Would you breastfeed or formula feed?

Question

I want to breastfeed,
but i will have to return to work after
2-3 months after hes born
and i will also be returning to school
winter classes start around dec-jan.
I think i will be too busy and too tired
when i am not busy to try and pump
because i heard it takes up a lot of time
and i would have to try and pump at work
and etc, and at my job its not possible
we only get two 15 min. breaks

Should i breastfeed and then try and wean him off a couple weeks before i return to work and school. Or should i just give him formula to start, i want to give him good breatmilk and nutrition because i know thats what i need to do as a mother, but at the same time i dont want it to be a struggle for us when it comes time to go back to work.

Also, i have no idea as far as bottles to go for, weither i decide to pump last minute or formula, is there bottles that i can use for both? just get different nipples, even tho i want to breastfeed at first,

i want to get a manual pump or an easy, not super expensive pump, that way i can still feed him when we go out, and its around holidays and such so even if i am still breastfeeding i want to be able to feed him while were out, i was thinking avent?

Answer 1

I personally breastfeed, and it's been a very enjoyable experience.

Even if you have to eventually work and wean the baby off breastmilk, it's still a good idea to at least try for some time since this will help you lose weight and help the baby's overall health.

As for the pump: I have an Avent travel pump, although now I'm kind of wishing I had bought an electric one. It's not bad, but it does take a while to pump milk out. I've had no real issue with it though other then how time consuming it is for me to get a bag filled.

My lactation consultant recommended the Medela travel pump and said that these pumps work the best.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

It would be good to at least have a go at breastfeeding. The first few breastfeeds give the baby colostrum which is very important - lots of nutrients and antibodies in it.

My first baby I had to give both breastmilk and formula because he spent alot of time in the NICU and the separation caused my milk supply to dwindle.

But I have heard that even some breastmilk is better than none. By the time my son was 4 months old he was solely formula fed (he was not living with us) but I would still try and pump milk and send it to his grandmother to give to him.

Even when it got to the point that I was only getting 0.5oz I still sent it over.

I think you should go ahead and start out breastfeeding - it will also be a nice bonding experience for you and your son. But if the time comes and you feel like you want to start formula, don't feel bad about it, he will have gotten some breastmilk.

For both breastmilk and formula I've used alot of different bottles. Avent and Dr. Brown's, etc. although I do know there is a bottle on the market that is shaped like a mother's breast. The link is below.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Answer 3

I have 4 children (all adults now) I breastfed all of them. Some longer than others. I can not explain the difference in bottle feeding and breast feeding as far as the close nurturing feeling you will have. As I said, I breastfed some of my children longer than others. With my oldest, I had to return to work, I did pump for awhile, and although he still got the nutrition from it, giving it to him from a bottle was not the same. (I think it has to do with hormones or something). After my third child was 2 mths old I had to have my appendix out and had to stop breastfeeding. I have always felt cheated about that. Even tho I know there was no alternative. She never seemed to have any health issues but then again I did breastfeed her for 2 months. I suggest you give it a try. Even if its only for a short time the health benefits have been proved. And I think you will find the emotional bonding you will feel with your child is worth any hassle you may encounter.
Also, if you decide to breastfeed, do it in a quiet atmosphere, like in a quiet room with low music on whenever you can.
What ever you decide, is what will be best for you. Good luck and welcome to motherhood.

Answer 4

You can get a very nice pump an electric pump that will do a much faster job and get more milk than a manual pump.
I have the Playtex Embrace, it is about 200 less than the top known brands such as Medela, Avent and Ameda.
If you buy your pump do it online, that is what I did and I got it 30 cheaper than in the store and it comes with free shipping. Go to http://www.healthchecksytems.com.
The Playtex Embrace is enormously comfortable and easy to use and assemble/disassemble. I paid $164.95. total
I highly recommend that you attempt to contine BF for as long as you can. Pumping will increase your milk supply and with an electric one you can be more efficient.
Giving him breastmilk is so much easier you do not have to root for bottles in the wee hours of the morning, if you are out with him you don't need to search for water and it is much cheaper than formula.
You can spend $1700 in formula during his infantcy. The breastpump looks a whole lot better in price!
It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are knowledgable about what your baby needs.
You can pump if you get the double pump in 15 minutes, that is all the time you need.
Try to keep it up and breastfeed as long as you can at very least 6 months if not a year or more.
Good luck to you

