For people that think breastfeeding is nasty, have you researched the benefits of breastfeeding over formula?

Question

Also if you chose to formula feed instead of breastfeeding, did you research the pros and cons of each feeding method?
Thanks.

I want to clarify that I am not judging anyone, I simply am curious as to the reasoning some do not breastfeed because they think it is gross- including men who think it is gross and discourage their partners from bf.

I used the word "CHOSE" because some women WANT to breastfeed and cannot. Lifes all about choices, I am just interested about the side that I do not understand- is all :)

To All the Repliers,

Thank you all for your points of view, however I didnt really get the answers I was looking for. I am in the USA, and people around me have referred to bf as "nasty". I have three children, worked with my first born and have stayed home since my second baby.
I pumped breastmilk for my first baby, but discovered none of it had been used. They had bought formula and were giving her that behind my back.
I also want to say it was difficult as hell getting her started because she wouldnt latch correctly and I had one inverted nipple. It took three weeks to get her nursing.
My next two children I decided to stay home with, a one yr old and a three month old. I am tandem nursing both and they have never used formula.
I get slack to this day from friends/relatives..."thats not what breasts are for"..."dogs and cats do that"..."go to the bathroom". Mind you I am very discreet, and dont bf in public.
I am 24 and taking online courses, this is for a psyc class repo.

Answer 1

Breastmilk is made of mummy milk. It contains everything a child needs to grow for at least six months, no water, no juice, no food supplements, nothing but nothing else is required. It also contains life-giving living cells and immunity agents which protect the baby from infection and disease. Formula cannot do this. It is made of dried cow's milk with chemicals thrown in. Not for nothing is its real name "artificial milk". At the end of the day, is your baby a baby cow, or a human infant?

And for those people who harp on about choice. What choice does the baby have if you "choose" not to breastfeed? "Choosing" not to breastfeed can have major health implications many years down the line for this tiny person.

We're talking diabetes, obesity, damaged lungs from repeated respiratory infections, ear infections, plus of course a few important points lower on the IQ scales.

I know what my baby would choose if he were able.

Answer 2

Our family strives to eat an all natural diet. We avoid harmful food chemicals and additives when possible. Processed and prepackaged foods are loaded with synthetic ingredients that are actually carcinogens. Why would I feed my baby formula? I understand some women feel they don't have a chocie. Some just don't feel comfortable breastfeeding. These are probably the same people who eat processed foods and feed their children terrible snack foods like teddy grahams and cheese nips. If they want to live with their heads in the sand that is their choice. You cannot force anyone to agree with your views. To each their own.

I would like to point out that I've never met a man who thought breastfeeding was gross. All the negative view points or rude comments I've gotten have been from women. Once I was in the backseat of my mom's car breastfeeding my baby. We were at a gas station. The guy filling up his car told my mom it was such a beautiful thing and it is so sad that so many women choose not to breastfeed anymore. I think most men don't think too much about it one way or another. But women love to tell you how disgusting you are...even when you're draped with a blanket and absolutely no skin is visible. Just the idea of it is enough to set off some close minded women.

Answer 3

I breast fed my three children. It was easier because there was no bottle to sterilize and it was always the right temperature and literally on tap.

With my first I was a little worried about breadt feeding in public, but by the time I had my third I couldn't care less what people thought. I didn't see why I should go and sit in a lavatory to feed my child. So I would sit in the park and feed him or in a cafe. No-one could see anything. It's the most natural thing in the world.

Answer 4

I'm guessing you've not had kids, as if you had you would know that no Mum thinks breastfeeding is 'nasty'! Some feel uncomfortable with the idea, but I'm sure 'nasty' is too strong a word.

When I was pregant, the midwife pressured me into thinking I would be an unfit mother if I didn't breastfeed - she even went as far as giving me no advice on bottlefeeding at all. When the time came my baby wouldn't feed from me .... she starved for 2 days because I thought everyone was judging me. In the end I was in floods of tears and didn't want my baby near because I thought I wasn't good enough to be a mother.

Luckily for me in the hospital one of the nurses sat with me and told me that the government are telling them to 'push' breastfeeding on new Mums and that they were not allowed to bring up the subject of bottlefeeding. My baby had a bottle within 5 minutes and it was the first time I'd bonded with my baby since she'd been born.

