breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding

vroombroom

Evening all

Just after some advice (yet again!). I had an antenatal class last night that was all about breastfeeding, it was very informative.

I've got a few weeks left till our little lad is arriving and I honestly haven't given any definitive decision as to if I will breastfeed or bottlefeed. I was going to give breastfeeding a go and see how we both got on, as I know some don't latch on (if thats the word?) and then bottlefeed if need be.

Just wondering what other people's opinions and experiences of either were? Obviously I am aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and the cost of bottlefeeding, but what age do you wean babies? I've read about 2 years old still being breastfed:eek:

thanks guys x

RedwoodBrook

Can't offer any advice as I never got the chance to do either.

But.... I was planning to bottlefeed with my son before he died. I am determined to breastfeed the baby I am currently pregnant with now that I know what it feels like to hold your child.

newmum2007

I have breastfed all three of mine, DD1 till she was 14 months, DS1 till he was 15 months and am currently feeding DD2 who is nearly 8 months. All 3 started eating solids when they were about 6 months, first snatching off my plate and then moving onto their own meals. Breastfeeding isn't for everyone my sister had her DD 5 months ago and after much perserverance(sp) and tears put her DD on the bottle and they were both the happier for it.
Go with your gut after all a happy mummy makes for a happy baby! Good luck with it all!

POPPYOSCAR

I breastfed my children.

I just loved the convenience. No bottles to make up(although I did express and bottle up if I was leaving baby with OH or someone else etc.)

In the night I would just put baby in bed with me to feed, no having to heat milk up etc.

So for me, it was a very positive experience.

(stopped at about 18 months)

pigpen

Give breastfeeding a go if you hate it you can switch to bottles.. it is nigh on impossible to start breastfeeding after bottlefeeding, even after just a few days.

Nicki

This thread could get heated, they always do! Are you sure you're up to it in the last few hormonally charged weeks of pregnancy...

It's always worth trying to breastfeed if you are ambivalent. Some breast milk is better than none at all. It can be tough in the first few weeks. If you can, prioritize the feeding and get help with absolutely everything else, as if you can get it to work it will make your life much easier when baby is a bit older. But if you can't manage it, there's no shame in a bottle, and if you give in during the initial phase and offer one or more bottles, it doesn't mean you have failed and have to give up breastfeeding completely unless you want to.

For me, leaving aside the benefits for the baby, the advantages were not having to get up in the night to make bottles up, never being caught out by staying out later than expected and running out of bottles, never having to wait for the sterilizer to finish or boiling water to cool down with a baby screaming with hunger, never running out of formula at 3 in the morning, or having to find money to pay for it when I was short of cash.

As for weaning, you can choose depending on what suits you. Lots of people stop breastfeeding when they want to go back to work or when baby starts solids. Some keep going to toddlerhood but usually just night feeds. Some feed school age children! Personally I weaned no 1 at 4 months (was pregnant again and at that time that was when you introduced solids), no 2 at 10 months (went back to work) and no 3 at 5 months (on medical advice he was intolerant to breast milk) but I much preferred the breastfeeding stage for all 3 to the bottle feeding stage as much for the intimacy and closeness as for the practical reasons I gave above.

Tigsteroonie

If I could, I'd have breastfed, but Andrew just wouldn't latch. So, having expressed for 2 months while he was in NICU being tube-fed, I opted to continue expressing and we bottle-fed him on EBM until 6 months, then moved onto prescription formula (reluctantly).

Don't talk to me about weaning. It's not going well. We started at 6 months and we haven't got much further at 18 months :mad: :rotfl:

steph7163

hi

I bottlefed my 1st daughter 18years ago:eek: because at that time the thought of breastfeeding did not appeal - fast forword 15years and i had another daughter whom i decided to try & breastfeed with the plan being if i can do it fab if not well at least i tried, i managed to feed for 11months (til she started to get teeth) the last 3months were only night feeds i also have done the same with my now 18month old and plan the same with my next one , the only advice i can give is if you decide to give it a go do it because you want to & not because you feel pressured, dont be afraid to ask for support there is great support out there & if it doesnt work out dont worry much better to have a happy mum & happy baby:D also get a product on prescription called Lasinoh & use it it is great.
Good luck with whatever you decide

steph

motherofstudents

I breastfed my two boys for 15 months each. It was hard to get started with the first one and if I hadn't been determined to do it and eventually got proper help I would have given up. I'm going back 20 years so hopefully things have improved and you will get help from midwives/health visitor. It was easy once I got the hang of it and convenient and of course best for the baby and best for you. Don't think that the baby will automatically know how to do it, they will just suck and it's up to you to get them in the right position. Good luck, once you get over the first week you will never look back. Of course you can stop whenever you want but it will be a good start for your child and if you can't get the hang of it don't guilt trip yourself !

mum2twinsx2

Do what feels right too you.

mrs_marty

I would recommend trying to breastfeed but keep an open mind. I tried to Breast feed my eldest daughter and for me it wasn't good and gave up after ten weeks and moving to bottle was the best thing I ever did. With my other two I just went straight to bottle as I did not want to end up in the same state I was in, and proved to be the best way forward and I dont regret it one single bit. For some it works others it doesn't. Good luck x