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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

why do/did you breastfeed??

91 replies

bounty007 · 11/12/2010 09:20

Some people don't "get" BFing and it makes me cross!
My FIL for example thinks babies should all be formula fed Confused
I asked him why women had boobs, which got him very embarassed. I then started to mention that breastmilk is free, readily avaiable and at the correct tempertaure...
as a mum of 2 small children my brain is slightly wrecked at the mo and I would love some more points to back my argument

OP posts:
Restrainedrabbit · 11/12/2010 09:23

Better for health of you and baby, cuts down chance of you getting certain cancers later in life plus get your figure back quicker. For baby less chance of serious gastro bugs etc.

mrsgordonfreeman · 11/12/2010 09:24

As the mum of 2 small children, bf is way easier and saves lots of money.

Or just shrug and carry on, he'll either understand eventually or keep his ideas to himself.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 11/12/2010 09:29

I breastfed because I wanted to try to feed the baby the way nature intended. With every understanding that it isn't something we could practice ahead of time and it may not work out.

onimolap · 11/12/2010 09:32

Because I was far too lazy to even contemplate the fuss of making up bottles and all the sterilization that goes with it.

And it's free.

HeavenForfend · 11/12/2010 09:33

Lots and lots of reasons:

It's natural
It's free
No way I could ever be faffed with all the sterilising & microwaving etc.
No getting up in the middle of the night (dds both co-slept)
Health benefits for baby
Helps establish bonding
Can be done anywhere, anytime
Helps with post-preg weight loss (though actually I didn't find that to be the case Xmas Angry).

To name but a few.

detoxdiva · 11/12/2010 09:37

I bf because it is the way nature intended me to feed my baby. I wanted my dc to have the best start in life and feed them perfectly nutritionally balanced milk that was always at the right temp for them. I believe bf helps reduce the risk of serious stomach bugs and may protect my dc from health issues and obesity in later life.

I am also quite lazy and highly disorganised so the appeal of never having to buy milk, prepare milk, clean and sterilise bottles or get up out of bed in the night to feed was great Grin

detoxdiva · 11/12/2010 09:40

To be honest though, I wouldn't even entertain an argument with him. When he starts again, just smile, nod, say "really, do you think so...?"......and then proceed to feed your baby as you want. None of his blimmin' business Angry

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 09:49

There's a lot of reasons why I was determined to breastfeed, including:

  • When my older son was crying with the pain of his eczema and said, "mummy why did you make me like this" there was no way that I was going to allow DS2 to have anything other than BM until he was at least 6 months old, to do my best to minimise his risks. Obviously a very personal reason.
  • For every year a woman breastfeeds she reduces her risk of breast cancer by (someone give me the exact %) - 4% I think. So that's 8% for me now.
  • Breastfed babies are far less likely to suffer from gastroenteritis than FF (this still applies in this country despite our clean water suppies). In developing countries this is often fatal. In this country it's perfectly treatable but horrific for a baby snd its parents to go through.
  • A huge reason for me is this. Breastmilk includes a mother's antibodies for whatever is affecting her and/or her baby at any given time. A child's immune system is not fully developed until they are around 6 years old, and it is designed to be supported with breastmilk. If the baby is exposed to an infection but not the mother, the infection is passed to the mother's immune system via the nipple (she doesn't actually have to be made ill with it) and then the breastmilk passes antibodies back to the baby. I think that's absolutely magical. My baby at 5 months just had his first cold and I felt so much better being able to DO something for him, giving him those specially-made antibodies right back.
  • We are comfortably off and I can afford formula without it affecting us but for many cost is a very important reason, with formula costing around £500 a year (plus bottles and equipment but I don't include that as many BF women also have bottles etc).
  • Night feeds are a breeze. I think FF at night, which I've never done, would be much harder.
  • I don't see any reason to FF. I see no advantages to me, personally. I am comfortable feeding in public and have a supportive family which I know makes me very lucky.

Good luck with yours :)

beanlet · 11/12/2010 09:50

Because it's healthiest for the baby and gives him a 6 point IQ bump.

Because it's free.

Because it's so much less hassle than faffing around with bottles, especially at night.

Because I'm losing 4lbs a week of my 5 stone Shock of baby weight.

I certainly wouldn't be doing it otherwise -- the first six weeks of agonisingly painful nipples were one of the hardest things I've ever been through.

PlentyOfParsnips · 11/12/2010 09:58

Because I could Xmas Smile

Lynzjam · 11/12/2010 10:01

Because at the end of the day, it's what your supposed to do when you have a baby.

