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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breast vs. bottle (am I brave or insane?)

227 replies

emkana · 09/07/2005 21:49

article in Times today

What interests me, both in this article and in previous threads on the Mumsnet, is how there is a feeling that the "breastfeeding lobby" or "mafia" as I believe it has been called is regarded as so powerful and influential and as having such a large impact on new mothers everywhere to make their lives an utter misery. I just can't see it! I see formula etc. on sale everywhere, articles on how to bottlefeed in every baby magazine, which always always say that you shouldn't feel guilty for bottlefeeding, I see bottlefeeding on TV, I see bottlefeeding celebrities, bottlefeeding mothers at toddler groups...
Breastfeeding? I vaguely remember a poster on the maternity ward, but it wasn't particularly in your face. I might have been given a leaflet on breastfeeding by the midwife. That's it.

I just don't get it, I really don't.
I don't mean to upset anyone, by the way. I'm just genuinely interested in your experiences. Honestly.

OP posts:
hercules · 09/07/2005 22:42

I agree it's not useful to say breast is best as it isnt simply isnt always and when it's not best, no matter what is told to you, it's still not best.

What needs to be in place is support.

Nbg · 09/07/2005 22:43

Are there any of you that struggled Breast feeding with your first child and had no probs with your second?

Pixiefish · 09/07/2005 22:43

Had no pressure to breast feed. Was told both options, decided to give it a whir and apart for 2 mw's on nights in the hospital who insisted on me letting them give dd formula so that she'd sleep a bit I received nothing but support from the mw's in my decision to breastfeed. The mw's in the hospital weren't very good at helping but once I got home to the community mw's and hv's and bfing group all was well

tabitha · 09/07/2005 22:43

Actually, I'm feeling very light - must be all those bacardi and cokes but you did ask.

hercules · 09/07/2005 22:43

I know that bf can be bloody difficult and know that I was damn lucky with dd.
Babies and mums have to learn how to.
For ds, I had no advice about bf before birth and I just assumed it would be a natural thing. It certainly wasnt.

spidermama · 09/07/2005 22:43

You'd probably know better than me Hercules. My MW told me this and, when I checked with her, she insisted. I'll try to get a link but I'm a bit of a luddite so it may take some time.

QueenOfQuotes · 09/07/2005 22:44

and as I said "support" we get in this country is EXCELLENT compared to most countries where bf is 'natural' and 'common' - most of those countries don't have any support - your simply expected to "know" how to do it

QOQ talks to a brick wall and really does bugger off now*

hercules · 09/07/2005 22:44

Yes, me. I ignored the midwives second time round.

Original poster
emkana · 09/07/2005 22:45

With dd1 I had cracked nipples and I used nipple shields for two weeks before weaning her (and me!) off them.

With dd2 I had no problems whatsoever. Possibly because I was still feeding dd1 at the time, so it was rather a smooth transition.

OP posts:
hercules · 09/07/2005 22:45

nice.

tabitha · 09/07/2005 22:46

NbQ, I had terrible problems breastfeeding no.3 (bottlefed first two) - ended up with mastitis at 3 weeks was throwing up, shaking, sobbing in pain and gave up after 3 weeks - but had absolutely no problems with no4. Must say I was amazed as I kept waiting for the problems to start but they didn't. I'm still breastfeeding at 17 months!

hercules · 09/07/2005 22:46

Oh yes, remember using nipple shields with ds too,

hercules · 09/07/2005 22:46

thankgod, i've never had mastitis.

Original poster
emkana · 09/07/2005 22:47

and as I said "support" we get in this country is EXCELLENT compared to most countries where bf is 'natural' and 'common' - most of those countries don't have any support - your simply expected to "know" how to do it

How do you know this, QueenofQuotes? Wouldn't people in other countries have support simply through the fact that every other woman there would have breastfed/was still breastfeeding?

OP posts:
berolina · 09/07/2005 22:47

qoq, maybe women in those countries learn through informal 'support' networks - from watching and discussing with aunts, big sisters, friends etc?

berolina · 09/07/2005 22:47

snap emkana!

Original poster
emkana · 09/07/2005 22:48

berolina!

But will QofQ read and respond?

OP posts:
Nbg · 09/07/2005 22:50

Next question to you all...

Isn't it tiring? I always said when dd was a tiny baby, How do those who BF go on during night feeds? It was an absolute godsend that dh could do the night shifts or that I could have an afternoon to myself.

Yorkiegirl · 09/07/2005 22:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster
emkana · 09/07/2005 22:51

With dd1 I found it exhausting to do the night feeds, yes.
But with dd2 I didn't look at the time when I was woken up, and I co-slept so that I could sleep/doze while she was feeding. Felt less tired even though I had two to look after.

OP posts:
hercules · 09/07/2005 22:53

I coslept with ds and am doing so with dd so I barely wake up when I feed. I went back to work when dd was 5 months and carried on bf so got lots of time to myself.
Before that I was quite happy to not be apart for very long but glad to go back in many ways to work.

berolina · 09/07/2005 22:53

er... yup, it's tiring - says she whose 7wo ds is hungry all the time at the minute!
occasionally the tiredness is murderous. but what really makes it easier for me is that dh is at home too to help with housework, nappies etc, and that the one bf problem i haven't had has been pain - have been very fortunate in that.

dinny · 09/07/2005 22:53

Hi, Nbg, had nightmare with dd - expressed and fed her ebm for 5 weeks then milk supply dwindled and I gave up . however, ds was soooo easy to feed by comparison and is now 10 months and has only ever had bm (exc to nearly 7 months - v proud emoticon!) both nipples cracked with ds though (for 8,9 weeks) and got mastitis at 7 weeks but that was a piece of piss compared with the agony of trying to bf a pre-term baby who was unable/didn't want to latch on.

tabitha · 09/07/2005 22:54

First time, I think I tried to do too much as well as breastfeeding - was looking after two other kids, trying to set up after-school club, going long walks (to try to lose weight) and I think all of this contributed in part to getting mastitis, in that I was probably a bit run down.
Second time, I made sure I took it easy and tbh sitting down to feed was a rest. I made sure that others, dh, other kids, visitors did their bit to help even if it was just making me a cup of tea
As for night feeds, when dd was small I just took her into bed and fed her there, then we would both fall asleep - although I know that recent research into cot-death says that this is now a no-no - it was the only way I could cope with night feeds. Dh slept in the spare room.

wordgirl · 09/07/2005 22:54

Nbg, night feeds were a doddle for me - dh would bring me the baby, I would half wake to feed then when baby was finished I would prod dh who would take the baby, do the winding, settling, changing etc. Not bad eh?