Formula Feeding moms only please?

Question

I am unsure whether I am going to breast feed or not. I do not think I will be comforatble with it and people say the baby can sense that. What I would like to know is people out there who used formula, did you baby get sick more than breast feed babies and did you have a harder time losing the pregnancy weight?? Thanks..also what is a good brand of formula??

Answer 1

Breastfeeding definitely helps you lose the weight. When I bf my first, the weight just melted off. Then I stopped bf and didn't figure out that I had to stop eating like I was still bf and it all came right back. D'oh! Believe me, ff doesn't keep you from losing weight, it just doesn't provide that extra metabolic "kick" that bf does. On the plus side, if your baby takes a bottle, it will be easier to have someone else watch them while you go to the gym. :)

My second was ff from day one. He isn't a "sickly" child. He gets a lot of colds, but I think that is more due to daycare than to being ff.

I use Similac which is a soy formula.

Bear in mind that some babies are very sensitive to formula. This doesn't mean they will have food allergies, etc. later in life, but you do need to be aware of it. My first could only have ready-to-feed soy formula. No powder. My second can have just about anything. If your baby seems to be fussy, gassy, having problems, first thing to try is switching formulas. Give it a few days before you declare the new formula a failure or success.

Answer 2

I was unsure about it too........and I went with the bottle from day #1.
I choose Enfamil because I had heard really good things about them. My daughter was diagnosed with severe acid reflux when she was 5 weeks (NOT because I did not breastfeed) and we switched her to Enfamil AR.......it helped SO much......
my daughter is a happy, active, smart, and well developed 11 month old. She has never been sick, other than her reflux with is a chronic disease. She has been on the planet almost a year, and has never had so much as a cold. and she is a great weight for her age.
as for me, I worked out most of my pregnancy and was back in my (stretchy) pre pregnancy clothes with in 2 weeks and back in my real clothes within the first 2 months.

Formula feeding is okay......do not let the breast feeding Nazis out there pressure you into something you are not comfortable with........you and your baby will NOT be happy if you try to force something that you don't want to do. You will be stressed, she will feel it and stress with you. you are better off formula feeding (yes, I know.....some La Leche lady will ready that and hate email me......but too bad)

good luck!!!!

Answer 3

I did both and either was good for me. If you are not comfortable with it, then its best you do not. My husband was the one that wasn't comfortable with it as most guys aren't. I will say that my breastfeed baby had no earaches, but this is when you give bottles in a laydown position, which doctors do not recommend. I found that bottle fed was more convenient for me though. As for shopping, church and family outings. Everyone wants to feed the baby and this was a good break for me. If you and your husband want to go out, a babysitter can fill in. I lost the weight with both pretty much right away. I stuck to veggies, fruits and some meats. I didn't snack on junk food and want back to my original size or less. I did find that using a formula with iron constipated my daughter, so I gave a supplement instead. All doctors are different and will suggest a formula they like, Most are really good, just watch the iron in them. Good luck and Enjoy!

Answer 4

I am formula feeding my 5 month old since he was two months old, due to my breastmilk supply being low. If you don't feel comfortable with it, don't do it. There are too many people out there that try to tell mothers that they're practically terrible if they don't breastfeed. It comes down to what works for you. You will still bond with your baby. My baby absolutely adores me above everyone else.
My son actually gets sick less than his breastfed cousin who is the same age.
I had an easier time losing the pregnancy weight, only because my husband could feed the baby and gave me a chance to work out. I breast fed my first baby for 10 months and honestly didn't see a difference with the weight loss. Just eat sensibly, when breastfeeding you need more calories because your making milk, and you shouldn't diet, so that cuts back on the weight loss.
I use Similac, because that's what I get through WIC, I use the liquid, I can't stand messing with that powder stuff. Good luck.

Answer 5

My daughter was born 7 weeks premature, and though I tried to breast-feed, I was unable to because I didn't produce enough, so she was basically on formula from day one. She is 11 months old now, and has never been sick a single day, except for the sniffles this week... she caught a cold from me and I have been sick for 7 days, and she got over it in 2 days.

I didn't have any trouble losing the pregnancy pounds either... I was so busy that I didn't have time to snack between meals most of the time and I was really busy with her, so I lost it that way.

I have used all of the types of formula and they all have to meet FDA standards, so it is mostly personal preference - to me, Similac, Nestle Good Start and Bright Beginnings taste better than Enfamil, but my baby doesn;'t seem to care one way or the other.

Congrats!

Answer 6

I did not breastfeed with my children who are now ages 3 & 5. They were not sick more than any other children would be, and as far as the pregnancy weight, I lost mine pretty quickly with both children, and I gained 50 lbs with both of them, it was all off within 4-5 months. I am now 36 wks pregnant with my third, and I am going to formula-feed again. And the weight gain this time is only 23 lbs!!! I think i'll lose it quick. I used enfamil formula with my children. We never had any problems. Good luck and congrats.

Answer 7

This is a GREAT question! I breast fed my first and enjoyed it. My second child I HATED IT! He lost weight and my milk just wasn't enough for him. After 10 days I switched to formula and he thrived! He is 14 now and tall and handsome! My third child was an emergency caesarean and NO WAY was I going to breast feed so I never even tried and she is 12 and gorgeous! So there are 3 different kids but all seemed to turn out fine! My oldest had more ear infections and has allergies(breastfed for 7 months) my other two had few illnesses and have no allergies. As for pregnancy weight I find it hard to lose anyways. Ask your Pediatrician about formula, price them and compare prices. Sometimes there are studies and you can even get a few months free!

Answer 8

Now this is just a personal experience, but my oldest child was formula fed & it seemed like she was always sick with a cold/allergies. I attempted breastfeeding my 2 sons (I at least got in a month with both, then complications arose) and it seems like they don't get nearly as sick as my daughter did. I mean they still have their share of colds and such, but not as much as she did. BUT if it's something that you don't want to do, then don't let anyone make you feel bad for choosing to formula feed. Just don't attempt to shelter your child either. The exposure to the outside world helps build their immune system too. Good luck hon!!

Answer 9

Breast feeding is nutritionally and immunologically definitely the better choice of the 2 if you have the option of both, but there're many healthy babies that are formula fed - so the it's really up to you and there are pros and cons to both.
I think it'd be a real shame to alreadly make up your mind without even trying though.

Answer 10

i have feed all three of my children formula.........beast feeding makes me feel uncomfortable too.......... but not when other people do it..................it's just the thought of me doing it........anyways i like soy formula because it seems to be easier to digest for the babies and as far as brands all formulas are almost exactly the same so go with what you can afford............i lost my weight fast with my girls but my son i put on so much it took a little longer but i do not think breast feeding has much to do with losing weight...............eat right and exercise when you feel up to it and by the time your baby is a toddler it will all be gone.