Do you use Formula for your baby -- why?

Question

What was the situation where you decided to use Formula instead of breastfeeding?

Did you try unsuccessfully to breastfeed beforehand? Or, had you decided against breastfeeding before the baby was born?

What were the factors leading you in the direction of using Formula rather than breastfeeding?

Was mother HIV, double mastectomy, poor health, anxiety, low milk, etc. a factor? Or perhaps baby premature, cleft lip, adopted, etc.

Finally, are you aware of Midwives and the help they can give you before, during, and after birth, or such worldwide groups as www.lllc.ca www.lalecheleague.org www.laleche.org.uk for those who want to give or receive breastfeeding support.

Please, no angry, defensive, or generally negative answers, I’m not interested in such responses (let’s all be friends, OK?). Just the facts as you see them, thank you.

Answer 1

I breast fed my son for 3 weeks, and to be honest that was as long as I could possibly do it!!! Let alone the physical trauma that I endured to have my son , I felt that coming home and being the only one who could feed him to be way too much to handle!!! Why not rest and let my scars heal before I decide to be super mom!? So I opted to start supplimenting formula into my babys diet, and daddy started doing latenight feedings (WHICH-by the way SAVED my sanity! Sleep deprivasion is one of the worst things I have ever had to endure- ever!!)
To be honest, it was a happy ending as far as I'm concerned....I got the rest I despratly needed, dad and baby got A LOT more bonding time together, and he got the BEST of formulas, and didn't seem affected by the transition at all!!! So all's well that ends well!! Dont feel bad if you can not breast feed, for ANY reason!!!
As for your comment about hiring a midwife....you have to realise that hiring a midwife is just NOT an option for A LOT of families, where money is a problem!!

Answer 2

I had it practicly written in stone that I was going to breast feed my first daughter. At 3 days old at midnight I called the hospital hyserical cause I just couldn't bare another feeding and had no Idea what kind of formula to buy, I did see a lactation consultant and they told me that the baby was latched on right so she didn't know what to tell me, so I really had no choice than to quit I would scream and cry every time i fed her it was awful, then when I did give it up it sent me into the baby blues for a couple of days. going through to find a formula that worked was awful, she had somekind of milk alergy so finally after 3 weeks of constipation and throwing up every feeding the doctor told me to try soy formula and never had a problem after that.
When I had my second I definatly wanted to attempt nursing again but it was set in stone this time lol. after 2 days I had all the same bleeding and cracking and pain as the 1st time, so once again I called the lactation consultant, but this one was awesome, she set up and appointment w/ wic for me to pick up one of those big electric pumps and had me pump every 2 hours around the clock for 2 days and after that I put my daughter back on the breast, it still hurt but not nearly as bad so I stuck with it and every day got easier and easier, now almost 11 months later I am still nursing and loving every minute of it, If I knew then what i know now I would have stuck in it w/ my first. but both of my girls are very healthy happy girls. for me I prefer breastfeeding by far, but i don't think there is anything wrong w/ formula. when ever a friend is pregnant and doesn't know if she wants to breast or bottle feed, I alway suggest atleast giving it a try, I have some that have stuck w/ it and some who did go to formula, but most have atleast given it a shot.

Answer 3

My first child was breastfed for 6 months... the only reason i stopped was because he started childcare so he had to have formula at the center and because i was only feeding him twice a day my milk stopped after a while.
My second child i got formula a day or two after getting out of the hospital due to cracked nipples so i wanted to give them a break.... i did try pumping but had no luck. but as soon as i felt ok baby was right back on the beast and no more formula!
Theres nothing better then the breast milk.

Answer 4

I am planning on formula feeding. This is my first pregnancy and I have been frowned apon for this choice. My mother never breastfed me or my siblings. We are all very healthy and have very strong immune systems. The formula today can give most if not all of the same nutrients that I can if I breastfed. I know its a natural process and normal, but for some reason unknown to me, I don't feel I could ever be comfortable breastfeeding. I am very shy about my body and get very nervous when anyone is near me. I am not trying to be negative, but I believe that its just not for me. Even my fiance is getting on my case for not wanting to breastfeed.

