breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding

RedwoodBrook

pinkshoes wrote: »

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).

Not wanting to is a good enough reason as far as I am concerned.

iamana1ias

pinkshoes wrote: »

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).

There's always one :rolleyes:

galvanizersbaby

pinkshoes wrote: »

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).

lol! - was wondering when someone would open that can of worms

OP - If I were you I would keep an open mind on breastfeeding and give it a go - the health benefits for both you and baby are so worth it (so we are told)
Having said that as others have mentioned be prepared that it could be anything short of easy - I've tried to breastfeed both of mine but not been very successful for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes I hear mums to be talking about how they plan to feed their babies and express milk etc... and it becomes painfully obvious that they are not expecting breastfeeding to present such a challenge (mind this could be said for motherhood itself!)
I will try to breastfeed number 3 when she is born but I will not be beating myself up if I don't succeed.;)

avstar

Do what feels right for you.

Give breastfeeding a go and see how you get on altho be prepared it might take a while to get into it.

I breastfed my DD for 6 months, never had any problems as I had gallons of milk (Had to wear a nappy on each boob in the first few weeks as the little breastpads couldn't soak it up fast enough, small ones are more juicy as they say LOL!)

I loved the convenience, no sterilising, no getting up in the night, cheap and I lost the baby weight fast! Boobs were still perky afterwards cos I know thats aconcern for some mums, altho I was only 20 at the time so that might have helped.

I don't agree that BF is hard for all mums, I don't remember it being hard at all, I realise I was very lucky and maybe very rare but it all went like clockwork.

I know lots of mums who didn't get on with BF for various reasons and thats fine, you must do whats right for you and your baby and don't be pressurised either way by anyone.

Altho I have to say in the hospital I didn't get the militant BF mob, I got the bottle mums trying to conviince me to bottle feed instead.

nonnie44

I was determined to feed my ds but when in the delivery room the nurse said "my god this child has a suck like a jet engine" that should have been a hint that there may be a little bit of pain to follow!

Latched on fine, feed within 20 mins and the whole time my toes were curled. I attended a workshop before he was born and was advised not to use a nipple shield and unfortunately they would not give me one in the hospital either, needless to say by day 3 cracked, bleeding and pure agony were all in play and I just couldn't take any more.

So I moved to bottles and beat myself up for a long time and really felt like a failure.

My advise is perhaps to think about buying a set "just in case" and if it isn't for you then that's ok, the fact that you are going to try is great!

Good Luck :T

vroombroom

thanks again everyone, its great to hear opinions and experiences.

I've just come back from my midwife where we discussed this quite a bit and like the majority of posters have said, that its a complete personal choice. I'm definitely going to give BF a go, mainly due to the health benefits and financial savings

brazilianwax

My DD (22 weeks) has expressed milk from bottles, and has since we got home from hospital. It suits us. Breastfeeding presents some physical challenges for me and this way she gets the benefit of breast milk with the convenience of having it anytime, anywhere (even in a moving car - which you can't do if breastfeeding ) from anyone. She had some formula in hospital and has occasionally needed some as a top up at home.

You can't know what you'll do until you try. Either way you'll find a solution.

Mrs_Arcanum

Definitely try to BF first. Fed both mine until 20 months (was only once a day by then). Very convenient and no having to plan everything or get stressed on how much milk they are having. Best weight loss system ever invented.

DD was premature via caesarian under a general anaesthetic so was about a day before I could feed her but 8 weeks later she had tripled her birth weight.

Three tips for BF: - Relax - Relax - Relax!

It is ok to fail and no one should feel guilty about this.

barbiedoll

I work with new mums and there are a lot of myths surrounding breastfeeding. Militant midwives don't really help anyone, especially tearful new mums, it is absolutely mum's choice and hers alone as to how she feeds her baby. So don't be bullied!

However.....most mums CAN breastfeed if they want to, I've probably seen only one mother in the past 5 years who literally had no milk, despite feeding regularly, latching well and positioning well. Even the consultant could find no reason for her problem, she simply didn't lactate.
But for most women, there are two main reasons why they find BF so difficult.

The first is tongue-tie in the baby. This is incredibly common and if you know anyone who speaks with a lisp, it's almost guaranteed that they are tongue-tied. Sadly, many midwives and health visitors don't spot it and even a very small posterior (back) tongue-tie can cause huge problems with BF. If anyone is experiencing pain when BF, they should ask someone to check for tongue-tie, there is lots of information on the internet, have a look yourself if you are concerned, it's really not that hard to spot!

Secondly, small, flat or inverted nipples. Most BF experts will recoil at the mention of nipple shields but I have met lots of women who have used them with great success. If anyone has flat or inverted nipples, they could try using a breast pump to pull the nipple out before attaching the baby for feeding. If nipple shields protect your nipples and you are happy to use them, go for it. I certainly wouldn't have a problem recommending them to my mums, if I think they will help. They do come in different sizes though so don't think that if one set haven't helped, you're a hopeless case! Try a different size.

Also, thrush of the nipple can be the cause of severe pain during BF, as can a little-known disorder called Reynaud's Phenomen of the nipple.
Again, these conditions are often missed by health workers/midwives, so if you are concerned, see a GP, who will be able to diagnose and treat if necessary.

And of course, positioning is really important too. Despite lots of information at classes and in books, trying to feed a squealing newborn is terrifying and lots of mums completely forget everything that they have been told about positioning. To keep it simple, just make sure baby is in a straight line with his/her tummy lying against yours. And don't make the baby stretch or crane their neck. Move them about until they are in the right place and go for it. You'll need a bit of practice, but no-one gets it right first time!

But ultimately, BF is just not for everyone. Lots of children have been formula fed (including me!) and a lot of us are still here to tell the tale. New motherhood can be a difficult time at best, feeling guilty about feeding your baby is something that we can all do without. Remember too, that BF is a little like learning to ride a bicycle. You can read about it, you can watch videos showing you how to do it but until you get on a bike (and fall off!) you cannot possibly know what it is going to feel like.

Good luck OP, and to all new mums! Let us know how you get on.

Alfalfa

Our baby is due 2 weeks today and I haven't completely made up my mind what I want to do. I will give breast feeding a try but if it doesn't work out for me and my baby I won't feel "guilty" about bottle feeding. In fact, I already have my steriliser and bottles/teats if I do decide to bottle feed.

The way I look at it is you and your baby decide what us best for the both of you. It annoys me to hear people say "You SHOULD breastfeed" as I honestly think it's down to the individual. Yes, I understand the benefits of breastfeeding and as I've said i'll probably give it a go but if I have a hungry baby who I can't for whatever reason breastfeed I have no qualms about giving him or her bottled milk. I know plenty of people who were bottle
fed (including me) who have turned out completely fine!

Do what suits you, that's my plan of action x