Do you breastfeed because its your choice or give into pressure?

Question

Alright. So I bf my first and second for one year, my third for I believe 6-8 months. This one I am planning to bf also.
However, whenever I suggest not bf (even with my first two) I heard the whole "Well formula is too expensive." Or "How can you do that to the baby?" and the famous "If you don't bf your not a good mom -- if the baby is willing."

Now, I honestly want to bf this one for a little bit. I'm not sure how long. But this might sound horrible -- but I don't look forward to bf for 6 months or a year.

Even though this will be my fourth child, I still don't feel comfy feeding in public. And with two of my children, they didn't take from the bottle -- even if I pumped out fresh milk. However, if I don't bf I'm considered a "bad mom." What?

Answer 1

ha ha...i so feel you. i made the decision to breastfeed while i was pregnant, not realizing how difficult it could be, especially the first three weeks. however, whenever i even approached the thought of quitting, i got a guilt trip...from other mothers, especially from the pediatricians office...even WIC. its like the choice is taken out of your hands. However, no matter how long you choose to breastfeed, its your choice. your child will thrive just as well on formula. however long you do it, people should be impressed than you even did it. i know so many women that quit within the first month and they feel no guilt.

Answer 2

I did feel pressured to bf my 2 boys, i tried with the first for about 4 months and then my milk just disappeared, the doc and i just put it down to stress caused by bf a child with sever reflux who wanted to be on the boob all the time, i wasnt enjoying breastfeeding. With my second, he had problems latching on, would throw a mini tantrum when he did finally get on and no milk straight away, let down was slow. Then when i did get him back on, milk release was too fast and he would choke. So he would let go and the merry-go-round would start again. I only lasted about 3 weeks when i got the urge to throw him against a wall in frustration, my arms even tensed up, it scared the crap out of me. And he wasnt thriving or gaining any weight, so straight onto a bottle and i started to bond with him better and enjoy being a mom. I am pregnant with child number 3, and if i have problems at all, bub is going onto a bottle, never mind what anyone says, i dont enjoy breastfeeding, its uncomfortable and frustrating and i want to be able to bond with my baby straight away, which you cant do if your having problems. I really hope breastfeeding does go better this time, i would love to be able to enjoy it, but if i dont, oh well, i still love my kids like no one else can and thats all that matters.

Answer 3

I breastfed my children because I thought, after studying up on it, it would be a very good and healthy thing to do for them. I did not know how many things I am allergic to back then though. :( One child I was able to breastfeed for nine months, the others I quit after one to four months due to difficulties with the milk and truthfully, the milk is best during the first month and it's good that they even got the first month. It's okay to formula feed, in my opinion, without even having tried to breastfeed, and I'd never disrespect someone for it.

Answer 4

Most mothers do not breast feed now days. In general they are considered toys more than feeders now days. (I love to breast feed but I'm 40, that's a little humor) My first wife breast feed and enjoyed it very much for a while and then lost intrest. My second wife (and love life) breast feed both of our children. I think that it is better on many levels but what do I really know I am a 40 year old male. Personally I wouldn't think less of a mother who didn't and you would not in any way be a bad mother.

Answer 5

Who is pressuring you? Family? Friends? That's pretty crummy. Maybe it's time to get yourself a new support group. I breastfed because I (and nobody else, not even my husband) decided formula was too expensive. It's ridiculous! But I know enough people who have exclusively had formula (including me) and who turned out just lovely, healthy and intelligent. Don't take anyone's crap about it. Whether you breastfeed or not doesn't make you a good mom or a bad mom.

Answer 6

I love nursing my daughter. It's the most natural thing to me. Bottles are foreign and strange to me. It would be strange to have to mix formula and use it. I'm going to nurse my daughter for AT LEAST a year so I don't have to mess with bottles.

