Breastfeeding vs. formula - if you are breastfeeding do you plan to with your next child. If you are using?

Question

formula, do you plan on doing that with your next child? Why?

Answer 1

I breastfeed. Proud of it. Will do it for at LEAST a year. And will CERTAINLY do it with my next child(ren).

My ultimate goal is to never use formula. Hopefully that can be achieved! And 'why?' Because it's what's best for babies, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to successfully breastfeed. So why wouldn't I?

Answer 2

I have a 15 month old that I'm currently breastfeeding, and will continue to do so until she's ready to stop. Unless something catastrophic happens, I will breastfeed all of my children - it's free, it's easy, it helps develop a strong bond between me and my child, it's great for both her and me, and helps her developmentally in ways I know we haven't even yet discovered (for example, I bet many people don't know that breastfeeding helps develop the eyes because of the way the baby focuses when positioned that way - it helps develop cross patterns in the brain, much like crawling). Why would I mess with bottles, warming, shelling out money, the smell of formula, and a less healthy baby when I have two ready to eat "bottles" attached? It's the best thing I can do for my little ones, present and future.

Answer 3

I formula feed and I am somewhat proud. As a first time, 20 year old mom, I was misinformed by alot of people about the benefits of breastfeeding. A lot of people were telling me the negative things and leaving out the positive. It scared me into formula feeding my daughter. She is thriving and doing exceptionally well... but i often find myself regretting my choice to use formula. If everything goes according to plan, I will defiantly breast feed my next child. I want the experience and I want that close bond with my child. The only reason I regret my choice is because I really wish my daughter and I could have shared that experience. There is not a thing wrong with formula though. So if I end up using it with my next child.. I will still be proud.

Answer 4

With my first son I breastfed him for about 4 months, then had to switch to alimentum formula due to his severe food allergies (Corn, soy, wheat, milk whey protein and lactose just to name a few), with my second son I breastfed for 7 months exclusively and he is a very healthy 18 month old now, and I am currently breastfeeding my 3 month old daughter and plan to breastfeed her for AT LEAST a year. If I have another I will breastfeed him or her as well. As to why, well I know all the numerous benefits to breastfeeding for the child as well as myself, and I come from a family where everyone breastfed their children, so it only seemed the right choice for me as well. Besides that I never have to get up and warm a bottle while holding a screaming starving baby...I hear her sucking her fists at night wake up change her and feed her without ever leaving my room!

Answer 5

I breastfed both my daughters and will breastfeed the baby I'm currently pregnant with. Why, why not?
Why after breastfeeding two children would I not breastfeed the the third?
To be honest I wouldnt even know how to look after a baby that was formula fed. No idea how to make bottles or when and how often to feed a bottle. It scares me and freaks me out. With breastfeeding its quick and easy always on tap, no sleep depravation because once baby is latched off we go back to sleep. Its convenient and baby will eat as often and as much as they need so no fear of overfeeding or under feeding. And what is better than the milk my body makes specifically for my baby each and every feed.

Answer 6

I breastfeed and YES I will breastfeed any additional children.

It's free, convenient, comforting AND nutritious, and it's the best thing I can give my child to eat. She's so healthy and we think the breastmilk has a lot ot do with it. I could go on and on about the benefits.

I hear many formula-feeding mothers say they wished they had breastfed, but I've never met a breastfeeding mother who wishes she formula fed.

The first couple of weeks of breastfeeding it isn't always easy, but it is so very worth it if you stick it out. Moms who breastfeed for the first few weeks give their baby the important colostrum and any breastfeeding is better than none, but they don't get to enjoy breastfeeding when it is so easy. Breastfeeding a 3 month old, for instance, is so much more relaxed and easy compared to a newborn.

Answer 7

I breastfed my first child for 14 months when he weaned himself and my second for only about 12 months when she weaned herself! Neither of them EVER took a bottle or formula!

The first time around it was tough and it hurt like heck! :) but the end result was soooo worth every little crack or blister!

My adivce is to try nursing and if it hurts or there is some other difficulty then contact the lactation consultants at the hospital. They can give you many helful hints as well as help you in anyway they can! and then try again!

If all else fails and you just aren't produucing adequate supply or the baby is rejecting your milk in some way then obviously go to the formula, but only as a last resort! There of course is NOTHING wrong with formula it is just that breast milk is better, muuuuuch better!

Answer 8

I BF and FF my first son; but only did any BFing for the first 7 weeks. I gave up due to lack of support and lack of education about the actual BFing process. I NEVER thought that something so "natural" would require such dedication.
As soon as I found out that I was accepting my 2nd child I KNEW that I would breast feed and not give up. I had researched the benefits to both mom and baby over formula, and knew that it was what I wanted to do for my children. I was told over and over by people that I should buy a can of formula to keep on hand "just in case", which I refused to do. I also refused the diaper bag with it in the hospital. I did not want any temptation during those frustrating few first weeks. Here we are, 10 months later....still happily nursing. :-D

Answer 9

I nursed my son exclusively til he was 18 months old, loved every minute of it. I had definitely planned to nurse the next little one, it meant very much to me. However, she was born with a cleft lip/palate, so nursing was impossible, unfortunately. I did pump for a short while, but due to not producing enough milk, I had to supplement with formula. Then PPD set in, so I gave up on the pumping, it was very difficult for me to do so.

Plans don't always work out like you want. However, I was glad that my daughter was always well-nourished. :)

Answer 10

Breastfeeding 14 months.
Plan to do so with our next child as well.
I work full-time and she never had formula. I was really lucky to have produced enough for her to be able to do that.

Why???
No illness at all. She had pink eye when I had it but that's it. I teach in a poor area of the city and bring home all sorts of stuff- I have been exposed to all sorts of stuff as well: Whooping cough and Hep B to name 2. She has not had it. No ear infections, nothing.

Answer 11

I tried to breastfeed my first child and didn't do to great. Only made it through 3 months. This baby I tried again and we are doing great at 4.5 months.
There's nothing wrong with formula, it's just not as good as breast milk. that's a fact. My first baby hated nursing. But... i knew it was best so i tried again with this baby and she likes the closeness and she has done really well. So it's not for every mother and it doesn't work for every baby.