How can you choose not to breastfeed?

Question

I was having some difficulties with my newest baby, I've breastfed 3 before with only a light problem once. Now, issues. So I've been reading and watching videos and what not all night to fix the issue and I'm thinking wow, how could anyone choose not to breastfeed? It's what you're supposed to do, what b*****s are there for, and the best thing, literally, and proven, for your baby. It can literally save baby's lives, thousands and thousands of babies have a better chance especially in other countries to survive with the immunities and everything in breast milk. With all the info out there, and the obvious 'look my b***s are getting fuller in preparation of feeding my baby' how can you choose not to breastfeed? I understand when people don't get enough support or education or encouragement while getting through problems and give up, or some other actual medical reason they CAN'T, but why would you chose any less than the best for your baby if you didn't have to? Some people are like oh it's not comfortable for me to do that, I'm thinking, so is pooping but you have to cause it's healthier LOL

Answer 1

personally i think its gross. i couldnt n wouldnt with my daughter. first my nips wer too small n they wanted me to put this cap on that looks like a bottle top n second id have to cut out gluten n lactose n i smoke (didnt while preg) i like to drink on weekends n i dont think i should give up ''me'' while bein a parent. my body--..

is it safer for ppl to breast feed while on meds? no. drinkin? no.

on drugs? no. unhealthy? no. want their own time?yes. feel the need not to pop out a titty while in public?yes. want baby sitter n not have to worry bout them spillin the last boob milk on floor? yes. want to know how much their getting? yes. want ur body back after 9 months? yes. get tattooed? yes. i dont like to see it n i wouldnt do it. :)

Answer 2

If the idea grosses you out that much, it's not going to be an enjoyable experience for either mum or bub. I think the cure for that is for all of us breastfeeding mums to let ourselves be seen in public. That way it will become so normal, fewer people will feel uncomfortable about it.

Answer 3

Mm. I tried to breastfeed and I wasn't producing any Milk. the hospital kept me 3 days and Wouldn't let me try pumping or formula so my baby was starving for 3 days and then when they released me they got mad at ME for her merconium levels being high!!!!!! I had to switch to formula to get her merconium levels down in a hurry besides the fact she was starving. :/

Answer 4

i would love to be able to breastfeed.

but i cant i have excema and my b***s and nipples get covered in it, so i have to use a steroid cream to try and get it better, which mean bubs cant use them obvoiusly.

but at the same time to prevent my baby from getting excema its best to breastfeed so she gets all the nutrients that she needs.

and of course i cant expell as the steriods do go into your blood stream and then into the milk.

i have a loose loose loose situation over here and she isnt even BORN yet, well not for another 6 weeks n e way

Answer 5

breastfeeding will stimulate a chemical release that will shrink your uterus back into its pre pregnancy state. children have better immunity, better bonded to the parent

Answer 6

I know breast is best but what's most important is that both the baby and mother are comfortable. If the mother is tense and uncomfortable while breastfeeding the baby will also be tense and uncomfortable as well. Sometimes the mother has to return to work earlier than expected for financial reasons and bottle feeding is easier in that case. Plus with bottle feeding the father and other family members feel more included and get a chance to bond with the baby as well while the mother can catch up on much needed sleep. Point is although breastfeeding is ideal, it doesn't suit everyone and there is nothing wrong with bottle feeding. I have two very healthy 7 year old brothers who were bottle fed.  I know a single mother who already had two young children when she found out she was pregnant with twins. She chose to bottle feed so that she could devote herself to her children better.

Answer 7

Some women hear their whole lives that it's painful & makes your b***s sag & things like that & theyll never even try it.

Answer 8

Some people just don't have the choice. And people who judge them without knowing why they aren't breastfeeding just make it that much harder. Funny thing about the babies being healthier though, I didn't breastfeed my first because she had a cleft and couldn't latch on and I was so streseed I couldn't even pump enough. She didn't even get a cold until she was around 2 yrs old. I breastfed my 2nd for a couple months then my milk started drying up and my dr basically told me to switch to forumla because she wasn't gaining enough weight. She has had bronchitis atleast 5 times and is only 14 months old.

Just because people don't breastfeed doesn't mean they don't love thier children. Nursing moms act like they are so discrimanated against because some people don't appreciate seeing it in public yet forumla feeding mothers are told they don't love their kids and are too selfish to have them. Maybe we need to make our own support groups.  

Answer 9

I breastfed for my daughter up til she was 3 months old and had to stop. If I could stay home with my daughter I would definitely continue to breastfeed her, but we need a roof over our heads, heat, water, electric, a car to drive her to and from appointments, medical so she would be able to see her doc.

But you shouldn't judge other women on what you can do and they can't. Also there's the fact that some just can't breastfeed, not all women will have milk, also there's children out there who prefer more, my sister in law would have her son attached to her all day every minute he wasn't getting enough, came to a point where he was losing lbs when she switched him over to formula. So because of this would you rather he starved?

That's why maybe you should reconsider being small minded and think about others situations  

Answer 10

It completely baffles me too. It's like saying, oh I am too selfish or uneducated to do what's best for my child. Always makes me wonder why these people had kids?

Answer 11

Some people have busy schedules that don't allow for it. Some just don't like the idea of it.

I personally loved breastfeeding my son (while I could) but I understand some women's reasoning behind not wanting to.

Answer 12

I am a childminder so breastfeeding would seriously get in the way of my day, plus my dh wants to be involved with feeding

Answer 13

ppl can CHOOSE whatever they want; no baby has died bc they were fed formula...and a lot of moms CANT, and some feel very guilty about it and when some insensitive blob like you comes along and posts your rant, i am sure you make them feel better....who am i to judge you if you aren't comfortable breastfeeding? or dont want to bc it's inconvenient, or bc they work all the time, or bc they are afraid of saggy b***s...who cares? LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU SEE FIT AND GROW UP AND RESPECT EVERYONE ELSE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.....AND I REALLY WISHED THE BF n***s WOULD QUIT ASKING THIS SAME ? OVER AND OVER AGAIN....NO ONE NEEDS YOUR EDUCATION ON BF TO BEGIN WITH AND BELIEVE ME, IF THEY DO, THEY WILL ASK YOU FOR IT; OTHERWISE, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Answer 14

Because some people just choose not to. You make it sound like mothers that don't should go to jail.

I tried to breast feed my kids, but I couldn't and not because it wasn't comfortable. My milk lacked something and instead of trying to figure out what it was and starve them I did the right thing and fed them formula. Breast feeding is great, but its not for everyone and it doesn't mean your a bad mom if you don't. My kids are very healthy. Thank god you don't make the laws.  

Answer 15

I guess you dont need to worry about it, since I'm not pregnant with you, it's not really your concern what I do.  I get both sides of it, but I figure, why can't people just mind their business...

Answer 16

I will bottle-feed any children I have. Sure, that's what b***s are for. But I wouldn't feel comfortable breastfeeding a baby.

Were you born with shoes on? No. It's not natural to wear shoes, but you do anyway because it's more comfortable to you.