF your child. You are a mum and have to sacrafice lots of things you don't like !!!!

Ha ha

Nobody has to do anything.

People talk about women's choices all the time. This is one of them. A choice.

Since being involved with BF threads on here, I've come to realise that FF is pretty much the norm for Mumsnetters and if you dare to try and promote BF you get flamed and pretty much accused of trying to make formula feeders feel bad. That couldn't be further from the truth.

The evidence that breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby is overwhelming. Sadly the BF figures is this county are appalling. Our culture clearly doesn't support Breastfeeding.

Breasts are viewed as sexual appendages for the gratification of men. Breasts are seen by the media as fashion accessories. It's ok for breasts to be seen in this way, yet get them out to breastfeed in public and there are complaints. It's a very sad state of affairs. The primary function of breasts is to produce milk to feed your baby, yet this is not seen as desirable or acceptable.

Ropsley

All that is fine.

But saying that if you FF you are not doing right by your child is not fine.

Sounds reasonable to me. I always thought I would bf if I had a child but after reading threads on here I am completely turned off it. After reading over and over about the cracked, bleeding nipples, "pain worse than labour", no sleep ever, I realised that bf isn't for me.

Some people find it works for them which is great. Don't forget, just because someone isn't feeding the same way you are doesn't mean they are judging you. They are doing what's best for them and probably don't know or care what you are doing.

I find it so interesting how heated these threads always get.

It's almost as if we were not comfortable with the feeding choices we made and therefore are defensive or something?

All things being equal BFing is the better options - statistically.
On an individual level it may well not be.

You should choose to feed your baby the way you want to. All I will say is don't make your mind up completely and see if you feel the same way when it actually happens. You probably will- but leave yourself a bit of wriggle room in case you don't.

On a separate issue- it's worth us all thinking about the way we feel about our breasts and the way society tells us we should feel about them. It's extraordinarily complex, and a discussion worth having.

Ropsley I don't know, I always get the impression that breastfeeding is the norm on mumsnet, not formula.