I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first, and most of my pregnancy I was dead-set on breastfeeding. As it gets closer, though, I've found myself considering formula-feeding. I know all the benefits of breastfeeding, but it's hard to find anything about why some people choose to formula feed. I was wondering if any moms who formula-fed their infants would tell me why they chose to, and if they regret it. I know so many people are vehemently anti-formula, it's hard to find anyone who will discuss it.
And please don't just try to convince me to breastfeed. It's a personal choice and I have researched breastfeeding a lot. I'm just trying to get some opinions from the other side of the fence before I make a decision.
2007-03-05 10:19:05 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
LOL milf, I totally agree. I really want my body back and I want my hormones to calm down! I didn't think I'd feel like that, I figured I'd love every second of being pregnant, but 9 months is a long time....
I'm also a pretty private person, never been one to wear revealing clothes, and the thought of breastfeeding in public absolutely terrifies me. I'm afraid that I'll end up stuck in the house for fear of having to feed my daughter in public!
2007-03-05 10:36:34 · update #1
We're military too, Michelle W, and I also want my daughter to be able to bond with her dad as much as possible. He'll be leaving for Iraq when she's only a few months old, and I want them to have as much quality time as possible. Plus it would be a lot easier when we travel home to see family.
2007-03-05 11:36:11 · update #2
I formula fed my daughter. Mainly because I wanted my husband to be able to feed and bond with her right away. I think I felt a little bit of guilt because I was the one to feel her kick and flutter around while I was pregnant with her. As a military family, we also travel a lot, and it just seemed like a simpler option when on the road, and visiting family. I have no regrets.
You are absolutely right, it is a personal choice, and I commend you for doing the research while trying to make this desicion.
There's a lot of really good formula's out there on the market. I'm sure you'll do the research on them, and make the right choice for you.
Just keep in mind, that everyone is different, and some things are better for some than others.
2007-03-05 10:49:16 · answer #1 · answered by Michelle W 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have both breastfed and formula fed. I have 4 children, 2 of them were breastfed, 2 of them were not. The reason I chose to formaula feed 2 of them was:
1. You dont have to be up every 1 1/2 -2 hrs feeding
2. I went back to work and didnt want to pump.
3. My daughter went on a feeding strike and afterwards decided she liked the formula better than my boob. :) (she's still a picky eater at 4 lol)
4. I had done the whole breastfeeding route, and wanted to try formula feeding.
5.Daddy got to feed baby which meant I got......a shower.
6. I didnt have to whip my boob out in public.
There are many reasons why people choose to do what they do. Even if you choose not to breastfeed (or formula feed for that matter) make sure you are happy with it, otherwise you will grow resentful. By the way, I am not trying to convince you to breastfeed, but you should at least TRY it on a trial basis so you dont wonder "what if". Otherwise you might have regrets.
2007-03-05 10:33:23 · answer #2 · answered by lonijean 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I breastfed for 4 months and switched to formula. I was dead set on breastfeeding unitl I realized how freakin hard it was! 4 months into it and it was still extremely painful. I went to 3 different lactation consultants who all told me he was latching correctly but, "Wow, I've never seen a stronger sucking reflex." Yeah, he was eating me up so I quit for everyone's sanity. The good thing about formula is everyone can feed him...that's what I liked most about it. Dad could take a night shift and grandma can come take him so I could get sleep! Oh, and those b/feeding crazies always try and make you feel bad b/c of "his immune system," but my son only got sick once as a baby(mild cold)and once since he started mother's day out(ear infection)....so I think there's more to it. I will try and breastfeed the next one longer, but I will move to formula much faster if I see it not working out.
Breastfeeding is really hard, but I would suggest just giving it a try for a month. If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't and you can always go to formula. Good luck and don't let anyone make you feel bad for your choice....if it's the best for YOUR family, then it isn't wrong.
2007-03-05 11:07:23 · answer #3 · answered by emrobs 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I say try breastfeeding and if for some reason it doesn't work out or if you don't like it then formula feed. I chose formula feeding because I couldn't get my son to latch on for the life of me. Plus for the first 12 hours of his life he was bottle fed because I was unexpectedly knocked out for a c-section, so I think that had a lot to do with him not wanting me. I'm definately going to try again with my second but I know theres nothing wrong with formula feeding and at least I can say I tried. People need to find out the real reasons why some women formula feed I hate the nazi's who just assume we are lazy or just don't want to do it...Congrats to you!
2007-03-05 11:11:55 · answer #4 · answered by hopewishdream 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well... I wish i had a straight answer with u... but if it helps i only breastfed for 6 weeks and then i started formula feeding because i went out and didnt want to pump and dump like 100 times. but anyways ... if someone pops up and says that breastfeeding is better because the baby wont be sick thats bs... because my mother breastfed me for 18 months.. yea i dont like saying that but anyways i am a walking medicine cabinet, i was born with hypothyroidism, i have horrible allergy and asthma, um... i always getwhatveer comes around.
i think you should do whatever u feel you want. dont listen to anyone negative. youll still have a bond with your baby if u bottle feed and all that. so i wish i could say something better, but formula feeding is just as good i believe.
goodluck and congrats on your lil one
2007-03-05 10:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by ntkwilliamson@sbcglobal.net 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know I think that every mom thinks they are going to breast feed for like ever but when it really comes down to it if your like me you kind of just want your body back and yeah i though at least breast feed my son for 6 mos right.I lasted 1.5 mos.It wasn't even that it wasn't going too bad i just couldn't keep up.My son was 8.9 pounds and he wanted to eat all the time i couldn't go any where or do anything with out having to feed him i wasn't able to figure out the whole filling bottles ahead of time and when i did he would be drinking them as fast as i was making them so it was just way to demanding with a newborn so i found that i began formula because then i could just have a break.but don't get me wrong breast feeding was a very special intimate time i shared with my son but my breasts were just so uncomfortable and constantly leaking or if you wait to long to feed they feel like rocks and they are so sore.I personally was just done with the whole pregnancy thing and wanted to really enjoy my time with my son/not being so tired and sore!So it is your choice but i totally support women who do and can breastfeed for a while cause it's a task and very demanding but also the best for your babe and formula costs a fortune but remember the no-name stuff is just as good and saves u a couple bucks.So god luck with you baby and congrats.
2007-03-05 10:32:23 · answer #6 · answered by sweetsmiles69@jennieask-me 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My wife did a sort of mixed feeding, because she found it very hard to get started, and actually produce enough milk (she could never express or any of that stuff). One advantage she found was that I could get up at 2 o'clock in th emorning.
PS
Son is now 14, 5'11", runs 400m in under a minute and is in top 10% of school.
2007-03-05 10:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well first of all I am wondering WHY you wouldn't breast feed? I am not being critical of you, I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to. (If you think that your boobs will look better if you don't, you're wrong. Pregnancy is what wrecks them, not feeding.) Talk to your doctor about why you should or should not breast feed. In the end it's your choice, but as another poster mentioned, you might regret it if you don't breast feed. It can't hurt to try it, and if you don't like it you can formula feed.
2007-03-05 10:38:11 · answer #8 · answered by kherome 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