Should we buy bottles if we intend to BF?

[aliss]

No, trust your body. No child will starve in the few hours it takes to get to a store. Honestly, even the most dedicated people can cave in the middle of the night and you are doubting your supply. It's medically proven that over 98% of woman can breast feed perfectly fine if they had support and don't start supplementing at the first sign of issues. If you dont want to breast feed or wish to supplement, there is nothing wrong with that. But I you are like me and truly want to bf only, have confidence and you can do it fine! Don't doubt yourself. Look at websites like kellymom or la leche for support. And make sure your pediatrician is bf friendly!

But why put yourself under extra stress by having to dash out to the shops, with a hungry baby?

This is my third, and to me, it's just extra motivation to put them back on breast, which will stimulate you to make more milk. I am just my giving honest advice to those who are desperate to have breast feeding work.
Yes, it is stressful at first, and not always easy, but if you can push past the first weeks the payback is huge.
Supplementing, when you want to breast feed, is a slippery slope, and will cause more stress in the long run, to those who don't want to supplement.

As mums to be we put enough pressure on ourselves anyway without having other mums telling us that we have given in too easily, or not trusted our own bodies by choosing to formula feed when BF'ing doesn't work.

Part of successful nursing, for some women, is trusting their bodies but not trusting their minds. Some women can look at a can of formula when the baby is screaming (which healthy nursers will do during growth spurts), and not cave. But I couldn't. So I kept it out. I knew I would cave for an epidural, so I had a home birth. Avoidance does help for some women, for those of us who get extremely emotional and will cave. Postpartum hormones are like pregnancy hormones x 100 during that first week. For me, keeping formula out worked. I begged and cried for my husband to go buy me formula and he kept me rambling until the store closed and it was too late. That ONE night lead to 7 months of exclusive nursing instead of goiing on formula.

 

[Smudge101]

No, trust your body. No child will starve in the few hours it takes to get to a store. Honestly, even the most dedicated people can cave in the middle of the night and you are doubting your supply. It's medically proven that over 98% of woman can breast feed perfectly fine if they had support and don't start supplementing at the first sign of issues. If you dont want to breast feed or wish to supplement, there is nothing wrong with that. But I you are like me and truly want to bf only, have confidence and you can do it fine! Don't doubt yourself. Look at websites like kellymom or la leche for support. And make sure your pediatrician is bf friendly!

But why put yourself under extra stress by having to dash out to the shops, with a hungry baby?

This is my third, and to me, it's just extra motivation to put them back on breast, which will stimulate you to make more milk. I am just my giving honest advice to those who are desperate to have breast feeding work.
Yes, it is stressful at first, and not always easy, but if you can push past the first weeks the payback is huge.
Supplementing, when you want to breast feed, is a slippery slope, and will cause more stress in the long run, to those who don't want to supplement.

As mums to be we put enough pressure on ourselves anyway without having other mums telling us that we have given in too easily, or not trusted our own bodies by choosing to formula feed when BF'ing doesn't work.

Part of successful nursing, for some women, is trusting their bodies but not trusting their minds. Some women can look at a can of formula when the baby is screaming (which healthy nursers will do during growth spurts), and not cave. But I couldn't. So I kept it out. I knew I would cave for an epidural, so I had a home birth. Avoidance does help for some women, for those of us who get extremely emotional and will cave. Postpartum hormones are like pregnancy hormones x 100 during that first week. For me, keeping formula out worked. I begged and cried for my husband to go buy me formula and he kept me rambling until the store closed and it was too late. That ONE night lead to 7 months of exclusive nursing instead of goiing on formula.

Why call it 'caving'

If I decide that BF'ing isn't for me or my baby I have not caved into formula. I have made a decision which is best for my and baby.

Also I know every situation is different but the thought of crying and begging my partner for formula just doesn't sit well with me at all. I will not be forced into sticking with BF'ing by a midwife or doctor but especially not by my partner.

