A question to mothers who formula feed?

Question

Since birth my son has never learnt to latch on. Initially I alternated between Expressed breast milk and formula. Since stopping the formula 4 weeks ago the weight gain has slowed to hardly anything. In that new mum panic that I'm sure many new mums are prone to - I've started to formula feed again, with a couple of bottles of EBM to keep up the antibodies etc. I'm finding that people seem to be so critical and almost blame the mother for not being able to breast feed - am I alone in finding this? I'd be grateful to hear from other mums on what they've found and how the feed their babies.

Answer 1

When I had my son, in the beginning I supplemented breast milk with formula. He latched on good enough, and did really well with expressed milk in the bottle. He didn't really like the formula (I tried multiple kinds). I got about 3 months of exclusive breastfeeding in once I had enough energy, but my supply was gone after about 14 weeks of breastfeeding. I had no choice but to give him formula, with breastfeeding in the mornings and at nights until my supply was completely gone. I am currently 4 months pregnant, and I plan on breastfeeding again...

Any amount of breast milk is always good for the baby. It doesn't matter if you breast feed exclusively, or decide to supplement. It is your own personal choice, and you shouldn't let the opinions of others get in the way of how you CHOOSE to feed your child. My son has only had one ear infection in his 15 months, and only one really bad cold.

Good luck to you....keep that baby healthy, and you're doing a wonderful job!!

Answer 2

don't feel bad for having a hard time breastfeeding. it is the best thing for both of you but it can be stressful. try a few things when the baby is hungry. make sure you are comfortable. this is important because otherwise you will be tense and the baby will feel that. Drink a glass of water before you feed and make sure you have some with you when you are feeding the baby. The water will get the milk flowing more. if you are dehydrated, you are not going to be able to release the milk as well also. These two things are important, and it is OK to let the baby cry for a minute or two while you are getting ready. when you are feeding, try and have the baby skin to skin with you. also, have the baby as upright as possible, this will cut down in his gas, and make things flow better. let me know if you have any questions. I have two kids and one on the way. don't worry, you are not alone in the breastfeeding problems. Is there a WIC program near you? they usually have breastfeeding support groups that may be able to help also. Your hospital may have a lactation nurse that could help also. Like I said go ahead and email me with any more questions. good luck.

blessed be.

Answer 3

You are not alone chickie!!!
I had a baby boy last December and within a few weeks due to stress and other things I lost my milk so I have been formula feeding ever since and if people have a problem with it f**k em! Also I found when I put him onto Karicare Gold he gained weight quick as and at 4months was in line with a 6month old baby on the governmeant charts. At the end of the day it is up to you but you are ment to enjoy motherhood not hate it and if you are always stressing about being able to provide the next feed there isn't a lot of enjoyment!
Good luck chick...

Answer 4

I have found that people are really critical if you don't breast feed. My son is 3 years old, they asked if I breast feed when he was a baby and when I tell them "no" they are in shock, even though I had valid reasons not to. When he was a child, I did EBM and formula because I wanted him to get the antibodies,etc. but I did feel really guilty. Now I realize that it is my body and my son, and I did the best I could for him and have no guilt. He's perfectly healthy now, there was no adverse results besides criticisms from others.

Answer 5

My mom tried to breast feed all three of us after we were born, but she couldnt make it more than two weeks or so without us no longer latching on right, or her breasts getting infected...

We all ended up on formula until we were about 6-8 months, when we were switched to whole milk.

Iam currently 23 and having my first baby, and ended up quite happy and healthy, so did my younger brothers who are now young teens and the size of foot ball players.

Babies are insanely resilient, and formulas are the next best thing to breast milk as far as digestion and absorbing the nutrients are concerned. Ever since its introduction back in the... what 40's?... its been tested against breast milk, and no one has EVER found breast fed babies to be any smarter, or better than formula babies.

I hope to breast feed this baby for a few months, for its sake, and for my body... but that doesnt mean i think anyone else should feel they have to.

Theres formula so women dont have to suffer through mastitis and bloody nipples.

Dont let those le leche moms get your goat.

