Do you need to breastfeed for the first few weeks after childbirth?

Question

I am not planning on breastfeeding for various reasons, health and otherwise. However, I've had some people tell me that I'll need to for a short while as newborn babies can't suck on a rubber nipple right away as it's too hard. Is this true?

Answer 1

no you dont have to breastfeed. babies can suck on either a nipple or a breast equally as well....do whatever is best for you

Answer 2

No thats not true you can breastfeed or bottle feed from the start even though breastfeeding may be a little harder its best for baby but you can definitely start your baby on formula as soon as you come home from the hospital he/she will not have any problem sucking on the nipple just make sure you get the lower flow nipples so they dont get too much milk and choke you get the higher flow nipples when they are a bit older and need more sustinance

Answer 3

By far, mother's milk is THE best thing for a newborn. The first substance produced by the breast is not the actual milk but colustrum, which, in very non-technical terms, preps the babies digestive system for actual digesting and also large amounts of living cells which will defend your baby against many harmful agents.

Colustrum is produced during the fisrt to third day of breast feeding. That is why most physicians will sugest at least a few days of breast milk for newborns.

For more info read here :
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html

It is a great organisation started by mothers giving other mothers advise on breastfeeding.

Of course, if for various reasons, you do not wish to or unable to breastfeed, do not be overly critical of yourself. Plenty of children have grown up big strong and healthy without breast milk.

I am one of those! ;)

Answer 4

Not true. You do not have to breastfeed. My newborn daughter had formula from a newborn nursing bottle while we waited for my milk to come in. I'm not one of the breastfeeding cheerleaders (to each her own) but based on how my little girl turned out and the fact that she wasn't sick a single day of her life until the week I stopped, I'd ask you to reconsider.

Answer 5

That is not true. Most babies will not let themselves starve. Many many babies start with formula and not breast milk. However I know that if you breastfeed for the first week, you are giving your baby the most important part of breast milk. I think it’s called colostrum( in french that is the word). What it does is it gives the baby a big boost for his /her immune system, amongst other things. In the end, the choice belongs to ONLY YOU. It is your body, your baby, therefore it is your prerogative.

Answer 6

If you try nursing and then introduce a bottle its a proven fact its easier for the baby to suck on a bottle nipple then nurse. I made the mistake of letting my son have a bottle in the nursery 2 days after he was born so i could get a few hours of sleep and he would never go back to nursing. He nursed for comfort really not to eat.

Answer 7

You really should at least try breastfeeding. It's much healthier for them to nurse. And healthier for mom. Commit to at least the time you are in the hospital to give your baby the colostrum which is SO important and acts as baby's first immunization.

You can go straight to the botttle, many do, but it's not the healthiest choice.

Answer 8

breast feeding is best for the baby but yes they can suck on a rubber nipple if you cannot breastfeed

Answer 9

Give your kid a gift and try to nurse,at least for a little while.It improves immunity, is cheap, and soooooo much healtghier than formula(for you too).
Formula babies have WAY more gas and colic, so really try.Plus breastfed babies don't have the god awful stinky poop that formula babies do.

Answer 10

I didn't breastfeed at all with my son. He was on formula from day one. Some people like breastfeeding while others like to formula feed their child.