Bottle or breast feed?

[justanotheryoungmother]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently pregnant with my first child, almost six months, and I haven't decided if I will breast or bottle feed.
My midwife keeps advocating breastfeeding, whilst my mum is against it because it'll allegedly ruin the shape of my breasts (I'm 19), and she doesn't want them to get ruined.
My boyfriend (not sure what the Mumsnet terminology is yet) would like me to breastfeed as apparently that has nutrients that formula milk doesn't have, but I'm not convinced that's him trying to avoid night feeds
I'm not really asking about the scientific benefits to either, as I can find that out, but can people let me know what their personal experiences were/are with either? One thing I'm concerned about is having to be careful about what I eat if I breast fed- don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on drinking with a newborn at all but there are foods that I'd still have to be careful about, which seems a hassle.

Any opinions welcome

[RedastheRose]

You really need to see what you feel like doing and not let anyone tell you what to do.

Although I would say that not bf because it could effect the shape of your boobs is going a bit far! Also being pregnant and your milk coming in does that anyway.

Your boyfriend is right about the health benefits of bf too which are widely reported.

The biggest thing I would say is that bf is soooo much easier once you get into the swing of it. If it works for you then you can just pop off with baby anywhere with only a few wipes and a couple of nappies in a bag and you always have dinner for baby ready on tap and at the right temperature when the baby decides she/he is hungry. So no stress of waiting to make up bottles and warm them etc while the baby screams because especially when they are very little they go from being ok to ravenously hungry with very little in between 😄

But I would also say that if you don't want to bf or if you give it a go and don't like it then don't fell bad or that you've failed because that is simply not true. Plenty of people don't bf for all sorts of reasons and if it doesn't work for you then bottle feeding is just fine too.

Btw just because you are bf doesn't mean that your boyfriend can't take a turn with the night feeds. If you do go with bf then you should try and express some milk each day and pop it in the fridge then your boyfriend can take a turn at night when you need your sleep (which you definitely will need).

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Deadsouls]

I breastfed both mine as I didn't have any problems with it and it was always the obvious choice for me. TBH I don't think worrying about the shape of your breasts is a good reason not to breastfeed.
You could try it and if it doesn't work use formula after a few weeks.

[Imaginosity]

I do both. Two bottle a day and breastfeed the rest of the time. I give the bottles at times where I'd like to get a break from the baby. I cosleep and breastfeed while I'm half asleep which means we both get a good nights sleep.

[Mermaid36]

I'm currently breastfeeding twins (who were born 14 weeks early) and honestly, boobs are a godsend!
I'm way too lazy to do bottles/formula, and having 2 screaming babies waiting for bottles isn't my idea of fun!
Plus, I have enough crap to take out and about with me for 2 babies without having to cart bottles etc around. Much easier to just pop a boob out!
Today I've fed my girls in a hospital waiting room, Costa Coffee, and Ikea. It was dead easy to calm them down after they had bloods taken in hospital - boob!

[Becciilouisex3]

Scrounged maybe I read them in the wrong context but that's how it came across in some of the posts, to me anyway

[Irie1982]

I breastfed both my children. It can be challenging at times but it's absolutely key to get the right support - get in touch with a breastfeeding consultant NOW and have a chat - having someone there to visit you in the first few days and give you the reassurance and answers you may need can make or break a breastfeeding relationship.

There is no comparison between breastmilk and formula (before I get lamped, I had to supplement pumped milk with formula as due to tongue tie, my son wasn't a great feeder) - so I will echo what 'Thatswhatshesaid' said - give it a shot, get the right support and if you do decide ultimately that it's not for you, at least baba will have had some of the super-nutritious colostrum!!!

Best of luck and congrats :)

[Scrounged]

| Becciilouisex3. I don't think the replies were snotty at all.

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

I'd say give breastfeeding a go. Best case scenario it works like a dream. Worst case it doesn't work for you but you know you tried and the baby will have had a bit of colostrum! Win-win!

