Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I really don't want to breast feed

85 replies

shinyshilling · 21/09/2005 17:12

I have thought and read lots and lots about this and for various reasons have decided that I don't want to breast feed at all.I want to bottle feed from day 1. Can anyone let me know what happens if you don't. Will I still produce milk? Can this be avoided? I can find lots of information on BF but not on what happens if you don't want to. I'd be really grateful if anyone could give me some advice.

OP posts:
Toothache · 22/09/2005 13:27

Pretty sure this thread isn't entitled "Don't want to breastfeed.... please try to change my mind".

bundle · 22/09/2005 13:27

nope it's not. but plenty of women decide to bfeed and then don't do it. but presumably they try and find out some info re: bottles/formula before they do it. not a rant...

hunkermunker · 22/09/2005 13:28

Oh, it's started.

I know. Still felt it was worth making the point though, Toothache.

oliveoil · 22/09/2005 13:28

HOOTER HOOTER HOTTER PARP PARP PARP

bundle · 22/09/2005 13:29

finding out about bf will also help women to understand eg what happens to the milk if you decide not to bfeed..and how to deal with that

bundle · 22/09/2005 13:29
Satine · 22/09/2005 13:30

I agree with toothache - none of our business why shinyshilling doesn't want to bf.

oliveoil · 22/09/2005 13:31

Forgiven.

I agree with hunker , tis worth a try.

Parp parp.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/09/2005 13:31

I really hope you don't get slated hunker.

shinyshilling, I don't know your reasons but you might feel different when the baby is born.
your milk will come in still yes. Wear a well-fitting bra with the straps tightened. you can take paracetomol for the pain. cabbage leaves are good.

dyzzidi · 22/09/2005 13:31

shinyshilling hasn't answered why she doesn't want to yet but I though I would tell you why I am so interested.

I will be having a c section and some other surgery and may need blood transfusions and heavy medication. I posted a while ago about this and was given lots of different viewpoints. I will be on the High Dependency Unit afterwards which may pose some problems (I am discussing exact arrangements with my consultant next month)

I have decided to go with Bottle feeding. I will buy all the stuff and be prepared to bottlefeed but.....
If I feel well enough I may give breastfeeding a try if only to see how it is.

I will not however be the slightest bit upset if i bottle feed I will do what is best for me and baby.

Good luck in your decision I hope you get all the advice you need.

bundle · 22/09/2005 13:31

i didnt' think it was my business..but the mechanics of a breast includes what happens if you decide not to breastfeed and understanding those mechanisms will help her/others to understand what's going on. no harm inlearning about our bodies, imo

bundle · 22/09/2005 13:32

parp

even the shortest period - just a day is worth it

Toothache · 22/09/2005 13:32

Perhaps it isn't "worth a try" to shinyshilling.

Leave her alone you lot!

wordgirl · 22/09/2005 13:33

It may not be worth it to her, but it certainly will be to her baby!

dyzzidi · 22/09/2005 13:34

If you don;t want to do something you should not do it

OK now please don't start rowing on this thread its so difficult to ask these questions without feeling Oh great now I have started world war three

artyjoe · 22/09/2005 13:34

Hi Shinyshilling

I decided 6 months before giving birth not to breastfeed and was completely happy with the decision...and absolutely 100% still am.

I did have slightly bigger boobs for a few days and I did leak occasionally for a little while...and got taken by surprise a month or so later as well as I started to leak when the baby cried! A couple of breast shields and you'll hopefully sail through it.

Don't let people who don't know you make you feel guilty about your choice...as it is exactly that, a choice, and you have already made it so it will suit you. Good luck with it x

Toothache · 22/09/2005 13:34

Do you know what....... feeding your baby is fast becoming a subject that you can't post about without someone coming along and saying "well I think you should try to breastfeed"....

.... hmmm tempted to say Feck off if it was my thread!

whispers... and I'm all for bf'ing and breastfed my 2 for a few weeks

Toothache · 22/09/2005 13:35

This is awful. Shinyshilling.... I don't suppose you wanted a lecture.... but some MN'ers just cannot help themselves.

dyzzidi · 22/09/2005 13:37

I was also surprised in RL when MIL asked me was I going to breastfeed and I said No i didn't think so that she was very supportive. My DP is also more worried about bringing a baby home than what we are going to feed it.

It's personal choice I hope you find what works for you.

Zephyrcat · 22/09/2005 13:38

Hiya Shinyshilling. I bottle fed both my two from day one despite anyone and everyone having a go at me - esp dp. You will still get a milk supply and after a few weeks (2 or 3 i think) you may get 'engorgement' which is where the milk keeps being supplied but has nowhere to go. It is agony and lasts a few days maybe up to a week and then once that dies down you start to stop producing milk.

What I did though was to get a breast pump and express some milk so that they still got breast milk. I was about as good at that as trying to breast feed though!!!

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:38

Errrr ladies, please, can we not try to change her mind, it's not up to you to do that, she says she's looked into it and made an informed decision that suits haer. She's asked for advice on what will happen when she doesn't breastfeed. This isn't a place to lobby for breastfeeding rights! Start another thread about why you feel breastfeeding works and give her a link to it that she can visit if she chooses, but don't do anything that could run the risk of making anyone feel bad. It's her decision and hers only.

Toothache · 22/09/2005 13:41

Nicely put TC..... you have much more diplomacy than me.

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:41

shinyshilling, you crack on love, the only thing that matters is you doing what you feel is right. I think it's great that yu read lots & lots before you made nay decision btw. Enjoy your pregnancy and good luck with everything.

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:41

'ello toothache, nice to 'see' you, xx

hunkermunker · 22/09/2005 13:43

Shinyshilling, I hope you make the right feeding choice for you. I apologise if I caused you offence - it was not my intention.

I'm not trying to force anyone to do anything, or change anyone's mind. I simply wanted to say that closing your mind totally to one thing before you've had a chance to try it... Oh, what's the point - some of you think I'm evil breastfeeding nazi woman anyway and it doesn't matter a toss what I write to say otherwise.