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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding or Formula; why?

97 replies

Midwife23 · 16/01/2019 13:59

Hi everyone!
I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts and opinions on infant feeding. Why did you choose to breastfeed it use formula? Did anything influence your decision?
Currently indecisive!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BertieBotts · 17/01/2019 23:07

Once it's established you can't beat it for convenience - I just went in to settle DS, grabbed a pillow, (I only use this at night) put him vaguely near my boob and started reading my phone. 10 minutes or less later he's zonked out asleep and I can put him back in bed and get on with my evening.

Earlywalker · 17/01/2019 23:07

I FF my first and BF my second (still am at age 1)
Found FF much easier, routine down by 10 weeks, no issues when I went back to work or needed to go out for a few hours, more sleep as didn’t have to share the night feeds, could have a few drinks and take medication etc
I have a love/hate relationship with BFing, the way he sleeps on me and and the easiness of just whipping it out is amazing but from about 6 months I’ve fed through gritted teeth cus he does not take a bottle and still wakes up every hour at night.
I won’t stop though, He was a very ill newborn and I always felt like I did something to save him (which is probably not true)

Both have their ups and downs, I’d recommend giving BF a go atleast for the colostrum then seeing how it goes from there.

Bewilderedraven · 17/01/2019 23:19

I bf both of mine, mainly because I'm a bit lazy and don't want to be making up bottles and sterilising equipment. Also because it's cheaper, it helped me loose my baby weight, and it has health benefits not just for the baby but for me too. Oh and I'm lumbered with a massive pair so I thought I may as well make use of the bloody things!

Stephisaur · 18/01/2019 07:23

I chose to try breastfeeding but with the intention of formula feeding if I didn’t enjoy it for whatever reason.

DS has latched really well and is gaining weight, so we’re continuing with breastfeeding. It’s incredibly convenient because the food is literally on tap for him. If we’re out, I can feed him almost instantly.

I plan to stop at 6 months though when I start weaning him.

Seline · 18/01/2019 07:30

I wanted to breastfeed but my twins were born at 26 weeks and my milk never came in fully. I expressed for 10 weeks.

PotentialParent · 18/01/2019 08:13

When I have a baby, I will FF.

My husband is going to be a sahd for the first year, while I plan to go back to work asap (6 weeks). It makes no sense to me to try to bf in that situation. Also, I don't feel any particular desire to do so. My mum bf all of us but I still don't want to do it. I think it's great we all have the opportunity to make our own choices now and decide what works best for our families.

Aria2015 · 18/01/2019 08:23

I breastfed until 14 months. I suppose a lot of why I did it was because my mum and sister breastfed so that was my 'normal' in terms of how I saw feeding my baby. I had a lot of support from my mum which really helped. She was with me during the hard bits and helped me push through. I ended up continuing because once I was through the hard part (and it was HARD) I actually enjoyed the closeness of it and the convenience (feed any time, anywhere).

BirthdayKake · 18/01/2019 08:27

Breastfeeding

It's easier
I'm too lazy to make bottles
I like being the only one who can feed it
The weight drops off

Since2016 · 18/01/2019 08:28

I BF my first - she was in NICU at birth and I couldn’t conceive of doing anything else despite it being v tough to establish. I will BF this one (36 weeks). I’ll be honest - it’s far easier imo - I am always gobsmacked by the faff of bottles - plus I can’t really conceive of being so careful of what I eat / drink etc throughout my pregnancy to then feed my baby sugar and powdered milk. But it’s a very personal decision and everyone needs to do what’s right for them!

I BF for 15 months first time but will probably try to encourage a bottle of expressed milk this time.

NoParticularPattern · 18/01/2019 08:30

If you’re undecided why not give BF a go and see how you feel then? I was determined to breastfeed and (despite some early problems) was successful. It took us until she was about 10/12 weeks old to feel like it had really clicked. I’m still breastfeeding her at 11 months old (and 13 weeks pregnant) mainly because it’s easy, cheap and I’m a lazy cow who can’t be bothered to wash bottles. I also don’t know how I’d get her to sleep if I wasn’t breastfeeding as I can count on one hand the number of times she’s fallen asleep without being fed.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 18/01/2019 08:38

I chose to BF because of the health benefits, namely the link to adult obesity!

I'm 4 months in and it's fine now, but the first 3 weeks we're awful, so painful, but I'm glad I persevered as its now easier than FF.

We do occaisionly give a formula bottle to let me sleep, and I feel guilty for it. Still not sure why as I don't ever judge anyone for using formula, but it's just not for me!

OutPinked · 18/01/2019 08:45

It was a clear cut decision for me to BF all four of mine. I never even really considered formula if I’m being totally honest. I just think formula is an unnecessary expense and waste of time, I couldn’t be arsed making up bottles in the night when my breasts make free on demand milk...

Plus breast milk is undoubtedly better for the baby than powdered cows milk .

AshBluex · 18/01/2019 08:47

I wouldn't actually decide and set your heart on either now, i wanted to breastfeed badly and did for my DS's first day, but when drs checked his blood sugar levels and they were very low so for his health I went on to bottles when be was one day old. I think it depends totally on you, I felt guilty at first for not being able to BF but in the end aslong as baby is fed and healthy it doesn't matter to me where it comes from!! Good luck OP❤❤

payperview · 18/01/2019 08:53

I wanted to bf, but do to a massive haemorrhage my milk never came in. So FF instead.

CarlGrimesMissingEye · 18/01/2019 09:20

I breastfed both mine but was open to whatever happened. Positives for me were that it allowed me to be lazy (didn't have to get out of bed to feed), it was cheap, I never 'ran out' when out and about, I enjoyed doing it and was fortunate that I found it easy and once I figured it out not painful.

The only downside for me was how tying it was but actually I didn't really mind that at all. Just occasionally when I had to make huge compromises or not do things because I was tied to feeding.

theresaspiderinthesink · 18/01/2019 14:06

Has the op come back?

RiverTam · 18/01/2019 14:07

no, because everyone has done her research for her and she's gone to type it up.

StatisticallyChallenged · 18/01/2019 14:18

Think you've hit the nail on the head there RiverTam, so annoying when posters post something then don't engage again.

RiverTam · 18/01/2019 14:26

Well, really, it's up to individual posters as to whether they contribute, I suppose.

I think these posters know that most people's inherent desire to talk about themselves will override any caution as to who is posting and why. Personally, much as I also like to talk about myself, I'm buggered if I'm going to provide material for someone else's article or essay.

MamaidhMathMath · 18/01/2019 15:38

Agreed. You'd hope someone called @Midwife23 would already have a pretty good understanding of both breastfeeding and formula feeding, so I do wonder why she's feeling indecisive enough to post about it. Maybe it's a slow day in delivery?

ReaganSomerset · 18/01/2019 20:47

If it were for research we would have to have agreed to it, or it wouldn't pass the ethics committee for publication. For a trainee midwife, she'd have to reference her sources and a mumsnet thread is unlikely to be regarded as acceptable in terms of accuracy, bias and reliability as a source.

For what it's worth though, I hope it does form the basis of some research because the nhs does need to do better when it comes to supporting women who want to breastfeed. More research about it can only help with this IMO.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 18/01/2019 22:56

Bf - proven scientific optimal infant food. Lots anecdotal benefits which are subjective. A few cons - again which are subjective.

Ff - it's available - again lots of benefits which are subjective. Lots of cons including risk BUT these are low in developed countries when safe preparation and storage is both available and adhered to. Other non risk related cons are subjective.

Actually I think that's me done on the feeding debate

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