Breast Feeding Vs Bottle Feeding?

Question

Just interested to hear your opinions...I'll give mine first. I know that breast is best, but I chose to bottle feed both my children. The first time round it was ignorance and embarrassment, because I was young and my mum, partner and his family had all bottle fed, and I didn't feel there was anyone positive I could speak to. The second time round, I felt it would be too hard with a toddler around, and that I might bond better with the second than the first, which may cause problems in the long run.

I actually think that giving newborns cows milk is a bit mental when a mother has her own milk which is tailored to her own child. I don't actually drink cows milk, and I'm angry with myself for giving it to my babies :(

If I had my time over again, I'd breastfeed without hesitation. I won't be having anymore children, and I actually feel like I've missed out on something really special, and something which my body is made to do...and that's sad.

For whoever it was that says babies don't have cows milk they have formula...what do you think formula is made from!?

When I said I gave my kids cows milk, I meant formula obviously, but it's the same thing to me.

Answer 1

1st lets get this straight, U R NOT A BAD MOM for not breastfeeding for whatever reasons, so stop feeling bad over that. Ur children are fine I am sure. Everyone cant breastfeed for whatever reasons. What I did with my daughter that is now 2 years old and I plan on doing with the baby I am having in a few weeks is: I pumped for the whole 13 mos and put the breast milk in bottles. Some people said I was making it harder on me, but I didnt have a prob with it, bcuz I wanted to see how much my daughter was getting, plus I was having a hard time getting her to latch on right and I didnt want to give her formula, so I did what I thought was best for us. I will try when I have this baby to put him on the breast but I am planning to pump and put it in the bottle anyways. Also this is just my opinion, U have kids and that experience alone has not made U miss out on anything special, bcuz remember some people cant have kids and whos to say if you would have tried to breastfeed that it would have worked? Cheer up, those lil bundles of joy are going to make U have alot of special moments. I feel being able to have a baby is the best thing I have done in llife, it is truly amazing and wonderful. So be thankful and go on raising ur children. Be blessed!!!

Answer 2

I think breastfeed if possible, as it is just as mother nature intended. However, formula is a pretty good substitute for those people who, for whatever reason (there are many) can/do not breastfeed.

Breastfeeding doesn't come as naturally as you might expect, and though you may get the help you need in hospital, this help is not so accessible once the midwife care stops. This is important as the experience changes as your baby grows, and sometimes you need someone to reassure you and say "thats normal". There is support out there, you just have be proactive and find it.

Our society is not breastfeeding friendly, not just in terms of facilities, but attitudes too. Even my mum keeps on that I should give my lo the odd bottle to help her put on weight, thus implying that my milk is not good enough (and she used to be a paediatric nurse)! The Health Visitors are not much better.

Once feeding is established, its so much easier than sterilising bottles, preparing the formula, carrying it with you when you go out... Its always there, always the right temperature, and theres no washing up! Not forgetting the longer term benefits too, not least of which includes getting back in pre-pregnancy jeans in 4 1/2 weeks!

Answer 3

I bottle and breastfed my daughter for the first 6 months. I did the bottle because of what you said, embarrassment. I was very uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, even when family came to visit. I would pump when I gave her a bottle of formula and save it but I never pumped out very much. If I do have another baby I will exclusively breastfeed for a year. It's such a fantastic bond and much easier than cleaning bottles all the time.

You gave cow's milk? I know formula is cow milk based is that what you mean?

Answer 4

To be honest, if I was younger than I was when I had my son I probably would not have breastfed. Do not feel bad about the decisions you made. You were younger then and you did the best you could.

With that being said, my job really opened my eyes to breastfeeding. I worked as a nutritionist for a WIC clinic and I saw a big difference in health in formula vs breastfed babies. Even in babies who were fed both, they seemed to thrive so much more and have less illness than pure fomula fed babies. I had some moms tell me that their babies did terrible on formula and wanted to breastfeed with their future babies. Now I do not want to imply that all formula babies have problems some do beautifully but the majority in my clinic had more allergies, reflux, rashes, bloody stools etc. etc...

It is a sad world that we live in where women are embarrassed by breastfeeding even though it is so natural and it really is the best you can give to your baby.

Answer 5

I would have prefered to breast feed my daughter but unfortunately I just didnt produce anything until about 1 week after she was born. Even the midwifes couldnt get anything out of me and i ended up bleeding! By then she was well and truely on the bottle and just wasnt interested on what i had to offer.
For those that can not breast feed the "artificial" milk is a god send. But i wouldnt say anything is better than your own milk to feed your baby. If you are able to you should give it a go! at the end of the day breasts are to feed a baby (or more than one!) and people shouldnt be ashamed of feeding something that depends on you.

Answer 6

well i tried breast feeding my first but only lasted 5 days, looking back i didnt have enough support or info to carry on and like you when i had my 2nd only a year later i didnt feel that i could feed a baby and look after a toddler and i totally regretted not trying but i had my 3rd 2 years after my 2nd( i had a 3 year old and a 2 year old) and breast feed her and i loved every minute and when i have another i will be breast feeding again. so what im trying to say is that if you want to breast feed make sure you know all the facts especially about expressing when you are findind it a bit hard, it will help you get through it. it is a great feeling know that you are giving your baby the best but can i just say that none of my children have had any health problems

Answer 7

I did breastfeed both my children for the first three months and then switched to formula. I knew when I had my first one that I would be leaving very soon after for basic training, this is why I breastfeed first. I enjoyed it so much that I breast feed the second child for that length of time as well. I think it depends on time and circumstance when making this decision. Either way, I don't think that the child will suffer. With the way formula has evolved, it is actually quite good for babies and probably at the same level of nutrition as breast milk. It really does come down to choice.

P.S. I am the only person in my family to breast feed, they all thought i was nuts.

Answer 8

I breastfed my four babies until they were 18 months old. Because I was a bit of an earth mother - I thought it was natural and best for the baby. I battled through cracked nipples, abscesses, leaking etc etc.
But I don't think that you've missed out on anything, really. You've got your babies, they're the most important thing and I woulnd't beat myself up over something so minor. Maybe I've got this attitude because I did it four times and it's just so "normal" that I don't feel it is anything particularly important. If I had to do it again, I'd breastfeed, yes. But it wouldn't break my heart if I had to buy bottles and sterilisers.

Answer 9

Breast feeding, if you are able to do it, is a really good experience. Not only is it good for the baby giving them much needed anti-bodies but just a great way to be really close to your baby and force you to take a break in your busy routine. Breast feeding helps you to regain your pre-baby figure and is immensely convenient. The bonding issue I don't think rates as you can bond just as well holding a bottle - don't worry that you feel like you missed out - give your kids all the love and support you can - they will remember that far longer than anything else.

Answer 10

I breastfed my first (son). It was hard, my nipples both cracked open and bled. It was painful, messy, and difficult. BUT he didn't get sick, he had this wonderful glow to his skin, and it was nice to snuggle into the couch with him knowing I had what he wanted. I never pumped my milk, I couldn't get a lot to come out.....so the minimal times I had to leave him with daddy, he got some formula. But he didn't eat a lot of it, and spit up more.

With my daughter, I was looking forward to being more experianced, and having tougher nipples. Not true! They cracked and bled again. It was very emotionally draining. But it only lasted for 2 weeks, and the smiles I get when she is nursing are priceless.

I breastfeed in front of family (covered of course), and I cover up and do it in public if needed. It is a wonderful gift. I have to say, that it is not the most enjoyable thing to do, it's messy and hard breasts are certainly not comfortable, but you only do it for 1-3 years max, so why not? That is such a short time to not give the best to your child.