What do you enjoy about formula feeding?

[KittyVentura]

Ladies,

Not often are the percieved benefits of FF discussed without it being in defence or to justify the choice to feed that way, and I thought one could be nice.

Let's do the formalities first shall we?

Firstly, to keep this debate free can we take care NOT to put breast feeding down in replies here. This is not a discussion of which is superior, not at all, so please be mindful of that. Can we also just post our PERSONAL experiences and feelings on the matter and not assume that our personal experience means that the facts determined from studies about breast feeding are wrong. Those that breast feed (because we all know some will be reading this), unless breast feeding is actually attacked or directly put down, can you possibly refrain from posting stats/facts/figures/corrections etc. This isn't about which choice is better (I FF but agree overall BF is best), not at all. Just for those that are already FF to share what they feel to be the good side of it.

This is not somewhere to justify why you FF my loves. If you want to share your journey to the choice you made then by all means feel free, but also bear in mind you're not being asked to justify it. All going well this should go judgement free.

Also, for anyone not yet FF or in the process of deciding, please bear in mind that the posts here do NOT invalidate any studies that show the benefits of breast feeding or the conclusion that breast is best. Also for everyone that shares their positives here there will be negatives too. Please don't allow your choice to be swayed or influenced by what we post.

Finally, some of the best mummies I know and love do BF, so please ladies, understand that the is NO intention of offending BF mums or BF itself. Not for one moment. Just I see so many other posts descend into debate with each side slinging mud, I hope a thread here that gives FF mums a chance to speak positively about their choice without fear of judgements might help reduce the need to do it on other threads.

Right, that should be everything covered right? So on with the post.

So my lovely FF friends. What do you find, having made the switch to formula, to be the perks and benefits of doing so. The rarely spoken about "good side" so to speak?

For me, I like routine. I am baby led but both my babies now have set their own routines which I have followed. It makes my days easier with 2 to plan around when I know more or less when Mops will want feeding, so I can be sure to be in a suitable place at the right time. Same as I do for Fin and his meals.

The other, which was not at all a factor in my choice to switch (which was an active choice), "perk" is the sleep. I KNOW not all FF will sleep well and that BF babies can sleep well too of course. But both my small ones have STTN without sleep training by 10 weeks.

I'm sure there's more xx

 

[skunkpixie]

-I loved the fact that FF was much easier in the first few weeks than BF was. (I EBF my first and EFF my second).
-I loved the fact that feeding times only took 20 mins as I have another child to run after.
-My hubby loved that he could get involved with feeding.
-I felt safer in the knowledge that we didnt have to co-sleep (as co-sleeping was the only way I could cope with very frequent breastfeeds during the night with DD1) and she slept very well in her crib.
-Being able to have caffine whenever I wanted.
-Knowing that if I had to be away from her for in an emergency that someone else would be able to feed her as I wasnt her only food source.

Im sure I have loads more. This isnt a BF bashing post as I would never ever wanna take back breastfeeding my first. xx

 

[Boo44]

The freedom I feel in being able to do anything with LO each day and get out and about and being sure when he will want feeding. Like you I need routine and we have fallen into a very predictable routine naturally

Being able to share the care of LO with family who are so keen to join in and help out

Seeing LO satisfied and happy after each feed. MY personal experience was I EBF for the first 4 weeks and he used to be so hungry even after a 1 hour feed and he was never satisfied, it broke my heart!

 

[Boo44]

I forgot to add! Getting my normal (tiny fried egg sized) boobs back! I couldn't identify with the big veiny inflated sore boobs I had! Although they are less perky for sure, I am happy they are normal size again

 

[Mummythree]

I have three Lo's and on;y one of them to choose to ff from pregnancy.
I breastfed dd2 for 14months and breastfed ds for 5days and had to stop due to probs with my son latching when my milk came in, i struggled three days when my milk came in on the 2nd day before i had to stop because my son could not get on to feed so i didn't really have a choice.