 

[aliss]

No, trust your body. No child will starve in the few hours it takes to get to a store. Honestly, even the most dedicated people can cave in the middle of the night and you are doubting your supply. It's medically proven that over 98% of woman can breast feed perfectly fine if they had support and don't start supplementing at the first sign of issues. If you dont want to breast feed or wish to supplement, there is nothing wrong with that. But I you are like me and truly want to bf only, have confidence and you can do it fine! Don't doubt yourself. Look at websites like kellymom or la leche for support. And make sure your pediatrician is bf friendly!

But why put yourself under extra stress by having to dash out to the shops, with a hungry baby?

This is my third, and to me, it's just extra motivation to put them back on breast, which will stimulate you to make more milk. I am just my giving honest advice to those who are desperate to have breast feeding work.
Yes, it is stressful at first, and not always easy, but if you can push past the first weeks the payback is huge.
Supplementing, when you want to breast feed, is a slippery slope, and will cause more stress in the long run, to those who don't want to supplement.

As mums to be we put enough pressure on ourselves anyway without having other mums telling us that we have given in too easily, or not trusted our own bodies by choosing to formula feed when BF'ing doesn't work.

Part of successful nursing, for some women, is trusting their bodies but not trusting their minds. Some women can look at a can of formula when the baby is screaming (which healthy nursers will do during growth spurts), and not cave. But I couldn't. So I kept it out. I knew I would cave for an epidural, so I had a home birth. Avoidance does help for some women, for those of us who get extremely emotional and will cave. Postpartum hormones are like pregnancy hormones x 100 during that first week. For me, keeping formula out worked. I begged and cried for my husband to go buy me formula and he kept me rambling until the store closed and it was too late. That ONE night lead to 7 months of exclusive nursing instead of goiing on formula.

Why call it 'caving'

If I decide that BF'ing isn't for me or my baby I have not caved into formula. I have made a decision which is best for my and baby.

Also I know every situation is different but the thought of crying and begging my partner for formula just doesn't sit well with me at all. I will not be forced into sticking with BF'ing by a midwife or doctor but especially not by my partner.

Well, it wouldn't have been the right decision. It would have been a short-sighted decision made on pure irrational emotion rather than long-term happiness. I have already formula fed one child and I knew that I did not want to go down that miserable road again. Formula is not viewed as an acceptable non-medical option where I am from, and that is part of my reasoning. I understand it is considered acceptable in the UK so I will not pretend to understand it. That's just how I feel.

 

[LoraLoo]

I wont be buying any as I fully intend to breastfeed again.

There was a point with my now 4 year old when i was in tears crying because my nipples had split open and every time i fed her it was like being cut with shards of glass. My husband was begging me to let him go and buy some bottles and formula but i refused as i 100% wanted to breastfeed again and was determined. However, if there had been bottles and formula in the house i just may have caved and it would have been something i regretted.

But thats just me, if you would feel more comfortable having bottles and formula 'just in case' then go for it

 

[CatherineK]

Hun, my comments are not meant to belittle anyone that doesn't want to breast feed, or switches to formula. I am being straight out honest, for those moms that really really want to breast feed and need to know their stress and struggle is worth it. I think honesty is the best policy, the only one that can make you feel bad is you. Whatever you decide, have confidence in your decision.

 

[Amberyll23]

I actually left the hospital after DD1 with a free box of newborn infant formula (pre-mixed with nipples). MY BFing was already established, but I thought it was a good idea to have them around in case I needed them. I ended up not needing them and donated the box to a local church.

I also had a set of Avent bottles because I started to express my milk and bottlefeed the breastmilk to her after a few weeks as she was headed into daycare when I went back to work and I wanted her to still have my breastmilk when I wasn't around, even though it was through a bottle.

Finally, I kept a container of dry formula around just in case my supply ever dwindled and I had to supplement at some point. I was lucky in that I was able to go the full year without having to give her any type of formula, but I would have done so if I had to/my supply could not keep up.

