Parental debate 5: Breastfeeding vs bottle feeding?

Question

I am not giving any scenarios for this one. I also am not looking for the arguement that breastfeeding is best.
What I want to know is which you would choose and why it would be the logical choice for you?
If you chose to breastfeed, how long would you do it (till what age)?
And regardless of which you chose (bottle or breast), would you consider pumping as an alternative?

Answer 1

With each of my children it was a different story. My first I managed to go for 3 months. Then we found out I was the reason for his poor weight gain. He wasn't getting enough nutrition and I was giving him jaundice. (Anemia is really severe in me too so it was causing me big problems)

My second we had hoped for better results. He lasted 6 weeks.

My third was a few years later so we hoped for the best again, but becaues of her sensory issues and not being able to touch her, being that close really freaked her out. She lasted 4 weeks.

My 4th was the shortest time BF. After I gave birth I put her to the breast and she nursed about 5 minutes before I passed out. They had to give me a couple of units of blood and that ended our breastfeeding relationship. She was less than a day old.

My 5th was an easier pregnancy so I thought that it was going to be smooth sailing, she lasted about 10 weeks.

My 6th had a few problems so I pumped like crazy and was bringing her up milk, yes milk not colstrum, ever 2 hours on her second day. I believe it was about 3 oz each time for the third and 4th day, 5 oz the 5th day and she came home. With all that milk, and what I thought was a good start, I figured that we would have an easy time. She lasted 7 weeks, we couldn't keep it up with me working. She is also the smallest one and has gained more being on formula, so all in all I think that it was a good go, and I would try again, but I am not heartbroken because my milk is "not best" for my children and the kids thrive better on formula. I feel it did give them something that formula could not and then formula gave them something that I could not.

Answer 2

I breastfed my first child until she was 12 months old. She was drinking from a cup at 6 months and from 6 months to 1 year only breastfed at night, before bed. I then had twins - I tried to breastfeed them but my son just couldn't get the hang of it so I bottle fed. They both have pros and cons - I personally don't think one is "better" than the other - it just depends on what is best for you.
Good about bottle - anyone can feed the baby which gives you more freedom.
Bad about bottle - You have to make the bottles and clean the empty bottles, it can be expensive.
Good about breastfeeding - you always have food with you that is always the right temperature, it is free!!
Bad about breastfeeding - Not a lot of freedom unless you pump.
I am a stay at home Mom so I really didn't have to pump that much with my daughter, but I did pump so that my husband could be equally involved - and so I could get some time alone - it really just depends on what will work best for you. I would try breastfeeding, if it doesn't work out for you then switch to bottle.

Answer 3

For me personally it has a lot to do with money. It's Cheaper to make sure i eat healthy then to buy formula, I've also heard that breast fed babies have fewer poopy diapers since they use almost all of what's in breast milk as opposed to formula (may or may not be true, we'll see). I'm going to get a pump so my husband can be involved in feeding the baby too, or if for some reason i have to be somewhere without baby. I'm not planning to use a bottle all the time, a lot of extra work in my opinion. As far as how long, as long as i feel inclined to do, they say a year is good and I'll certainly try for that if it's feasible to keep doing it for longer i will.

Answer 4

Great question! I chose to breatfeed... It works for me because it's more convenient. I enjoy the bond between me and my child. At home it's convenient, being at work no. I have to take the time out to pump every 4 hours. But it does give me a good break to relax. I've been nursing for 5 1/2 months now and I plan on until she is 14 months. Pumping as alternative, yes. Only if there is help it's a lot of work when you're alone.

Answer 5

i would breastfeed. At least until 6 months if able. I think it would be the healthiest for the baby. also, it can create great bonding time. If I had to I would use a pump., maybe even after i stop the baby on breast, useing a pump for a while after to get the baby use to a bottle and to also do both (breast milk in bottle and formula.)

Answer 6

I plan to breastfeed exclusively for the first couple of months. Then I plan to pump and let my husband bottle feed occassionally while still primarily breastfeeding. This makes the most sense for our family because it is easier financially, and also when traveling--don't have to try to keep bottles cold or warm them up. If for any reason I can't breastfeed then I will pump and feed if at all possible.

Answer 7

Planned to breastfeed. It's more convenient and healthier. Boy, was I screwed! LOL. I was not able to produce enough milk. My daughter, who had already lost 10% of her weight in the hospital, continued to lose after coming home. On her sixth day, the doctor suggested supplementing, as she was screaming with hunger. We saw LCs, I tried fenugreek, oatmeal, etc. Luckily, I got a pump, and Katie got breastmilk and formula. Of course, after getting the bottle, Katie slowly weaned herself off the breast. I understand; it takes a couple of minutes for me to let down, and then she was only getting about an ounce to two ounces for her ten to fifteen minutes of work. With a bottle, she'd get about four to six ounces in five to ten minutes. By the time she was three months old, she'd pretty much completely weaned herself from the breast. However, I continue to pump every two-three hours (except at night), and she gets everything I can produce from that. I'd like to continue pumping full-time until she's at least a year. At that point, I may slowly start to wean myself off of the pump. It is very insane. It's the worst of both worlds. I still have the inconvenience of bottles, AND I have to make sure I'm home or have the pump with me every three hours maximum. With formula feeding, I could just mix up the formula I need, put it in bottles, and toss it in a cooler bag and be set. Breastfeeding is obviously the easiest of them all. But instead of just latching Katie on, I have to set the pump up, get myself attached, and amuse Katie while pumping. I set small goals for myself...six weeks, three months, six months...I'm working toward nine months. (She'll be 8 mos on the first of March).
To each their own.

Answer 8

Breastfeed for at least a year. It's eaiser at night when the baby wakes up crying, give it a boob instead of getting up and mixing a bottle.
Pumping yes, that way you have milk you can give them from a bottle if you are like in a car and cant breastfeet at the time.

Answer 9

With my first baby I was set on breastfeeding. I did breast feed for the first three or four days. But it was awful for me and my daughter. We came home from the hospital and I was depressed because it was not working for us. We tried to pump when we came home from the hospital but there was not enough milk. I'm 16 weeks pregnant with our second child and I have decided that I will bottle feed this baby from the start.

Answer 10

I would like to breastfeed, but I've heard many say that is can be painful. Since I am planning to return to work within 6 weeks of the birth, I will probably be choosing bottle feeding. Easier on everyone, not just me