To be worried about feeding baby formula ?

[Julias21]

My baby is 8 weeks old formula fed aptimal from day one . She only drinks the ready made bottles (won’t take the powdered) but seeing all the thing online about it being filled with crap ingredients /sugar etc and all the risks for Sid’s/ diabetes and all these health problems due to formula , my anxiety is just through the roof . I did try breast feed but she wouldn’t latch and pumping was absolutely exhausting. Parents who formula fed their babies can u reassure me ?

🙄 just feed your baby how you wish..

Wondering what you are reading and from where? If you didn’t feed her formula what’s the alternative?

I fed 2 of my 4 boys myself and the other 2 were fed via formula both healthy boys 18 &13 slim fit and clever I was also fed with formula all fit and healthy
perhaps you need to chat to someone about your anxiety and fact about formula as what you’re reading seems off to me

It was ideal when my baby was born early and was in NICU.
It was ideal when I had too many medications to take due to cancer complications / unknown risks to pass onto baby
It was ideal in the night where I was shattered recovering from a C section so DH could help
It was ideal when it would quench my babies hunger / thirst

No offence, but do fuck off

OP, the industry is very heavily regulated and formula wouldn’t be sold if it could harm your baby. Enjoy your newborn and don’t give it another thought.

I am a huge BF supporter but not all mums and babies can thrive on it and for others it simply isn't possible. Formula is very safe, carefully regulated and a fantastic source of food which keeps babies alive! Embrace the bottle and don't feel any guilt about it, you are doing what is best for your family.

Formula is made for babies. It's very, very heavily regulated. It does not harm babies.

Feeding only becomes complicated when you look at the societal behaviour of FF companies, which has not been good and continues to not be good. Over the years, formula has been very heavily marketed to different communities as 'better', so has become something that's aspirational for groups of mothers - in effect, turning swathes of mums who could breastfeed just fine into consumers of a bought product. The industry is rotten.

BUT

Formula is made for babies, it's very, very heavily regulated and it does not harm babies. You are not harming your baby. You are feeding your baby.

This thread is clearly bullshit. You didn’t even try to hide it well OP. 🤣

Like you I tried bf first with my oldest and it didn't work out. Switched to formula pretty early on and went straight to formula with my youngest. Both absolutely fine.

One thing I'd say though is try and switch to power rather than just premade as it's going to cost a fortune when baby is getting bigger and takes bigger bottles. You could do it gradually by giving them half and half til they adjust.

I loved premade for out and about but it's definitely more expensive.

My baby boy was on cow and gate ready made from day 1 (with a bit of breast for a couple of weeks when I could get him to latch, terrible tongue tie!) until 6 weeks when we went on to powdered formula. He is 5 months now, very healthy and happy xx

Formula is just fine. It's a perfect substitute to breast milk. Don't beat yourself up about it. You're doing a terrific job of feeding your baby.

Formula is amazing. Life saving at times, not to mention the freedom it can give women.

One of the best inventions.

Formula in the UK is tightly regulated as a medical product. There are no nasties in it. Millions of babies have been fed formula and millions of babies have thrived on it.

I had multiple issues breastfeeding both my DC and very little support. I do get the anxiety you're experiencing over having to formula feed, but honestly both DC have turned out strong, healthy, great immune systems, great skin and no allergies or intolerances to anything 🤷‍♀️

I'm very thankful formula is as good as it is nowadays! Try to remember than in the UK more babies are formula fed than breast fed, it's fine!

Fgs seriously?? Millions of people FF, do you really think all those kids are sick or didn't grow properly? I FF out of choice and my kids are healthy and thriving. The sickest children I know who are constantly I'll with something were BF. It doesn't matter , fed is best .

My son was admitted after breastfeeding difficulties and had to be tube fed with both breast milk and formula but in the first instance they got formula milk down him quickly as his sodium levels in his blood were high and he was very dehydrated. I kinda changed my attitude after that as the initial formula milk saved his life.

I had all the scaremongering from my health visitor about allergies and asthma and formula being harmful but in hindsight, whilst breast milk is ideal, all that mattered was my son thriving. He’s still on the low weight side at 7 and I really tried to keep on breastfeeding for 6 months but he was classed as failure to thrive. Whether it would have worked with more support I don’t know but in our situation it was the difference in stopping him becoming seriously Ill. I was told at the time that his bloods were all over the place and if he was admitted any later, his body would have started to shut down

I think you need to look at the actual increase in risk. For example, yes breastfed babies are at lower risk of SIDS. But the risk of SIDS is low anyway, and the difference between formula fed and breastfed babies is not large. It's a tiny tiny difference in an already small risk.

My brother and I were both formula fed from day one. We are both healthy and never had any of the problems you listed. He is a doctor and runs marathons. I have never had any health problems other than eczema.

My dd is 21 months and was formula fed. She is crazy strong, never had any health issues and has a surprisingly sturdy immune system.

You really don’t need to worry OP

Stop looking for things about formula online, it is easy to avoid and it’s just making you anxious.

I formula fed my three dc, just like millions of other women do and have 3 healthy children. I do understand the guilt around not breastfeeding, I’ve been there but now I’m past that stage I realise there is nothing to feel bad about, in fact I should feel good that I recognised that breastfeeding wasn’t right for us and that formula was.

I do agree with this. I tried for about an hour to get my baby to latch and the midwife just said “just use formula”. I wasn’t given any support until a midwife visit 5 days post birth where she said “it’s not too late if you want support” but by that time I was on the peak of PND and too mentally and physically exhausted to try something the midwives at the hospital were totally dismissive of

I don’t know a single friend who hasn’t given their baby formula at some point. Many have given up breastfeeding due to soreness and mastitis.

My best friend’s boy had formula in the neonatal unit because she couldn’t pump that much to begin with.

Both my kids have had/are having formula as i don’t produce enough milk

I am lucky enough not to know any babies who died from sids

I was formula fed and I am very healthy. No asthma, eczema, hayfever, diabetes etc and i am not obese.

I am no scientist but my belief is that the stats you’re talking about are population level and not regarding individuals that are well brought up (or whatever). Eg, i was formula fed because i was born with a bruised face and was too sore to latch. Very close to being tube fed. This is no no reflection on my diet and lifestyle.

I bf one of my 3 kids long term, difficulties with mastitis (5 days in hospital!), infections etc meant it only worked with 1 child. He was my sickest child. Just enjoy your baby - mine are nearly all adults now, and thriving (all of them)