Hypothetical question - Breastfeeders, if formula was as good for your baby as breastmilk would you use it???

[Chequers]

Just wondered really, if they could come up with a formula with equal health benefits for the baby as breastmilk (unlikely I know) then would you use it?

Just wondered really how people feel about the other benefits of breastfeeding apart from for the baby's health - what do you get out of breastfeeding as an act in itself, if anything??

No, if I didn't have to. Because unless they made it free and available instantly with no washing up I wouldn't want it.

I don't think I would, because I have found bottles to be a massive hassle compared with breastfeeding. But then I was lucky enough not to have any problems with breastfeeding, so for me it is a no-brainer.

No bottles to wash or sterilise, no going downstairs in the cold at night, it's always at the right temperature and I could keep DH and the DC alive if we were ever stuck in a lift

no because much less hassle than bottle cleaning/sterilising/carting around when go out plus I love BFing as a bonding thing.

i would mix feed.
because bottles are good for leaving babies with other people, and also good if you are not confident with public breastfeediing.

no, I wouldn't.

breastfeeding means that I:

don't need to buy formula

don't need to buy bottles/steriliser/teats

don't need to wait while I heat a feed up

don't have to clean all the equipment

don't need to worry about how to heat a bottle up whilst out.

I can feed ds2 anywhere, anywhen. I can feed him to sleep, I can nurse him when he is poorly, I can comfort him and make him feel better when he hurts himself.
I have an instant cure-all for any of his woes.
I have beautiful cuddles, just him and me that no-one else can do.

Message withdrawn

No, for all the reasons stated above. BF is so much more than nutrition. Of course FF and BF babies are just as loved but I love the way BF makes my baby happy the way nothing else does. Plus I am very, very lazy and enjoy not having to sterilise anything and tightfisted so like that it's (almost) free

no because breastfeeding is free, always there and does not require sterilising or any other equipment beyond a pair of breasts, a comfy seat and a good book.

No, for me it is so much easier not having to deal with bottles and cleaning them. I love to snuggle/cuddle/closeness with DS. Having milk "on tap" means I don't have to be too organised.
And finally...I love the fact I actually have boobs and cleavage when I am breastfeeding so I am not about to give it up in a hurry!

lol Theninkynork!

Oh, and unless you have detachable breasts, you can't forget to take your baby's food out with you.

no, I'm too lazy and disorganised for all that faffing around with sterilisers etc.
and also too tightfisted. why fork out for formula whan I can eat vast quantities of cake

(of course, if you had detachable breasts, you could leave one with your baby and a sitter and go out on your own...)

That would be perfect SoupDragon! That I would go for, expressing can be a bit of a PITA.

cause you can't roll over and latch a baby in 3 secs flat then roll over and go back to sleep if you are offering a bottle.

or I guess you could but it is not good form.

and breastfeeding is a great excuse to sit on the sofa for most of the day.
dp can't say "oh, let me give the baby his feed while you wash up"
mwahahhaa

Fab replies, thanks Going to keep reading this thread when I find my motivation flagging.

I have to admit that my primary reason for bf-ing in the first place was sheer laziness.

same here.

ds1 ended up on bottles when I gave up breastfeeding and it was a nightmare compared to breastfeeding.
I can't stand washing up anyway, but doing the bottles was just soooooooooo tedious

DispplacementActivity,

you say that bf "It reinforces my belief in my ability to be a good mother"

as a new mum who had to give up bf at 7wks due being hospitalised with mastitis. I have have experienced dreadful guilt at ff, what you are saying is the mothers who ff are not good mothers!!! be careful how you word things a lot of sensitive new mums about! ;-(

I wouldn't - why would you buy something when you have the same thing on tap for free? I also really enjoyed BF - I still miss it sometimes when I see a little baby all snuggled up to his Mum for a feed.

BF is magic for sorting out so many things - a quick feed would give dd2 a bit more energy to carry on when she was tired, it comforted them so easily when they hurt themselves or got themselves into a bit of a state, I could do it in my sleep and minimise my night wakings and I just loved the closeness.

Also I got such a kick out of the fact that my body was keeping my child alive.

BTW I'm not inferring that FF Mums don't feel close to their babies - I know they do from seeing friends with their children.

Oh and the fact that BF meant so much to both of my daughters - they loved it and I loved watching their blissed out, little drunk faces when they were feeding.

No.
Breast Milk provides valuable anti-bodies from mother immediately
Breast Milk is free
Breast Milk is easy to give baby with any time of the day
Breast Milk does not need a bag all to itself when going out
Breast Milk promotes bonding with baby
Breast Milk promotes independent eating
Breast Milk gives me an enormous sense of wellbeing and confidence as a mother
Breast Milk is natural