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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Did you choose to bottle feed and why?

352 replies

Alexandersmummy · 15/01/2008 22:34

I am currently 40 wks + 5 days and want to bottle feed, as I did with my first but feel under increasing pressure to breast feed from midwife. I was just wondering if you bottle fed did you feel this pressure and how did you cope?
I know all the good reasons to breast feed but it's not for me, I feel uncomfy with it.
I'd really appreciate any comments!

OP posts:
GodzillasAbominableBumcheek · 25/01/2008 21:30

I don't give a sh*te about damnation, i am a thorough Aetheist

Peeps can damn as hard as they like and i don't give a rat's arse!

lizziemun · 25/01/2008 21:30

Only read op, but i choose to ff dd1 after 3wks of absolute pain and hating every moment of it.

I would get realy stressed when i knew she was waking for a feed and would feed her but i would have tears rolling down my face doing it and DH getting realy upset because he couldn't help me other then holding my hand IYKWIM.

With dd2 it was decided for me, my milk never came in (dd2 now 20wks) I don't know if this was because of what happen before.

I have to say i hadn't found Mumsnet then so maybe it would have been different.

Looby34 · 25/01/2008 21:34

God this thread is busy ! Chilled out vibe has gone already. 'Normal biological function' - you think you can say that and people who maybe haven't been able to produce enough milk etc (and I know such people) won't feel bad. You're saying they're abnormal for goodness sake. Don't you think they don't feel bad enough already. If you want people to listen to you Sabire - you're going to have to rethink how you get your message across.

becka1 · 25/01/2008 21:34

Sabire...." appreciate that most people who choose to ff (the overwhelming majority I assume), either don't know this or don't believe it - that's fine. Most people don't look at the cold, hard medical research before coming to a decision about feeding their babies - god I never knew this stuff before I had my first. I was shocked when I stumbled across this information. (which as far as I can see btw comes from reliable sources - this is information that appears on the NHS Direct website as well as in every recent midwifery textbook on breastfeeding - it's just not passed on to parents generally).

I am a medical professional...at the Dr. level.....honestly if I gave you my real name and you googled me you would fine 50+ medical references for me
FF are not necessarily uninformed...I appreciate some might be, but myself and many of my friends...also in medical field are v. informed but we also know what is best for us and our babies from a more holistic point of view...what I was referring to earlier as "best psychological health"

scottishmummy · 25/01/2008 21:36

Alexandersmummy - congratulations on you pg hope all goes well.feed your own baby how you chose - end of

tori32 · 25/01/2008 21:36

I wanted to bf initially but it didn't work out very well due to lots of circumstances, so it chose me really.
However, I don't regret it because it was the best for my baby and I at the time.
2wks after I started bottle feeding (dd was 8wks) she started sleeping in a regular pattern during the day and at night. I was therefore not completely exhausted all day from night feeds, DH could do feeds as well so I got time to relax. I found that I had far more energy to play with dd during the day. Feeds took less time so I had more time to other things with her.
DD is now 2 (Jan) and has had her checkup today with the HV for development, the upshot being 'littletori' is very bright and it is rare to see a child of just turned 2yo with her abilities.
I beat myself up last time about changing to bottles but will not feel at all guilty this time (due March) if bf becomes intolerable and I become sleep deprived. It has obviously been perfectly fine for dd1.

Looby34 · 25/01/2008 21:37

Lizziemum - my story the exact same story as yours - but hey, according to Sabire you should have just gritted your teeth and got on with it. Makes you feel great huh ?

Wilkie · 25/01/2008 21:38

Becka - I agree with you, I think the prob I find with MN is that you get judged if you choose to FF for NO reason other than it is right FOR YOU and FOR YOUR BABY.

All of the people who are very pro-breastfeeding make allowances for people who are/were unable to BF due to lack of milk production or other medical reasons but people such as moi, Godzilla etc are made to feel we somehow care less for our baby's wellbeing and health which IMO is damn insulting.

PuppyMonkey · 25/01/2008 21:39

Sabire is really scary isn't she? I wonder does she realise her posts have the exact opposite effect to what she wants, ie that everyone should breastfeed cos it's best. She just alienates people.

Wilkie · 25/01/2008 21:40

Ignorant, not scary

GodzillasAbominableBumcheek · 25/01/2008 21:43

If there weren't rules on MN about personal attacks in a post why i'd....

Well, you get the picture!

constancereader · 25/01/2008 21:44

I read Sabire's posts and fail to understand how you some of you feel the way you do about them. It is as if you have read different posts to the ones I have read.

GodzillasAbominableBumcheek · 25/01/2008 21:45

Maybe just from a different pov.

PuppyMonkey · 25/01/2008 21:47

What, u don't think she's slightly... erm... aggressive Constance?

constancereader · 25/01/2008 21:48

Sorry - I am back.

Sabire was not scary, or ignorant.

She was putting her point of view across in a balanced and articulate way imo.

People like Sabire on MN MASSIVELY helped me through my feeding traumas. Look for people being mean about ff on this forum. I don't think you will find much, if any.

Saying that bf is good for your baby does not constiture being mean about ff.

hercules1 · 25/01/2008 21:48

yoo hoo, puppymonkey!

Not really stalking you, honest!

GodzillasAbominableBumcheek · 25/01/2008 21:50

The OP has asked for FF support, not a lecture on how/why she should be breastfeeding instead anyway.

PuppyMonkey · 25/01/2008 21:51

Hey Herc!! Are u getting a headache doing this???

hercules1 · 25/01/2008 21:52

I've worked a sodden 60 hour week, my 4 year old dd is still up watching TV. Just going a bit doolally.

hercules1 · 25/01/2008 21:52

now that makes me a crap parent.

LittleMissNorty · 25/01/2008 21:53

Hello there

I FF - I haven't read anything other than the OP (and I'm not going to cos I know what threads like this turn into) but I didn't have any pressure other than from a very few people around me (none of the professionals)....how did I cope with it....I ignored them and done what was best for me

Good luck....and follow YOUR instincts

constancereader · 25/01/2008 21:53

If you read the thread properly you will see how the discussion came about.

Sabire's posts were in response to SPECIFIC points made by other people.

PuppyMonkey · 25/01/2008 21:54

The wine doesn't help does it?????

hercules1 · 25/01/2008 21:55

No wine I'm afraid.

hercules1 · 25/01/2008 21:55

shit, now I sound like an alcoholic!