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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Why "choose" to bottle feed???

732 replies

Difers · 13/07/2007 21:08

I am a breastfeeding mum and I meet lots of mums who said they tried to breastfeed but weren't able to which I can totally understand but My mother-in-law said she "chose" to bottlefeed and didn't bother even trying...

So I am wondering, given the benefits of breastfeeding, why would anyone "choose" to bottlefeed??

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 14/07/2007 20:41

"it's milk meant for a calf that's then pumped full of chemicals and fish eyes"

My 3 babies thought it was yummy -well No1 wasn't keen but that was SMA and that tastes a bit like cardboard I'll concede but No's 2 & 3 loved their Cow & Gate and now they're all growed up and in their 30's, of course they all have 3 eyes, 6 arms and their heads are on back to front but you don't notice after a bit.

winestein · 14/07/2007 20:43

Motherfunk, please don't waste your time and emotions on posts such as daisybo's. I have been where you are and it's bloody awful. Sometimes it is made painful and raw by poeple who have no idea what they area talking about.
Tiktok is wonderful btw. If there are questions you still need answering she will help you if she sees them.

Cammelia · 14/07/2007 20:44

What a silly post daisybo

daisyandbabybootoo · 14/07/2007 20:44

I could add that after my experience with DS I could have decided to FF my new DD from the off, not wanting to go through the same physical and emotional difficulties.

However I decided to give it a fair go but would switch sooner if it wasn't working for us. It's going well so far and fingers crossed that will continue, but I respect the choice of others to BF or FF as they see fit.

winestein · 14/07/2007 20:44

Oh, I keep doing this. ARE not area [grrr!]

JoolsToo · 14/07/2007 20:46

daisybo you are quite right that you are entitled to your opinion, we all are, but posts like that do more damage for the breastfeeding cause than good, you do realise that don't you?

You are another candidate for a copy of the 'How To Win Friends and Influence People' leaflet.

winestein · 14/07/2007 20:47

PMSL Jools.

Are you keeping a list?

MotherFunk · 14/07/2007 20:47

Message withdrawn

Twinklemegan · 14/07/2007 20:50

Oh dear, I see the inevitable has happened then.

JoolsToo · 14/07/2007 20:51

did you ever doubt it?

I'm only here cos I'm bored

WikiesWizardWheezes · 14/07/2007 20:51

Daisybo - Ha ha your post made me PMSL. What a sanctimonious, smug arse you are.

I chose to bottle feed. I fed my DS a few times in hospital but just didn't enjoy BFing him. Support was shite too - midwives too busy and didn't seem to want to help.

I prefer FF cos I know exactly how much he has had - I like routine and a happy mummy makes a happy baby. I wouldn't have been happy BFing.

winestein · 14/07/2007 20:51

Well, by your definition it had to Twinkle ( but )

Twinklemegan · 14/07/2007 20:55

I'd have been right in there a few months ago. I just can't be bothered any more. People never change their minds on these threads - shame it took me so long to realise.

divastrop · 14/07/2007 20:57

have just caught up,though there have probably been 100 more posts since i started reading.

the point about the sexualisation of breasts is one that really gets to me,as in our society you are considered a prude if you find the pictures of 'women' with their tits out in lads mags etc offensive,yet there are still may bf mums who have been asked to feed elsewhere when feeding in cafes etc.

if the message of 'tits are for men to wank over,and should remain pert for as long as possible as they are the property of your man,and he may want to send a photo of them to nuts magazine'is the one being given out,then no wonder so many see bf as 'disgusting'.

Escapefrom-some excellent posts.i think my experience of bf may well have been different if i'd been older(i was 20 when i had ds1),but i had no idea what i was doing.

with hindsight,i do wish i had tried to bf ds2,as i would have got more support than i had 6 years before,plus ds and dd1 were both at school,so it wasnt like i had a toddler to look after as well.if i had managed to sucessfully bf ds2 then i would probably have bf dd2+3.

divastrop · 14/07/2007 20:58

i was right,there are alot more posts and i have probably strayed so far from the discussion that i should be on another thread!

Original poster
Difers · 14/07/2007 21:07

Well out of all these posts there aren't that many people who say that they actually chose to bottlefeed without very good reasons such as bad experiences, depression, pain etc.. so really this thread isn't about the the breastfeeding brigade versus bottle feeding brigade and I actually have changed my opinion oh cynical ones.

OP posts:
missis · 14/07/2007 21:11

I have had to return to work 16 weeks after my baby was born as my paid maternity leave has finished.

She has fed from a bottle for a few weeks now and is none the worse for it. Couldn't bare the pumping machine.

i refuse to feel any more guilt. I have a beautiful, healthy daughter and time to myself occasionally!

divastrop · 14/07/2007 21:22

pmsl@joolstoo

SMA does tast like cardboard,and produces cardboard poos IME.not that i remember being fed SMA,but my first 2 babies had problems on it.trouble is ,the hv wasnt allowed to recommend switching formula,and it wasnt till a hv broke the rules and told me that aptamil was better when ds2 was having constipation problems,that i knew it could make a difference.

but i too take my hat off to anybody who manages to bf,and would always encourage somebody who is considering switching to formula to get as much help with bf first as possible,and explain how much of a PITA ff can be.

Spidermama · 14/07/2007 21:25

I have to go and paint the sitting room so have not time to read this thread but I wanted to commend you for the most blatantly popcorn inducing title in a while. Best of British to you.

fannyannie · 14/07/2007 21:42

"people who bottle feed from birth are just incredibly selfish. they are thinking of themselves first and not what is best for their baby. "

and you know what??? Sometimes a mother HAS to think of herself first if she wants to look after her baby properly. And lets not forget her mothers older children (if she has any) sometimes their needs have to be thought about......

fannyannie · 14/07/2007 21:45

"do they stare up at the baby from the plastic bottle"

oh yes - they give me the shudders at 11pm when I'm making the bottles up - very creepy

winestein · 14/07/2007 21:48

pssst Fannie...
I think that was an ironic post

peanutbear · 14/07/2007 21:49

Im a BF counsellor because I loved BF

some people have bad experiences, others just dont like the thought of it

IMHO how you choose to feed your baby does not make you a good or bad mother there is another 18 years+ out there to get through

Also most mothers always do what they think is best at the time who am I to sit in judgement

fannyannie · 14/07/2007 21:49

oh god DS2 (and DS3 atm) had SMA.....DS2 loved it (hungry baby one) I thought DS3 was getting constipated on it......so tried Aptimil......on the recommendation of MNers and he was awful, writhing and screaming and generally being a grumpy little baby.....so we're back on the SMA (Gold).

Now where are all those people that told me that Aptimil was so fantastic........

fannyannie · 14/07/2007 21:50

psssst Winestein......I know - hence the at the end