reasons for BF/FF?

[lucy_x]

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

im really curious to know the pros for FFing vs BFing (especially as you say there are more for FFing?), i think it would be very insightful.

I personally will be Bfing again, Firstly because i know nothing about FFing, and secondly because its so easy, once you get through the really hard parts its the best thing in the world x x

 

[Kaisma]

Breastfeeding, didn't think twice Best for your baby, it has benefits for you too. I have amazing bond with my daughter and I believe it's partly because of breastfeeding. It's free and so easy! I almost gave up in the beginning as it hurt sooo bad but I was strong and kept going Now she gets formula now and then if we have to leave her with her grandma or something... Also I give her breast+formula before bed.

But, I couldn't imagine getting up in the night to make bottles ughhh I just take baby next to me and pop boobie in her mouth lol

 

[lucy_x]

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.

This too! - im such a lazy cow.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I breastfed for a month, then combined fed for another few weeks then it was formula.

Breastfeeding is healthier, it's free and there's no messing with bottles and preparing feeds, it's there at the right temperature straight away.

However, it's not always easy but even doing a week of breastfeeding benefits your baby.. why not try it for a bit then formula feed when you have to go back to college. xx

 

[casann]

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.

Couldn't put it better myself
I breastfeed , breastfed my son until 19 months and my daughter is still going strong at 11 months. I will obviously be breastfeeding this baby too x

 

[angellove12]

I plan to BF but if for whatever reason it doesnt work out im just as happy to FF. It all depends what your comfortable with! Do whatevers best for you hhs

 

[xx~Lor~xx]

I breastfed both mine, it was mostly because it's natural, better for them etc, and I just have always wanted to! Obviously the price was a major aswell, BF is free! FF is expensive.. Personally loved BF and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[MarissaFaith]

I'm probably going to be using formula.. only because I want my OH to be able to feed him, and my OHs mom to be able to feed him when I'm away. We don't have a breast pump - and wouldn't be able to afford a nice one so there is no way I could express milk. Plus, I would never be able to bf in public - I'm way to shy. It's just the easier option for me; it would cause a lot less stress on my end and a baby doesn't need a stressed mummy!

Either one you go with will be fine

 

[BethHx]

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

im really curious to know the pros for FFing vs BFing (especially as you say there are more for FFing?), i think it would be very insightful.

I personally will be Bfing again, Firstly because i know nothing about FFing, and secondly because its so easy, once you get through the really hard parts its the best thing in the world x x

Mine are going to be very different too others but heres the list ..

Pros for Breastfeeding:
Cheap
Healthier for LO
Easy at night time

Pros for Formula:
My health
Anyone can feed (dont like the idea of expressing)
Won't be embaressed to do so in public
Don't have problems with bleeding nipples etc
I would bond more than i would with Bf


Cons of Breastfeedding
My health - 20% of the tablets i will be taking pass into LO & is very unsafe
LO will be constantly on me.
I'm a shy person so won't feel comfortable doing this infront of people
I see Boobs as a sexual thing (although i know they were made to Bf)
I dont like the thought of it so know i wont feel comfortable

Cons for Formula:
Price
Not as healthy

There were alot more reasons on each one but ive been told now i have a 99% chance of not being able to breastfeed due to the tablets i will be taking so this list doesnt even matter to me anymore

 

[MarissaFaith]

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

im really curious to know the pros for FFing vs BFing (especially as you say there are more for FFing?), i think it would be very insightful.

I personally will be Bfing again, Firstly because i know nothing about FFing, and secondly because its so easy, once you get through the really hard parts its the best thing in the world x x

Mine are going to be very different too others but heres the list ..

Pros for Breastfeeding:
Cheap
Healthier for LO
Easy at night time

Pros for Formula:
My health
Anyone can feed (dont like the idea of expressing)
Won't be embaressed to do so in public
Don't have problems with bleeding nipples etc
I would bond more than i would with Bf


Cons of Breastfeedding
My health - 20% of the tablets i will be taking pass into LO & is very unsafe
LO will be constantly on me.
I'm a shy person so won't feel comfortable doing this infront of people
I see Boobs as a sexual thing (although i know they were made to Bf)
I dont like the thought of it so know i wont feel comfortable

Cons for Formula:
Price
Not as healthy

There were alot more reasons on each one but ive been told now i have a 99% chance of not being able to breastfeed due to the tablets i will be taking so this list doesnt even matter to me anymore

I didn't want to say anything but I'm SO glad you put "I see boobs as a sexual thing" - that's one of my biggies too! My OH likes like kiss on them and stuff, and it would just be to weird for me to have a little baby putting their mouth on them too. They're just very sexual too me, and I know I wouldn't feel right breast feeding because of that - even though they were created for breastfeeding & I have nothing against the people that do!

