Breastmilk or formula??

Question

I am 20 years old and 28 weeks pregnant. I havent actually come to this problem yet but I wanted to get some advice on what I should do when the time comes..but heres my situation.I have no problem pumping breast milk into a bottle and letting my baby drink it that way. Its not just that I dont like the idea, I also want my fiancee to be able to feed the baby and we will be traveling alot so i thought bottle feeding would be more reasonable. So my question is, is it better to pump the milk and feed it to your baby in a bottle or just to go with formula? I know breast milk is better for the baby but do you think its horrible to not breast feed? Any advice would be great..Im new at all of this!!

Answer 1

Breastmilk is best, no matter how the baby gets it. I have had several patients that have decided to pump and feed by bottle for many various reasons. I would suggest trying to breastfeed (if you want to), you may find that it is actually easier especially when traveling (no warming--always ready--inexpensive) and it will ensure that you have a good milk supply (a pump is good, but not as good as your baby). I think you should do what you feel is right for you--talk to your lactation consultant at the hospital (you can contact them before you actually give birth) she can give you some advice as well. Good Luck! and Congrats!

Answer 2

The VERY BEST piece of advice my midwife gave me was to introduce a bottle to my new born at 3 weeks old. I nursed, and pumped and eventually gave both of my kids formula. But, if you nurse or pump, at 3 weeks your milk supply will be established and yet your baby will still be flexible enough to go back & forth between the breast & a bottle.
I have known many women not to do this and then they get fusturated that their babies wont take a bottle.

You need to be committed to nursing if you are going to do it. Pumping is A LOT OF WORK! A lot!!
Its great to want to include the baby's daddy, and to have the freedom that a bottle will give you. However, aside from the HUGE advantage of breast milk for your babies health, it is an undescribeable bonding experience and I highly recomened it.
If you are traveling a lot, nursing would be the easiest and best way to go for about a million reasons! You will have to decide that for yourself though.

Answer 3

definitely go for the pump. your natural breast milk has special fats and antibodies that your baby needs to build a healthy immune system. formulas can't mimic these properties only an easier more time efficient feeding ritual.

its not terrible plenty of people do it. but breast feeding is considered a bonding time between your new child and yourself. Breast-feeding, researchers say, may actually reduce the level of stress hormones that flood a woman's body in response to difficult situations.the connection between breast-feeding and stress reduction could serve as a sort of, well, sanity-preserver. The care and feeding of an infant can seem overwhelming in the best of circumstances. If a new mother's stress system were to kick in full-throttle every time the baby cries or spits up, motherhood might seem even more psychologically challenging than it already is.

Answer 4

Breastfeeding is the best, but it's a really personal choice. If you dont think that you will enjoy breastfeeding, then opt to pump. That would be second best, to me... I breastfed for a year and a half, and I wont lie.. it was challenging at times. But I found that I really enjoyed it :) But everyone is different, and if you wont enjoy something, then you shouldnt do it. At the same time though, you might find that your feelings towards breastfeeding might change when you have the baby. For some women, it's harder to get the hang of breastfeeding than it is with others.. but I suggest you give it a shot when you have the baby... if you never try it, you'll never know that you dont like it. Then you can make a decision about what is the best way to feed your child :)

Answer 5

I personaly think breast milk is best. I do think it is up to you, and I hope that you give pumping a good try before you turn to formula. It wont be easy but in the end I think it will be worth it. One thing that no one else mentioned is that breastfeeding stimulates your uterus, and helps it shrink back to a normal size quicker. So if you use formula you wont have that, and it will take longer to look like youve lost the baby weight, also breastfeeding burns a lot of calories so you will lose more of the baby weight than if you use formula. Good Luck

Answer 6

well my sister couldnt breast feed, the milk was giving her son jaunders, with me my mum never had the chance to breast feed me, i came 3 months early, and my oppinion is if your going to be on the move and you want to give your baby breast milk, buy a pump and add it into the formula, i like the idea of wanting your other half to feed the baby, and he certainly cant do it if you breast feed all the time. with me if i can breast feed i will, if i cant well theres not much i can do but use the formula.

good luck and happy parenting

Answer 7

personally i plan on breastfeeding, not just because its better for the baby but because it helps the bond between you and the baby... i do plan on pumping and storeing some of it so that my husband can feed her too... but sometimes you just dont get enough if you only pump... i wouldnt recommend formula but over all the choice is yours really. but i would say feed her on the breast and then pump everyonce in a while that way there is some breast milk for your fiancee to feed her with too.

Answer 8

I was uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding, but tried it anyway. Complications arose, and i ended up having to give up breastfeeding nine days after she was born. I switched her to formula, but wish I had tried pumping and bottle feeding.

I would recommend that you try breastfeeding and pumping. Build up a supply of frozen breastmilk. Sometimes it really is easiest to just "whip out a boob", and other times it's more convenient to bottle feed.

Invest in a good breast pump, and breastfeed as long as you can... formula is expensive and a lot of work.

Answer 9

breast milk is better wen your at home and not always leaving somewhere and also its good for the baby health bottle feeding is good for traveling and if u want your fiance to feed the baby to its good so i say bottle feed the baby

Answer 10

Please do not think of there is one "ultimate" formula, or "closest to breastmilk", through fact considered one of those element does not exist. while you're pumping at artwork, or to boot to breastfeeding once or twice an afternoon once you're with the toddler, you are going to be high-quality. And once you're with the toddler, you are going to be completely breastfeeding, never bottle feeding, to maintain up your grant. in case you may supplement with formula, talk this inclusive of your pediatrician. some mothers initiate solids slightly early merely so they gained't could supply formula.