Out of interest, how many of us have children that have never ever even tasted formula?

[welliemum]

I'm interested because you hear so many people saying "I plan to breastfeed for X time and then introduce a bottle" as if it was an inevitable fact that all children need to graduate to formula sooner or later.

And then there are loads of people who breastfeed but give bottles from time to time.

The formula companies must be laughing all the way to the bank, because they're selling formula not only to people who can't breastfeed or choose not to, but also to (I suspect) the majority of breastfeeders.

So, how many 100% breastfed children are out there?

My dd1 (now 3) had some formula top-ups between about 8 and 10 weeks, so she doesn't "qualify".

dd2 (coming up for 2 years) has never had formula. Is this as unusual as I think it is?

Just to add another (and glossing over previous comments...)
DD1 was excl BF until 13 months and DD2 was excl BF until 6.5 months and so far neither have ever had formula.

dd1 - formula once a day from 10 months, when I went back to work but still bf morning & night.

dd2 - never (now 20 months)

tbh feel a bit about dd1, as I now think dropping the daytime feed would've been better...

DD was mostly formula fed for first 4 months, then we switched to BF and are still bfing at 14 mo.

No, I say BRAVO to all who have managed to breast feed exclusively (not me). It must have been tough. You have shown us that it IS possible, and we should hear more from you. Maybe next time around I will try to do that, just from reading this thread and knowing that it is possible.

wow berkshirebella was that hard? well done!

(and btw I don't care if I am self-congratulatory or congratulating others - agree with VLC I feel like a freak already in RL and DD is only 20wks!)

actually I came on here to start a very self-congratulatory thread...

I think welliemum makes a valid point.

When DS got to 6 months I remember speaking to someone who said 'but you're allowed to give formula now', as I if I was the odd one for carrying on with bf.

DS is 21 months and still going with bf. He did half-inch a cup of formula milk off one of his friends when he was about 14 months old, but perhaps I'll be excused that one .

As it happens, he was 'exclusively bf' last night and all today as he has a vomiting bug and was even chucking up water . I don't say it to sound smug, but I am pleased that I could do something for him that made him feel better as well as keeping him hydrated and nourished.

ds1 had formula in the hospital at 1 day old due to dehydration which he projectile vomited everywhere - exclusively bf till 13 months

ds2 never had any - bf until 2 although he was having expressed milk from a bottle when I was back at work.

They were both allergic to milk and soy though so formula wasn't an easy option. I have to say that bf'ing was hard at first but did get easier

poohbah thanks will look into that. can't work out why I am so exhausted always. I suspect it's just life as a working mum of two very small dds but it's a good suggestion
And why can't we be self congratulatory. I worked bloody hard to bf in the early days it was a conscious decision to keep going and I think everyone on this thread deserves a pat for keeping going when there's so much pressure on every level to switch to ff. it's not to denigrate ffs just to say well done everyone who pulled it off

i dont doubt that bf is best /been around centuries etc

bet victorian babies were fed all sorts of tosh

still think it could be seen to rub noses in..... and i repeat -not mine

but the -dare i say- 'smug' comments 'not a drop' could be hurtful to those who already feel they have somehow failed

not all women are as lucky as to be able to exclusively breastfeed....

Really stupid question - slightly on the subject (but not really...) But if you are out somewhere (away from baby) and expressing - how long does expressed milk last before it needs to be refrigerated?? DD only 12 weeks and BF only and plan to for foreseeable future - however, wondering for future reference...

Kellymom Chart about Expressed Milk Storage

Okay, sitting in clinic next to poor girl in floods of tears because her baby is not gaining weight and is constantly on the breast, if she is not screaming the place down. Mother is exhausted, has cracked nipples and is at her wits end. Health Visitor will not suggest a bottle of formula....so I did.

Both my daughters were breast-fed, but its formula we're talking about (and yes, they both "tasted it") not f*cking battery acid.

OK, someone (can't remember who) said somebody would be along to say that sooner or later...

nelliesmum, It is very unsupportive to tell a breastfeeding mother who needs support in breastfeeding to use formula...would you tell a vegetarian they need to eat meat

Proper breastfeeding support would help the cracked nipples and effective milk transfer would proberely reduce the amount of time the baby was on the breast.

YOU did not see the girl, if she had been getting any help with breast-feeding then that would have been fine...but she wasn't.

Bottle-feeding is Okay too, why act as if it is child abuse?

DS1 Never had formula
DS2 Went onto formula at 12months cos he's not keen on cows milk

So why not help her with the breastfeeding, Nellie?

What did she do? Say "Oh, I hadn't thought of formula, I didn't know it existed"?

nelliesmum, I assume the mother wanted to breastfeed not bottlefeed as that is what she was trying to do. She should of been refered to the breastfeeding charities not undermined.

I admit to not reading the entire thread BUT would like to say that sometimes we dont have a choice.

I went back to work part time after both my children and I just couldnt express for their time at nursery.
I managed to BF when they were with me but for the 3 days I worked, I sent formula into nursery. I did try expressing at work but it was just impossible.

Nellie, for me, and only speaking for me, I was devastated when I was told I had to top up. Properly distraught. And not because I think formula's child abuse fgs. But because I wanted to breastfeed. And I was having that desire trampled upon by someone who ought to have known better (a midwife) - who ought to have been able to support me in my decision and help me achieve what I wanted to do - because it was perfectly possible for me. I know it was - I did it. DS2 never had a top-up and is still bfed now, two years later.

But that careless "You'll have to top him up" said without a thought for the impact it would have on me, no question about how I felt about using formula, no discussion of hand-expressing colostrum, no history taken, nothing - just an assumption that fewer than 10 hours into my son's life, breastfeeding wasn't working and that was it, formula was "needed".

My 7 month old DD has never had formula, in fact never had a bottle of any description.
Breastmilk solely from the breast, and now she is weaning, water from a doidy cup.
When she was hospitalised at 3months, there was pressure to choose a forumla for her to be fed through her ng tube so that 'she could rest', I resisted and she had expressed breastmilk through the tuube until she was strong enough to feed again.
Quite proud of myself now I think about it!

When DS arrives i was determined to start by BF and managed, struggled to start with but midwives were very helpful (3days in small hospital after DS arrived).

Got mastitus on arrival home, but told to BF through it, so did, uncomfortably and considered giving up, but told probably easier to keep going as the sucking clears the blockage!

Don't know if this is true,but it cleared up quickly. BF DS until he was 14months, tried stopping at twelvem, but had to do it slowly, mornings first, then evenings later (should have reversed this on reflection).

DS went to cup of cows milk, cold after this and was happy as a pig would be in brown stuff.

Everyone does seem to be different. Two friends did breast and formula, a couple couldn't (early arrival and Csection) but all babies (12 in the group, happy and healthy!)

Do what you can and what you want. Don;t put yourself under undue pressure as stressy mums aren't good for babies!

Nellie - can you imagine if every student struggling with literacy skills was told by their teacher, "don't let these academic sorts make you feel guilty, exams aren't for everyone, drop out of school, reading isn't the be all and end all..."

instead of being taught how to read?

If someone is struggling and in anguish trying and failing to achieve their goals should we tell them to abandon their goals?

Or find a way to help them achieve them?

DD had Aptamil after 6m to mix up food. Would take expressed bottles and also when weaning her off at 10m she always had a carton of Aptamil at her afternoon feed.

DS again had Aptamil after 6m in food. Refused to drink milk completely when I stopped B.feeding at 12 1/2m.

DD has Aptamil to mix into food. Yet refuses expressed and cartons!