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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 13:44

Thread crash< Thomcat - I hope you and baby are feeling just peachy....

Zephyrcat · 22/09/2005 13:45

Ooh forgot to say, get loads of breastpads too because while you are producing milk, when the baby cries or you are feeding you will leak loads - this also starts to go away after the engorgement though

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:46

hunker - I only think lovely thoughts when i think of you babes, you know I love you and I know you're only trying to be nice and helpful and mean well etc, but all the same......I think SS should just get the advice she's looking for and not have to run the risk of feeling bad by anything anyone says.
TC xx

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:48

Tootache - feeling really peachy thanks lovley lady, feel like I'm about to pop but very, very happy.

Hey HM - are you still here - I'm going to an active birth class tonight - wanna start coming with me?

hunkermunker · 22/09/2005 13:48

TC I'm a cow really

xxxxxxxxxxx

Listen, Shinyshilling - sorry. Truly. I never meant to upset you and thought I'd worded my first post on this thread carefully enough - obviously not

Caligula · 22/09/2005 13:49

I was told they don't give pills any more because they are carcenogenic.

Is that a lie, or are the French irresponsible?

If you don't breastfeed, your milk will dry up, but if you sit in the bath and let some come off, it may be less painful. Expressing on its own isn't enough to keep your milk supply up, although it may slow it down. However, slowing the drying up process down might not be a bad thing, because it may make it less painful.

hunkermunker · 22/09/2005 13:50

TC, see new thread in chat

Zephyrcat · 22/09/2005 13:51

Thats part of the reason why I expressed Caligula - you're right, it doesn't keep the milk supply up but does definately give a bit of relief from the engorgement part.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/09/2005 13:51

I was told by a fairly reliable bf counsellor that the drugs didn't work very well or consistently. not worth the possible side effects.

Thomcat · 22/09/2005 13:52

SS - hunker's not a cow, and she did word her post carefully, just ddin't want anything to start up. I'm sure you're not offened and sure you feel calm and confident and hgappy with the decision you made. hope you got or get all the answers you were looking for on this thread. TC x

liquoriceallsorts · 22/09/2005 13:59

I do know that pulsatilla (a homeopathic remedy) can dry up breast milk and is perfectly safe to take. (Breastfed all three of my children but know women who haven't and this works!)

Toothache · 22/09/2005 14:03

Looks like shinyshilling was suitably frightened off!

hunkermunker · 22/09/2005 14:04

Not necessarily. Thread was started at 5.30 last night.

Caligula · 22/09/2005 14:05

Or maybe she just hasn't had time to come back yet.

Not everyone is a helpless addict, Toothache . Some women appear to be able to dip into Mumsnet as and when they feel like it, without experiencing the full horror of being drawn in against their will...

SherlockLGJ · 22/09/2005 14:06

Caligula

Lucky Cows

GeraldGiraffe · 22/09/2005 14:12

God, to be able to do that...

Enid · 22/09/2005 14:17

my dsis never breastfed - actually she tried it once and didnt like it so effectively bottle fed from day one. My niece is a gorgeous, happy, healthy, smiley baby and they are both clearly happy with her decision.

Be prepared for a bit of negativity from some people though and try and think of a plan to deal with it.

Toothache · 22/09/2005 14:43

Caligula - Frrrrrrreaks!

Original poster
shinyshilling · 23/09/2005 14:30

Thanks to you all especially Toothache, Satine, Artyjoe and Thomcat. You sound so lovely and supportive, just what I need. Thanks also to the others who commented. I'm not offended and interested to hear people's views. That's why I asked for help - No female family alive to ask about knockers etc. For those nosey parkers who want to check...I just don't want to ok? It doesn't feel right for me. I read every day about choices and I'm a good self-advocate...I'm going for a home birth in water so have read lots about this too. I had an accident 15 years ago and damaged my spine and have found the last six months almost unbearable without medication - I need to be able to share the responsibility of feeding and cannot stay in one position for a prolonged period.

It's not something I've taken lightly, but I asked for help to better my knowledge and coping strategies. It's easier to ask people you don't know as all those who you do know just judge! Can you beleieve, my boss rang me at home the other day to tell me that she 'emplored me not to have a home birth because they're so dangerous. She asked had I really thought about this? She then coincidentally bumped into my husband at a conference down south and tried to convince him that I was making an ill measured judgement. We were both very cross! So...no disrespect, I have and am thinking everything through thoroughly and could do with support rather than being judged all the time! Thanks once again to those lovely people though.smile

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 23/09/2005 14:37

nice post shiny - I just didn't want to either mine are 29, 31 and 33 now and are perfectly well, healthy and intelligent. Good luck with your new baby.

BigBumpBonnie · 23/09/2005 14:44

haven't read all this thread so you've probably already had the advice you wanted but I was told to wrap them up and leave them I just put a couple of breast pads in, a good supportive bra, a tight top and didn't mess with them for a couple of days. That's all it took for my milk to dry up. Did hurt a bit though! Due in a couple of weeks so will have to go through it all again!

Wordsmith · 23/09/2005 14:48

Shinyshilling, what a brilliant post - Im glad you weren't offended and got the information you needed. Things do tend to become a bit heated on here when disussing bottlefeeding.

Can't help particularly as I breastfed for a few months but gradually wound down and moved over to bottles. As it was gradual I didn't really notice much discomfort and it just sort of dried up.

However I had real problems bfing in the first place with DS2 and I often wondered what would have happened if I hadn't even tried - it didn't seem that there was much in there anyway!

Pagan · 23/09/2005 14:55

Good for you shiny - at your boss!

Fact1 - once you become pregnant, many people think you are incapble of making any decisions ever again like you never had a life before so completely assume they can rail road their opinions on you even at the most inopportune moments.

Fact2 - Mum knows best and you are the mum

Good luck in whatever your choice
x

Toothache · 23/09/2005 14:56

Shinyshilling - Why thank you.

bristolinas · 23/09/2005 15:36

Good for you on the hb and the bf! I went the same way and my little squirrel is 15 weeks and is growin like a weed.

I hated being pg but was so chuffed with our hb that i am quite tempted to do it again. Good luck and if you need any tips for hb let me know!!!