BUT as i said i have bf and ff, so have experienced both. the things i like about ff are...

1 not having to do all the feeds myself,
2 not feeling like a failure if and when something goes wrong,
3 not having to deal with all the probs ive had bfing and the pnd which bf caused/contributed due to number 2.
4 Lo sleeps better and is more happy and content.
5 i can go out and not have to take my Lo everywhere i go cos im the food.
6 not feeling self concience bfing in public (even though i used to with dd2)
7 he's in a routine with my bf baby never was till much older.

 

[Vickie]

--my hubby takes the entire night shift Which is awesome because my LO doesn't sleep through at all

 

[babygirlFTM12]

watching others get to feed her, it's so sweet

feeling like i am enjoying our time rather than just feeding nonstop

her reflux is much better w/o meds

 

[MrsButterfly]

Being able to share the feeds with others.

Knowing my lo is actually full. Like a pp when bf my supply was low so he was never full.

With 30H boobs I was petrified about being able to even remotely discretely bf in public.

Less poopy nappies!

 

[Arisa]

hey kittyventura I beleive I started a similar thread
https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/formula-feeding/1102693-positive-thread-formula-feeding.html

and its good to see another one based on positive aspects of FF

for me personally I enjoy preparing the feeds, sterilizing bottles and measuring and charting how much she needs for her age etc as i am very organized and a but pedantic when it comes to things like this i am not a go with the flow person which is literally the case with breast feeding, you have to go with it whereas with FF you can at least set aside (for no longer than four hours in the fridge) the exact amount your baby is eating at their development stage, its all planned and i like that, my baby also sleeps alot longer and only wakes once in the night so usually 1-2am then she has her early morning feed then one at 9am so she sleeps from around 7pm through to 1am now aside from the odd evening where she will wake for a 10pm or middnight feed but if she does then she will go through to 5-6am so she is getting more and more sleep the more she eats

 

[Sarachka]

When I was BFing I was so anxious she wasn't getting enough bc she lost so much weight at the start. Now I can see how much she gets and I'm not nervous.

She goes longer between feeds which I think must mean she's satisfied.

When I was taken to hospital and admitted as an emergency with my gallbladder, she was able to be fed by someone else.

She sleeps through the night!!!!

We can go anywhere, any time. All we need are some bottles and formula as I wasn't confident enough to nurse in public.

She can stay with Granny over night

Daddy can get up early with her

 

[Sarachka]

oh and I can wear a normal, supportive, underwired bra!

 

[My_First]

Meant i could get a hand at night and get some sleep
Could eat/drink what I liked without any worry about passing through breast milk/making him sick/gassey/colicy etc.
Could go on a night out without having to pump/relieve my breasts every hour or so
Could sleep on my front!!!!

 

[lilbecksxx]

Sharing the feeds is a big one!! All our family live abroad, so when they come to visit soon, it will be really great for them to be able to feed him!

Caffeine is another great reason too

 

[TiffanyBrown]

I enjoy so much about FF
-being able to let others feed Lily.
-not feeling like everything depends on just me.
-being able to leave the house by myself without feeling guilty.
-caffeine (I love my coffee)
-no more random crying fits from feeling like my LO isn't eating enough.
-my breasts are on their way being back to normal.

 

[babygirlFTM12]

my breasts were too large as well lol i hated nursing tops

 

[youngwife20]

IM FREEEEE hhhaha my boobs are free after exclusivly pumping for 5 and ahalf months with a baby clingy baby and then being pregnant while pumping nipples bleeding and my nipples scabbing over and not having any free time having an over supply that left me pumping 30ounces first thing in the morning when missing a night pump tempperatures from engorged boobs omg i am freee and i feel great i dont feel guilty and u know what i thought i would there was so much preasure to breastfeed. and u know what i put the preasure on my self. there was some good points of excluisivly pumping but mentaly it broke me and now i can just look after my child i gave her the best start i could and il always be happy about that but now i can just relax and enjoy myself without the stresses of having to pump i hated night pumping now i dont have to do that! i feel much happier in myself and im sure my daughter can see that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! formula has allowed me to just be a mother and relax and not be a milking machine who couldnt drink milk no dairy no spice blabla i feel like im back!!