 

[d_b]

I have bottles and breast pump in case I want to give my nipples a break from those sharp baby gums! I had nothing when I had #1 and sent OH out to get a pump.

 

[CordeliaJ]

I have some just in case, nothing wrong with being prepared. And you don't need to buy a steriliser, you just need to have some milton tablets handy (which you can soak the bottles in). That's what hospitals use, and they work great without having to shell out for expensive equipment you may not use.

 

[Amygdala]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up when you may regret it later.
I have a couple of bottles and will be buying a couple of cartons of ready-to-feed formula. I am also 100% committed to making breast feeding work, whether I have to supplement initially or not. I went through two weeks of hell establishing breastfeeding with baby 1. She definitely did not have a relaxed mother in those two weeks. But you know what? We got 13 months of happy, easy, stress free breast feeding as a reward and there is no doubt in my mind that I did what was best for my baby and it was worth sticking out the initial difficulties. So if we have to go through the same this time, we will. Except this time I'll know that it'll work out in the end. So I totally see CatherineK's point. Having someone to tell me to trust myself would have helped so much last time.

 

[Smudge101]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up when you may regret it later.
I have a couple of bottles and will be buying a couple of cartons of ready-to-feed formula. I am also 100% committed to making breast feeding work, whether I have to supplement initially or not. I went through two weeks of hell establishing breastfeeding with baby 1. She definitely did not have a relaxed mother in those two weeks. But you know what? We got 13 months of happy, easy, stress free breast feeding as a reward and there is no doubt in my mind that I did what was best for my baby and it was worth sticking out the initial difficulties. So if we have to go through the same this time, we will. Except this time I'll know that it'll work out in the end. So I totally see CatherineK's point. Having someone to tell me to trust myself would have helped so much last time.

I get the 'stick with it' points too.

I full intend to BF and I don't think I'll 'cave in' just because I have bottles in the house. If and when I choose to switch to formula, which as I only plan to BF for a short time will happen eventually, it will be my decision based on what is best for us as a family.

However my point is that every woman and baby are different and if either are really struggling and the mum chooses to go down the formula route then she shouldn't be made to feel in some way inferior because she didn't stick is out or trust herself.

I'm sorry that my opinion differs from others, but some of the posts on this thread talking about sobbing, begging partners for formula, continuing BF'ing through severe pain etc just sound barbaric. I've gone through 9 months of pregnancy and then labour. I plan to enjoy those precious first few weeks with my baby not spend them agonising over making BF'ing work.

 

[Dragonfly]

I kept the formula i had from william in a cupboard because people told me to do so. I didnt know some couldnt breastfeed so I just kept breastfeeding through problems. I ended up binning the formula as it went out of date but I was tempted a few times at the start to use it. I done some research as I was clueless on feeding and never was tempted again after that to use it. 3rd child still breastfeeding second I know more. Its up to you if you have a stash I dont think having a bottle will make you give up theres a lot more to it than that.

 

[doddy0402]

I bf both of mine and am fully intending to do the same this time round. I do always have bottles and a steriliser, and a pump as I like to be prepared and I will be expressing as well later on . X

 

[aliss]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up when you may regret it later.
I have a couple of bottles and will be buying a couple of cartons of ready-to-feed formula. I am also 100% committed to making breast feeding work, whether I have to supplement initially or not. I went through two weeks of hell establishing breastfeeding with baby 1. She definitely did not have a relaxed mother in those two weeks. But you know what? We got 13 months of happy, easy, stress free breast feeding as a reward and there is no doubt in my mind that I did what was best for my baby and it was worth sticking out the initial difficulties. So if we have to go through the same this time, we will. Except this time I'll know that it'll work out in the end. So I totally see CatherineK's point. Having someone to tell me to trust myself would have helped so much last time.

I get the 'stick with it' points too.

I full intend to BF and I don't think I'll 'cave in' just because I have bottles in the house. If and when I choose to switch to formula, which as I only plan to BF for a short time will happen eventually, it will be my decision based on what is best for us as a family.

