Anyone else planning to bottle feed (don't shoot me please)

[camerafairy]

Anyone else planning to bottle feed and what are your reasons? Mine are because I have to work very quickly after the birth as I have my very busy own business and need my mum and partner to be able to share feeds with me. I will not be breastfeeding at all, please don't come on here to shout at me! It doesn't mean i'm putting my business before my baby

[wigglesrock]

DS = darling son. There is an acroynms "topic" section at top of page. I'm speaking from bitter experience, I once used bf for best friend, turns out most people use it for boyfriend Good luck over the next few weeks and for the birth. Take care of yourself, I know its easy to say but try not to stress and allow yourself time to recover, whether formula or breast feed all babies need a healthy Mum. Keep posting on Mumsnet, you'll get loads of support, advice on all sorts of things, its sometimes helpful just to know other people are going through the same thing.

[camerafairy]

hm, good point, my mum has got a single bed in the babies room and we are going to take it in turns, and my OH of course but he isn't always at home due to his work... when i'm working i will be in the room next door and i'm a very light sleeper, and i can't keep earplugs in...

[Sexonlegs]

Hi Camera,

I breast fed dd1 for 1 week, and I found it dreadful; so much so that I used to dread her waking up for another attempt. I know this is not the vcase for many many people.

So, when I found out I was pg again, I decided there and then dd2 would be formula fed from day 1. And I have never regretted that decision for one minute. It suited all of us, and I was able to bond more quickly with dd2.

Good luck with all everything.

[camerafairy]

thanks wiggles :) your advice has been appreciated, and i will hang about and ask for help when I need it

[camerafairy]

thanks v much sexonlegs, thats good to know, thanks for posting

[Secondtimelucky]

Time to get practicing with different brands of earplug then. Honestly, I say this from bitter experience. Once my DD1 stopped needing night feeds and was in her own room but was still waking (she wasn't a great sleeper), DH used to try to share nights with me, but I found that the pull of a crying baby was so strong that I would be wide awake unless I actually had earplugs in.

[Pesephone]

I would suggest you research all the reasons breast milk and feeding at the breast are so highly regarded, look into the studies and the results and all the constituents and actions of breastmilk that make it so superior to formula, that way you are making the most informed decision you can, and you are not going to come across this information at a later date and feel bad about not having breast fed. This may be an inconvenient time for you to have a baby but it is the time your going to have one and that can not be changed, however in a few months/years time you discover some of the massive differences between the two substances that may all seem rather irelevant and superficial.
I'm really not having a dig here or trying to make you feel bad, I just feel all parents have a right to the truth about this subject and that making their choices with all the information is important. Far, far too many mothers and fathers find out these things too late and then become angry(usually at the messenger) and feel guilty for their choice, or what has often been a sad and unavoidable decision to FF.
I'm just suggesting you make your choice and informed one. (for all I know you may have allready done massess of research into it, but I'm going on the assumption you have had the very vague breast is best message from you mw and the public.) I am constantly astonished and amazed by the bounty of clever and incredible functions of Human milk!

[ILovePonyo]

Ooh yes good point Second. My dp (darling partner!) could quite happily sleep through dd's noise and me sitting in bed and feeding her, however when he did it (unless I was completely knackered) I always woke up and had interrupted sleep. Have you got another spare room for you?

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

Littlemiss if you would otherwise like to bf do triple check your meds. Drs are terrible for saying something is contraindicated when bf when thy just don't know and don't want to take a chance. I think there is an online document called hales or summat you can check.

Good luck op and sorry for the hijack. Personally i found the start of bf easy going so you may find giving colostrum easier than you ththat.Also i felt pretty much fine and dandy within a week so with any luck you'll have a recovery like that.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Just wanted to say that I switched to FF with DS after just a couple of weeks (BF was torture for me) and he took to the bottle fine.

I'd be tempted to say that I'd go straight to FF next time round (I really really hate BFing, and yes I know all the benefits yada yada etc) but tbh, sterilising bottles and making them up is a massive PITA. Which reminds me, if FF straightaway, use cartons in the first few days, it's safer and easier. More expensive initially but tbh so much easier than measuring out powder and water in the early days when you don't know if it's day or night

[DialMforMummy]

seconding wigglesrock's advice re-breast after birth.

[DialMforMummy]

Lots of advice also available on MN re-preparation of bottles. ie what's safe what's not etc... because you will find it quite difficult to follow the formula's instructions to the letter.

[gallicgirl]

I can advise getting one of those little tubs that measure out the right amounts of formula. Well, the tubs don't do the measuring, you do, but you can do it in advance so you don't miscount when you're half asleep.