Answer 6

My son was a preemie and never could latch on and it was very frustrating. Breast pumps are VERY expensive and to rent them for any length of time is expensive (At least the good ones are) I pumped breast milk for the 10 weeks that my son was in Children's Hospital and the nurses put it in his feeding tube, but they also mixed his with formula to speed up weight gain. I was not producing enough milk to sustain him when he came home so I switched to all formula and he jsut turned 2 on Thurs and is VERY healthy, smart, and active. He was almost 3 months early and he has no signs of any delays at all. He is even ahead of some children his same age that were NOT preemies. You do whatever you have to do in order to feed your child and don't worry about what others think. It really is none of their business!!

Answer 7

Both my babies would not breastfeed. I had a dairy factory in my breasts, however, and of course I suffered pain and engorgemnet because even though I pumped and often removed 8-10 ounces every 2-3 hours, I still wound up with plugged ducts and fever from mild infection.

If you have a computer, 9 times out of 10 you live in an industrialized nation. Guess what? Formula fed babies in developed nations thrive, grow, and are just as healthy as (or healthier than) breastfed babies. Don't starve your baby. If you need to supplement, DO IT!! I hate those La Leche kooks that advocate starving poor children just because they beleive formula is poison. That's bullshit. It has saved many a child all around the world. And, just FYI, your baby has received all the antibodies his system has at the moment from your placenta when he was still in you womb in the last months. Yes, the colostrum contains active antibodies, but these are not absorbed in the infant's body. It's just sort of a blueprint to trigger their own response. Guess what else? Your child has already been exposed to your household germs, pathogens, and bacteria...as well as your own vaginal flora from birth, and through the placenta. So whether or not you continue to breastfeed, your infant has considerable protection from disease already. Just practice sound hygeine, and he'll be healthy.

People always want to demean formula fed babies and their parents. The best thing to do is do what you feel comfortable with. If you want to formula feed, then do it. If you want to combine, do it. If you want to breastfeed, do it. No one can make that call but you. Just feed the child something appropriate, and adequate!!

Any woman who thinks their mothering skills are better just because they breastfeed have issues. If they criticize you, so what? It all stems from THEIR lame little issues, and that's not your problem. Formula is not enriched uranium or cyanide, it's an excellent source of nutrition for babies up to one year of age. You accept their blame, because you are insecure and you are allowing them to make you bear their cross. Throw it down, shake it off, and worry about your son. Pray for these judgemental looney toons and go on with your life, and do what you have to do. Just remember, these people have problems. Live your life and be happy.

Be blessed.

Answer 8

When my son was born my husband was deployed to Iraq...so I had moved back into my parents house to save money...etc. At first I felt very pressured to breastfeed (by my husband, his family...and even my doctor) It was so hard going through everything...and on top of that I felt that I HAD to breastfeed. I decided when I got home from the hospital that I didn't want to breastfeed. I wasn't comfortable doing it in front of my dad...and I really didn't think it was that scary. Breastfeeding seems to have turned from a personal choice to a pressured choice. I was bottle-fed and so has my son...we are no different or less intelligent then a breastfed baby. I think it's more of a choice of what you want or need. I use Enfamil Gentlease because my son had a problem with gas at first and I never switched back! I think as long as you do make it a bonding experience while bottle feeding (not propping..cuddling) it is just the same as breastfeeding.

Answer 9

I think you should feed your baby however works best for you and your child. Don't worry about how other people feel because at the end of the day, it is just you and your child that count. Babies grow and are healthy whether they are formula or breast feed. Just be confident in yourself that you have done all you can to try and breast feed, sometimes it doesn't work out, don't be so hard on yourself.

Answer 10

you do whatever you are comfortable with and whatever makes you baby happy. At the end of the day the most important thing id the health of you and your baby. Nobody else has the RIGHT to comment on it at all. You know your baby and your body and you know what is best for them.

What gets me, is that there's all these 'do-godders' out there that bang the 'breast is best' drum constantly. Yet WHY is there STILL so much STIGMA about DOING IT IN PUBLIC???

Honestly, these poor mothers don't know whether they are coming or going with the whole breast feeding thing. I really feel for them.

My honest advice straight from the heart would be STUFF WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS, YOU DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU.

You can please some of the people, some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, so best to PLEASE YOURSELF!!!!!

sorry if that turned into a bit of a rant there. Take care xxxx