However my point is that every woman and baby are different and if either are really struggling and the mum chooses to go down the formula route then she shouldn't be made to feel in some way inferior because she didn't stick is out or trust herself.

I'm sorry that my opinion differs from others, but some of the posts on this thread talking about sobbing, begging partners for formula, continuing BF'ing through severe pain etc just sound barbaric. I've gone through 9 months of pregnancy and then labour. I plan to enjoy those precious first few weeks with my baby not spend them agonising over making BF'ing work.

It's not barbaric, it's just a reality. Labour isn't the last painful thing - nipples will hurt, you will get contractions after birth due to uterus contracting when breastfeeding. It's just par for the course. It's a normal part of birth and feeding, one that women don't talk about much and they are shocked when it happens. It's like labour pain, it's natural. If you can get through it, the end is rewarding. These things happen to nearly all postpartum women, it's not like a bottle is going to fix it either.

 

[Smudge101]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up when you may regret it later.
I have a couple of bottles and will be buying a couple of cartons of ready-to-feed formula. I am also 100% committed to making breast feeding work, whether I have to supplement initially or not. I went through two weeks of hell establishing breastfeeding with baby 1. She definitely did not have a relaxed mother in those two weeks. But you know what? We got 13 months of happy, easy, stress free breast feeding as a reward and there is no doubt in my mind that I did what was best for my baby and it was worth sticking out the initial difficulties. So if we have to go through the same this time, we will. Except this time I'll know that it'll work out in the end. So I totally see CatherineK's point. Having someone to tell me to trust myself would have helped so much last time.

I get the 'stick with it' points too.

I full intend to BF and I don't think I'll 'cave in' just because I have bottles in the house. If and when I choose to switch to formula, which as I only plan to BF for a short time will happen eventually, it will be my decision based on what is best for us as a family.

However my point is that every woman and baby are different and if either are really struggling and the mum chooses to go down the formula route then she shouldn't be made to feel in some way inferior because she didn't stick is out or trust herself.

I'm sorry that my opinion differs from others, but some of the posts on this thread talking about sobbing, begging partners for formula, continuing BF'ing through severe pain etc just sound barbaric. I've gone through 9 months of pregnancy and then labour. I plan to enjoy those precious first few weeks with my baby not spend them agonising over making BF'ing work.

It's not barbaric, it's just a reality. Labour isn't the last painful thing - nipples will hurt, you will get contractions after birth due to uterus contracting when breastfeeding. It's just par for the course. It's a normal part of birth and feeding, one that women don't talk about much and they are shocked when it happens. It's like labour pain, it's natural. If you can get through it, the end is rewarding. These things happen to nearly all postpartum women, it's not like a bottle is going to fix it either.

I'm sorry but one poster said that her nipples split open and every time she fed was like been cut with shards of glass - how is that normal?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, you have yours and I have mine. I guess I'm just more concerned about been a happy and relaxed mum to my baby, than rigidly sticking to something that isn't working just so I have a badge honour to wave in the face of new mums who are questioning whether to BF or not.

 

[aliss]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up when you may regret it later.
I have a couple of bottles and will be buying a couple of cartons of ready-to-feed formula. I am also 100% committed to making breast feeding work, whether I have to supplement initially or not. I went through two weeks of hell establishing breastfeeding with baby 1. She definitely did not have a relaxed mother in those two weeks. But you know what? We got 13 months of happy, easy, stress free breast feeding as a reward and there is no doubt in my mind that I did what was best for my baby and it was worth sticking out the initial difficulties. So if we have to go through the same this time, we will. Except this time I'll know that it'll work out in the end. So I totally see CatherineK's point. Having someone to tell me to trust myself would have helped so much last time.

I get the 'stick with it' points too.

I full intend to BF and I don't think I'll 'cave in' just because I have bottles in the house. If and when I choose to switch to formula, which as I only plan to BF for a short time will happen eventually, it will be my decision based on what is best for us as a family.