Now, for your situation, use formula right away if you want. Or, you can pump milk and put it in her bottles & supplement with formula so that when the time comes that you want to switch over to formula, the transition will be smoother. You should, IMO, nurse your daughter or son at least for the first maybe month so that he/she can get the nutrients and antibodies from your breast milk. After that, it's up to you. Some people just don't find nursing their children that enjoyable. Although I don't understand it, I can be empathetic of your situation and feelings... so do as you please, it won't make you a better or worse mother.

Answer 7

I don't think your a bad mom for not wanting to breast feed.
To breast feed or not is a personal choice. IF you want to then do it if not then formula feed. I breast fed my daughter for 4 months before having to start medication that would have made her ill. I am 39 weeks with number 2 and i would like to breast feed for at least a year but if it doesn't work out it doesn't.
Do what is right for you, your baby and your lifestyle!
Good L uck and congrats!

Answer 8

Personally, I would say yes (since you want a black/white answer). If you breastfed the others, unless there is a problem, by not bfing the youngest, what does that say about how important the youngest one is to you? Your convenience is more important? I mean, it's certainly understandable if you now have to go to work after you have the baby, and pumping at work, along with everything else, is complicated. Judging by your comments, that is not the case.

Pressure? You have no idea what pressure was like for women, not even 10 years ago, who wanted to breastfeed. Even now, nurses, who tend to be disgusted by breastfeeding, sabotage new mothers. Changing a bad culture takes some excess, yes, I agree with that. Consider it simply encouragement to do what you already did. However, I do want to say that many women quit breastfeeding by 3 months, so if you still go 6 months, great job!

Answer 9

I breast fed purely from choice. my sister Katie did not breast feed her first and does not plan on breast feeding her second (if they have a second). My sister Frances is breastfeeding. Some women take to it. I loved it my sister loves it, neither of us have inhibitions about it at all. My cousin however did not like breastfeeding although she breast fed both. Breastfeeding does give your baby some added benefits which is the main reason I chose to breast feed the first and continued to breast feed all four. But it is a personal choice and just like a choice of religion or sexual orientation you should not be judged or persecuted for it. I suggest telling these meddlers to "But out" and make the choice that is right for you. Good luck.

Answer 10

i'm helpful all hospitals are diverse. you will probable be inspired to breastfeeed, yet no one will rigidity you, or refuse to furnish infant bottles durng your stay. (At our close by wellbeing middle sufferers are asked while they arrive what their plans are, and the wellbeing middle LC does not even pass to the mothers who plan to formulation feed. ) i'm slightly puzzled which you're saying you have 'completed your study' and you in addition to mght say that your determination is baed on 'very own thoughts and lifetstyle.' those are 2 thoroughly various issues. i'm additionally puzzled techniques to think of it extremely is ever 'incorrect' to breastfeed ... till you're HIV+. EDIT: might I gently and non-judgementally propose/factor out that it extremely is extremely not a type you may desire to be making in the present day, or the next day, or perhaps once you get pregnant. We do stay in a society the place we are used to viewing our breasts sexually, so for a woman who hasn't been pregnant or given delivery, the belief of breastfeeding can certainly look unusual or uncomfortable. yet as quickly as we provide delivery, our physique releases hormones that make us opt to 'mom' and look after our infant. and those hormones frequently over-holiday our cultural conditioning, so as quickly as we do placed infant to the breast, it now no longer looks strange, yet extremely organic. So confident, like the wellbeing middle nurses, i might inspire you to breastfeed. (And to show your self further on the subject of the disadvantages of formulation, so which you comprehend the real disadvantages you demonstrate infant to in case you decide on for formulation. confident, formua is sufficient, and it extremely is stunning that the alternative is attainable for people who certainly like it. whether it extremely isn't any longer 'an identical.') provide it a try. provide it some days, or a week. If, after that factor, you nonetheless extremely hate it, you may change to formulation, and little you may are transforming into to be the income of a few days of breastmilk. Or, you may discover which you do no longer hate it, and you may proceed to breastfeed till you and/or infant are waiting to stop.