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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Price of breastfeeding

39 replies

Graciescotland · 11/04/2011 22:59

It always irks me when people list the benefits of breastfeeding and somewhere near the top is "it's free". Those extra calories (300-500 per day) that your supposed to consume when ebf are not free. I think all things considered I probably spent more on cake extra food than I would of on formula.

I do think there's lots of benefits, DS is nearly 8 months and I'm still BF, I just don't think this is one of them.

OP posts:
StealthyKissBeartrayal · 11/04/2011 23:01

Must of us don't subsist on the bare minimum we need though - I never needed extra calories to bf.
And I think you could get 500 healthy calories fairly cheaply - a lot cheaper than formula anyway.

CointreauVersial · 11/04/2011 23:03

Have you seen the price of formula??

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2011 23:05

I BF and think it's great (am very lazy Grin) but I spent a fortune on nursing bras, nipple shields, a pump, nursing top (that I never wore). People buy pillows and cream and cabbages (that would work for the calories and the sore norks). It isn't free.

Original poster
Graciescotland · 11/04/2011 23:12

CointreauVersial - Not since DS was a newborn and we did a weeks worth of top ups but I think I must of spent at least £20-£30 a week extra on food, encouraged by DH, since I was breastfeeding. Probably sounds excessive but really nice food is my luxury since DS was born.

OP posts:
StealthyKissBeartrayal · 11/04/2011 23:13

But would that not have been the case if you were ff? After all you'd still be an exhausted new mum

JiltedJohnsJulie · 11/04/2011 23:16

Yes the price of formula is Shock. Was behind a couple at the checkout buying 2 tubs when DD was small and nearly fainted at the price they paid. Agree though that bfing isn't free but I got a couple of decent nursing bras in the sale and a 2nd hand pump for £10 so it didn't cost that much. Did spend a small fortune on this though when DC1 was ebf but it was the only thing that stopped me loosing too much weight.

Original poster
Graciescotland · 11/04/2011 23:18

I'm very lazy too :) Being able to latch DS on and get back to sleep...bliss :o

OP posts:
Original poster
Graciescotland · 11/04/2011 23:21

I think when DS was new I'd probably have forgotten about myself if I was ff tbh.

OP posts:
foreverondiet · 11/04/2011 23:26

I agree. FF costs around £1 per day. I was easily eating more than that.

AngelDog · 12/04/2011 07:09

Maybe it's semantics, but you don't need to eat extra calories in order to bf. You need them to maintain your weight/energy levels, but not eating them won't affect your ability to bf.

My understanding was that most people in the Western world already eat more than 500 calories above the recommended amount anyway, so more food often is unnecessary.

Admittedly, I used it as an excuse to eat lots more, but I do like my food if I'm tired. DS only feeds 4 x a day now (15 months) but I eat just as much as I'm shattered running around after a toddler. :)

Given that I can buy a loaf of bread for 47p, marg & jam almost as cheap, eating more doesn't have to cost a lot.

I think bf'ing doesn't need to cost anything, but the way we do it here (nursing bras, pillows, breastpads etc) usually means it does cost a bit.

StrawberriesAndScream · 12/04/2011 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MummyBerryJuice · 12/04/2011 08:21

We live in a very consumerist society and sometimes It feels like we think something isn't real until we spend money on it. 500 extra calories are not really necessary for the vast majority of us and easily (and cheaply) obtainable. A slice of toast (wholegrain) with butter is about a 100 calories.

If you choose to spend money on luxury items, it is entirely your own decision but it isn't necessary.

OnlyWantsOne · 12/04/2011 08:25

I dont agree with the OP. Are you fectoring in water, electric to boil kettle and then again and again and again to heat bottles??

My boobs are always warm ;)

TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 08:27

If most people in the Western world were eating 500 calories over what they needed each day to maintan their weight, we would all be gaining weight at a rate of a pound a week (1lb of fat = 3,500 calories approx).

Moulesfrites · 12/04/2011 08:30

I don't agree. Breast feeding doesn't need to cost anything, just we tend to think that we need a load of paraphernalia to do it, but out of all the stuff I've bought, none of it was really essential, and a lot if it was useless....

LadyWithNoManors · 12/04/2011 08:30

Extra food? It wouldn't occur to me to buy extra food just because I'm breastfeeding. Also I haven't used breastpads for about 6 months, didn't use a pump and don't even wear special bras anymore.
I FF my DS and believe me it is much more expensive than breastfeeding.

colditz · 12/04/2011 08:33

But you can slap 500 calories a day on with a fried egg sandwich.

TheProvincialLady · 12/04/2011 08:42

Considering a large proportion of people in this country eat more calories than they need daily, as a matter of course, this is a bit of a non argument.

AlpinePony · 12/04/2011 09:18

I feel really sorry for anyone who can't afford formula - it must be absolutely terrifying bringing a child in to the world if you can't even spare under a pound a day. :(

Bf-ers also need to buy more lentils and special knitting needles for yoghurt weaving.

theborrower · 12/04/2011 10:28

strawberriesandscream A tub of formula is about £7-£8. I go through about a tin a week so that's about £1 a day. I use cartons when out and about and maybe go through about 4 of them a week, so that's another £2. So about £3 a week in total. Doesn't feel as cheap as that though.

I spent a fortune when I was BFing, but that was because I was having problems. Bought a mini electric pump, and DH was Shock at the price of that! Was fortunate to get free lansinoh, breast pads etc from my work.

Agree with the OP about the cake extra calories though! Have never eaten so much cake and sweet things as I did in the first few weeks after having DD! Absolutely couldn't get enough...

bronze · 12/04/2011 10:35

I didn't buy more food. I used to as an excuse to myself for eating what I already ate.

Used same washable pads for all four of mine. Per weeks that must have been a fraction of a penny.

Was given breast shells and an isis pump. Pump was used every day for months with dd so even if I had bought it wouls still have been a tiny amount each week. Bought breatsfeeding bras instead of normal bras, cheaper and would have had to wear bra whichever way

Anything can be more expensive if you choose to spend spend spend

FutureNannyOgg · 12/04/2011 11:41

My milk calories come off the arse fat I accumulated when pregnant and lazy restricted by SPD. I always thought that was what "baby weight" was for.

You could do the calories in cake and a latte at Costa, or a couple of slices of buttery smartprice toast.

Original poster
Graciescotland · 12/04/2011 11:47

I didn't mean that bf was more expensive than ff just that it's not free. However looking at theborrower's sums I reckon bf has cost me more than ff as I bought a expensive pump, pretty nursing bras (elle macpherson), brewers yeast, nursing tea, bottles, freezer bags, nursing pillow, ridiculous amounts of cake Blush etc

Totally worthwhile though :o

OP posts:
LadyWithNoManors · 12/04/2011 11:51

It's not free initially because of the bras (but then you'd be buying new bras after pregnancy if you were FF wouldn't you?) , breast pads etc.
BUT I would say that for the last 6 months it has been free for me - no new bras, breast pads, extra food etc.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 12/04/2011 13:05

plus factor in the time (which in my case is very much money as i'm self employed) saved by not having to look after poorly lo. Remember the bf parents take less time off work study a while back.

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