However my point is that every woman and baby are different and if either are really struggling and the mum chooses to go down the formula route then she shouldn't be made to feel in some way inferior because she didn't stick is out or trust herself.

I'm sorry that my opinion differs from others, but some of the posts on this thread talking about sobbing, begging partners for formula, continuing BF'ing through severe pain etc just sound barbaric. I've gone through 9 months of pregnancy and then labour. I plan to enjoy those precious first few weeks with my baby not spend them agonising over making BF'ing work.

It's not barbaric, it's just a reality. Labour isn't the last painful thing - nipples will hurt, you will get contractions after birth due to uterus contracting when breastfeeding. It's just par for the course. It's a normal part of birth and feeding, one that women don't talk about much and they are shocked when it happens. It's like labour pain, it's natural. If you can get through it, the end is rewarding. These things happen to nearly all postpartum women, it's not like a bottle is going to fix it either.

I'm sorry but one poster said that her nipples split open and every time she fed was like been cut with shards of glass - how is that normal?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, you have yours and I have mine. I guess I'm just more concerned about been a happy and relaxed mum to my baby, than rigidly sticking to something that isn't working just so I have a badge honour to wave in the face of new mums who are questioning whether to BF or not.

It is normal when you have a bad latch (so you have to latch & relatch) or if you have overactive letdown and the baby is still learning how to cope with the excess flow.

It's not so much my opinion but just a reality of what early breastfeeding can be like. A problem such as nipples hurting like shards of glass is a sign of an issue that can often be easily remedied. If you reached for formula everytime there was a problem with early breastfeeding, well, that's why some places have such poor breastfeeding rates. Because they don't know when to recognize problems and what to do about it, they just assume they "can't" breastfeed and quit that day. Sometimes it's just a very simple issue with a bit of knowledge can be corrected.

There is a reason some places have 90%+ rates (in comparable countries) and why others have 20-30% rates. Amongst many reasons, the primary one is that women just have no idea how to breastfeed. Their mothers don't teach them, their grandmother's don't. Many of them didn't do it so they don't know. They think the solution to stinging nipples is a bottle instead of reworking on their latch or mildly expressing to combat the letdown.

It's not about being a hero or a martyr or whatever, it's just about being realistic and working on solutions.

 

[babyhopes2010]

I think only you can decide whether having formula around the place will make you feel safe or more likely to give up w

There is a reason some places have 90%+ rates (in comparable countries) and why others have 20-30% rates. Amongst many reasons, the primary one is that women just have no idea how to breastfeed. Their mothers don't teach them, their grandmother's don't. Many of them didn't do it so they don't know. They think the solution to stinging nipples is a bottle instead of reworking on their latch or mildly expressing to combat the letdown.

It's not about being a hero or a martyr or whatever, it's just about being realistic and working on solutions.

i do get what ur saying. if my mum bf us or most of the women i knew bf. they could help and i would have more support.

but i do feel alot of women who bf look down upon ff mums or those that 'give up' to early and to be honest my friends that bf agree on that as they feel they are superior to ff mums

 

[pinkmonki]

I'm sorry but one poster said that her nipples split open and every time she fed was like been cut with shards of glass - how is that normal?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, you have yours and I have mine. I guess I'm just more concerned about been a happy and relaxed mum to my baby, than rigidly sticking to something that isn't working just so I have a badge honour to wave in the face of new mums who are questioning whether to BF or not.

Wow. I won't speak for all women, but I'm pretty damn certain that there isn't a single one who has breastfed for the sheer pleasure if being able to rub it in the face of those that don't!

Most women go through the pain of learning to breastfeed, (and yes, pain is apt as split nipples, bleeding nipples, engorgement, mastitis & thrush are all fairly common issues that most have worked through) not to taunt women that don't, or because they want a medal, but because it's the absolute best, in health terms, for their babies. That's all. It's that simple.

