Breast feeding or formula???

[lovelyjubbly12]

Just wondering what everyone's take on the subject is. I've been seriously considering breast feeding but I'm just not sure if i actually want too... and then I do a complete 360 and feel like a bad mum and almost pressure myself into wanting it....

Is there anyone else out there in the same boat? Does anyone have a pro and con on both types of feeding?

I just feel like formula would be easier all round. And I wouldnt usually take the easy route if it's not the best option but I feel overwhelmed as it is, and I feel like one less thing to master would be easier.

Fed is best. Do not worry!

I’m trying to be open to both. I’d like to try breast feeding but if it doesn’t happen or isn’t working for whatever reason I’m happy to go to formula. Just as long as my baby is fed.

Do your best and make every effort to breast feed, It is well worth it and wonderful

There’s pros and cons to both I think tbh feeding babies whichever way is time consuming and can be difficult

Pros of bf are immunity and growth factors and colostrum is really really good for babies
It’s free
No preparation needed
Lesser risk of sids (I must stress that formula does NOT increase the risk. There’s a baseline and it’s just that bf reduces it formula is fine it’s just a consideration)

Cons
It’s hard to master
Nipples can get sore
Nobody else can feed baby unless you express but expressing is hard and time consuming !
If you’re shy public feeding can be hard

Formula pros
You can see what baby drinks
Ready made formula or tommee tippee prep is quick to use
Others can help with feeding
Baby won’t need vit d drops as vitamins in formula are enough

Cons
Sterilising and cleaning bottles etc can be time consuming
Tummy issues are possible
Cost

Breastfeeding is better for child's gut health, which is increasingly known as being a key factor in overall future health.

We are lucky in the UK that babies have an alternative source of calories should mother's not want to/be able to breastfeed, but bf is the healthiest ideally. Both of my babies had to have some formula, and it kept them alive in the early days. But there's no doubt that colostrum would have been far better for them.

Breast feeding has its benefits but don't put any pressure on yourself. Give it a go and if you can't do it/don't want to do it then stop! As long as you're feeding your baby it's absolutely fine

I wish Mumsnet gave the option of going back and editing rogue apostrophes and autocorrect mistakes!

It really depends on what you think is easy. I breastfeed my 6 week old mainly because I am far too lazy to organise sterilising bottles, containers, mixing powder etc. Baby, DP and I are all in the same room so we are usually all awake regardless and this works for us but DP is still at home at the moment. So I'm happy to do the feeding as I'm awake anyway. I just stick the boob in, easy as that. We've had some latching issues but we're both getting there. I've had a go at expressing and the sterilising for all that is such a pain.
If DP/family needed to do the feeding then obviously formula would have an advantage. It might depend on your baby and how much help you need to get rest.

Dont feel like a bad mum! You are taking about deciding which feeding method is better for you all not neglecting them!
Feeling guilty, being a bad mum and others sayings shouldn't be part of any conversation when it comes to feeding!
My view is try both and see what works best. It maybe bf it maybe ff or it maybe mixed feeds.
Seriously don't stress it out.
Personally what worked with Ds1 was breast fed and then mixed feeds.

You can always do both!

You can't do a for and against list really because you don't know what it will be like for you So one women might have cracked nipples on their negative list, but for another that might never happen.
I found it hard at the start but was convinced by the nutritional benefits so did keep going. It got very easy and was certainly more convenient than bottles in terms of preparation time! Less so in terms of handing the baby over to someone else for a while. It's not just nutrition though it can be a lovely feeling to feed your baby and see how happy it makes them.
If you have no physical or mental reasons to stop you, I do think it's worth a go. Fed isn't best I don't think that makes sense, breastfed is best for most babies and formula is a great second.

I think breastfeeding is a lot easier once you get the hang of it. It's on tap so you don't have to remember bottles etc. It might be worth seeing if there is a local breastfeeding group you can go along to and have a chat about it with people who gave done it. It's hard to begin with (to a varying degree) but if you can get through the beginning it gets easier.

Don't pressure yourself, I said with my first I would try bf and if it didn't work then I'd switch. Bf didn't work out so I combi fed for a while then completely formula fed from around 3 months.

I have dc2 now and had the same if it works it works approach to bf, he's taken really well to it so far and I'm enjoying it.

The 'baby will sleep better with formula' is a myth, if baby is going to wake often they will.

Pros to bf are:
Free
Easy (after the first few weeks)
Night feeds are a breeze!
Baby takes so much comfort
No prep or cleaning/sterilising
Many health benefits/immunity/reduced sids risk

Cons:
Can get sore nipples, but lasinoh cream/nipple shields are good solutions
Only you can feed

Pros to formula:
Other people can help with feeds
You can see what baby is taking

Cons:
Preparation time
Cleaning and sterilising
Cost
Potential tummy issues, reactions to different formulas
Baby can reject some bottles so it's trial and error to find the right ones

It's totally up to you, but you can always try bf and see how it goes then switch if you want/need to. Even just the initial colostrum is so good for the baby.

I think given your open mindedness I would put the baby to the breast and see how it goes. Early colostrum is very beneficial so even if you can do some breastfeeding for a few days it’s worth it. You could also see how you feel, some people don’t enjoy it others feel a deep biological drive to feeds their baby/keep their baby skin to skin etc. Neither approach makes anyone a better mother than the other, go on how you feel.

