Breastfeeding? Formula feeding?

Question

I am just wondering, what factors come into play when you make a choice on how to feed your baby... I want pretty much anyone who is feeding a baby to tell me:

1. is it breast, formula, or combination?
2. before your baby was born, how did you intend to feed?
3. did this decision change once the baby was born? if so, how/why? who influenced your decision?
4. if breastfeeding, did anything impede your progress, if so, what? how long did you breastfeed for?
5. does your baby behave differently from breast/formula feeds, or can you tell a difference?
6. overall, how do you feel about your feeding decisions?
7. are you uncomfortable with breast feeding? if so, why?
8. are you uncomfortable with formula feeding? if so, why?
9. do you compare yourself to other moms when it comes to feeding?

10. if you had it to do over, would you change anything?


thanks for your answers. I am not looking to judge, just wondering what is going on in other mother's heads. :)

Answer 1

1. is it breast, formula, or combination?
All three of my children were exclusively breastfed.

2. before your baby was born, how did you intend to feed?
I always intended to nurse. I didn't really think I would nurse as long as I ended up doing it though. I think that was because, before my first was born, I heard so much about how hard it would be. And I was worried about how well pumping would work when I went back to work.

3. did this decision change once the baby was born? if so, how/why? who influenced your decision?
I exclusively nursed for 6 months and then began adding solid foods. I continued to nurse and pump after that. Originally, I didn't know if I'd continue past 6 mos or thought I might start supplementing around 6 months.

4. if breastfeeding, did anything impede your progress, if so, what? how long did you breastfeed for?
With all three I had some minor challenges, but they were overcome. I had a blister early on with my first but a Lactation Consultant showed me how to fix his latch. I also worked through a 3.5 day nursing strike with him. My second was a big cluster feeder in the evenings. I also had my first case of mastitis when nursing her. My youngest was mildly tongue tied, but we worked through that. My oldest nursed 3.5 years. My middle nursed 22 months. My youngest will be 4 years next month and is still nursing.

5. does your baby behave differently from breast/formula feeds, or can you tell a difference?
They never tasted formula.

6. overall, how do you feel about your feeding decisions?
Very happy. I am so glad that I was able to give my children this gift. They have all been so happy, smart and healthy. It's been a wonderful time for us to bond, cuddle and reconnect.

7. are you uncomfortable with breast feeding? if so, why?
Not at all. I've always nursed my children whenever and wherever they needed to nurse.

8. are you uncomfortable with formula feeding? if so, why?
I am uncomfortable with how easily available formula is. I really think it should be available by prescription only. That way moms would have to speak with their caregivers and get some breastfeeding education and support before they could resort to formula.

9. do you compare yourself to other moms when it comes to feeding?
No, not really.

10. if you had it to do over, would you change anything?
The only thing I can think of that I might change is the separation that my middle child and I had while I worked 2 days a week. I think that contributed to her early weaning. I might have found a different way to handle that in order to better protect our nursing relationship. And I might have worked on weaning our youngest from night nursing a little earlier.

Answer 2

first off, I'm not 'currently' feeding a baby, but I fed two and I have one on the way.

1. breast

2. breast

3. I decided before the baby was born. My mom breastfed and I heard several times it is better. I also liked the fact that breastfeeding was cheaper, and I eventually found it to be more convenient (not having to warm up bottles all the time).

4. I had some problems with my second. There are milk allergies in my family and I cut milk out of my diet for a while because she seemed to have problems. I got really sick at 14 months of breastfeeding (flu bug or something) and really needed to take medicine that wasn't good for the baby so I stopped nursing cold turkey. But all this won't keep me from nursing my third. I had no problems with my first.

5. I could only tell the difference when my second was upset for a few months and I had to change my diet.

6. very, very happy

7. no, it is natural. Some people are uncomfortable with women breastfeeding ... but that is their problem. Shame on them. I keep myself covered with a blanket so there is nothing wrong. I shouldn't have to go into the other room to nurse.

8. yes, a little. I know it won't hurt the baby but I know it doesn't have the same benefits as breastfeeding. If I had problems with breastfeeding, I wouldn't be uncomfortable with formula.