Not only am i a qualified breastfeeding councillor, I've breastfed my children from baby hood into toddler hood, it's been completely awful at times, utterly wonderful at others. Right now I'm still feeding my toddler whilst pregnant and it's bloody hateful. Do I continue because I like it? Hell no! It sucks! I continue because my daughter has NEVER been ill. Not once. Nor was my son until he weaned.

If people choose to bottle feed, it's not something that's an issue to anyone but them. The truth is, having the equipment to bottle feed can and often does tempt people into formula feeding, because exhausted mothers see it as a way to have a break. If you're truly committed to breastfeeding, it really is better not to buy it all beforehand. However, no one is going to abuse you for choosing to do as you want to do. It's simply offering the wisdom of women who've been there, not flinging their breastfeeding prowess in your face.

These threads always go the same way. It's such a shame that valuable information, wisdom and advice gets lost amongst the vitriol.

 

[LockandKey]

I have, but only bought very few, like 3, just in case. I had 4 weeks of trouble bf DD, I had to pump, and at times supplement her here and there with formula until she finally got the hang of bfing, not sure what to expect this time, so I have some just in case. Also, on the occasion that I would like to go out for a few hours and baby stayed home with DH or another family member, it was nice to have pumped milk in a bottle ready for them when they got hungry. Bottle use for us is very rare, but on the occasions we do need them, they serve their purpose and come in handy.

Personally I got glass bottles this time, Born Free brand, which I also found out has a vacuum type nipple to help avoid colic and encourage the same sucking that baby would do at the breast I had plastic bottles last time, but after a while, they developed a strange smell inside that wouldn't go away, so I trashed them and bought new ones for this time around.

 

[Mrsmac02]

I started this thread because I was looking for opinions on whether it was a sensible idea to purchase bottles should breast feeding not be an option for me as well as bottle brands etc.

I absolutely didn't intend for it to become a debate about bf vs ff - I've already made a conscious decision to give bf my best shot.

For that reason, I'm going to ask admin to close it.

 

[Smudge101]

I'm sorry but one poster said that her nipples split open and every time she fed was like been cut with shards of glass - how is that normal?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, you have yours and I have mine. I guess I'm just more concerned about been a happy and relaxed mum to my baby, than rigidly sticking to something that isn't working just so I have a badge honour to wave in the face of new mums who are questioning whether to BF or not.

Wow. I won't speak for all women, but I'm pretty damn certain that there isn't a single one who has breastfed for the sheer pleasure if being able to rub it in the face of those that don't!

Most women go through the pain of learning to breastfeed, (and yes, pain is apt as split nipples, bleeding nipples, engorgement, mastitis & thrush are all fairly common issues that most have worked through) not to taunt women that don't, or because they want a medal, but because it's the absolute best, in health terms, for their babies. That's all. It's that simple.

Not only am i a qualified breastfeeding councillor, I've breastfed my children from baby hood into toddler hood, it's been completely awful at times, utterly wonderful at others. Right now I'm still feeding my toddler whilst pregnant and it's bloody hateful. Do I continue because I like it? Hell no! It sucks! I continue because my daughter has NEVER been ill. Not once. Nor was my son until he weaned.

If people choose to bottle feed, it's not something that's an issue to anyone but them. The truth is, having the equipment to bottle feed can and often does tempt people into formula feeding, because exhausted mothers see it as a way to have a break. If you're truly committed to breastfeeding, it really is better not to buy it all beforehand. However, no one is going to abuse you for choosing to do as you want to do. It's simply offering the wisdom of women who've been there, not flinging their breastfeeding prowess in your face.

These threads always go the same way. It's such a shame that valuable information, wisdom and advice gets lost amongst the vitriol.

You say that it's not intended to rub it in the face of Those who choose not to, but how else is a comment such as 'I've breastfed until toddlerhood and my child has never been Ill' supposed to be interpreted by a first time mum who is struggling and reaches for the bottle?