Feeding a baby formula milk is un-natural IMO. It's the same as when I think about us drinking cows milk.....it's kinda wierd.

We have an option now though so it's up to mummy how she feeds her baby.

lowrib · 11/12/2010 10:09

www.kellymom.com is a great site on BF. There's a page on Handling criticism about breastfeeding.

fibernachi · 11/12/2010 10:15

It never occurred to me not to BF. It's free, portable, available on tap and biologically appropriate. The health consequences of not BFing (for both of us) was a major motivator too. Also the extra calorie 'allowance' was fab, cake with no after effects.

ethelina · 11/12/2010 10:16

Why do I?
Because I just love it. Though it took a lesson or two at first!
It's meant to be done.
I'm lazy.
It's quick - fast food.
I feel amazing when he's latched on ?endorphins?
The big dirty smile on his face when nipple appears.
The health benefits for both of us.
The cost (nil)

lowrib · 11/12/2010 10:24

"A child's immune system is not fully developed until they are around 6 years old, and it is designed to be supported with breastmilk. If the baby is exposed to an infection but not the mother, the infection is passed to the mother's immune system via the nipple (she doesn't actually have to be made ill with it) and then the breastmilk passes antibodies back to the baby."

organiccarrotcake I knew BF babies were protected by antibodies in the milk, but I didn't know that's how it works.

You're right, it is magical!

TruthSweet · 11/12/2010 10:33

TO be blunt, I bfed because I'm a mammal and that's what mammals do.

Everything else was just gravy (lower risk of x,y,z etc, etc)

That's no criticism/judgement of anybody else's choice, just why I did it.

pozzled · 11/12/2010 10:33

Because it's free, it's easier and it's better for me and DC.

I find it hard to understand why anybody would choose to start with FF.

But really, it's nothing to do with your FIL- I'd state my case once and then refuse to engage, just come up with a standard line and repeat it every single time he mentioned it-

'I'm breastfeeding because it's the best choice and it's what we have chosen.'

Is your DH supportive?

LooL00 · 11/12/2010 10:33

Does he have any points with which to back up his argument?

bibbitybobbitysantahat · 11/12/2010 10:37

Oh fgs, what a silly ARSE. Just leave it at "why do women have breasts?". The man is obviously an ignorant cock.

Francagoestohollywood · 11/12/2010 10:38

Because it was easy and all my friends had done the same (I can't resist peer pressure Grin).

I stopped when I got fed up, I'm not ideological about bf.

pud1 · 11/12/2010 10:47

my reasons are a little different put personal to me.

i breastfed because i had had 2 mc's before my dd1 and i somehow felt that i was to blame. i then found a lump in my breast that turned out to be nothing serious, but while i was going through tests i was worried that i may loose my breats and never be able to feed a baby. i then took another 2 years to get pg so when my dd finally arived i felt that i needed to make up for the 2 lost babies and make use of the breasts that i had managed to keep. although i am aware that my thinking was not exactly clear at the time i am so glad i made the choise. i have not bf dd1 until she was 2.5 and dd2 until she was 1.4 and have enjoyed it 99% of the time. ( i did not enjoy mastitis or the first few days with dd1)

pud1 · 11/12/2010 10:51

sorry for the typos and spelling mistakes. brain going faster than the fingers

anonMum2 · 11/12/2010 10:59

sorry no contribution here but really grateful to op for starting this post. Didn't manage to breastfeed with DC1 and very determined to breastfeed this time so have been preparing, reading, talking to people, buying electric breast pump etc.

Today, strangely, been getting cold feet (very bad experience last time) and was saying to DH that I think I'll return the breastpump and just bottlefeed after all. Glad I've now read this thread because a few of them have managed to convince me otherwise again.

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 11:30

anonmum so sorry to hear you had such a bad time :(

You may wish to consider starting a thread to discuss it, unless of course you've already worked through it, to try to ensure that you don't have the same problems again? You know you'll get loads of support and advice here.

You don't need a breastpump of course. I have one as I donate to the milk bank and it's quicker and easier for me to pump, although some people find hand expressing quicker and easier.

crikeybadger · 11/12/2010 11:33

Agree with Truthsweet- it'a what we were designed to do. It never, ever occurred to me that I wouldn't breastfeed.

anonmum2- glad you're feeling positive- you'll get lots of help and support on this post when you're ready for it. Smile