Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

Breastfeeding V's Bottle Feeding

165 replies

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 19:50

Just being down right nosey now! ....

I have been reading up on the whole breast v's bottle feeding and I personally have decided that I want to bottle feed. Without wanting to turn this into a whole debate on how 'Breast Is Best' I was just wondering what everyone else plans to do when they have their baby? Are you breast or bottle feeding?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2010 21:39

jamiejay... because most people asking that type of question are looking for advice and opinions. ie, WHY are you buying a cot or cot bed and wondering which to do themselves

in this instance the OP has made her mind up already, and seems to just want a bit of a fuss

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2010 21:40

exactly thisisyesterday

emmyloo2 · 05/07/2010 21:43

I plan to breastfeed and really hope I am able to - mainly because I like the idea of it helping you lose weight! (and also maybe being more convenient and bonding experience). That said, I am well aware that some women are not able to and I think it is unfair that some of the posters here have declared formula milk similar to feeding your baby chemicals. That's very unfair to women who can't breastfeed.

Kity · 05/07/2010 21:44

its so sad that it always comes to this, its a simple question.
We all have a choice, some choose to BF some bottle fed. If you walk down the street you couldn't point out the people who'd been breastfed or bottle fed?
I personally breastfed for 7months but I get very upset with how anti formula people can be. My sister didn't even try breastfeeding and she has 3 beautiful healthy bright children.
Lola you have a right to choose and do not for one second feel guilty or bad about that choice.
Good luck

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2010 21:46

WHO is anti formula on this thread?

Please point it out.

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:47

I can't believe how rude some people are being, I was asking a question - I am having my first child, I was genuinely interested to hear about how people are planning on feeding their babies. I wanted to see if more people breast fed than bottle fed or vice versa as I haven't heard much about those who chose to bottlefed, i only seem to read comments from those who breast feed - and now I know why, from the answers it seems that far more people breast feed. There is no need to say i want a 'bit of fuss', It was supposed to be a genuine question.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2010 21:49

yes, stating facts is not fair to people who formula feed

sorry, but i formula fed my first child. that doesn't change the fact that breastmilk would have been much better for him does it?

it's ridiculous to suggest that someone who has made an informed decision on how she should feed her child, someone who is 100% sure that what she is doing is the right thing for her and her baby could ever be made to feel guilty for doing it just because others feel differently

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:49

Thank you for all of the proper answers anyway, it's nice to draw experiences and thoughts from others, whether they be of the same opinion as mine or not.

OP posts:

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2010 21:50

Perhaps if you had phrased it a bit differently? Something V something is very confrontational.

If you want to speak to others who plan to bottle feed, you could ask. I did with my first baby.

I don't think anyone has been that rude, excepting some of the comments about behaving like a cow.

SirBoobAlot · 05/07/2010 21:51

If thats what you want, OP, then nationally more people bottle feed than breast feed.

You will find more people breast fed on here, or wanted to.

Though I agree with what has been said before, you are being very negative, appear to have already made your choice and want to start fuss. If you don't want to breast feed, then don't - but there's no need to be so disparaging in your tone when talking about it.

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:51

My god, i see what people meant now when they asked if i really wanted to start this, I never thought it would cause unrest. I thought I was asking a reasonable question.

Does anyone know if there anyway to delete a question??

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2010 21:53

well OP i think you'll find that formula feeders are in the vast majority in this country, so it shouldn't be too hard to find people to talk to

i think only 1% of babies are breastfed to 6 months even, so pretty much every single person you see with a baby will have formula fed it

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:53

The cow comment was a joke .... and sorry if I put 'V' I should have put 'or'

OP posts:

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2010 21:55

talk to me
I have done both

don't worry about deleting it, we have all seen worse

I would try not to be negative in future though, it can be hurtful to those who have made a different choice to you

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:55

Ok thank you thisisyesterday, I just haven't come across many that have said they are bottle feeding, I thought I was the minority.

OP posts:

SirBoobAlot · 05/07/2010 21:57

Well personally I didn't find it particularly funny. "yes I could sit there when I get home with equipment attached to my breasts like I am milking a cow but I choose to spend that time as quality time with my baby." - And that I find very insulted. I pumped for a while, does that mean I spent less "quality time" with my baby? Of course bloody not.

