breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding

Kimberley82

Do what works for you, having a happy mummy is more important than what sort of food baby has

onlyroz

I'd suggest giving it a go (and by this I mean for a fortnight at a minimum) and see how you get on.

digitalphase

I'm going to give it a go

I think it is best for baby in terms of nutrients, even if you can only manage to do it for the first few days. A little is better than nothing. Also heard it helps the baby weight drop off more quickly and you can get back into shape easier. Also hoping it tells my SPD to !!!! off as well

Though if it doesn't work out I will go to formula. I am not going to stress myself and baby out bf if it doesn't suit us.

Give it a go, you have nothing to loose.

I was also thinking this thread may turn into a debate, but hopefully not

ajaney

Give it a try as you go to bottles if it doesnt work out but it can be difficult to go to breast after bottles.

I did 6 months exclusive & 2 months mixed. It was hard work at first but ultimately worth it, I look back with fondness & am pleased I perservered past the first couple of weeks. My little one was putting his little arm around me while he was feeding & the feel of his little warm hand on my back was just lovely!

Best of luck!

Becles

I would give it a go, simply because you can breastfeed then bottlefeed, but it's very difficult to start on bottles then try breastfeeding.

If you don't get on with breastfeeding, don't cut yourself up over it and try with a bottle.

My main reason for liking breastfeeding is that during the night it's much easier and quicker to whip a boob out, than to go downstairs and make up or warm up a bottle

space_rider

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

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)

Same here. I just loved the convenience of not having to get up to make up bottles, mess about with sterilisers and being caught out without enough formula. I fed all 4 of my daughters. Last one ended up in hospital for 20 weeks from 6 weeks old but I managed to pump whilst she was being fed by a tube. None of mine wanted to give up so I had to make the decision for them. This ranged from 20 months to 2 years 5 months.

One of my daughters is now pregnant and I would love her to be able to breast feed. I have suggested she gives it a try but not to get hung up about it. A happy mother feeding a happy baby by whatever means is what is important.

skintchick

One thing I would recommend tthat you do, is find out about local breastfeedig drop-in cafes/clinics, and even start going along to them, while still pregnant. Breastfeeding is an art that needs to be learned, so make your contacts now so you know where to go when you need some help, and find out what oyu want to know before baby arrives.

I breastfed my DD exclusively for 6 months (we co-slept too) and she continues to breastfeed now at 19 months.

I first planned to stop at 6 weeks, then 6 months, then a year,and each time I felt it was right ot continue,a nd after a year I just thought 'oh we'll stop when she wants to!' so here we are! I wouldn;t think about weaning yet, ther'es plenty of time for those decisions.

Oh and also get al the breastfeeding support helpline numbers (BfN, NCT, La Leche League, etc.) ready for when you need to call someone for some help.

Basically, be prepared.

vroombroom

thanks everyone, very informative:D

I'm definitely going to give breastfeeding a go and see how we get on, but we do have a bottle/steriliser kit just in case and have a few cases of formula in case as wel.

In regards to the groups, I am actually going to one on Tuesday so I will let you know how I get on x

Loonytoons

I breastfed both of mine and will definitely be giving it a go this time. I just found it so much easier especially when you find they only want a little bit so perhaps didn't need it in the first place but if i'd have made up a bottle for them to only have a sip i wouldn't have been very impressed, lol. My youngest was lactose intolerant so i was so glad i decided to breastfeed him otherwise he would have been really ill and i would have wondered why. I ended up feeding him for a year even though i was back at work, i also expressed so OH could feel involved.

Definitely give it a go if you can but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work for you

jcr16

when i was preg with my first i never read anything, reasearched anthing. i never said which i would do, i planned to just go with the flow and see how i felt. Well that was soon made aparent by midwifes what i was gonna do.

I just came out of threatre, and a midwife came along said your baby is hungray pulled my nightie down, man handled my boob and shoved abby on. I hated it HOW DARE SHE. no asking me , no thought for my feeling's. i'm no prude but no way do i want my boobs yanked out by someone i don't know to just assume thats what i was gonna do. they then proceed to tell me i was doing it all wrong, yanked me about. i was almost in tear's.i'm not a machine, i'm a person with feeling's. it may be normal for them to yank a boob about but not mine !

a diff nurse came on at night and i was begging for her to give me a bottle after what happened and she was amazing. so helpful . i think if i'd not had sucha bad experiance i may of tried for a bit longer.

however from then i really struggle. with my next baby i was physically sick when BF. i would need a bucket by my side. i don't feel comfortable with using my boobs for that. but i keep going for 11 weeks i did so, mainly night feeds as i was prob too tired to feel sick.

with my 3rd baby, i did try again and for about 6 weeks. but in the end bottles were used. i don't feel guilty about using them. and yes ok it may be natural and fine and best feeling in world, but for me it isn't

with this baby, again i'm not making my mind up until baby is born.if i can do it , then great. if i can't then i know i've tried and thats all i can do.