[Becciilouisex3]

Not sure why the snotty replies from some I was simply stating the useful things she could get. Not saying she needs them but providing her with some helpful information incase she may want one that's all.

*I was simply stating that breastfeeding starter kits exist should she want one.
*
That's not what I've called them, that's what they're called.

Just a fancy name for a box full of starter bottle, electric steriliser, selection of tests, few breast pads and a breast pump that's all.

[Becciilouisex3]

Reallyanotherone haven't you seen the Avent/Tommee Tippee starter kits? One for bottle feeding and one for breast. Very similar except you get a breast pump with the breastfeeding kit and some breastfeeding pads. I never bought the bottle feeding one so I don't know if there's any other differences because I planned to breastfeed and just bought the bottles when it didnt work out. There's a steriliser as well.

I did share my experience with breastfeeding earlier in the post and was just sharing useful gadgets if she decides to bottle feed which I would have valued knowing about before I gave birth. Unfortunately I never looked into bottle feeding because I was adamant I was breastfeeding.

[Sittingonthesofa]

I fed my three until they were weaned. Those early months were just the loveliest most rewarding times ever. Breastfeeding doesn't change the shape of your boobs, pregnancy does that.

Your DP can be fully involved with nappy changing, cuddling, bath time, bed times and looking after you whilst you feed.

I never even thought about my diet, I ate whatever I fancied. I've seem some research recently that suggests that breastfed babies grow up less faddy about their food, as they are used to breastmilk that changes in flavour depending on their mother's diet.

I'm a tightwad, and I loved the fact that we didn't buy bottles or formula! So that was a big bonus for me. That and the fact that breastmilk really is the best food for your baby. It's not for everyone but for me it was a wonderful experience.

[OnTheUp13]

I've been breastfeeding for 17 months and I've found it really easy but in those early days it was difficult because you can't share feeds at night because of nipple confusion. And my breasts were bad anyway and I don't think breastfeeding has made them worse

[HeCantBeSerious]

Also, OP, be aware that milk doesn't come in for about 3-4 days. Many people give up feeding before they've really started as they believe they don't produce enough. It's deliberate. Babies need to suckle regularly right from the start to "order" what they'll need in a few days time (their saliva transmits hormonal messages through nipples - how amazing is that?!).

[IWantATardis]

What does a breastfeeding starter kit involve, btw?

I needed to get some of the breastfeeding bras with drop down clips. Couldn't manage to wrestle breasts out of ordinary bras easily for feeds.

I have a breastfeeding pillow that I find very useful when feeding baby, but I could manage a similar effect with ordinary pillows / cushions if I didn't have the breastfeeding pillow.

[Iggi999]

Bluesky what you've said about popping out made me think - it will be easy to go out on your own and leave a ff baby behind (though you may still find it difficult!) but in terms of getting out with your baby bf is far easier, you need nappy changing stuff but that's it - no sterilised bottles, boiled water and powder. Etc. depends if you're going to be going out with your baby more often than without, in terms of which is more convenient.
A firm bf pillow (they are usually v shaped or wrap right around your middle) is an excellent piece of kit that really helped to take the pressure off my arms.

[diamondofdoom]

Not rtft but breastfeeding doesn't change your boobs/make them droopy, being pregnant does

[MuppetsChristmasCarol]

Another one confused as to why you'd need a breastfeeding starter kit? Other than needing some nipple cream and chocolate bars (I always got so hungry doing the 3am night feeds when ds was a newborn so I kept snickers bars in my bedside drawer, and DH was often sent to forage for food for me once I'd scoffed them) the benefit of breastfeeding is that you don't need to waste your money on 'stuff'.

[VilootShesCute]

Breast.

[OohNoDooEy]

Boobs
Nursing friendly clothes
Nursing covers
Lansinoh
Pump
Bottles
Steriliser
Bf pillow

There's lots you can be sold however you feed... what you need is debatable for both methods!

