Do You Nurse or Formula Feed Your Baby?

Question

I am 17 weeks. I want to breastfeed, but I am not certain that I can. I hear from breastfeeding supporters that there is more support about it than there used to be, but I see so many parents who formula feed their child.

Answer 1

According to doctors, it is the best thing for your baby,but sometimes its not the  best thing for you or your family, some woman are not able to breastfeed. I also had my heart set on breastfeeding but that was not possible. I beat myself up over it for the longest time but then I realized I am still bonding with my daughter, I am still providing her nourishment, i should not feel so bad. So no matter what you decide to do. Know that your baby will still bond with you and your baby will still get nourishment.  

Answer 2

I breastfed for 3 weeks. There is a lot of support out there, you just have to reach out for it. My son never latched on and was losing weight so I started supplementing formula... well that was that, he wouldn't take the boob and my milk supply dried right out. The decision to supplement at all was really hard for me and I cried every time he had a bottle for a few weeks...

My advice is to not give up. I know I tried really hard while I was doing it but now I feel like I gave up too easily.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I breastfed from birth. And it's totally worth it. It's just such a comfortable, intimate time you get to share with your baby. A friend explained me that breastfeeding releases the same hormones as falling in love. I sure feel that way :-) And of course there is the benefit to baby's health: 50% less risk of allergies, less risk of SIDS, less infections in general.

A few things that might help: Do not allow the baby to get fed anything with a bottle or a pacifier, before baby has learned how to latch on properly. Tell the nurses in hospital, before you deliver. Once baby's mouth is imprinted on something else but you nipple, nursing gets much harder.   My baby had trouble drinking the first day, I expressed some milk and fed it with a syringe. That is a good alternative to a bottle.

Don't get paranoid, if baby's weight doesn't pick up as quickly as statistic would have it. As long baby fills the diapers regularly (six or more a day) and gains some weight, there is no reason to feed additional food.

Babies go through growth spurts. There will be days during which you do hardly anything but nursing. Don't despair, these days are necessary for the stimulation of your milk production. It is really not a sign that you have not enough milk. Don't get tempted to substitute formula during those days, or your milk production can't adjust properly.

It seems that most first time mothers get sore nipples. I definitively got those, even though baby latched on well. In the privacy of your home, allow a lot of fresh air to get to your nipples, it helps them heal the best. After a week or two the worst is over. Just keep nursing. It's so worth it.

Answer 4

I formula fed both my babies! That waking up every 2 hours is no joke!! It's the same even when they are on bottles but they can drink the bottle and go back to bed!! With breast feeding you have to switch breast and everything and it takes a while! Breast feeding IS the best dont get me wrong but it's not for everyone! I tried it for the first 4 weeks and i didn't like it so i switched to the bottle. Jus try it and if it doesn't work u can always switch.

Answer 5

I breast feed all three of my babies, and if I had to go back I would do it all over again.

Answer 6

Both and feed expressed milk.  Welcome to a landmine issue. Don't let anyone bully you. It's ultimately your decision, one of a million as a mom. You'll be fine.

First , I do not intend to scare you about bfing or using formula. I want you to know that sometimes it is harder than one imagines and also better than one imagines, too. I HIGHLY suggest talking to a lactation consultant before you have the baby (or at least locate one). However, be forewarned that some LCs are zealots.Consider seeing the LC after leaving hospital for a quick lesson.(You will be wicked tired,but proper technique is VERRRY important to have a painfree experience). I had four different nurses give four different opinions/techniques(all but one clueless, the good one was too late) at the hospital so baby and I started off badly. He was so confused that he refused to open his mouth even after giving clear feeding cues(still a problem from time to time) and flailed wildly. (simple fix would have been my proper hand placement from the BEGINNING) My supply has not been right since.We have had to use very minimal formula supplementation b/c I've never had the "flow" normal folks have.  As you can tell sometimes bfing doesn't go right. This is probably why you see so many bottles. Oh, and don't assume it's always formula. If you were to see my babe with a bottle , it's a 50/50 shot it's expressed breastmilk. (but that's a whole 'nuther story)

Answer 7

formula fed since birth....do what works for you and you're family

Answer 8

If you want to breastfeed, then try it and see how you like it.

My baby is 11 weeks old and I am exclusively breastfeeding.

I have to admit, it was REALLY hard in the beginning (actually for the first 2.5 months) I went through so much with my baby to get to this point. There were times when I could have (and by all means probably SHOULD have) given up. For my own benefit, of course.

Baby is doing great now on the breast and its the best thing for him. Also it saves you LOTS of money. Formula is expensive. And the breast is the easiest as well. No getting up in the middle of the night to make bottles, no bringing and storing bottles when we go out. No washing bottles and the p**p is easier to clean and less smelly as well.