9. No. I'm happy I can do it without problems, but I understand others do have problems.

Answer 3

1. Combination. I pump and feed her formula, as well.
2. Intended to Breastfeed.
3. I am unable to produce enough milk. Baby continued to lose weight after coming home from hospital (and she'd already lost 10% in the hospital). Saw lactation consultants, nursed on demand (of course), pumped after nursing, tried fenugreek (mmm...maple-y goodness), oatmeal, etc. After receiving the supplemental bottles, my daughter slowly "decided" not to nurse, with a complete rejection of the breast at around 3 1/2 months (she's a voracious eater with very little patience regarding her food), so I pump 6-8 times a day. My husband has supported all of my decisions concerning feeding our daughter. My best friend exclusively breastfed all three of her children, but is also extremely supportive, as is my mother.
4. As detailed above. I am continuing to pump. My daughter is six and a half months old.
5. My baby doesn't behave noticably different between breastmilk or formula.
6. I'm ok with my decisions. Because of the difficulty/inconvenience involved with pumping, I had only intended to do it for the first six weeks...then three months...then four...then six...so, who knows when I'll stop pumping? I am starting to "dry up" a bit, so, it could end up not being my decision, but, at this point, I intend to get whatever I can at least until nine months.
7. I am completely comfortable with breastfeeding, and did it wherever I happened to be when Katie was hungry.
8. I'm comfortable with formula feeding when I think of the alternative (ie. letting her starve).
9. I try not to. It's hard when people are villifying your choices. I've had total strangers come up to me and "inform" me that breastfeeding is better. I've also had people tell me that I "shouldn't" breastfeed in certain public areas as well, though, so, it's a lose-lose sometimes. No one will ever be able to do ALL the perfect things for their baby, so, I get upset when people judge me off the bat.
10. In a perfect world, I wouldn't have dealt with all the guilt over something I can't control.

Answer 4

1. 1st child: combination, 2nd: breastfed
2. Breastfeed for both
3. No for both
4. 1st: Yes, lack of support and information. 10 mo.
2nd: No, Still breastfeeding at 9 mo.
5. 1st: Fuller longer 2nd: Wouldn't know, he didn't take it the one time I tried (was not gonna be available for one feeding w/o much notice to pump)
6. 1st: Disappointed to go to formula after all the effort I tried to keep breastfeeding
2nd: Love my decision!!
7. Absolutely not!
8. Yes, would only use in absolute cases. Find it to be full of fillers that baby does not need. Even if formula fed babies come out okay, it is not an equally ok choice compared to Breast milk.
9. Most definitely not. Every Mom has their reason for doing what they are doing. I feel what I do is best for me and my babies, while others don't agree. I don't agree with what others do, but do not feel I am better than them. Though I do try to educate!
10. Yes, I would search for more help with my first, and learn more so as to continue breastfeeding longer than a year!

Answer 5

I breastfeed my first child for 6 months, she is three now and she has never had an ear infection and she doesn't get sick only twice a year. I didn't know that I would do it for so long but I did. I just had a boy two weeks ago, I was so sure that I will be able to breastfeed again, but he came 5 weeks Early and breastfeeding have been really hard, he has lost so much weight that if he doesn't gain weight by Wednesday he is going to the hospital. The doctor ask me to only pump and tried to give him 3 oz every 3 hours. But my milk supply is not good( I have high blood presure) so Im on medication and that affect my milk supply, so I have to supplement with formula.
So as you see, every baby is a different situation. Just read a lot and dont give up breasfeeding, the first month because that is the hardest month. I really want to breastfeed my baby, but I dont want to see him in the hospital, so for now I cant.

Answer 6

1. I feed my baby breastmilk but he eats if from a bottle not from nursing, (I pump). Occasionally I don't have enough and then give formula when I need to.

2. I planned on breastfeeding/ nursing for 6 months with introducing a bottle of expressed breast milk after 6 weeks so he'd take both breast and bottle. Formula was not in my plans.

3 & 4. Yes-- My baby has reflux and was an awful nurser from day one. He could latch on, but the acid reflux made him scrunch and kick in pain and pull off the breast. He'd nurse every half hour for about 1 minute at a time and was always in pain from it. At that time the doctor didn't know what it was so I tried cutting many different things from my diet and that didn't help. So the doctor had me try different formulas, nothing worked, so finally he was diagnosed and put on medicine and is a happy baby now. But because I was trying all these formula's he wouldn't take the breast anymore, he had nipple confusion. Looking back if I had at that point really tried hard I probably could of gotten him to take the breast again. I now pump and he gets about 90% of my milk and the rest in formula. I know how important it is for the baby to have breast milk health wise, and it is such a close bonding experience breastfeeding your baby and I do miss that. But you will still have a bond and closeness if your baby's food comes from a bottle, regardless of what milk is in the bottle. But from a nutrition standpoint there is no comparison to breastmilk, not even the formula companies will argue that.

5- when he gets breastmilk he needs to eat more often, poops more often, poop doesn't smell as bad, is yellower. Even the different formulas result in different types of poop, Enfimil's Gentlease gave my baby green peanut butter type poop, GoodStart's resembles breastmilk poop the most. As for behavior I don't notice any difference, except he has to eat more often with breastmilk.

