What made you choose formula over breastfeeding?

Question

If you made the decision to feed formula to your baby rather than breastmilk, what influenced you? I am curious why anyone would NOT want to breastfeed their baby.

To clarify, I'm interested in mothers who actually chose formula over breast, not out of necessity.

MAYBE IF I PUT IT IN ALL CAPS, PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY READ IT!

IF YOU CHOSE NOT TO BREASTFEED, ANSWER MY QUESTION.

IF YOU HAD TO USE FORMULA OUT OF NECESSITY, DISREGARD THIS POST!!!

Answer 1

I am with Michele......I wanted my husband to be able to be involved with the baby. I wanted to be able to feed her and to be able to let anyone else feed her.......I wanted to be more to my baby than a milk supply. I enjoyed our kissing and cuddling and special time that went beyond the feedings (although the feeding was special too). Plus I knew that I only had an 8 week maternity leave, and I wanted to make the most of my time with her......not spend the whole time struggling to breastfeed.
Plus, I was just NOT comfortable at all with the idea of pulling up my shirt, whipping out a boob, and attaching my baby. The overall concept just did not appeal to me........I married into a HUGE Italian family and we had visitors quite often. I felt better about just giving her a bottle than having to practically strip down to feed her. I have been put down like you would not believe for that opinion.........but
hey, you asked..........

Answer 2

Although I produced plenty of milk, some of the medications that I am taking are excreted in the breast milk. Basically, with each of my children, I had to decide whether the benefits outweighed the risks. With my first 2, I still breastfed. With my third, however, one of the medications was a newer one and the doctor told me they would not prescribe it any longer if I continued breastfeeding. Since it was the only one that I had been able to find that worked for my problem, I decided the risk was too great and it would be better off if I just fed him formula.

Answer 3

I chose to bottle feed, because my husband and I both wanted to be able to feed the baby.

When babies are first born, all they do is eat, poop and sleep. (smile)...If I would have breast fed my baby, he would have had a bowel movement soon thereafter, and after a quick diaper change (by me), it's back to sleep.

We thought that the majority of the time, the feeding of our baby would have occured w/out my husband having had anytime with the baby.

Bottle feeding is definitely a personal decision, and whether to bottle feed or breast feed was tops on our list when planning for our baby.

After our baby was born, my husband said he liked the way the formula smelled on our baby's breath, and he liked how our baby starred at him while he ate (smile).

I agree that breastfeeding is best. But formula did work for us. I have 2 children, and they are both very healthy. I guess bottom line ......it's what works best for you.

Hope this answers your question...have a great day!

Answer 4

I tried the my very best to BF for as long as I could, but I dried up at 9 months. No matter what I did, pumping constantly, drinking tons of water, fenugreek, even prescription medicine... my body just refused to make any more milk. I wish I could have BF longer, and I feel horrible that I couldn't. The good thing is that she did get a good 9 months of breastmilk. I think this is why she hasn't been sick yet!

Answer 5

My baby was sick and the hospital gave him bottles which interfered with my milk. After 6 weeks at home trying to breastfeed, my baby finally started refusing the breast alltogether. I felt so guilty when I switched to formula but both my doctor and the baby's doctor said not to worry, any little bit helps!

Answer 6

no longer a figure yet, yet right here's my solutions so a procedures. Did you pick breastfeeding or formula? i elect breastfeeding as healthful thanks to bypass (as you know the finished preparation issue as I do to. So save the explaination on that). in case you breastfed, how lengthy did you do it for, and what made you settle on at the same time as to wean? That relies upon on some issues: How lengthy i visit produce, particularly if have multi little ones (desire no longer) promptly and at the same time as my infant is able to adance in the route of cow/soy milk. What inspired your decision? well being-preparation and own bondment. How oftentimes did your infant fall unwell? i do not have little ones; in spite of the undeniable fact that, dad and mom who breastfeed ***** a lot less of ailment than those who do not. Do you've any regrets in regard to this difficulty? No regrets for sure yet comments. i'd quit at a million...a million and 1/2 with breastfeeding and one hundred% in undemanding words the newborn cup. i wish to reduce the bottle to exceedingly a lot 0 (on condition that ought to situations). yet no longer some thing is determined in stone. the youngsters prepared the floor each each now and then and adjust plans as you bypass.

Answer 7

Though your post sounds slightly judgemental near the end I will answer. I chose it because my daughter was having trouble breastfeeding and also because I had anxiety very badly and formula kept me on a constent schedule where I could be there for her as well as myself. I tried to pump but didnt have alot of milk

She is healthy and has never been ill in her 15 months

Answer 8

My first and second babies nursed for short times (6 weeks and 3 months, respectively) but I eventually switched because they were so underweight (I think I make skim milk!)
So . . . . . when number 3 came along, I a) already knew nursing would probably fail anyhow, and b) we were moving in 6 days with two other kids to care for and I did NOT have the time to sit there nursing around the clock like I did with the first two in my efforts to increase my milk supply. so I never nursed number 3. Guess what? She's just as happy, HEALTHY, and bonded as the others. I hate militant breastfeeding moms. Get over yourselves.

Answer 9

Some people have inverted nipples which make it difficult or sometimes impossible for babies to latch on. I personally had to stop breastfeeding for a short period of time because my son had breastmilk jaundice whereby the breastmilk makes his jaundice worse.

Answer 10

i like the first answerer did not have a choice, I am one of the 2 or 3% of the population that does not produce milk.

heres a link to an answer i gave a few days ago about this subject, I figured it was a little long to post here again, so if you want to read it i am somewhere near the middle.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArJ_sVMkRPJjdDJtrdFZN9wAAAAA?qid=20070312123149AAtf5N5&show=7#profile-info-37b78e8d24b1f7341e5590dbbdf74b12aa