Plus baby is happier b/c formula takes so long to digest and can cause allergies and gas.

But listen, even though it worked for me it may not be the best for you. If you find yourself gettting depressed and having a hard time and you think you want to switch to formula then do whats best for you,

Answer 9

nursing for 8 months and counting. when i was pregnant i was thinking like you are. but once i started nursing (ok once the milk actually came in 5 days later) i loved it and wouldnt have it any other way.

http://www.promom.org/101/

Answer 10

Hey, I was breastfeeding for the first week, but my milk was not sufficient for her as she was 9lbs 2 oz when born and I had to switch to formula so that she would get full. Otherwise she was feeding for almost 2 hours each time, but it was too watery and wasn't filling her up. But I recommend trying it cause the bond it makes is amazing. But if you can't sustain his appetite then either supplement or switch to formula. Good Luck, and don't worry it is easier than people say it is.  

Answer 11

Of course you can. It's so important to have a good support system around you when breast feeding, especially if you have troubles. There are classes and programs designed to help you out and your hospital should have a lactation consultant available for you if needed.

I formula feed my son because he wouldn't latch on, even after seeking help for it. I tried breast feeding and it didn't work. That's that. I do plan on trying again whenever we have another baby because I do realize its importance. However, I'm not going to sit here and feel guilty for what's happening NOW.

Good luck to you. It's hard those first few weeks but you'll get the hang of it.

Answer 12

I breastfeed my oldest for 18 months (and through my whole second pregnancy) then I took a one month break and breastfed my son for 18 months as well. I just had our third child three weeks ago and we are currently in a happy nursing relationship! I LOVE it! Look up your local La Leche League group, go to a meeting, ask tons of questions and get yourself educated before your baby gets here. It makes it so much easier! Read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding"-great info! Good luck and I hope that you get to experience and enjoy breastfeeding as much as we have.  

Answer 13

I breastfed my daughter for 14 months.

Let me tell you a little secret.  The surest route to 'not being able to breastfeed' is going into it with the idea that "I'm not sure that I can."

Breastfeeding is natural and normal.  It's the way nature has always intended our babies to be fed.  Would nature have REALLY made it as complicated as all that if she didn't know there was any alternative available?

You are correct that lack of support is, for many women, a huge issue.  If a woman is told by family ... friends ... medical staff that "One bottle won't hurt" or "Why are you putting yourself through this? Formula is really just as good!" or "Your baby's eating too often. He must be starving. Why make him go hungry just to prove a point?" then yes, she will probaly give in ... and probably fail.

On the other hand, society is much more supportive than it used to be.  There are laws protecting women's rights to nurse in public, and to support their ability to pump at work.  Breastfeeding is viewed, at least by most people, as a positive thing.

If you want to breastfeed, are determined to do it, and are willing to work through the early (usually minor, but occassionally more significant) challenges and difficulties, you have better than a 98% chance of being able to breastfeed. Those are pretty good odds.

Most women who formula feed do so because a) they wanted to b) they didn't educate themselves about breastfeeding, so didn't know what to expect or c) caved in to bad advice/lack of support.  

So educate yourself.  Get some good books on breastfeeding.  If possible, find a babyfriendly hospital, and an OB and pediatrician who are knowlegable and supportive. (It's possible to breastfeed even with a poor pediatrician, but it can be harder.)  And commit to sticking with it for at  LEAST 4-6 weeks. If you can make it that far, you will almost certainly be home free.

Answer 14

I breastfed my first for only three months (health reasons) and have been breastfeeding my second for 5 months now. Wow how much nicer it is. I love breastfeeding with my first i was so panicked about feeding in public at home in front of people. BUt i was shown how to feed properly and comfortably and its great I'm also much braver about feeding in public although i always have a blanket covering us up. There is so much support make sure your midwife shows you how and you'll be fine. I think you'll also find that alot of mums out there feed either expressed milk or formula when out and about.

Answer 15

If you want to breastfeed than you can.  There are very few medical reasons that would not allow you to breastfeed.  People choose formula if they do not want to breastfeed or have a condition that does not allow them to BF.

See http://www.kellymom.com for great breastfeeding advice.  Take a class at the hospital if you want to too.

Answer 16

Breast is the best source of nutrition for your newborn.

If there is some genetic thing where you're not able to, then formula is the next best thing. But always try breast first, because formula just can't replicate the composition of mothers' milk.

All the very best with your pregnancy and the future!  

Answer 17

A lot of people told me it would be hard, but very rewarding so stick with it.  The first 2 weeks were awful, painful, and a learning experience for both of us.  Finally we got better at it, and I'm so so glad I stuck with it.  It was very convenient, relaxing, and bonding.  I breastfed (not exclusively) for 14 months... never thought i'd make it that long, it just worked for us.  

Answer 18

Do what works for you and your family.