6-- I'm happy with my decision. He's getting all the benefits of breastmilk, but I'm not as restricted with breast feeding, and I know many breastfeeding moms will argue that, but that's just how I feel and I respect how the other moms feel. Also when I'm pumping exclusively, I need to pump every 3-4 hours or I get too full and am in pain and the less I pump the less I make, so it's also a big commitment. And when I go out with him I need to bring a mini cooler to keep the bottles of my milk cold, then find a place to warm them.

7-- I wasn't comfortable with breastfeeding in public or infront of any males, family or not.

8-- Even though it's breastmilk in the bottle, I do feel a bit ,,,ummm, I can't explain it, maybe I feel a bit that people are judging me when they see me feeding him a bottle because they assume it's formula. No one has ever said anything to me so maybe that part is just in my head.

9-- yes --- I envy those breastfeeding moms who have it all together, they breastfeed anywhere and everywhere and they are totally comfortable with it.

10-- yes and no -- I feel as though I have more freedom giving a bottle (I know breastfeeding moms will argue this), But I miss the closeness of breastfeeding. I didn't set out to have this type of feeding situation but this is where I ended up.

There is no right or wrong, there is just your choice. Breastfeeding is great, but there are also millions of healthy kids and adults who were 100% formula fed.
If you do plan on pumping a lot, then you'll need a high quality pump and those are expensive, but so is formula.

Answer 7

1. I do a combination, but I don't feed her more than 4oz of formula a day
2. Before she was born I thought I would exclusively breastfeed for 6 months
3. Once she was born we had complications breastfeeding the first couple days because my nipples would go flat and my milk took a longer to come in; so we started formula feeding a little here and there
4. same as above, my baby is 2 months still breastfeeding
5. when I feed her formula, she spits up and stinks really bad and she is more gassy on formuls
6. I wish I would breastfeed more but flat out It's just easier to formula feed
7. I am comfortable with breastfeeding at home but not in public just because I dont like to expose myself
8. I am uncomfortable formula feeding because I know my breastmilk is soo much better for her
9. I dont compare myself to other moms everyone has their own feelings and opinions when it comes to feeding their babies.
10. after writting this I am going to try to feed my daughter ONLY breastmilk!

Answer 8

I breast-fed a long time ago, but remember the experience as very positive.
1. I breast-fed exclusively. That's better than a combination because when you supplement, the milk production diminishes.
2. I always intended to breast-feed.
3. No -- I just did what I knew to be right.
4. My mother tried to convince me that I wouldn't succeed at breast-feeding because of small breasts and nipples, but she was wrong!
5. I can usually tell a breast-fed baby from a bottle-fed one because the breast-fed babies look sleepy and very content and relaxed.
6. I always encourage other women to breast-feed. It's best for the baby and wonderful for the Mom.
7. Not in th least!
8. Sometimes formula feeding is necessary, but I think breast-feeding should be the first choice.
9. I think I tried harder to feed my children healthfully than some other Moms.
10.. Yes - I would have tried to nurse my adopted daughter.

Answer 9

1. Exclusively formula from two weeks old.
2. I intended to breastfeed, and I did for two weeks.
3. Yes. It changed because breastfeeding wasn't working for me. No one influenced it except me.
4. Nothing physical impeded the breastfeeding, it was all mental. And I breastfed for two weeks.
5. He seems more satisfied with the formula than with the breast milk.
6. Now I feel perfectly fine with my decision.
7. I was mentally. It was making me exhausted because I was the only one that could get up and feed my son, and it had revved up my metabolism so much I literally had to eat *all the time* or else my blood sugar would drop.
8. Nope.
9. I used to, and still do very occasionally. I wish once in a while that breastfeeding had worked for me, but it didn't, so there's no reason to get upset over it.
10. I wouldn't have beat myself up over switching to formula as much as I did.

Answer 10

I have a one month old daughter, I know it's a lot when looking up breastfeeding. So 1. She is all formula now, but a combination at first( I got the stomach flu and the meds dried me up) 2. I planned to breastfeed, and 3. yes it did, because my daughter is lazy like mom and dad and refused to latch on properly so she 4. lost an extreme amount of weight following birth. As to 5. I'm not sure w/ my child, but I remember reading that breastmilk digests easier therefore baby's stomach won't be full as long( which can really suck in the middle of the night when another hour of sleep would do it for you :D) 6. I'm extrememly glad we got some breast milk into her following birth and for a few weeks afterward, they say it helps w/ immunities and allergies, but formula ended up being easier for us, plus allowed daddy to get some bonding time. 7. and 8. Obviously not, as I've done both. 9. No I don't because my baby is uniquely herself and no other mother had to feed her. 10. If I could, I wouldn't get sick so I could continue w/ the combination feeding for a while longer yet, but that was providential, so it happened for a reason.