Why "choose" to bottle feed???

[Difers]

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??

This one's been done to death. The answers to your questions can be found quite easily if you choose or can be bothered to do a search.

aitch

Is it really true that formula manufacturers aren't allowed to make the claim that their product is "closest to breastmilk"? If so, maybe someone more proactive than me could tackle aptamil, who make that very claim here . Twice!

oooh, bastards. that's why the packaging was changed, to take that claim off. but what they're acutally talking about here is the ratio... very cunning. "Both milks contain Immunofortis, nucleotides and two LCPs in the ratio that is closest to breast milk."
mind you, how they're getting away with '
Aptamil First is, to this day, the infant milk that is closest to breast milk as it includes prebiotics, nucleotides, LCPs and antioxidants' is beyond me.

PS i used aptamil myself, so i'm not formula-bashing.

Birthdaycake, this is a discussion forum. We're discussing!

fatslag and difers, you seem to have put some thought not only into yours but also into other women's decision between ff and bf. Why would YOU say people choose to ff? and why are you so curious about it?. I am curious about your curiosity, if that makes any sense.

And since you have put some thought into it, and after all the replies in this thread, maybe you can tell us what your conclusions are.

Also have you tried to ask this question directly to a FF mum? I think you would get a better idea of their motivations by just asking face to face. Difers, your MIL chose to FF, so you said. Go and ask her. Easy.

nice post bonita

Well... I would imagine that the biggest advantage of ff would be that anyone can do it and not having to be near the baby 24/7. It would be nice to be able to go and get my hair done without having the baby with me! I am surprised and curious about those who say that they just don't feel comfortable with it. But then again, I'm terrified of spiders, there isn't always an explanation.

I'm a little concerned about comments I've seen on here along the lines of "there's no evidence that bf better for kids than ff" - that's like saying that global warming is a lie. Sure, for individual kids there is little difference but when you look at the big picture, there is.

At the same time, there seem to be a lot of militant bf mums who are oh so proud of themselves which seems a bit wacky too. I chose bf because yeah yeah it's great for the babies but also because I hate the idea of getting up in the middle of the night to make bottles, sterilizing everything and worst of all forgetting to take something vital with me when I go out. Not exactly the most noble reasons! And having my little angel sucking away, smiling at me and being able to stroke his little head makes ME feel good. ME ME ME! Come on titty-club, admit it!

Whatever your choice, my take is that you should be comfortable enough with it not to make other people uncomfortable. The ladies that shriek and condemn seem to be far too defensive for reasons that escape me.

"there isn't always an explanation" correct

"global warming is a lie" lets not go there

"Whatever your choice, my take is that you should be comfortable enough with it not to make other people uncomfortable" agree but it's only when folk start asking 'WHY?' that that happens and I'm not just talking about bf/ff

Am trying to imagine a world where nobody asks "Why?"

Molly, there was a thread recently that went through different formulas (formulae??) and told you what was in each one and what each ingredient was for. Although it was American, the description of the ingredients would be useful. I'll see if I can find it.

this one

Moll65 - firstly check whether you are able to breastfeed on your medications as there are very few you can't breastfeed with in reality.you can check here

If you can't, or don't want to breast feed, there is no one formula better than any other to be honest, unless your baby has a proven problem that requires a prescription formula.

You are just as well to find out which is the most readily available in your area.

Bonitamia - Why am I so curious??

Well, all the formula feeding mums I know said they tried to feed and found it difficult, didn't have support and gave up, apart from my MIL who just said she chose to in a very pointed way. I can't really discuss the issue with her further as I don't really see her that often and she is very very very difficult to talk to about this topic or any topic.

So I wanted to know if there are people who armed with all the facts, who have had all the support and CAN breastfeed actively choose to use formula.

I think I did a whole conclusion somewhere in July but it seems to me that many people end up using formula because they have difficulty feeding or are on medications which prevent them feeding (with respect to your advice Mears) or didn't have the support they needed to enable them to breastfeed (eg//they were desperate for sleep and gave formula to get a nights sleep)or had to go back to work and therefore, to me it seems that there is a real lack of knowledge and support when it comes to breastfeeding and that's why use of formula is very high in this country.

