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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

How did you make your decision?

149 replies

CrosswordGeek · 31/12/2009 17:35

Why did you choose breast or bottle feeding?
Why didn't you choose the alternative?
Do you have any regrets?

Genuine intrigue!

OP posts:
poinsettydawg · 31/12/2009 19:41

allergies and intolerances are often due to more than bf or not, shockers.

Original poster
CrosswordGeek · 31/12/2009 19:42

Noone who has chosen to NOT breastfeed have really given any reasons for it, other than Lorry, which is perfectly understandable.

It just intrigues me why people never try it at all? I know that, of course, it is every woman's right to make the decision, but I wonder the thoughts behind that decision.

I live somewhere that is quite anti-BFing, and all of the people I went to School with just instantly went to formula without a thought to breast. They seem to look at me as though I'm odd to be breastfeeding.

OP posts:
arolf · 31/12/2009 19:44

it never occurred to me not to bf - whole extended family bf, and until I had DS, I honestly didn't know anyone who ff.
I now realise (after reading mn!) I've been incredibly lucky - DS latched on 20 mins after a traumatic forceps delivery, and has pretty much not stopped feeding ever since (he's 3 months old now). I plan to keep bfing until he wants to stop

RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 31/12/2009 19:45

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Original poster
CrosswordGeek · 31/12/2009 19:49

Calling breastfeeding unnatural is probably one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.
Best go tell all of those other mammals that what they're doing is wrong.

Wonder if FFing mum's would think giving a baby calf human breast milk would be wrong?

OP posts:
NickeeS · 31/12/2009 20:01

I always wanted to BF for the first couple of months anyway. Tried a formula bottle at 6 weeks which she throw up as did everyone I tried after. Would have gladly given up between 6-8 weeks.
Now at week 15 and sooooooooo glad I didn't give up. I love feeding her now, she is fully in charge and it is so easy.

LymeBayToEbay · 31/12/2009 20:19

My friend from school said bfing is unnatural and more unnatural if it's a girl as you'd make her lesbian. She's an otherwise educated, clever, intelligent and witty woman. With a very strange attitude to bfing.

ParanoidAtAllTimes · 31/12/2009 20:20

Reality- at your SIL!

op- always wanted to bf and decided to give it my best shot but was aware that I may have to ff if it didn't work out. Luckily it did and I'm still bfing ds at 6 months. I count myself very lucky that ds was aways a good feeder and that I've always been able to produce lots of milk as I've seen several friends go through real heartache that bfing hasn't worked out for them. That said, I really don't think formula is as bad as many people think and am planning to start mix feeding soon in order to wind down bfing gradually before returning to work.

ParanoidAtAllTimes · 31/12/2009 20:22

Also at Lyme's friend! Where do these ideas come from?

ParanoidAtAllTimes · 31/12/2009 20:23

Just realised I didn't realy answer the question

Health benefits, bonding, cost in that order

Purplebuns · 31/12/2009 20:33

I just thought I would give BF a try and it all went well, by the time I started having some difficulties I was committed to making it work and I am so glad I did!

She is 8months now and I am the only person my age (I was 19) who does BF, although my friend is more interested in doing it because she has seen how convenient, it is in her words "to whip a boob out"

tispity · 31/12/2009 20:34

"Very glad I did, as the vast majority of exclusively breastfed babies I know now have some form of food allergy or intolerance."
that is absolute nonsense - it's so ignorant it's hilarious. i was not going to post tonight as i am looking after a bunch of kids (half not mine) but i could not let that comment go

LaDiDaDi · 31/12/2009 20:35

DD- really wanted to bf, she was born at 32 weeks, I was very ill with pre-eclampsia, couldn't express enough when she was on SCBU, she wouldn't gain weight on coming home when I tried to bf her, couldn't get her to latch properly, I wasn't mentally in the right place to follow some of the good advice that I got here from tiktok and Peachy. Gave up completely at 5months but in reality she had been mainly ff from birth.
I still feel really sad about this and those feelings of regret have come back in spades recently as...

