Breastfeeding or not to breastfeed?

Question

It seems a lot of women do not choose to nurse. We are not being critical, just curious. My wife does, but we were curious what are reasons not to, besides just can't medically.

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Some women think (not neccesarily true) that breastfeeding will make their b*****s sag when they get older.  Breastfeeding is the best choice, you and your wife made the best choice, because it's best for the development of the baby.

Answer 2

I feed my baby with formula. I'm proud of it. I don't breastfeed because I don't want to. I'm sick of hearing from all these breastfeeding pushers. Get over yourselves.  

Answer 3

Some women choose not to breastfeed because they want to have a drink and its proved that when you breastfeed and drink and smoke at the same time then you're giving the fumes to ur baby and this can put the baby off. It can be sore so that may be another reason.  

Answer 4

I agree that this causes way too much drama here, but I will add to it. I  think when a mother chooses not to breastfeed for any reason other then a medical one, including having implants, it is because she is selfish and unable to give all of her self to her baby. I know this will p**s people off but it is my truth...

Answer 5

I wanted to breastfeed so bad but when my son was born he was taken to the NICU for 9 days.  He was tube fed for most of the time and then the last few days he had to be fed from a bottle so they knew he was getting enough.

I tried once we go home but he just didn't understand what was going on.  I pumped for a month total but it was just getting to be too much having to pump all the time and feed him and then pump again...i literally had no time for anything else.

I felt like a failure at first but now I realize that I did the best that I could by doing it for a month and that sometimes it just is not possible.

Answer 6

Your b*****s; your decision.

I think this question causes entirely too much drama in this section.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, there are a lot of women out there who either lack information (watch how many people write "formula is just as good" on here) or just don't have the proper support.

You and I know that breastfeeding is almost always possible with the right support, but many new mothers run into a little problem and then switch to formula.  Often, it's the physician who suggests the formula!  We assume that we can get help from our doctors, but the doctors know less than we do!

Advertising and urban myths are another big reason that women choose formula.  I've heard that breastfeeding will ruin your b*****s, that unless my diet is perfect I make inferior, contaminated milk, breastfeeding will tie me down, my babies will become too dependent, my babies will never bond with dad, I'll never get any sleep, the list goes on and on!  None of that nonsense is close to being true, but women believe it.

Already, a lot of answers talk about the same things I've said.  It's unfortunate that those women didn't have the right support.  I haven't read one answer that contains a dealbreaker.  Everyone here could have breastfed with the right amount of work and support.  Sorry if that pisses someone off, but life goes on.  Bottle or breast, we all do our best.

Answer 8

I cannot see any reason not to  at least try to breast feed unless it is medically impossible (as u mention) or the mother is a drinker, smoker, or drug addict.  Now once a mother trys it may be to painful, or it may be uncomfortable for them if they had been molested or what not...  otherwise I think it is selfish to not give a child  the oppratunity to gain health, IQ, and bonding with their mother.

  

Answer 9

Infants get a lot of their immunities through breastfeeding. I'd say it should be a darn good reason why wouldn't breast feed.

Some women just don't like it, or it's painful. Nipples can get very sensitive when lactating (along with the rest of the breast). Some women prefer to use a breast pump so that if they can't be around the baby all the time there's mommy milk on stand by.

I say breastfeed though - it's better for the baby.

Answer 10

i started to breastfeed but my milk supply dried up and my son as not gaining weight so i decided to just feed him formula and that way, i odnt have to worry about having wnough while he is at the babysitter. we all know breastfeeding is better, but some dont feel comfortable doing it and some just cant or baby is not growing. i dont think that it is bc mom does not care.

Answer 11

Latching problems, low milk supply and some can't get the fact that they see that as a sexual thing and don't feel alright with breastfeeding their child. Why did I get thumbs down for answering his question by the way I breastfed my baby the first two months and stopped because of health reasons and low milk supply.

Answer 12

I would have preferred to breatfeed.  But unfortunately, like you said medically some women cannot.  But if you CAN there is absolutely no reason not to.  It is very good for the baby, at least for the first couple weeks (which I had tried).  Some women for some reason just do not feel comfortable for some reason.  But they should really put that aside for the health of their child.  If we were not meant to breast feed our children then we wouldn't produce milk.  But my doctor had told me that if I cannot produce enough, at least do 1/2 and 1/2.    

Answer 13

Breast feeding ruins the b***s.  By not breastfeeding, you can preserve the youthfulness of her hipples and perkiness of her bounce.

Answer 14

i'm going to breastfeed my child, but many of my friends did not and the only reason I could see is they did what their moms did.  they were not informed and the fear of the unknown can be daunting.  I don't think it's laziness because breastfeeding is easier in some cases than formula feeding.  

Answer 15

they say its better at least for the first 3 months, i know when the baby comes out the first couple times they feed its colostrum, which is very healthy for the baby. Some people think it makes your b*****s sag faster, or they will be flat. i think its better to breastfeed dr.'s say at least for the first 3 months  

Answer 16

Studies show that babies who are breastfed longer than normal (i.e. do not stop when he begins to teethe) are smarter than average kids their own age.

Do it.

Answer 17

I breastfed and it was hard, especially when I went back to work and my baby didn't sleep at night and I spent half my life expressing....I think a lot of people don't want that hassle.