I think the word choice is a good one because I'm not sure that for many there is choice.

This thread was never about making people feel bad. If I had carried on feeding my baby formula after I had to initially I wouldn't have felt bad.

I suppose I am curious from a public health point of view aswell. I am curious to know why the Governments message that breast is best isn't working as well as it could do.

Difers I think maybe part of the reason some women formula feed from choice is that although they are not disbelieving of the health benefits of breastfeeding they have never heard of anyone getting say, cancer as a direct result of them being formula fed in the same way it would be very clear that someone got lung cancer from smoking.

Women tend to gather in relatively small circles so they will base their choice not only medical information but also on those around them. They see that bf babies do get eczema as well as ff babies, they probably don't see large numbers of babies being admitted to hospital for gastric problems in their own circles. So all the stats that are presented to them seem a very small risk indeed.

Genetics play a HUGE role in your medical history, also your ongoing care with regard to diet and exercise.

Possibly, if formula was like tobacco and was obviously causing many deaths (I'm talking UK here!) then maybe things would be different, but as it is, like it or not, many women do not see formula as something that will actively harm their child.

Yawn yawn this again. IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE. PERSONAL CHOICE.

I breastfed my daughter till about 7/8 months and had a fairly difficult time and expressed a lot. Then switched to formula until she was 1. I found after that I preferred breast feeding because I didn't have to remember to do anything and I knew nutritionally it was better but formula had its benefits too because other members of my family could do it. However I have the brain of a sieve and was terrible at even remembering to do the whole sterilising bottles /making up formula thing and am not a person who likes routine or having to remember to do the same thing at the same time so it wasn't that easy for me. She was onto ordinary cows milk at a year.
I think your choices do really have to come down to your individual situation. I am expecting baby number 2 and hope to bf as long as possible, hopefully over a year, just because I have learnt what I prefer but then again nothing is fixed in stone.

Ok, i haven't read the whole thread (i have a migraine at the mo, and a baby to look after), and i shall get ready for the roasting i may get for this...

I chose to formula feed my twins as it was the only way dh could actively help with getting them both fed. I tried bf in the hospital and got no advice, and ended up with bleeding nips as a result. I was happy with my choice (who wants baby vampires?) and since they were and still are very healthy kids, and we bonded perfectly well (though mum said we wouldn't), i don't think i have deprived them at all.

I chose to ff dd3, as i realised my boobs would get huuuuuge (was already dd cup), and was scared i'd lose all resemblance of a figure, as belly hasn't recovered from twins 10 years ago! That and i am scared of mastitis for some reason.

Go on then

Sorry-aanother who hasn't read the whole thread but it is all down to choice.

I had no milk whatsoever with dd,due to the death of my mother 4 wks before her birth,however,I had already made the decision to only breastfeed for 6 weeks.I would not have felt comfortable feeding in front of family and certain friends and I also wanted DP involved.
In the end,it was out of my hands but I would have done ff from 6 wks.

I have already "chosen" to bottlefeed although baby isn't due til feb 08. to me me thought of having somthing sucking my nipples makes me feel really, really dirty, like someone asked me to perform a dirty sex act on a dog.
I'm already dreading the reaction from the breastapo and midwives, but why should i have to explain why i feel so revolted by the thought of breast feeding to strangers.

You don't have to explain to anyone - it's your choice.
That is a very extreme reaction though.

Didn't really have any strong feelings prior to having dd about either, thought I would probably breast feed but was very anxious about my very large breasts, didn't want to suffocate her! When she arrived after 72 hours of labour and an emergency section I was so ill it was the last thing on my mind. Was just glad someone was feeding her. With ds he had to go to SCBU with low blood sugars and I just wanted him to be fed asap so that he didn't have to have an IVI. Probably lack of information came into this both times. My knowledge is far greater having been on MN and if I ever get round to dc3 I will look into breastfeeding in a lot more detail and hopefully get to experience it.

froozykins - the first meconium nappy. That's what'll make you feel really, really dirty...