[reallyanotherone]

You can get all of those gadgets becxa talked about :). Plus a nice bag to carry you flask, bottles, formula dispenser...

Or you can make sure you don't forget your breasts :)

Main reason i wouldn't have survived bottle feeding, i'd have forgotten something every time :), and never got out the house.

Plus I'm tight and all those "only £5" soon add up.

What does a breastfeeding starter kit involve, btw?

[QuilliamCakespeare]

The Perfect Prep machine was on Watchdog last week - they tested it and the filter wasn't effectively removing bacteria from the two water once it had been used 3+ times. According to the expert they spoke to it was fairly low risk for full term/non immunocompromised babies but I probably wouldn't buy one myself just in case. I know a few people who have used them with no problems though.

[TweedleDee3TweedleDum]

Remember both is an option. I combi fed and it worked well for us.

[Becciilouisex3]

If you do decide to bottle feed there are some gadgets that can help.

The Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine is a must have for me. You fill the tank with water and it filters. Then you set the dial to however many ounces of milk you're making and push the start button. It dispenses 70 degree water which you add the formula to and shake to dissolve it. Then you pop the bottle back under and it dispenses cold water to fill the bottle to the correct amount and ready to drink temperature. The whole process of making a bottle take 2 minutes.
Health visitors and midwives etc have to read you a disclaimer that they cannot endorse them nor vouch for their effectiveness/100% safety as they haven't gone through all of the relevant research to prove that they're safe yet. The dispute comes from the fact that the water never reaches boiling point (where it becomes sterile). But the way I look at it is that if it were unsafe, they would be unable to sell it because it would be unfit for purpose. I swear by mine and no one I know who has used one has had any problems as yet.

Also you can get a bottle feeding starter kit (as well as a breastfeeding starter kit if you decide to breastfeed) which come with an electronic steriliser. You wash the bottles in warm water and washing up liquid and the pop them in the steriliser. Fill the steriliser tank with cold water and turn it on. It will boil the water to convert it to steam which sterilises the bottles. The whole process takes about 10 minutes and we end up doing it once a day when he's used all his bottles (6).

For feed when going out, I swear by the Tommee Tippee Flask. It's only £10 and it keeps the water hot for hours and hours! You can either make up your feeds at home and use the boiling water in the flask to heat them up (it comes with a cover that can be used as a sort of bowl to put the bottle with water and heat it up). Personally I don't like to make up feeds beforehand because they're not as fresh and I don't want them to be wasted. I take some cold boiled water with the flask and make them up while I'm out when little one needs a bottle.

Lastly, you can get a MAM formula dispenser. It's basically just a plastic tub with 3 compartments that you fill with formula and pop the lid on. That way you can take 3 feeds worth of formula with you when you go out. Only £5! Good luck!

[fruityb]

Combo feeding worked for DS and he's thrived on formula. He settled into a 3-4 hour routine himself but we watched for his cues. Do what YOU want but for the right reasons. And if your other half thinks he'll duck night feeds send him off to make a brew instead lol

[clarabellski]

Excellent discussion on this thread.

Just to add another voice to the point about how long babies go between feeds, this whole '4 hour routine' thing is something I heard A LOT from people of the previous generation. The current advice of health professionals is to feed on demand regardless of whether breast or formula. I switched to formula in second week due to contraindication with medication I had to take, and there were afternoons where DS was tanking a bottle every 90 minutes, just as he was doing on the breast.

I didn't breastfeed for long enough to really compare the two methods, but all I'll say is I'm looking forward to next month when DS can move to cows milk and we can stop sterlising all the bloody bottles and making up feeds! If you do end up using bottles (for expressed milk or for formula), invest in some decent handcream as your hands will be chapped from all the washing!!! (or get your lovely boyfriend to do this bit! ).