I also think a lot of it is women wanting someone else to be able to look after their baby - wanting their husband to get up in the night and wanting to be able to go out and leave baby with someone. I know a lot of couples who have started going out within a couple of weeks of baby being born, one couple actually went out when their baby was 6 days old.

Having said that, I don't judge anyone for how they feed their baby - I care that I did my best for my kids which I did. And its not like formula will poison anyone.

Answer 18

Breastfeeding is better for the baby, bottle feeding is easier for the parents.

Edit: It's great how the lazy parents go nuts voting pro-breastfeeding comments down.

Answer 19

There are many. Some women have hyper sensitive b*****s so any direct touching on the nipple is unbearable....in s*x OR breastfeeding...others like myself simply get no milk....peole say "oh thats rubbish EVERYONE gets milk" but they dont...I never had a drop and my b*****s stayed the same size all through pregnancy. Weird.

Answer 20

1. Inverted nipples

2. Painful (tender nipples)

3. Friends don't why should I.

4. Rather use a bottle. (Don't have to leave milk).

5. Not aware of the benefits of breast feeding for the baby.  If more knew they might consider

6. Don't produce enough milk.

7. Drinking or taking drugs. Could pass it on to the baby. Keep drinking and give the baby a bottle.

8. Taking certain medications (Could pass to baby)

9. Staying at home vs going to work

10. Time consuming (pumping breast, leaving milk)

11. Mother's choice not to (no reason)

Answer 21

I breastfeed...

But, as I sit here and try to pump enough milk for my little guy for daycare starting next week, I can say that formula would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier.

But I'm doing what I believe is best for my child.

Answer 22

sometimes it really hurts!

that was my main reason for stopping breastfeeding earlier than i had planned.

some folks just want to get back to a "normal" lifestyle again, not having to whip out a t*t in public or run to a bathroom to feed, or be able to drink alcohol again.

some people have told me that breastfeeding makes b***s saggier.but i dont know if thats true or not...

Answer 23

People just dont produce milk or not enough, their baby is lazy and doesnt want to work for it, hurts too much (we are all diff) to and cant stand the pain, some are afraid of blisters and long term looks of the nipples. Thats all could think of right now, all that Ive heard of anyways. I am going to try it, and do it for as long as I can.

Answer 24

They are lazy and don't want to take the time and hassle to feed their child NATURALLY.

Studies are showing that you don't just give your baby your immunities but it does something with the development of the child in total and will decrease cancer risks, obesity risks, and many many other potential diseases in the future...

One of the things that allowed babies to survive slightly better in the past (even with the exorbitantly high infant mortality numbers) is that women would take care of babies as a group... Meaning... If your baby isn't hungry and your friend's baby is then you will nurse your friend's baby and then another chick would nurse yours later...

Doing that helped spread immunities and increase caloric intake to give more babies the chance to survive in harsh conditions.

We are not just denying our own children the security of future health but we are no longer helping out the greater gene pool in general like we used to.

Birth and child care has become something to be done in a sterile  environment... More DISGUST is attached to the mere acts of feeding and caring for our young then anything else...

It has gone from GROUP survival to screaming rape if someone so much as tries to touch your baby’s hand…

The whole life/death process has been distorted beyond all understanding and it is a VERY sad thing.

Answer 25

I have my reasons. Why even ask this question? You had to have known it will just cause a bunch of drama. Next time try searching for the question beforehand. You'll find it's been asked a thousand times already.

Answer 26

see. breastfeeding gives the baby colostrum and helps them grow. kind of like how baby goats get small and don't grow as well with formula same with kids.( im just setting and example, i would never compare things like that!) breastfeeding feeding helps things develop because the baby doesn't fully develop just in the womb. that was a very good question that more people should ask. another tip is that if you turn on classical music the baby makes up mathematical equations in the head and will grow up to be an expert on math...and believe you me...it won't make them a wimp. :) i have a baby cousin that getting older and they sure do grow up fast!!  

Answer 27

1. They don't want to.

2. They are unaware of the risks of formula and benefits of breastmilk.

3.  They have medical or practical reasons that make breastfeeding impossible.

4. They 'fail' due to lack of knowlege and lack of support.  

Answer 28

Some women don't think it's proper, especially in public, and it can be painful for the woman.

I believe breastfeeding is very healthy and overrules all the downfalls of it.

Answer 29

1. If you have a job, you'll need a fairly tolerant boss who will let you pump your milk and store it somewhere for the child. It can be a hassle and embarrassing and so easier to just not breast feed if you have a job.

2. Some babies just don't take to the breast -- it has happened before.

3. Some women don't like how the nipples can chap and sometimes the skin can break if you're not careful.

4. Also, if the mother has had a diet high in seafood, and therefore potentially has a lot of toxins in her fat deposits -- she might decide not the breastfeed because she doesn't want to pass that on to her baby. Mercury, for example, can cause brain damage in infants.

Answer 30

i chose not to because you really have to watch wat your eat because it could have effects on your baby and if someones a picky eater like me than thats a good reason not to. thats my reason im sure it varies

Answer 31

Well, breastfeeding is better for the baby, because of the nutrients that help with brain development. But you can buy special formulas with the same nutrients, however it's still not quite as good.

You could try breastfeeding some of the time, and formula feeding at other times. Maybe breastfeeding at night because then you don't have to worry about cleaning up baby bottles and warming the formula, so you can get a bit more rest. Formula feeding could be done when in public or when company is over, or just during the day.

Ultimately it's your choice, and either way you choose is fine.