Bottle feeding

[raindrop84]

So this may be controversial as I know people have strong options on this...but I don't understand why women put so much pressure on themselves to breast feed, get stressed/overwhelmed by it and then feel like a failure if they have issues? I'm leaning towards bottle feeding my baby, I feel it will take a lot of unnecessary pressure off me and will enable me to share feeds with my partner. Does anyone feel the same? Has anyone done this? Were you judged?

I agree @letsallscream I think we need to trust that people have good reasons for their decisions around feeding their baby. If its clear someone needs more info, its good to give this info and support etc. But if someone has the info they need and they make a decision thats best for them we need to respect that.

How can you possibly tell it's because of breastfeeding?

Errr, cos I ff my first two and I know the difference between ff and bf.

This thread is unfortunately a strong example of everything that is bad about Mumsnet at the moment. Mothers attacking each other. So many people coming across as not just judgemental but horrible, nasty people, from both sides of the debate.

For what it’s worth I BF both of mine for 6-8 months. I am neither judgemental or feel superior to FF mothers, although I sometimes feel a little jealous now that I have a bottle refusing 6 month old!

My baby would have died has I have given in to the pressure from the midwives to breast feed. They were negative, patronising and horrific.

Bottle feeding was amazing for me.

I FF DD1, not by choice but I had terrible eczema that required a steroid cream.
I BF DD2 exclusively for 6 months and although it was tough as she refused a bottle/dummy it was 100% worth it. She has never been ill (apart from hand foot and mouth) unlike my first who had every bug and illness going, it was exhausting, even now she still has a rubbish immune system.
I personally think its abit crap to not even give it a go, formula really cant be compared to breastmilk in any way.

Also not judging, anyones free to do what they wish with their baby but I've done it both and seen the differences - whether it's just a coincidence or not who knows but I know I am definitely BFing my 3rd because I cant cope with the constant illnesses again!

I breastfeed my baby and I absolutely love it. I enjoy the closeness and the ease of it although I wish I could share the nightfeeds. I wouldn't judge anyone for not doing it though - I dont really know anyone who would.

If I were you, I'd give it a go and persevere if it gets tough because when it works, it's really great. If your baby is hungry or you can't cope then obviously switch to bottles.

Anecdotally, I had a horrible vomiting bug when my baby was a few weeks old and everyone else in my extended famoly got it except her. I was literally vomiting as I held her and i attribute her lack of illness to the antibodies in my breastmilk.

@newmum234 I felt the same as you and 3 years on I sooo wished I hadn't wasted the time feeling guilty, please don't, your baby will be fine. I did a combi feed as DD had a tongue tie which was excruciating to me and also....I just didn't like breastfeeding. If we have a second I'm probably going to go straight to bottle and actually buy a perfect prep this time!

In regards to bonding, I breatfed as first and didn't bond well, it actually did the reverse, I just wanted my body to be mine. As she got a few weeks older the bond came and now she's 3 and I couldn't love her more if I tried, she's my little wonder :-) . DO NOT WORRY! Bottle feed knowing she is getting everything she needs is all you need to know. Get well soon.

God. Not this old shit again.

feed how you want to, I personally breastfed but aslong as baby is fed and thriving and you sit comfortably with your choice then that's it.

only comment that has irked a little is that breastfeeding is over rated - this is ludicrous.

@tartanbow but it is. Is breast milk better for babies? Yes of course it is. Nobody has said it isn't. Is it a magical substance that should be worshiped the way it is in some circles? No. It isn't. There's very little research done into formula vs breast milk because babies aren't guinea pigs. Nobody would submit their child to testing that would be considered unethical.
I believed the mantra that is touted on here about breastfeeding and it made me feel like shit, for months. DS doesn't give a damn hoot if he's breastfed or formula fed. He's a wee star. I was formula fed for medical reasons and I am also fine.

we are going to have to agree to disagree - I do think the fact the female body can feed its young amazing and actually, considering majority of this country formula feeds, incredibly underrated.
I didnt knock formula feeding at all by the way so not sure why you've gone off on a tangent there.

with all due respect, you need to get thicker skin - breastfeeders are in the minority and you get idiotic mums in all camps. as demonstrated on this one thread alone - the names people have been called and how angry people get about it is ridiculous.

I'm not convinced thicker skin would have helped with PND but I'll keep it in mind.
I know you didn't say anything about formula feeding but you did say that breastfeeding isn't overrated. All I heard while I was pregnant and beyond was how incredible breastfeeding was. How brilliant it was how my baby would have all these amazing things if I breastfed. So from where I'm sitting it's not underrated.

okay so you are drip feeding there, you said you felt bad reading comments on here nothing about PND - which I had btw so barking up the wrong tree there if your intention is to engage me in a debate about that.

why is it wrong to say breastfeeding is amazing out of interest?

on the same wave length, I think its great there is an alternative to breastfeeding as I'm sure many more babies survive vs a time when it didnt exist - I am able to acknowledge this even though I breastfeed. just because I breastfeed doesnt mean I'm against formula feeding which seems to be the immediate assumption.

I think your projecting a little bit - if people made you feel bad for formula feeding then that's wrong but I stand by the fact that claiming breastfeeding is overrated is ludicrous.