We mix with a group of 8 babies all born at the same(ish) time and my baby was the first to crawl, first have teeth, first to walk, first to talk, she's never sick and is a very clever little girl (even if I do say so myself!). So I can't see how she would have benefitted any more from being breastfed.

A lot of the propaganda is being fed from the Governement, how dare they dictate how I feed my baby? ......... I suspect the majority of politicians who voted on this are men - that should tell you all you need to know!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Iv had five children i breast feed two an then the others i didn't because i had to work an it just didn't fit in with what i was doing never stopped me bonding with them then my other two,we are all so close my youngest is 6 weeks old an hes on a bottle you go with what's fits in your family at the time easy to breast feed when you only got one baby but then comes two an then comes three i found it hard ...

Answer 6

I chose to stop breastfeeding after 8 weeks as I just didn't get along with it. I felt unsure that my daughter was getting enough as she was only gaining half the weight she was supposed to be despite advice from about 3 different Lactation Consultants. I also felt socially uncomfortable with it (my brother-in-law sat staring at my breasts when I was feeding her one time). There are many other reasons which I won't bore you all with but I would like to say that my daughter is now thriving on formula. Her poo smells a lot worse though!!!!! Also, when my daughter was first born she spent the first week in intensive care for phototherapy for high jaundice levels. The nurses kept telling me to breastfeed her as much as possible to keep her fluids up but my milk hadn't come in yet so I gave her what I could and the paediatricians topped her up with formula (she needed 60 mls per feed and I was only producing about 10-20 mls). I figured that if the doctors at the hospital were prepared to give formula to newborns then it can't be that bad. I also did read about both forms of feeding and we also discussed both breast and formula in ante-natal classes. I was determined to breastfeed as I was convinced it was best but it just didn't turn out the way I expected. I still do think that breastmilk is probably best but it just doesn't suit all women and/or babies. This is a very volatile subject amongst women and everybody gets so worked up over it. At the end of the day, you can't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Whether breast or formula, leave people be.

Answer 7

Many people were against my choice but...

I am/was a firm believer. I did lots of homework. Lots of reading. But I also followed my heart more than anything else. This was 22 years ago. At first it was hard, I will admit. But I was determined, and it had been something I had so looked forward to as part of our bonding time. And I breastfed him for a long time. Never a bottle, just went to a cup. And HE made the transition himself! no fussing! It was on his time scale. He had no other food but breast milk, other than water for a long time. After that, homemade vegis and on from there....
I can't look back and wonder how much of that I can contribute to his perfect health all his growing years and now as an adult. And I do mean perfect. Thank God! Just following my instincts as a Mom.

Answer 8

There is a massive amount of information out there about the benefits of breastfeeding and I think it would be impossible for anyone to get through a pregnancy without seeing some of that information. Midwives often talk to their patients about it, it is in every single pregnancy book out there, and all the information and leaflets that people are given when they get pregnant talk about the benefits.
I really don't think there is anyone out there who choses not to breastfeed because they think it is 'nasty' and if there is, they are not the sort of people who use this forum.

Answer 9

Breast milk is supposed to give the child a number of benefits such as improving the immune system.

The first milk expressed contains a lot of collagen which improves the strength of the child's skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and teeth, forming strong insoluble fibres and serving as connective tissue between cells.

Its natural at the end of the day so we shouldn't really be repulsed by it. Ever seen a puppy dog or kittens being fed by their mother and felt repulsed? No.

I can see why a woman breast feeding in public may be offensive to some though.

Answer 10

I chose to breast feed both of my children, with the first I tried but could not breast feed because of inverted nipples, I was heart broken. with the second I was able to breast feed but it turns out my son has a milk allergy and I had to stop. for those of you that think breast feeding is nasty, your wrong it is a beautiful natural thing, a wonderful time of bonding between mother and child.

Answer 11

I breast feed both of my children. It was my choice. I knew about the benefits but also When I was pregnant I was imagining the tiny baby in my arms. Close to me. The bonding is instant and so great that I just to shed a tear from emotions. But with 1baby I had to stop breast feeding when she was 3weeks for medical reasons. With 2nd til 4months.
I can just add that my girls are healthy,developing normally.
But it was awkward in public sometimes. Was told couple of tomes that it causes embarrasment. But every time I calmly went to another place. But I didn't give up.
So to answer your question YESSSSSSSSSS