Anyone else sick of the "breast is best" line?

Question

Okay before people go off on a tangent, hear me out. I am 30 weeks pregnant and am going to try to give my child breastmilk. However, when I had my daughter she was unable to breastfeed. It made me feel so bad that I cried about it a lot at first. (I tried lactation consultants and the whole bit). So I pumped and bottled. Guess what? She couldn't tolerate my breastmilk either and at six weeks was placed on a specialty formula. Still everytime I turned around I was being told "breast is best" and it made me feel really bad. Anyone else in this situation? When people say this do they realize some kids can't breastfeed? Please give me some insight.

I guess I should add that the reason was lactose intolerance. I cut all dairy out of my diet for the first six weeks, trying to make it work. The doctor said that wasn't enough and she was placed on Nutramigin.

As for all the people who are like "What would you have done on a desert Island?" or "What would you have done in 1805" here is a question for you. "What would you have done if your childs digestive system couldn't handle something you were feeding her. She cried and cried and had horrible tummy pain. You went to the doctor who told you to stop giving your child breastmilk?" I don't know what i would have done on a desert Island, but I sure as hell wasn't going to put my child through unnecessary pain.

Answer 1

i never breastfed and i never will. my son is lactose intolerant so hes on soy based formula..which i cant give to him from my own body... i had total strangers ask me if i was going to brest feed. i told them nope. they wanted to go off on tangents on me. i just told them "thats fine for you. but this is my baby and ill will do it my way. have a nice day and heres your change" (i was usually at work when they tried to convine me of the wonders of breast feeding.

Answer 2

Well... I had that problem with my first two daughters... it got to the point that the doctor told me I HAD to supplement with formula because they were losing too much weight. BUT that was with my girls.. With my boys I had no problems.. I nursed my now 2 year old until he was 16 months (1 months before I had my now 10 month old) and my 10 month old is still nursing.. so I have to say, please give this baby every chance to breastfeed.. and if it comes down to it, do the lactation consultant and everything again, but if this baby won't do it.. then you have to bottle feed.. simple as that.. No one can tell you what is or is not best for your baby! It is true that breast milk is the best nutrition.. but that is only true if your baby will actually breastfeed! So the next time someone tells you that, Ask them how its best when the child won't take it and would slowly starve! It will stop the person in their tracks and make them think!

Good luck hon!

Answer 3

Well let me just start off by saying Yes breast Is Best..But I think you have to do what makes you happy.I breastfed my son for 9 months..My middle daughter I only breastfed for 5 weeks.And with my daughter now I am still breastfeeding her at 7 months. I was SO overwhelmed that I think I might have lost my mind if I didn't stop breastfeeding.And you know my daughter is just as healthy as my other kids.So I hate when people get all crazy about the whole breastfeeding thing..I am just a believer in "It's your baby and NO one should make you feel bad for choosing not to breastfeed"

But for the person who said breastfeeding is Gross.You need to become more educated on things.Breastfeeding is a part of nature.It is not gross.How is a baby being feed Gross??

Answer 4

My son wouldn't breastfeed either, the lactation consultant blamed it on being tounge tied, etc etc etc. I felt so bad, and to this day still regret not breastfeeding him. Looking back I realize I had little support, and being a new mom I was totally stressed. You know what though? He is very healthy and smart at 17 months old now, formula never hurt him any. My daughter, now 6 months, is totally opposite of my son and won't take anything but the breast! Lol. So, you never know. This one may take to it like my daughter did, but if not don't beat yourself up over it. Good luck, I hope everything works out the way you want it to!!!

Answer 5

I'm haven't gone through that personally and I do agree that breastmilk is best, but I just wanted to say just do your best! It can be very frustrating when you try to breastfeed and at least you tried with your first child and maybe the next one will be able to handle your milk so don't give up and as long as your a good mother and you give the baby lots of love and supplement with formula the baby will be fine. But don't allow other people's ignorance upset you, just keep trying.....

Answer 6

People who are so for breastfeeding, dont' realize there are reasons people bottle feed. Not that everyone prefers to bottle feed- I too wanted to breast feed, but it didn't work out. I had a terrible labor, and ended up in a c-section with a huge baby, and I was in so much pain I couldn't even lift my own baby. Which made me cry. I truly wanted to breastfeed. But being in that pain-enough to say I couldn't go through it again at the time, I just gave in to the bottle feeding him. They wouldn't make formula if it wasn't healthy for the baby. So I will probably get a lot of thumbs down for this one, but I don't care... my baby was perfectly healthy the entire year he was on formula- not sick once! So it worked for my son, and it seemed to do good for your daughter... so who cares what everyone else thinks? You know what is best for you and your baby. I know how you feel though. Doctors wouldn't recommend a formula if it didn't have the nutrients the baby needs to develop...so remember that, and know you did well.

Answer 7

My son was was also fussy after nursing for the first couple of months. I tried to remove everything from my diet that could have been a potential irritant... dairy, caffeine, etc. But he continued to have tummy issues and was an uncomfortable little guy. But, thank goodness, that resolved itself when he was a little over two months old. He is now 10 months old and still breastfeeding almost exclusively. It was tough to see him in pain, but I think that their little tummies have to be given time to adjust. It was a difficult time and many people were advising me to just switch to a hypoallergenic formula. But I'm glad I stuck it out because he's fine now.

I don't think that the people who offer advice really mean any disrespect. They know that you love your child. Just some people assume that women who choose to formula feed are uninformed... so they try to enlighten you. Just brush it off next time someone offers you their 2 cents. Perhaps you can try breastfeeding again if you choose to have another baby in the future.

Answer 8

It is old, it is tired, but it is not inaccurate, your argument, as it comes across, is that if a state has one person ahead, and that is reported, then no one will vote? I think that is wrong, it may be the opposite actually. I think the best way to do the popular vote, is to give people the day to vote, and not announce the victor until after election day (and the votes are all counted). How exactly would the popular vote be inaccurate as opposed to the current electoral college state. Wouldn't it be more true to the will of the voters?

Answer 9

I breastfed my daughter for two years, and I personally think it is the best.
At the same time, however, I know some people or babies can't breastfeed or it just doesn't work for them for some reason or other. Whatever your reason, you have the right to decide what's best for you and your child, and as long as you feed them and are a good mother otherwise it's really no one else's business.
I can't stand when people feel it's their right to criticize others.
Congrats on your baby and good luck!

Answer 10

I am 30 weeks with my first and I plan to breastfeed. I understand the whole breast is best but if my baby isn't able to take to the breast, I tried! I will keep trying, but if not I don't think I will beat myself up over it or let anyone else drag me down. You shouldn't have to explain yourself to anyone. You know what is best for you and your baby and I am sure those people would feel the same way if they were in your postion.

Answer 11

Technically it is best. I won't deny that. However, I think women should use with caution. I've never been approached with this line (other then on-line) so I think I'm in the clear but I think it's very sad that people who don't even know you or your situation would say something they know nothing about.

Breast is best but formula is best for those who cannot breastfeed. I understand completely. Just carry on doing what's BEST for your own child and these women can just go on ranting!