breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding

yellowbear

Echoing what skintchick said.

Speak to other mums and see how they do it.

Also, have your baby put onto your chest/tummy straight after s/he is born. It's a great way to get breastfeeding started.

Plenty of skin to skin contact at any time - it's really good at stimulating your milk supply.

Feed frequently - around 8-12 times in 24 hrs. Yes, it seems like a lot but a newborn's tummy is around the size of a marble. It only holds around 5-7mls.

creditcard123

Congratulations and hope all goes well:)

I breastfeed 1st daughter (18 yrs ago) for 6 weeks after pressure off parents to give up, I was only 18 at the time

2nd I breastfed for 10 months and loved it I found it so relaxing it
3rd BF for 11 months again I loved it
The not getting up in middle of night was an absolute godsend
No sterilising bottles and making bottles

I went to back to work at 4 months with 2 younger ones and they were bottlefed when I wasnt there and BF when I was it worked great

Whatever you decide will be the best thing for you and baby

gratefulforhelp_2

Someone Becles? on the parents' thread summed this up nicely...

if you bottlefeed people will say you are not doing right by your baby
if you breastfeed people will say its disgusting and harangue you if you dare to do it in public...

I breastfed last two and plan to b/f this one, breastfeeding up to 2 years may not seem so wacky to you when you meet the baby.

Have a go, see if you can get to 6 months, but every week is a bonus to baby, so whatever you can do will be good. There is no point in making yourself stressed/ill/miserable over it though.

There are some very experienced clever breastfeeding expert on MSE who will help you if you wish.

zippybungle

I've had 3 Kids, the first I only breast fed for about 3 months, looking back I wish I had done it longer, but I was quite a young Mum and just didn't have a clue what I was doing With my other 2 Kids, I felt much more confident and breastfed them both for approx 16-18 months.

If you are worried about feeding in public, you don't need to be. You can easily feed a baby discreetly in public. Just take a muslin cloth or blanket with you and people will just think you are cuddling your baby. You can even get special 'feeding' tops.

Zippy x

Make-it-3

I'm glad that we've got to page 2 of this thread without it getting militant as breast v bottle can be a very controversial subject. OP you will find that many healthcare professionals have very strong opinions.

I'd just like to add my experience seven weeks into BF my baby. There's no doubt that breast feeding is the most nutricious way to feed your baby, but it is hard, really hard so you do have to be committed to it. There are new mums I know who are having a really difficult time with latching, soreness, mastisis etc but are sticking with it. I have been lucky that I have hardy boobs, but I still have latching issues and LO has weight issues, also what no-one told me was how time consuming it is. You literally have to give yourself over to it in the first few weeks. Having said that the biggest benefits are cost (nil so very MSE), on tap and no fussing making up bottles, is much easier to feed at night. Breast feeding mums generally get much more sleep and getting sleep is so important as sleep deprevation puts a whole new spin on recovering from labour and managing the challenges of a new baby. It's also really nice for bonding and feeling that you are doing something very wonderful for your child.

I would say if you are happy to consider it do give it a go and as others have said you need to start pretty much straight away (ie in the first week) as you can't come back to it once your milk has dried up.

clairec79

I had a similar attitude to you with my first and she was bottlefed before we left hospital, I got very upset a few ays later -probably a good deal to do with normal baby blues

My second tried again and fed for 7 weeks then stopped before I went back to work, did get upset afterwards as I felt I'd stopped before either of us were ready

My third I breastfed (and mixed fed after returning to work) for 7 months, was a little sad when I stopped but more in a sad that he was growing up and missing himbeing a baby than how I felt before

Ths time he's 4 months not sure how long I'll do it for, I quite like the idea of leaving it up to him but that may change

rachbc

I was fortunate enough to feed both mine - ds for 11 months til he lost interest and dd til 15 months. I loved the ease and conveince of feeding them myself.

quietheart

I found breastfeeding incredibly difficult the first time, I had a militant health visitor and in the mad fog of it all didn't think bottle feeding was an option - I look back now i think i must've been mad!:o Breast feeding is amazing when it works, the convenience, the way it seems to magically send baby to sleep, the fact it's what nature intended for your baby. But don't do what I did and be a slave to it, don't let baby go hungry, don't be a martyr. Enjoy it, it gets a whole lot easier and then it's a walk in the park.
Second time it was like my body knew what to do and it was easy. Bottle feeding will do the job just fine though so don't buy into the madness that can surround a new mum.
Best of luck.

Gingham_Ribbon

I breastfed my first for 18 months and my second until he was 2.

We stopped when it was right for us - first time because of drugs I had to take and second time because I'd had enough.

Worked for us - easy, convenient, no waiting for baby and no extra washing/sterilising for me.

pinkshoes

DS (18 weeks) is currently attached to my boob!

I don't think bottle feeding should even be an option unless there's a very good reason why you can't breast feed.

(ps - breastfeeding is HARD work, and it's taken me a LOT of effort to get this far, but I am SO pleased I persevered).