 

[BethHx]

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

im really curious to know the pros for FFing vs BFing (especially as you say there are more for FFing?), i think it would be very insightful.

I personally will be Bfing again, Firstly because i know nothing about FFing, and secondly because its so easy, once you get through the really hard parts its the best thing in the world x x

Mine are going to be very different too others but heres the list ..

Pros for Breastfeeding:
Cheap
Healthier for LO
Easy at night time

Pros for Formula:
My health
Anyone can feed (dont like the idea of expressing)
Won't be embaressed to do so in public
Don't have problems with bleeding nipples etc
I would bond more than i would with Bf


Cons of Breastfeedding
My health - 20% of the tablets i will be taking pass into LO & is very unsafe
LO will be constantly on me.
I'm a shy person so won't feel comfortable doing this infront of people
I see Boobs as a sexual thing (although i know they were made to Bf)
I dont like the thought of it so know i wont feel comfortable

Cons for Formula:
Price
Not as healthy

There were alot more reasons on each one but ive been told now i have a 99% chance of not being able to breastfeed due to the tablets i will be taking so this list doesnt even matter to me anymore

I didn't want to say anything but I'm SO glad you put "I see boobs as a sexual thing" - that's one of my biggies too! My OH likes like kiss on them and stuff, and it would just be to weird for me to have a little baby putting their mouth on them too. They're just very sexual too me, and I know I wouldn't feel right breast feeding because of that - even though they were created for breastfeeding & I have nothing against the people that do!

Thats exactly how i feel, i know they are there to feed our babies but i just dont see them that way (always did before pregnancy, weird i know) & when i looked at breastfeeding pictures i just cringe! (dont know why) it upsets me that i think this way as before i fell pregnant i 'would always breast feed' but now that decision has been made for me.
Always wanted a water birth too but now im having a c-sec so golly how things change!

 

[beanzz]

^ it's sad it's come to people thinking of boobs as more sexual than what they really are... which is both. my boobs are sexual, especially now they're 10x bigger and also my baby's food. me and OH constantly joke that his son gets more boob than him and he jokes about being jealous that Oakley gets to suckle my boobs all day long and he doesn't lol!

 

[BethHx]

We didnt say that, we said we view them as sexual but obviously we know that theyre there too feed babies, its a personal thing & ff baby is just as happy, bright & healthy as a bf child in my opinion

 

[MarissaFaith]

I didn't mean it in an ugly way! I wish I was comfortable enough to go ahead with breast feeding - I just don't think I'm going to be. Society has just turned breast into something that I view as sexual, which probably isn't a good thing - but I can't really change how I feel/what I've grown up thinking. It's my personal opinion. I don't think that there is anything wrong with the women breast feed though, it obviously keeps the baby healthy so more power to them!

Also, in America breast feeding is A LOT less common here, it's almost taboo. I wouldn't have anyone to talk to about it/get advice from because everyone in my family has FF their children, and I wouldn't be able to do it in public because I know I'd get funny looks.

Breast feeding is obviously a better choice if you are comfortable enough to do it, and feed confident about it.. but it's not for everyone. I don't want to do anything that makes me feel uncomfortable because I think the baby would be able to pick up on my feelings. That's just my opinion

 

[beanzz]

Sorry girls, i wasnt directing that at you both or attacking you in any way. I meant it's a shame that the people in general who feel the same way about boobs (being seen as sexual) let it get in the way of trying it for themselves. probably why, over time, the number of women breastfeeding has decreased massively.

