Tell me a positive story... about healthy, smart bottle-fed kids

[lbandrb]

I've just had to stop breastfeeding after a month. It's a gut-wrenching thing to do, but I have an autoimmune condition I couldn't medicate while breastfeeding, and it had become impossible to manage and care for my baby. Can anyone encourage me with positive stories of babies who have thrived on bottle milk?

I was bottlefed. I'm ace and so is my mum :)

I wish I had stopped bfing earlier than I did. If it works for you that is great but if it is leading to tears and angst it really isn't worth it.

I got one for ya! my sister's husband was bottle fed from birth he's a post graduate professor in social history - he's currently in a prestigious post at the university in Amsterdam where he learned Dutch in around 6 months so he can teach his students in their mother tongue. He's early 30s and extremely fit and healthy with a big love of cycling. :-)

And I was bottle fed and so was my husband... And we're both great

I've bottle fed my daughter from day 1, she's now 21 weeks and thriving.
She's gained weight every single week from week one, slept through from 6 weeks and now does at least 12 hours from her 6.30pm bedtime when I feed her then she's back to sleep til about 9.30.

She's never been sick, had a rash or a cold and appears bright as a button.

I was bottlefed as I was premature (this was the 70s)
My brother was breastfed.
I am obviously much more intelligent, fun, well adjusted and successful than he is
Joking aside, I've always been healthy, slim (without too much effort), scored in the top 1% for everything at school and was G&T not so much now and my relationship with my mum has definitely not been adversely affected in any way by her not breastfeeding me.
I grew up in a loving, caring supportive household and that's what counted.

I have never understood why a baby's ability to sleep / entertain themselves alone in a cot for 12 hours should be used as some badge of success.

My brother was bottlefed from birth. He has always been in rude health, just climbed Kilimanjaro and is top of his profession in London. I was breastfed and have asthma, eczema, nut allergy, myopia..........

my mum was fed cows milk, very strange..but my gran couldn't BF and that's what she gave her - my mum is very bright, very sucessful in her field of work, still working at the top level at the age of 68 - it's a creative industry and very competitive. She did well academically as well while younger.

I am a formula-feeding mom, and I originally wanted to breastfeed, but was unable to. After I had my daughter, I tried everything. I saw consultant after consultant, trying to get her to latch. When that didn't happen, I tried using a shield, and even resorted to pumping and bottle-feeding to ensure that my daughter got the nutrients if not the physical bonding. In the end, even though I did the reading, consulted with several experts, and followed every instruction, my supply dried up. I know how heartbreaking it is to have your body betray you. I felt like less of a woman, and I was depressed and ashamed, but months later, my sweet baby girl is happy and healthy. She's even a month ahead, developmentally. That's not to say that she wouldn't have benefitted from nursing longer, but neither has formula been a detriment to her health.

Me! The first time I ever went to hospital was to have my first son. I am ridiculously healthy and have no fillings.

I am very clever and had no idea whether I was fed by boob or bottle as a newborn until I had my DS and asked my mum!

Apparently she fed me for 3 weeks but also smoked and drank (as she had done through pregnancy) so I've no idea whether the breastmilk was actually any good for me.

I went to school/college/university with a lot of clever people and have no idea how a single one of them was fed when they were small. Absolutely no clue. I bet they don't know, either.

I'm a breastfeeding peer supporter and I like to make breastfeeding "accessible" and as easy as possible for other new mums with whatever help I can give them - IF they want to breastfeed. Apart from this, I think any parent who feeds their child formula, breastmilk, or whatever they believe in, is doing what they feel is the absolute best for their child, and it IS. I would never negatively judge someone for feeding their kid formula.

Congrats on your baby - it's great you managed to get to a month - well done! Now leave any guilt behind and just enjoy your lovely baby. :)

I give you my little sister.

From the moment she was born she refused to latch. My mother tells me that when she put her to the breast she would firmly press her lips together and flat out refuse. She even refused expressed milk.

Now she is a stunning 20 year old, who has just received a 2.1 at the end of her second year at university, and is predicted to get a first at the end of her final year next year. She is funny, bright, beautiful, intelligent, giving, kind, loving, healthy and the best little sister I could ever ask for.

My DH. He has never had BM in his life. He has two first class degrees and is working on his PHD. He works as an academic research librarian at a university. He also reads research journals for fun, mainly on geology and rock formations which BF'ed me watches Hollyoaks.

I was breast fed for 6 weeks only, then bottle fed! I'm a classical musician currently touring the world.... and I know plenty of big musical stars that were also formula fed from the start!
I am formula feeding my baby - not through choice but was unable to breast feed after a month too. He is thriving! I felt exactly like you so asked virtually every successful person I know - so many were formula fed!
Good luck and don't feel guilty about it - there is SUCH pressure on mums. Formula is amazing these days. You are doing a brilliant job 😊