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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Sometimes hate BFing when out, giving a formula bottle why would this be bad?

50 replies

alright · 10/04/2008 18:48

if indeed it has any negatives, my 10 wk old already accepts a EBM bottle so wouldnt be nip-confused.

OP posts:

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 20:49

i dont mind doing it in quiet places but a few times ive been in the middle of a busy place in an awkward chair and i swear he can sense my unease coz he just doesnt get on with it when i dont feel comfy and we just both end up in a state

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thisisyesterday · 10/04/2008 21:00

lol I don't know SM. be interested to read any if you happen across them though.
I would imagine there haven't been any real long-term studies on breastfed/bottlefed babies. and specifically not on bottlefed vs EXCLUSIVELY breastfed babies.

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 21:03

interesting article about the virgin gut, thanks. i think i will bother to express a bottle instead now

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Bumperlicious · 10/04/2008 21:05

Honestly, it does get easier alright

Shitemum · 10/04/2008 21:08

alright - I think you're doing the best thing for your baby, well done. I think we often feel more self-concious than we need to, I mean most people don't give a toss if you're bfeeding in public and if they do they are tossers.

Oh, I'd never noticed that before about 'tossers' and 'people who don't give a toss'...!

specialmagiclady · 10/04/2008 21:13

Would deffo recommend BFing tops. They help with the flabby belly thing. Also wear a jacket or cardi with a t-shirt/vest underneath. The side of the cardi/jackety thing hides most of your boob and you can do it pretty discreetly.

Keep practising. Much much easier to hoik a nork out than to make sure you've packed sterile bottle (how long do they remain so?), mix and warm formula when out and about.

Also if you're BFing you can stay out as long as you like, allowing for more spontaneous lifestyle. Want to stay at friend's house for supper instead of going home at tea time? No problem. As someone else said, have boobs will travel!

lackaDAISYcal · 10/04/2008 21:14

I so feel for you on the chair thing. In the early days I couldn't get DD latched at all unless I was on my sofa, with my big v-shaped pillow. My top tip is to pull another chair close and use this as a kind of footstool for the leg under your supporting arm (well the cross bars of it anyway or you will draw attention to yourself ).

feeding in uncomfy chairs also gets easier as bub gets bigger.

thisisyesterday · 10/04/2008 21:16

if you do give a one off bottle, then exclusive breastfeeding can return the gut to it's natural state though as well. which is very clever of it.

but agree with the others. I was totally self-concious first time round and wouldn't BF when out.
this time I do it anywhere and everywhere lol.

I was in M&S cafe a while ago and myself and another lady were breastfeeding. I had much boobage out (being well endowed in that area) and ds was bloody bobbing on and off and being a real faff.
Other lady ws attempting to be discreet by using a bright green pashmina thing to hide baby under only she was flapping it all over the place and everyone was staring at her lol.

thisisyesterday · 10/04/2008 21:17

oh yeah, I use my coat or something folded up under ds to give some support, which helps.

also wear a vest under a top, then lift the top up and pull the vest down- boob is out but NO flesh on display

suzi2 · 10/04/2008 21:17

A cardi is a good 'guard' against prying eyes. Though I have to say I don't think anyone has truly looked twice at me bf either of mine. Positioning a buggy, partner, friend in the right spot can also protect you. A table near a wall or pillar can also help. Also, if you drive places, try feeding in the car.

It does get easier. Honestly. Try practicing in front of a mirror and you'll probably realise that there's less on show than you thought.

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 21:35

if you introduce solids before 6 months the virgin gut is also destroyed? how many people wait til after 6 months to introduce solids, not loads in my little experience

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pooka · 10/04/2008 21:43

No, that's true. But with dd, the advice was to wean at 4 months, so that's what I did. I didn't even realise that the WHO advice was 6months.