I was always on the verge of a panic attack when taking Oakley out cos i was so scared of having to breastfeed.. I remember crying on day 3 because i wanted to go out but I was terrified of having to get my boob out in public because i didnt want dirty looks. I can totally understand how you feel about it. I was just so determined to bf i had to get over it and now i dont even stress in the slightest when Oakley gets distracted and pulls of leaving my boob out in the open lmao. If you want to FF then you dont have to deal with all of that my mum formula fed me, i didnt do well in school but i blame that on myself not how i was fed

Plus a downside to BF is that you have to make sure you eat -.-

 

[BethHx]

It's ok - its hard to interpret the way people are saying things through writing lol.
Im all for people that BF & you should be proud of yourself as its such an accomplishment & If i could/can i will definately be trying it.
Me & My brother were both BF for a month & he goes to Oxford Univerysity and got 17 A/A* GCSE's but he also has bad asthma & had gromits when he was little due to constant ear infections.
I'm also very clever but suffer with alot of allergies & have terrible health so IMO BF isn't best for everyone - it's just the majority of people (& when tests are done) show a slight difference in IQ, Health etc.
Also like many people say you couldn't pick out a BF or FF child from a group of children.
It's not that we can have a conversation on the BF/FF discussion without it turning sour though! x

 

[purple_kiwi]

I have breast fed both of mine.. Honestly because I just couldn't personally justify the cost of formula when i could make milk myself for free. With my first though I felt it awkard to feed in public and everything but now with second DD i just don't care and don't mind feeding her any where. Health wise first DD got sick just as much as any other baby I would say as she was in daycare 2 hrs a day from 7 months on with other babies so pretty unavoidable. I think any one should at least try breastfeeding if they can. You might surprise yourself and find it something you want to do.

 

[emsmummi4ever]

^ it's sad it's come to people thinking of boobs as more sexual than what they really are... which is both. my boobs are sexual, especially now they're 10x bigger and also my baby's food. me and OH constantly joke that his son gets more boob than him and he jokes about being jealous that Oakley gets to suckle my boobs all day long and he doesn't lol!

I thought exactly this when i read this!!!!!:thumb up:


Anyway i breastfed em for the first month but sadly my supply couldn't keep up and went away ugh i still get sad about it i loved breastfeeding!
ff is so annoying and blah! anyway my next baby WILL be breast fed i will not give up!

 

[pink_rulez]

While pregant with Sophie I was addament I was BF her I didn't even bother looking at the steriliser, she has a difficult birth which ened in a vontuce delivery, and a stint in NICU (shes was fine just low blood sugar level) I tryed desperately to BF her but she just wouldn't latch and was so hungry, I cryer for 2 days becuse I couldn't feed her and comfort her, all of the midwives were still pushing the BF on me but she wouldnt take it, when we got home me n hubby made the decision to switch, I was devastated and tryed to express for her, I kept it up for 2/3 weeks but my supply had suffered from her not latching in the beginning, we eventually switched to FF which was so hard but looking back has been amazing, hubby felt so involved and ment we could get some couples time away while Sophie got comfortable staying with close family members,
Looking back I am so mad and how they push and bombard you with how BF is best and FF is a bad option, but no one tells you how hard it can be, this time I am going in with the attitude that we will try and do my best but I won't be looking at FF as a second best option and if BF dosnt work for us we will switch with no worrys. I do think they could make the antenatal classes more open to mothers choices and help with FF as well as BF. we didn't get any info on FF and I only knew how to make a bottle becuse I am a nursery nurse, when we told the midwife BF wasn't working for us she threw a leaflet at us and never came back! I already felt bad for not being able to feed my daughter but was made to feel like a failure, she is now 19months and I have no regrets as to switching she is happy and healthy a has benefitted for quality time with her daddy as well as mummy and is comfortable staying at other peoples houses from a young age,
I think it's important for every mother to make there own decision as to what's best for them and there baby and not feel judged for what they choose, as long as baby is happy and healthy that's all that matters xx

 

[amygwen]

I'm all for breastfeeding.

My LO was born with a defect in which we didn't know if he could breastfeed. I still wanted to try and I did, we both loved it. He did fantastic. I LOVED breastfeeding and am a huge advocate for it. I always tell everyone to at least try whether you feel like you don't want to or if you're on the fence. Seriously, it's one thing that you can do and NO ONE else can do, it's extremely special to breastfeed a child.

We breastfeed exclusively for 12 months and then we introduced cow's milk, but I continued to breastfeed until he was 16 months until he weaned himself. I don't regret a thing though, he's such a thriving little guy and I loved the experience. I went back to work and school when he was 8 weeks old and I expressed while at work/school. It was hard but once I did it for a few months, it just was like a piece of cake.

If you or anyone else ever wants or needs advice about breastfeeding in general or expressing, please don't hesitate to PM me and ask!

Anyways, just try to BF. If it doesn't work you can FF, but at least try!