reasons for BF/FF?

[fl00b]

i'm still a bit on the fence on whether i want to BF/FF my baby.

i'd really like to BF cos of all the antibodies etc he'll get from it, and it's virtually free. then again i'd like to FF cos of it being more convienient for my mom as she'll be looking after him when i go back to college in september, and it'll save me so much time as i won't have to keep expressing.

just was wondering, what are you girls doing and what are your reasons for it?

 

[ClairAye]

I FF simply because my labour and delivery was so traumatic that I was not up for even trying to BF (my plan was to for the first 3 days then express) I've been expressing since 5 or 6 days PP and yesterday all of a sudden barely anything was coming out So formula it is!

 

[Soon2BeMommyy]

My plan is to try & breast feed , then use the pump once i go back to work or if i'm about to go out because idk if i can BF in public haha , silly i knowww
But if breast feeding or pumping doesn't work out for me i won't be too upset about it , i have no issue using formula . Just tryin to maybe loose a little weight & save $ by breast feeding

 

[bumblebeexo]

I'm FF because I think it'll work in the best for us. My OH wants to help with feeds, and although I could express, I think FF will be the most convenient for us. I also don't think I'd want to BF in public, as silly as that might sound. At the end of the day, FF isn't something which I think people should turn their nose up at; your baby is still getting fed and isn't going to turn around in a few years and be mad that you never breastfed them! My friend BF and ended up having to swap to FF and wishes she had from the start. Howeeever, BF works amazingly well for a lot of people and it does contain more antibodies than formula does, it's free and you don't need to heat up/sterilise bottles etc. You know better than anybody what you think will be best for your baby

 

[MumToBe2012]

I'm hoping to do both Breastfeeding for the first month and then more FF afterwards but see how things go.

 

[BethHx]

Think im gonna be FF as my consultant has told me today that BF is a definate no go for me
I think websites like these put pressure on people to BF, everyone i know FF & when i mention the guilt i feel about not wanting to BF etc they all think im mad & half of them didn't even consider it.
I definately think i wouldn't be so bothered about having to FF if it werent for reading how pushy some people can be.

I wrote a list of pros & cons of both & FF got many more Pros. ()s was before i knew 100% i couldnt BF_

 

[Abby_]

I'm breastfeeding. I love it so much. It's such an amazing bonding experience, and although it's so tough in the first few weeks, the outcome is so worth it. I am also the shyest person ever and thought i'd struggle to bf in public, but it's not that bad. As long as the first few times you go with someone you know and feel comfortable around, it's easy.
It's a lot easier that using bottles and sterilizing and mixing formula, all you do is whack your boob out!
I would recommend bf every time! It's wonderful!

 

[veganmama]

im breastfeeding simply because breastfeeding is best healthwise but in the end you just have to do whats best for you and the baby

 

[amandapanda1]

Breast feeding! It's best for your baby and doesn't cost a penny!

 

[BethHx]

Its not always best. xx

 

[Mummy1995]

BF I hope as its cheaper and I really want that bond with my baby plus there's great health benefits for you and baby! However if it comes down to it and I can't for whatever reason I won't be too upset as my baby will be fed and healthy at the end of the day, and that's what matters! Dont allow yourself to be pressured into doing anything you don't feel comfortable doing! x

 

[ItSaGiRlWoOoO]

Personally I am going to BF, The biggest reasons for me are the bonding, the accessibility (I don't have any problem nursing in public with a cover) and the sheer cost of formula . I think everyone has to do what works best for them though

 

[HellBunny]

I FF my first from the start, i BF my second for a week then changed to formula. I won't state my reasons for changing (thats in another thread but feel free to PM me about it) i don't feel i bonded any more with my second than my first, the bond was exactly the same, immediate at birth and after

 

[ChesMik4eva]

I will definitely be breastfeeding! It's by far the best thing for baby, your milk adapts and changes to your babies individual needs which no formula can do. It's sometimes challenging in the first few weeks but once you get the hang of it it's easier as you don't have to prep bottles and sterilise them etc. Imagine waking in the middle of the night to a screaming baby, would you rather pull your boob out and stay in bed or have to get up and make a bottle?

As for being nervous about feeding in public, that's what boobs are for! Feeding our beautiful babies. If you're still uncomfortable you can get covers or go and sit somewhere away from everything and discreetly feed.

Then there's the bond it creates, how amazing is it to know that you are your baby's life source? It's very special and only something you can do.

That said, if for some reason you CAN'T breastfeed for some health reason then it's different. I don't think women should be shamed into feeling guilty for not being able to breastfeed. I do however think women should be well educated in the benefits of it and get as much support to do it if they want.

I recommend reading about it and checking out the Breasfeeding part of this forum and see how you feel.

 

[snowfia]

Was always BF for me. There is no competition between formula and Breastmilk. Bf has health benefits for both you and LO, only you have that special bond, it's free and you're not spending your life sorting out bottles.
OH always wanted to help out with feeds and after one feed of expressed milk he couldn't be bothered anymore :L he just helps out with everything else.
I used to think I wouldn't BF in public and now I just don't care and feed LO wherever and whenever. You don't need to worry about warming up bottles etc, you just sit down and all done.
There has only been one or two nights when I haven't got a decent amount of sleep because I don't even wake up properly when LO wakes up, just pop her on boob and fall back asleep.
It also gives you an excuse to sit down, relax and recover after giving birth. You just sit down, pop your feet up and feed LO

 

[JJandPix]

I was all for breast feeding when my little girl was born but whenever I tried it she wouldn'nt latch on porperly and was only feeding for a couple of minutes meaning she was'nt getting what was required for her so in the end I had to switch to formula. So even though I'd recommend trying breast feeding first your baby may end up making the decision for you. x

 

[Abby_]

I was all for breast feeding when my little girl was born but whenever I tried it she wouldn'nt latch on porperly and was only feeding for a couple of minutes meaning she was'nt getting what was required for her so in the end I had to switch to formula. So even though I'd recommend trying breast feeding first your baby may end up making the decision for you. x

I don't think this is true. All a baby knows is how do drink milk from a boob. As with any new skill, it takes time and practice.

 

[x__amour]

I would say try breast feeding first, you actually may end up loving it! If you have to formula feed in the end, it's okay.

 

[beanzz]

it was always breastfeeding for me, I never doubted it. I wanted to do it because it was free. now I just love how amazing it feels knowing I am the only one my baby needs and I'm the only one who can feed him. I expressed twice and hated it, even though I was still the one feeding Oakley and we were still snuggled up, feeding him with a bottle felt wrong and I didn't feel as close so now I'm extra glad I stuck it out in the first week.

I would have been completely gutted if I couldn't bf but only because i did not want to spend a fortune on formula when it could be spent on something else. i wouldn't have felt like a failure cos in my opinion breastfeeding is the easy option. no way could I ever be bothered to prep bottles and wait for them to cool whilst my baby is hungry I'm far to lazy to do that.

I'd recommend trying bf but if it doesn't work out then it's no biggy

 

[LittlePeople]

BF is free! Give it a try, and you can always express or combi feed when you go back to college!

I BF's for the first 4months with DD then combi fed when I went back to Uni (couldn't express enough)