Did you choose to bottle feed and why?

[Alexandersmummy]

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!

Herc, I'm going back to the other thread now... see u later

Hic

I also don't think that sabire has posted aggressively or demonstrated an ignorance of the complex issues relating to how babies are fed.

Yes Constance, she's made specific posts about things I said - unhelpful comments. As I'm a new MNer, I had no idea what to expect from this thread LittleMissNorty - but I'll try not to get dragged into it again. Some people just don't listen.

Always the same Looby34 - some people cannot accept that everyone has a choice to make an informed decision....but I have found that the midwives etc are very good about not putting any pressure on you - but also being very helpful if you do choose to BF. Not everyone has these experiences though

This is the kind of post from Sabire I find aggressive: "All I know is that when you look at what the research says you have to come to this conclusion: that there will be babies who end up being hospitalised WHO WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SICK HAD THEY BEEN BREASTFED. In other words - there are real children and babies - NOW - in hospital or at home sick, who wouldn't have been sick if they'd got breastmilk."

So OTT militant it makes me larf!

OP has stated a preference to FF not a debacle about BF Vs FF.is it not enough to wish her well?

I've been wondering. What happens to nicotine/alcohol/medication in bm? Surely this goes into your baby?

LittleMissNorty - I find it really sad that a topic and thread that could be so helpful to so many has turned into an arena for some militant people to push their own agenda for the supposed benefit of others. I have read other threads within other topics where the support and encouragement MNers have given each other has really amazed me - as someone being new to this game. One of the areas women need the most support is bf'ng - or not as the case may be - so why, as a soon to be second Mum around am I left feeling I couldn't care less if I never came onto this topic again ?

No, it's better (I mean health wise ) to bf and smoke than not to bf. Fine to drink alcohol and have lots of medication when bf too.

That's just in asnwer to the question btw. Nothing to do with op

That was meant to say Mum second time around

I know Looby - its a real shame - as a newbie to have been put off already....it is a fantastic site, but this subject does cause these problems. I can only say, keep off the BF/FF and weaning threads....same old thing all the time.

Apologies for hijack

yes scottishmummy I wish her well alongside all like me who choose to FF and find it the best for them and their baby....what is best for mum is best for baby.....this is not a meaningless phrase......psychological health is v. important!!!!!!!

and looby we clearly need to start a new thread...for FF....and those not in line with our opinions needn't look....

maternal well being,self worth,and belief and confidences in choices made are crucial.

there is no definitive medical evidence/ebm/peer reviewed data to show FF is harmful - zealots can stamp their feet and see capitalist-evil-oligopoly producers -but hey they would!

exactly scottishmummy....I couldn't have said it better

there is no medical evidence to show that BF is better than FF when in that particular circumstance the latter happens to be better for that particular mother for their well being....and their never will be......

You know Becka - I might just do that when I have the energy. Right now it feels like its all been sapped ! Maybe I'll post something offering women the opportunity to talk if they are feeling the pressure from pro BFers but haven't been able to / decided they don't want to do it. Thats what I have the biggest issue with on here - the guilt that some women end up feeling. When I REALLY needed to talk about this, I couldn't find anywhere. I just don't see how some MNers don't realise they are adding to this. Anyway - I'm going over old ground here. I just want MN to be used to support people - WHATEVER their circumstance.

I do wonder if MN towers should split the BF / FF topic....or would they feel the need to come and educate us anyway?

Come on LittleMissNorty - of course they'd hijack it. But can you imagine FFers hijacking the BF threads ? Of course they wouldn't! There is no organisation that I'm aware of which is pro/supportive of FF where their volunteers go looking for threads through which to push their own agendas.

Hmmm...i have just done a bit of research and actually i was right. Alcohol passes into bm at the level the mother drank it, nicotice passes into the baby if a cigarette is smoked not long before bf. But aspirin is apparently usually ok.

Oh sorry just ignore me!

ok i havent quite caught up but..

becka-how do you know your baby slept through from 3 weeks if your dh did all the night feeds and you got a full nights sleep every night?
sleeping 12 hours from 3 weeks sounds unhealthy to me.i have never heard of a ff baby sleeping through from that age personally

and i am and at such things as 'i wanted my boobs to stay the same' and 'i couldnt be doing with leaky boobs and breast pads' being put forward as reasons to ff.have you people actually had babies,or did you have them back in the 70's when they used to give lactation supressants?

definitely.....I hereby suggest we split the FF/BF topic because I for one as a FF feel I got no proper support from this set of threads....anyone else agree other than myself and littlemissnorty and looby???

I had my baby just 7 months ago....no need to be so personal and rude

yes a genuine FF query cant be posted without the zealots popping up preaching/bellyaching