Answer 5

I breastfed my girl until last week... she's 13mths old and we had both decided that we could move on to a sippy cup of milk. I do feel slightly guilty as I know even at this age breastmilk is better, but I exclusively breastfed for 6 mths, and continued strong past her 1yr mark so I feel good about that.

Are you trying to understand why women opt for formula when there is no medical reason behind their decision? I wasnt clear where you were going with your question...

Answer 6

When I had my son I was determined to nurse him for at least 6 months. My husband and I both went to every breastfeeding class available at the hospital, and met with lactation consultants every day after I gave birth. Things seemed to be working out pretty well.
Once I got home things changed. I had over-active let down and so I was basically drowning the baby in my milk when he ate. He ate hard and fast and gasped for air and the only way he could nurse normal is if I held him higher than my breast so gravity would slow the milk down.
We were both miserable, and let me tell you, this was no bonding experience. After much consideration and support from my family and friends, I made the hard decision to quit after two short weeks.
After that things changed dramatically for the better. My son was able to eat normally and I looked foreward to each feeding instead of dreading it, we were finally bonding with each other and happy together.
Let the record show my son never had an ear infection and only had a cold 3 times in his first year versus the national average of 9. Also, his formula was garunteed nutrition for him and his growing body versus him depending on my wavering diet to nourish him.
Please, whoever reads this, please, please follow you heart and follow the needs of your individual child and do not feel guilty if you have to make the choice to stop nursing.

Answer 7

I chose to supplement with formula at about 6 months, I disliked pumping, was never really succesful, so I wanted my son to be able to eat while I was away, and not have to worry about pumping ahead of time. I had a pretty bad inner ear infection that really threw me out of wack and even though I could bf with this illness I could not take any meds to clear it, so I had to wait 2 weeks (of hell) to get back to normal. I didn't want to stop bf, and was afraid of him not taking formula if I really needed him to. He used to get 2 bottles a day, with 3 bf, but when he dropped a feed, I dropped a formula feed. So much easier to bf when you have the hang of it. And midwives are great ! That's who I chose, and the support is just outstanding !

Answer 8

*sighs* I hate questions like those. Breastmilk is absolutely the maximum suitable. of course your buddy knows this, or she would not have tried breastfeeding in any respect, no longer to show proceed attempting after she progressed problems. toddler formula is a suitable substitute for breastmilk. Is it as stable? No. no longer something is as stable as mom's milk for a toddler. besides the fact that, there are a number of stuff she will do to make this complete adventure extra useful. She would desire to make effective that she holds the toddler while she's feeding, carry the toddler close, only like she might if she have been nursing. Make it a quiet, particular time for her to bond with him, in no way prop a bottle! Make feeding time a particular and loving time for them the two. many human beings have been formula fed and grew to become out devoid of any unwell outcomes. And no, it particularly is maximum honestly no longer real that breastfed infants in no way fall unwell. they'd get much less unwell, or they'd get nicely quicker, yet particular, they do fall unwell. they have an inclination to have much less hypersensitive reactions to nutrition and issues like that, they have an inclination to no longer be obese, and that they have an inclination to no longer get ear infections as many times, yet they do nevertheless fall unwell. of direction she is going to grieve for the lack of breastfeeding, exceedingly by way of fact it looks her heart grow to be so set on it. it particularly is totally usual, only help her and tell her that she continues to be a outstanding mom, and he or she did in spite of everything furnish the toddler with breastmilk for as long as she in all likelihood would desire to. Any breastfeeding is extra useful than none.

Answer 9

I breastfeed all 3 of my kids till they were 12 and 13 months old. I knew before i had any of them that's what i was going to do. It is better for them. Never even had formula in the house.
So i am happy i was able to do it.

Answer 10

I decided before he was born that I wasn't comfortable with breastfeeding. Yes, I know it's completely natural, but it wasn't for me. We talked about it in childbirth classes, and the nurse said if I wasn't comfortable, the baby would know and not be comfortable.
I have a perfectly healthy little boy. Kudos to those who breastfeed; it just wasn't the right choice for me.
Yes, I knew about midwives and lalaeche, but I knew the pros and cons of breastfeeding and I'm comfortable with my choice.