DS- 10 days today, planned section to eliminate any drama from the birth , skin to skin in theatre, latched on in recovery, loads of skin to skin over the next few hours and has bf beautifully ever since. Loving this experience and hope to continue as long as possible but crying as I type over how it all went wrong with dd.

Oh and to actually answer your question, really wanted to bf both times because of the health benefits for both of it and I loved the idea of continuing to nourish my dc from my own body even after they were born (not a mad hippy in rl though I can see that this does sound a bit lentil weaverish)!

LadyintheRadiator · 31/12/2009 20:36

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Crazycatlady · 31/12/2009 20:43

I chose to BF. Well I say 'chose' but in reality it didn't seem like a choice, it was an instinctive need that was driven by something primal I think. Also FF was never ever discussed by my midwife or at antenatal classes so that must have added to my feeling that I absolutely had to BF. Not sure if that pressure was a good thing though...

We had an absolute hell of a time trying to establish BF as DD was jaundiced and sleepy but something way beyond my own sensibility drove me to keep at it. Bloody good thing really as she turned out to be allergic to cows milk protein.

She's been BF until 11 months, with the odd bottle of soy formula introduced from 8 months. Now I'm PG again I've stopped feeding completely, but I intend to do it again with DC2.

hubbabubbababba · 31/12/2009 20:46

I always wanted to bf dd but nearly gave up in the first few tough weeks. Thankfully I was given some kamillosan and "the politics of breastfeeding" which encouraged me to carry on. Now I am so thankful I had the support of family to continue.
I also had such an easy time of it in the early days as we co slept aswell for the first 12 weeks, i just chucked her on and went back to sleep

Original poster
CrosswordGeek · 31/12/2009 20:50

"i just chucked her on and went back to sleep "

Apart from the obvious bonding/health benefits/closeness, this is probably one of my favourite things about breastfeeding.

OP posts:
GenieoftheTramp · 31/12/2009 20:51

I bottle fed my first because she was in hospital (SCBU).

Bottle fed my second as he had tongue tie.

Breast fed my third (was agony).

Breast fed my fourth. It was a delight and I was so upset when she wanted to stop at 11 months.

Breast feeding is free and you don't have to warm milk in the middle of the night - both very important IMO!!

hubbabubbababba · 31/12/2009 20:51

cuppateajanice, do you think that maybe the reason you didnt produce much milk was because you chose to mix feed from early on and therefore the "supply and demand" didnt have a chance to work?

hubbabubbababba · 31/12/2009 20:52

Reality, the only thing that i have read to top that is that you mut be lesbian to breatfeed a girl!

Original poster
CrosswordGeek · 31/12/2009 20:54

Not that I'm making accusations here, as I'm not, but a lot of people who I've asked why they didn't breastfeed have said "My milk didn't come in", but then said that they never actually put their baby to the breast at all. Milk tends not to be produced if you don't actually attempt to give it to your child.

OP posts:
hubbabubbababba · 31/12/2009 20:54

Crossword geek, of course i love all the other aspects, she is a very alert happy baby, never been constipated and is very content....but...in the middle of the night, this is my favourite thing

LeoniedElf · 31/12/2009 20:55

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LeoniedElf · 31/12/2009 20:57

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sparklycheerymummy · 31/12/2009 20:59

I didnt plan to do either..... ds is 19 days and was 10lb 110z at birth but is bf really well...... has taken a bottle of ebm today and will try that every few days. I know bf has so many benefits but i had severe pnd with dd and formula fed which was a disaster as she had awful colic and silent reflux...... hoped to bf to see if it helped babe be less windy but told myself i would stop if my mental health suffered or dipped. I think the bf has actually helped me stay happy as i still feel that babe needs me noone else and with dd i suffered wishing and visualising being pregnant again cos i felt so special..... now i feel special cos ds needs me and everyone says how well i am doing feeding such a big baby......... would have been happy either!!

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