Answer 5

Breast feed and pump as long as you can. Then switch to formula when need be. Then you know you gave your baby the best start you could for as long as you could. I use Avent bottles (I mostly breastfeed). They are great and if you choose to pump, the pump fits on top the bottles so all you do is add a nipple. No transfering milk.

Answer 6

Even to be able to breast feed him for 2-3 months is better than not at all...there is so much in breastmilk that is good for babies...helping develop their immune system and such. However, you are the mom and it is ultimately up to you. My oldest daughter was breastfed for 2 months, but it was so hard and there was so much going on in my life that I finally gave up. I did regret that, but she is very healthy. The main reason i regret it is because it is so much more expensive having to formula feed babies.

As far as pumping while you are work. If that is the main issue, then speak with your boss about it. I'm sure he/she will be understanding, and fit your needs into the schedule. You are not the first mom who may possibly need to pump while at work.

Answer 7

Breast milk or formula is fine. All of my children were formula fed because I couldn't breastfeed. I haven't had any problems with my children. Also being able to share the feedings with my husband was a help. My husband loved being able to feed the babies, he was able to have some of the bonding time that I would get with the baby and I feel that it brought him closer to the kids. Also I use the Advent bottles and they are really nice compared to the other bottles I had when I had my first two.

Answer 8

OMG...I can't tell you enough to breastfeed...I was so afraid to make a commitment I couldn't keep either...and thought I didn't eat all the right foods.etc..but then the doctor explained it benefits you too cause you'll loose weight faster and it's so much better for the baby than formu;la...can't match mother's milk...and it is so easy to wean off nursing when your ready...and you don't have to go through taking any pills or wrap you breast tight if you don't breast feed...you bond with your baby ..etc...no offense to bottle fed babies...I was bottle fed but just am so glad I changed my mind it was the best decision of my life.....good luck in whatever you decide...a baby is loved no matter what.and formula cost alot of money and by breast feeding your ready in the middle of the night w/o going to the kitchen and comes in handy whenever situations....even if you only breastfed for a month...it'll be the best experience for both you and baby and you will never look back and wonder "Should have I?" Most bottles today are acceptable to interchange formula, water...etc..disposables vs. good old fashion cleaning bottles...whatever is easier for you...good luck and congrats to you

Answer 9

Wow, there are some major idiots out there huh! why bother answering if you are just going to be foul! Anyway. First off. Manual pumps SUCK!! They are time consuming, akward, hard to operate and will make quit way earlier than u need to. Get a used medela pump n style. Its NOT gross because not milk ever touches the machine. Go on ebay or rent one from the hospital. The pump in style is a discreet leatherlike backpack . and it has a pocket to store breastmilk in containers once its been pumped. YOu can take it anywhere, it even has a car charger! You legally can't buy a used one at a retail store or even a consignment store, but you can try ebay or craigslist They are anywhere from 50-150 dollars. Give it a shot. Yes breastfeeding is best, but if you decide to quit after a few weeks or months....................your still a good mommy. You Can feed your baby both too! Your body will set its own clock and it knows when ur baby will want to feed so it is possible to bottle feed and breast feed at designated times. As far as bottles go, it doesn't really matter which ones you use, u just dump the breast milk in the bottle of your choice. Playtex and avent are most 'breastlike." My favorite was Dr. Browns bottles, the wider ones were more breastlike. They are GREAT for fussy colicky babies. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Here's a suggestion. You can do both! If you are comfortable the child can be fed formula or pumped milk while you are away and when you are together nurse especially in the morning and in the evening. This will allow you to bond with the child and give them the benefit of breast milk. This is what I ended up doing with my last child and she was really healthy my doctor suggested it because I had a very busy schedule with work and school as well.