@lovelyjubbly12 re read your first paragraph! That tells us all we need to know! You don't feel you want too.
Please don't feel bad for not wanting too! I didn't either, I know breast has its advantages, but as long as your baby is fed then please don't worry and put added pressure on yourself.
I was pretty sure I was going to bottle feed, plus my milk didn't actually come in after a very traumatic birth, so I got stuck into bottle feeding and didn't feel bad about it at all. Baby was fed, loved, clean and dry.
I did worry about telling midwives etc, and worried they would try to encourage me to give it ago, but nobody did.
I think it's great if you want to breast feed and can do it, then go for it! But if you don't want to or can't, then don't worry at all.
Take formula in, but see how you feel. Best of luck to you!

Breast milk allows you to pass natural immunity to your baby, so he/she will be less likely to get sick. Less likely to develop any allergies, bad skin, tummy issues etc with breast feeding. It is also very comforting for Baby and available on demand for It is also such a lovely experience for mum, and if it is challenging - it’s no where near as painful as child birth!

Formula milk was originally developed when wet nurses went out of fashion (wet nurses were for those babies whose mothers died or could not lactate due to ill health) sadly since then the companies producing formula has been so great that it is the norm for mums to consider formula even before serious ill Health occurs.

Breast feeding burns loads of calories. That fact really helped me keep going at times!

Once breastfeeding is established it's a lot easier, no bottles, no sterilising, no buying formula, it's free unlike formula and always the right temperature. Most women at full term (I've seen figures as high as 97%) can physically breastfeed but it's your choice, nobody else's. I fed both of mine, it was hard for the first month with my first, second was a doddle from birth.

It's a personal choice and both are fine.

I BF to begin with but found it very painful and overwhelming, to the point where I was feeling quite negative towards my baby. I felt that my ability to be a good and loving mum who gave formula was more important than being an anxious, avoidant mum giving breastmilk. I was able to give myself time to heal and then did a mix of both for around 6 weeks in total.

I'm pregnant now and will definitely BF again hopefully with better skills(!) but I will also supplement with formula from early on to get the baby used to a bottle, even if it's going really well.

Don't feel guilty, it's an important question and deserves a lot of time and consideration to answer if you're unsure.

I've read a lot on this and from what I understand, breastfeeding can feel very hard at first or painful, but if you persevere, it nearly always gets easier. Some women who try and give up because they think it is not for them may not have had the right support to keep going. It's important to get support, either through a female friend/family member, midwife or doula. It's not necessarily easy but with time and patience it becomes easy. MUCH easier than having to sterilise bottles all the time and pay £££ for something that your body is naturally producing. If you get an electronic pump this also speeds it up and makes it easier, if you do want to pump at some point.

It is definitely a lot better for the baby, it forms the basis of the gut microbiome which is essential good bacteria that lives in our guts and helps with immunity to illnesses for the rest of our lives. This is also why vaginal births are ideal, because the good bacteria from the process is the first thing to feed the microbiome. If you have a C section it is even more important to try to master breastfeeding because the baby won't have the beneficial bacteria from the birth.

There is also a study in mice which showed that a lack of probiotics (good bacteria) was linked to autism in the mice offspring. It's only one study so you have to take it with a grain of salt, but in my mind it makes sense as we sterilise everything these days, and at what cost?

It is your choice and your body but if your main worry is whether it is easier, I would definitely try to master it and have faith that it does get easier and you might just need a bit of support. If you have the money, a postnatal doula is a good idea. Look it up! Good luck!

"It's a personal choice and both are fine."

I agree with @CalamityJune .

I personally always knew i had my heart set on breastfeeding- pretty much for all the reasons previous posters have given plus it's the environmentally friendly option.

It was a very tough first few weeks - mentally and physically - but it gradually got easier and by month 3 I was really enjoying it. Breastfed until 16 months and it's one of my proudest achievements.

Absolutely consider give breastfeeding a shot because it might work really well for you - not everyone has pain or finds it difficult (well maybe a little at the beginning - the worst bit for me was engorgement when my milk came in and I guess that still happens if you use formula).
Then if you get on with it that’s great - you have a good system and going forward can always use formula alongside if you fancy a break, and there are great health benefits to you if you breastfeed.
If you try and it’s not for you then your baby has had the benefit of colostrum which is really good, and you won’t be wondering what if’.

@codenameduchess I’m so lazy that one of your bottle feeding pros would have been a con for me! I’m very happy to have absolutely no idea how much DD takes when she feeds - or have to keep track of how much she’s had. So long as she’s growing and passing urine it must be about right
I think I’d worry about over feeding / forgetting how much we’d had that day and keeping track of feeds.

Hard to say - the more I hear the more I think it works for some people and not others. I was really lucky that it worked for me but know it doesn't work for some.

If it does work its like a magic blessing -

baby weight falls off you
happy easily settled baby that you can pacify at any time
bonding
reduced risk of asthma excema obesity etc for baby (none of mine have these issues)
no sterilising
no finding formula in the middle of the night. You don't even need to wake up.
no one else can calm your baby like you can!

You do what you want to do. I'm having baby no3 and have never bf and never will because it simply doest appeal to me. Aslong as baby is fed that's all that matters. Don't feel pressured into bf and don't feel bad if you don't want to.. Alternatively if you want to bf then 100% go for it and as other pp have said you can always do both too.