 

[Arisa]

--my hubby takes the entire night shift Which is awesome because my LO doesn't sleep through at all

LOL three cheers for night shift husbands
our LO was waking every three hours during the night and day but now she only wakes twice during the night but ever since birth my husband has done the night time feeds and once she is fed she goes back to sleep, this is what i really love about FF as it gives mummy and daddy more time to be intimate as DTD was a bit sore at first and we need to take it slow and its finally starting to feel good so if i were BFFing I know i would have no time or energy or desire to even try and i am so thankful for my hubby being able to stay up and do the 10-11pm feed then there is a 2-3am feed but sometimes there is not even a 11pm feed, so he is lucky lol but i do the 5am feed but its getting closer to 6am so god willing by five months she will be sleeping from 10pm through to 6am as she already goes from 6-11 and once she went from 6pm to 1am

yeah so that is another thing i enjoy about FF, you know how much baby is getting and they honestly do sleep longer and we are not up more than twice a night seriously that is good.


oooh and the boob thing, since i FF from birth my boobs have not been engorged or sore, they are exactly the same and no rubber nipples or itching either and no stretch marks either, just on my tummy and hips but my boobs did not hurt post natally until i got my first period but yeah they are basically the same as before only one cup size bigger which is awesome but no deflation from the engorgement and no pain

 

[youngwife20]

Meant i could get a hand at night and get some sleep
Could eat/drink what I liked without any worry about passing through breast milk/making him sick/gassey/colicy etc.
Could go on a night out without having to pump/relieve my breasts every hour or so
Could sleep on my front!!!!

oh yeh forgot that one about not needing to express before a night out lol i went for a meal with my husband and hand to squeeze my boobs into the toilet!! so gross!

 

[youngwife20]

--my hubby takes the entire night shift Which is awesome because my LO doesn't sleep through at all

LOL three cheers for night shift husbands
our LO was waking every three hours during the night and day but now she only wakes twice during the night but ever since birth my husband has done the night time feeds and once she is fed she goes back to sleep, this is what i really love about FF as it gives mummy and daddy more time to be intimate as DTD was a bit sore at first and we need to take it slow and its finally starting to feel good so if i were BFFing I know i would have no time or energy or desire to even try and i am so thankful for my hubby being able to stay up and do the 10-11pm feed then there is a 2-3am feed but sometimes there is not even a 11pm feed, so he is lucky lol but i do the 5am feed but its getting closer to 6am so god willing by five months she will be sleeping from 10pm through to 6am as she already goes from 6-11 and once she went from 6pm to 1am

yeah so that is another thing i enjoy about FF, you know how much baby is getting and they honestly do sleep longer and we are not up more than twice a night seriously that is good.


oooh and the boob thing, since i FF from birth my boobs have not been engorged or sore, they are exactly the same and no rubber nipples or itching either and no stretch marks either, just on my tummy and hips but my boobs did not hurt post natally until i got my first period but yeah they are basically the same as before only one cup size bigger which is awesome but no deflation from the engorgement and no pain

ur lucky lol hun i went from a d to a G CUP! im still trying to dry my milk up and they are killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol x

 

[mrsf1234]

ALL the above, especially watching my OH feed her which he loves.

and also knowing how much food she has eaten! BF drove me nuts but now when she cries I can be safe in knowledge its not hunger and just whining, which I am sure helped the routine and her to STTN.

(and brill idea re this thread as you said at start FF is normally about justifying your decision, especially to men who have no understanding apart from their wives BF for a year so why arent u?)