For examle consider how long you will be around baby.

Also if your a stay at home mom just do it.

I did one breast and my other kid bottle.

I think the breast kid is more alert and independent.

It seems like my bottle child want to stay a baby not only that shes a crybaby:(

It seems as she still needs to bond with me because shes very upset over anything. Im not saying shes a spoil brat. Im saying she feels unloved when scolded, she packs up her toys and goes for a nap.

Then she tells my husband mommys mean to me.

Shes 3!

Answer 19

Neither but that is a VERY long story.

You know, I'm convinced that women who say "I am not certain that I can" or "I want to TRY" are usually the ones who end up being another statistic.  I'm referring to those who start out breast feeding but resort to formula.  I think if you have the determination, the support, and the knowledge, you will succeed.  Good luck and congratulations!  : )

Answer 20

Not sure that you can? less than 5% of women in the world don't make enough milk for their babies and with that there are usually underlying medical problems that is effecting their milk supply- me... I'm 21 years old nursing my son who is almost 17 months old.

http://www.notmilk.com/101.html

i was 19 years old when i had my son and i knew i wanted to do it because it's healthier for him and healthier for me and i didn't really care who thought what. There are lactation consultants out there that can help you if you ahev trouble. Just about ANY woman can breastfeed with the right support

AS for Fenman up there- just because your baby nurses a lot doesn't mean your milk isn't efficient enough for them and their weight has nothing to do with it they all nurse a lot after birth. so please don't send people information out their because if their baby nurses a lot they might " believe" that they have the same "problem". my son nursed every 45 minutes at least at first but he grew fast

My son also had jaundice which i just nursed him as biliruben is excreted in bowel movements. breastmilk is anatural laxative so oit made him p**p more in the begining which helped his jaundice

Whatever you choose as long as you're happy it shouldn't matter

i just wanted to add that i was a working breastfeeding mother and i liked it because once i got off of work i got to nurse my son and it made me feel close to him again

Answer 21

Hey mumma to be,

I am breastfeeding my son the beginning was a little rough because my nipples got sore. but once that went away it was all good. It is a very time consuming task to take on but very well worth it. I am a stay at home mom so that made our decision to bf allot easier since i do not have to worry about pumping. although i did pump for a while cause i was uncomfortable at first with feeding outside our home but that went away to and my son refuses to take a bottle. So just remember do what is best for you and your family. If its hard at first remember things get easier.  

Answer 22

My son is 8 months old and I am still breastfeeding.  I was nervous about it but new it would be the best for my son along with being cheap!  He was jaundice when he was born so we did use some formula which helped with him taking a bottle while I'm at work (I breastpump at work).  It is really up to your comfort level.  Check with your doctor/hospital for support groups, our hospital has a breastfeeding and new mom support groups along with classes and a RN that you can access any time for help even now with my son being 8 months old.

Answer 23

There is a lot of support for breastfeeding at the moment. If you want to breastfeed then definitely go for it. Obviously I don't know why you're not certain if you can do it or not, and that may be the case but it is very rare that a mother can not breastfeed. It may take some work at first but if it's really what you want then it will be worth it.

As for me I formula feed and it's worked for me.  

Answer 24

most of the reasons you will hear for people quitting or not trying at all are because people had bad information or not enough support.  even in this post i see people talking about giving up because their baby didn't get full when their baby was really acting like a very typical healthy breastfed baby.  take some time to get educated about breastfeeding from reliable sources like http://www.llli.org/ and http://www.kellymom.com/.  go to some local la leche league meetings.  if you know what to expect and you have some people to go to if you have problems, you should be fine.

Answer 25

BREAST FEED!!!  Breastmilk is best for you AND the baby... formula is just a close second.  Breastmilk is exactly what the doctor (and God for that matter) ordered for your baby to be as healthy as possible.  Your milk is different and new each time the baby feeds... it will always have different tastes to teach the child about 'flavors'... formula tastes the same and smells awful.  Breastmilk also gives you pleasant poops!  They usually smell like popcorn and vinegar... but it's not so bad, I promise.  And it's never hard... so the baby doesn't really get 'backed up'.  With formula, you'll have to try different ones to find what is right because sometimes there's too much iron-- and that's bad for poops.  The breastmilk is also full of your very own immunity properties-- so that boosts your baby's immunity as well.  And finally-- breastfeeding gets your body back... 90 times quicker in my opinion!  I've had 2 babies and each time, I was back to my old self with 2 months.  Whatever you do-- GOOD LUCK!

Answer 26

I think there is a lot that breastfeed...just because you see someone feeding their baby a bottle doesn't mean they are formula fed.  And even if most people did formula feed doesn't mean you can't breastfeed.  Where I live there is a strong support for breastfeeding and I think most moms do at least try it.  I breastfed for almost 6 months.