With ds I did actually wait until he was 6 months for food - but then I was much less keen on weaning because I knew what a faff it was. Also, by waiting until 6months we more or less completely missed the puree stage, which has advantages.

thisisyesterday · 10/04/2008 21:43

well, the gut "closes" somewhen between 4-6 months.
however, obviously, you can't see when this has happened and so it makes a lot of sense to wait until 6 months, as per WHO guidelines.
however, it is strongly suggested that when a baby is showing that he has the ability to sit up and eat (ie, can physically pick food up, chew it, swallow it) then he is mature enough internally as well.
hence me recently weaning my 5.5 month old.

but yes, starting solids early will destroy the virgin gut. and in many babies I am sure that it causes no long term problems. But there are equally many that it will- but people don't see the long term problem when they're looking at giving baby a bit of rice to "help it sleep"

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 21:50

going off the topic a little but once you BF for 6 months, how long does it take then to completely get the child off the breast, another month of phasing out??

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thisisyesterday · 10/04/2008 21:53

well, that's totally down to you really.
some people prefer to let the child self-wean, so carry on BF until the child naturally stops.
Others wait until the child is old enough to be distracted or gently encouraged off.
or, you could start by replacing a feed with a bottle and do it gradually like that, as you say, phasing it out.
or, you could go cold turkey and do it overnight- but that's probably pretty unpleasant for the baby and for you!

I reckon bf until a year is worth doing even if simply because it'll save you money on formula. remember they can't have cows milk as a main drink until a year.

berolina · 10/04/2008 21:55

I didn't start weaning either ds until 6.5 months.

Shitemum · 10/04/2008 21:56

alright - the WHO recommends bfeeding to 2 yo. Or at least to 1 yo (?). The baby gets a lot of benefit from your milk well into his second year. Don't be in a hurry to wean him off the breast.
Think of food as supplementing the breast milk not the other way round. Give breast first at mealtimes then top up with food.

Hang on in there!

Shitemum · 10/04/2008 21:57

Food from 6 mo that is, not starting now!

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 22:01

oooh im busting to go out partying and do all the stuff that you really shouldnt do when BFing. a year is a long time to be straight!! i know in the scheme of my life its nothing but all my bottle feeing mates are back clubbing it, brrr jealous

OP posts:

suzi2 · 10/04/2008 22:02

I don't think there is a lot of evidence that weaning after 4 months (but before 6 months) does a lot of harm. Though if anyone has evidence to support this or to the contrary that would be good as it's been a while since I investigated all this!

We waited until 26 wks with DS and he probably wasn't truly ready then. We bypassed purees. DD started solids at 24 wks after DS gave her a ricecake (could have been worse lol) and she was right into it! Bypassed purees again.

Both of them, DS in particular, gave me a hellish time around 4 months. I can see why people think introducing solids is the answer when they're like that! But both mine came through the other side on milk only.

No idea about weaning them off the breast. DS stopped/was stopped at a year due to a lot of biting and me being pg. DD is 14 months and is still feeding. I find it far too convenient a way to calm her down, provide her with a snack and settle her during the night

moondog · 10/04/2008 22:04

Alright,you can do all that, really you can.

Get a stock of EBM built up,practice b/feeding in front of mirror so yuo are confident and by all means have a drink.

In future your mates might be sad they got back to normal routine so quickly. Having a tiny baby is a very special time (although of course it can be trying.)

You are putting your baby first which is what being a good parent is about.

suzi2 · 10/04/2008 22:04

Oh, you can drink when bf . Maybe not too much so that you're drunk in charge of a baby, but another few months and things will be predictable and you can get away for a night out leaving a couple of bottles of EBM. I don't recommend hangovers with a baby about ever...

Original poster

alright · 10/04/2008 22:08

actually most looking forward to having a joint. id never do it BFing or around my baby, but im not ashamed to say i cant wait to get back to my favourite weed!

OP posts:

suzi2 · 10/04/2008 22:23

ah no, that's possibly not recommended Though I don't know the implications for sure...

Martha200 · 11/04/2008 07:17

Took me bang on 12 wks before I felt the most comfortable about BFeeding in public, especially as I have now remastered the one hand free ability

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