Also, even if you're FF you may well have to be up several times in the night anyway! Unless your mum is going to be doing all the night feeds in another room, you will have broken sleep for a few weeks.

[hightrees]

Your body your choice.
Interesting you write 'don't shoot me'.

[camerafairy]

yes, interesting.... not really, i was just preparing for the BF mafia. Its getting late, my ankles are sore and swollen and my patience is not what it could be... so if you want to wind someone else up i'm sure there are plenty of other posts you can do it on... leave out the snide comments yes? As you say, MY choice

[FunnysInTheGarden]

camera don't fell guilty about FF. After the fiasco that was trying to BF DS1, I vowed that DS2 would be FF from the word go. When it came to it I had to try again, just to see. In the event I realised that BF really messed around with my hormones/mental state and so after 4 weeks I switched to FF. I don't regret BF as it was a lovely time, but great to know I could go and buy Aptamil without a thought.

BF is hard work, but you will be woken by your baby every 2/3 hours in the night even if you FF............sorry to say!

[camerafairy]

Thanks Funnys, I will prob try to do the first bit, my OH would rather I didn't BF at all as his ex had a very hard time trying to do it and he saw her suffer, not that I care one iota what she did but he understands the business i'm in because he is in it and he knows the pressure i'm under, having seen the difference between his first son (BF) and second (FF) and experienced both as a dad, he thinks i should FF from the off... i'm prepared to be woken, its only one night a week i really need to get a few solid hours even if i end up in the car...

[Junebugjr]

Hi camera,

I breastfed dd1 in hospital, and switched to ff when I got home, dd was bf for 3 days. Dd made the switch easily, and was a happy healthy baby. I breastfeed dd2, and bf did take up a large amount of time in the beginning, but is fairly quick now. Your reasons are valid, so don't worry about justifying yourself, congrats and enjoy your baby

[aswellasyou]

You'll probably be judged for everything you do as a parent! I've breatsfed my daughter for 9 and a half months and I've been judged constantly by my own family (not my parents or sister thankfully!). I think I'd be mix feeding in your position but feed whichever way you want to. Although I'm in the pro breastfeeding camp, I don't think it's the be all and end all of doing the best for your baby. It's a shame you'll be busy in the baby's first few months but at least you'll get to spend more time with them come November when he/she is just getting to know the world.

[coldcomfortHeart]

camerafairy if you use terms like 'bf mafia' on mumsnet then you will get shot! It (rather understandably) gets the backs up of people who try their hardest to promote and support breastfeeding, of which there are lots on here... just a warning!

It really sounds as though you, your mum and your partner have a good plan going, and there's always lots of advice on here if things don't go to plan.

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

camera you sounded like you had made a sound decision for your own reasons. But your "bf mafia" comment makes it sound like you have an axe to grind.

[ILovePonyo]

Hey camera, if you have time do you think you could come back to this thread and let us know how you got on? Am nosy interested to hear how work went for you (more than the feeding :)) If not its understandable though so don't feel any pressure to report back

[Pesephone]

I think its likely that the phrase bf mafia, bf nazi's bullies etc have become so prolific inour culture that lots of people use them without a second thought to how offensive or hurtfull they are. :(
I know that many of the women who tirelessly give their time for free, pay money to train in a field which is highly unlikely to ever result in a paid job, and who agree to take phone calls up to 10pm in their home find these phrases extreemly hurtfull. i know I do.
But I do think that most people use the phrases flipantly with no idea of the work that goes into bf support or the actual thoughts, feelings or actions of the women they are deriding. I think its grossly irresponsible of the media to continually promote this nasty name calling.

[camerafairy]

Oops then I apologise but it was in direct response to a snidy comment so I was a bit f*** off someone commented with such a pointless post, I'm very much live and let live myself and unless anyone is getting hurt I don't judge but I guess not everyone is like that! I appreciate peoples feedback and comments and appreciate opinions from both 'camps' but I'm quite defensive so if someone is deliberately trying to get my back up then my 'lover not a fighter' attitude turns to 'i'm a Kung Fu master' I just like to be treated as I treat others. Will certainly keep you all updated, wish little man would come out now, as well as wanting to meet him finally I'm not loving the swelling up as far as my knees and the cracking hips, oh and the massive weight gain and constant faintness from sugar dips...and running out of clothes... And self esteem, and constantly answering the same question from strangers... And being stared at when I'm working like photographers shouldn't get pregnant... Oh and the grumpiness ;) hehe, hopefully MW will tell me something positive tomorrow... 7 days today he should be here - let's hope so! Much love x

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

it may have been in response to a snide comment but it doesn't reflect well on you. Rise above, rise above.... When you have a lo everyone has an opinion about what you do. Learning to let them slide when necessary will save you a lot of stress.