And really, in the first few months, you will be more focused on sleeping than anything else, especially if you are going back to work.

MrsSawdust · 05/07/2010 21:57

On mumsnet, more people breastfeed than bottle. In real life, it's generally the other way round.

To answer your question op - breast. No question. Even when my nipples were cracked and bleeding and every feed was agony, there was no question. (Dont let me put anyone off - after the first few weeks it was a total doddle. Hang in there!)

RobynLou · 05/07/2010 21:58

I'll bf again - DD was exclusively bf and I still bf her now (she's 3 in august and I'm 11 weeks pg with baby number 2) I started working when she was 5weeks, it's perfectly doable.
even if you only bf for a few days, getting that first hit of colostrum is very very good for your baby.
I do struggle to understand those who never even give it a go for the first few days, if you've not tried then how will you ever know whether it would work for you? you can always move onto formula but it's incredibly difficult to start on formula and go back to bfing.
I think I'd try even if I knew I wasn't going to bf for more than a couple of weeks, just out of curiousity as to what it was like.

knackered76 · 05/07/2010 21:59

Hi lolabanola,

I've had 2 DC and breastfed until 5 months and then started introducing bottles. My first was really easy to feed, my second not so much and only stuck at it because I had with my first! I found breastfeeding easy in the sense you don't have to lug stuff about with you, etc. That said, you lug enough about you with a baby anyway so what's a few extra bits Those I know who chose to bottle feed did breastfeed, or try to, for the first week or two so the baby had the colostrum and then moved to bottles fully. I think, from my experience anyway, that most people breastfeed for at least a little bit (obviously huge generalisation as I don't know that many mums ).

Original poster

lolabanola · 05/07/2010 21:59

But did you go back to work straight away SirBoobAlot? My point was that I wont see my baby in the day so want to make up for it when I get home.

OP posts:

TheOldestCat · 05/07/2010 22:00

Lolabanana - I agree with maxpower; you can start breastfeeding then change to formula, but it is much much harder to do it the other way round.

So why not give it (the physiologically normal way to feed a baby, barring any physical/other problems) a go and see how you fare? You never know, it might work out well for you.

It's swings and roundabouts for most of us. For instance, BF has made me lose loads of weight (hoorah!) but I have mastitis at the moment (not so hoorah).

Seriously though, read up on it all and make an informed choice.

HumphreyCobbler · 05/07/2010 22:01

But if you are actually breastfeeding your baby you won't need to express.

Feeding your baby counts as quality time, whether you are formula or breastfeeding.

thisisyesterday · 05/07/2010 22:01

even if you want/have to go back to work though, or don't want to express there is nothing stopping you breastfeeding to start with and then mixed feeding

you may find that the midwives really encourage you to give the baby its first few feeds because the colostrum you produce to start with is really, really good for them. kickstarts the immune system amongst other things

then, if you really don't want to do it switch to bottles. or if you find that actually it;s ok then stick with it. then introduce bottles as and when necessary

there was a lovely thread on here earlier about someone who felt like you. had her baby, gave it a bottle, then that night felt an overwhelming urge to breastfeed baby. which she did, and 6 months later is still going! so maybe it's best to be openminded? you don't have to make the decision before baby is born

emmyloo2 · 05/07/2010 22:04

Just as an aside - was anyone else stressed about not being able to breastfeed? I never thought it would be difficult until suddenly i looked into it and realised a lot of women have trouble. My nipples are already cracked during pregnancy and I am really worried I will have trouble. I really want to be able to breastfeed because of (a) it is good for the baby; (2) helps you lose weight; (3) bonding experience.

Sorry - don't mean to highjack the post - just wanted to hear people's experiences. I think I am more worried about breastfeeding than the birth!!

AliGrylls · 05/07/2010 22:04

I am definitely breast feeding. I breast fed DS1 to 10 months and am so glad I did. I loved it. Only reason why I stopped is because he actually seemed to go off it. I started off with DS1 with the attitude if it works I will do it, if not I will formula, and TBH I really thought I would end up being a formula feeder.

I think what I am trying to say is be a bit flexible and just see how things go. You never know, you might love it.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7