Do you think it is selfish to formula feed when you can breastfeed?

Question

I think it is very selfish to formula feed everyone know that breastfeeding is way more healthier. God maid boobs to feed babies not for men. I hate when moms make up excuses why they wont breastfeed like they work or their child didn’t latch on. Well in took my son a week to latch on the nurses told me to give up but I didn’t. as for working there is always something called a pump and yes I used a pump. What do you think?

Im not trying to judg & and if you have tried breastfeeding before and it has not worked for you than thats fine what im saying is people who do not try at all I think are selfish. wouldnt you want the best for your baby?

oh and my chose not to breastfeed with me and I got sick from every kind of formula out there. I was sp sick and she wished she could breastfeed me but it was to late her milk was dry. she breastfeed my sister and my sister is way more healthier than me.

Again the question was DO YOU THINK IT IS SELFISH IF YOU CAN BREASTFEED AND CHOSE NOT TO I didnt say if you try and try and cant do it for some medical reason or something... im not telling you you should starve your baby. I think its great if you give it a try its the best for your baby even if you only can do it for a couple months.

Answer 1

I agree.. and i get angry with the people who say, "it's a personal choice".. just like elective c-sections. Selfish reasons why girls want to do it. The ones I don't understand are the girls who make the decision to formula feed before the baby is even born- why would not even want to try? Breast milk is so uncomparable to formula- why wouldn't you want your child to have it? It's the only Perfect food in the world for a baby. Not to mention the average cost of baby formula for a year is over 1500 dollars! I personally prefer to breastfeed- it's cheaper- HEALTHIER- gives my baby everything she needs- is waaaaay more convinent than bottles/formula..

and to the women who think it's gross or perverted- YOU NEED TO GROW UP. Breasts were made for the sole purpose of feeding babies- get over your immature ideas that you can't get past the breasts being anything other than sexual.

Answer 2

I think you are passing way too much judgement on children! My mom never breastfed me or my sister because she wanted to be able to have my dad get a bond with us through feeding and she wanted to be able to leave our side for a couple hours without pumping for awhile. Also, for both of us she has C-sections which really put her out of service for almost a week and a half (she doesn't do well with healing).

In the end, I grew up to be a straight A, healthy, normal person. My mom raised both of us to be productive and happy people.

I have been debating with my bf that when we have children, I am not sure I would want to breastfeed. I am not selfish or stupid or creul, I just don't know if that is what I want to do yet.

Some opinions you should just keep to yourself. What you call an "excuse" can be a really good reason in some people's view.

Answer 3

I think you are a person trying to spark another breastfeeding vs bottle debate.
I am pro breastfeeding but do not believe I have the right to judge others how they choose to feed their baby. As long as they are not starving their babies or beating them or neglecting them that they suffer irreversible damage does it really matter. They are feeding their baby the way they feel is best. It took a week for your baby to latch on...big deal..what about those that try for 3 weeks due to the pressure of people like you and have babies screaming from hunger and not putting on weight. Is this better for them? What we want is a happy mum and a happy baby, this is what makes a good parent. Who are you to judge. Yes I would love everyone to breastfeed. I think over a couple of generations doing this then rates of asthma and many other problems would clear up. But that is my belief. As long as people are not neglecting their babies then leave them alone

Answer 4

I don't think it's selfish. I tried and tried breastfeeding for 3 months and it was friggin impossibleand i pumped 100% of the time and then I got appendicits and my breast milk stopped flowing after I had surgery. So from then on I started formula feeding. If I had to do to do it all over again, I would just formula feed. If I ever have another kid I will formula feed, because it was way too stressful to breast feed.
Breast feeding shouldn't be stressful, it shouldn't make you feel horrible about yourself. It should make you feel good about yourself, and if it doesn't it is NOT SELFISH to stop.

Answer 5

Personally I think you are being very narrow minded. I managed to breast feed for five months with my daughter before changing to formula. Yes, I could have kept feeding, as I did still have a supply of milk, however, for whatever reason, my little one just stopped flourishing on it, in fact she stopped growing. By this I don't mean just her weight but also her height and head circumference.
It was distressing for both my daughter and myself at feed time, because I knew she was not getting the full benefit from my milk.
Weaning her on to formula was the best thing I could have done for her.
You also fail to think about the women who do not produce milk at all - my friend desparately wanted to breast feed her baby but did not produce any milk - I know in some countries they have 'breast milk banks' women will pump their milk and other women can use it for their babies - they do not have that here in Australia to my knowledge.
Being a mother is a hard job and no one should have to be made to defend their choices - you are entitiled to your opinion, but I think it is naive to suggest that every mother who does not feed does it out of laziness.

Answer 6

I think its up to the individual person and however they feed their baby they are doing what they feel is best and what they feel comfortable doing. Its not at all selfish if they chose to formula feed. I did express for my twins for only 2 weeks and bf my daughter for 18 months, some woman just dont feel comfortable breastfeeding

Answer 7

Quite frankly it's none of your business or anyone else's how a mother raises her children as long as it isn't harmful. And formula feeding isn't harmful. You don't know the situations, you don't know the children, or the family, or anything about anyone but yourself. And you are phrasing your question in a judgmental manner no matter what you think you were trying to do. In announcing that "God" "maid" mammary glands strictly for the feeding of children and therefore implying that not doing such is a sin or something you are being offensive.

Answer 8

I think we should stop judging mothers for what they're trying to do best for their children. Yes, I think breastfeeding is the better choice but it doesn't work for everyone, either because they don't have enough support for it, cannot do it for medical reasons, or simply choose not to. I feel bad for the moms who have tried and failed, because they harbor that feeling of loss and guilt, and we don't really need to add fuel to that fire.

Answer 9

No- I don't think it's selfish. I never made any excuses of why I didn't breastfeed. I simply didn't want to so I didn't. It's not because I wanted my boobs for my husband either.


What I do find selfish is a mother who'll let their kid basically go hungry for weeks at a time while trying to get breastfeeding right!

Get over yourself-

Answer 10

I dont think its selfish at all not to breastfeed.I have 4 kids.The first I breast fed,but I just couldnt do it. My kids are in perfect health,there were no side effect from them not being breast fed.I think breast feeding is made out to be a big deal.I dont think someone who breastfeeds loves there child any more then someone who doesnt.Theres to much guilt and pressure put on moms anyway.I think a happy and relaxed mom is best.If it works for you thats great.But for those who dont,its just fine.