Why Did You Choose Formula

[Lightworker]

Hi all! was just wondering about FF and why you chose it? also, at what point did you decide to FF eg,was it when you were pregnant, when u gave birth etc. please note, this is not to judge anyone- im just genuinly curious xxx

 

[aob1013]

Uh oh...

 

[special_kala]

I didnt really choose it. Would have prefered to breast feed but River had tongue tie and wouldnt latch and i felt the constant pumpiing and then feeding was having a detrimental effect on my relationship with River so i went tp FF.

I will BF my next baby (to the best of my ability)

 

[rainbows_x]

I fed Ava from the breast in hospital twice.
In my case the midwives were very forcefull with me and ended up making me cry, so I asked for formula as they were rushing me into making a decision.
For me it just didn't feel comfortable.
I feel if they were a bit more nicer to me I would be breastfeeding now.

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

I started Bfing, then I pumped. I had no support what so ever. And I developed postnatal depression, so I switched to FF for the the sake of my mental well-being and for the sake of my child Edit: Found a post explaining better why I FF

I loved BF for a short period of time. But due to lack of support and not knowing where to go to seek it, BF was also one of the main reasons I developed Postnatal depression.

I pumped for a while after but I was constantly on the pump. I went on a downward spiral of depression, anxiety and the feeling of being a 'failure'. While I think was amplified by the attitude some people have to FF. I felt if I went to FF I would be seen as lazy, selfish and all the other horrible things FF mums get labelled with. But I switched for the sake of my mental well-being and for the good of my son. Becuase If I hadn't I don't think he would have a mummy today


x

 

[Vickie]

Uh oh...

no need for this thread to turn it's a pretty straightforward question

I have moved it to the formula feeding area though as it fits better in here than in baby club

 

[Fadesofblack]

-gets comfortable-

 

[ouchwithNo.2]

I knew I would formula feed eventually but planned to breastfeed each for a month minimum.
First lasted a couple of weeks - tongue tied, starving, tongue tie not picked up - we were all climbing the walls so OH decided enough was enough and gave him the bottle.
Second - managed 4-5 weeks, hurt like hell, poor latch on dodgy shaped right nipple and poor supply, mastitis twice, 5hrs of comfort feeding every night... I couldnt do anything all evening and our 6yr old suffered so gave her the bottle. I resented being a human dummy.
If we were to have another I wouldn't even try Breastfeeding, straight onto formula. In my opinion it isn't the come naturally thing it is made out to be and when it didn't work I felt like s**t and no new mother should feel that way.
In my opinion.

 

[binxyboo]

I didn't choose to FF. I really wanted to BF, but LO was born with an infection which meant he was too poorly to eat at first. He went from 7lb 6oz (birth weight) to 6lb 8oz in just 2 days. We were readmitted into hospital for FF top-ups and to establish BF, and this is when the infection was discovered. He ended up having 48 hours of IV antibiotics, which made feeding even more difficult.
He eventually refused to latch on to the breast at all, and feeding times became very stressful for both of us.
I eventually exclusivly expressed for 6 weeks, until sheer frustration and exhaustion made me go to FF.

I personally feel I was let down by the breastfeeding specialists who never spent any time with me, never showed me techniques of how to hold him etc and basically told me that 'He will get it eventually' (quite when he would get it, they never did say, but as he was losing weight at a phenomenal speed, I decided that I couldn't wait for him to 'get it')

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

-gets comfortable-

There really isn't any reason for this. People are adults and should be able to have an adult conversation

xx

 

[Miss Wright]

For me it was mostly pressure due to Dylan not gaining much weight. I surged off introducing one bottle. His weight gain didn't change so I was advised to up it to two. My already low supply got worse and worse until one day Dylan point blank refused the breast. I have learnt a lot for next time!

 

[bluey]

I breastfed Thomas exclusively for the first 4 and a bit months. He then hit the killer of all growth spurts & started feeding every hour day & night. In desperation I gave him a bottle before bed hoping it would help us all get a little sleep. It worked to give me a break of 4 or 5 hours & so we continued with just that one bottle a day for the following month or so. I then started giving a bottle when we were out & about as he had become really distractable when feeding in public. Gradually he started having more bottle than breast, & he took his last feed from me a week before he turned 6 months.

I am proud that I managed to BF as long as I did (since he was a VERY hungry baby from the beginning!) but the gradual switch to formula was the right thing for us all as a family in the end.

 

[JosieM]

I hadn't decided whether I'd bf or ff before LO was born, I gave bf a go and switched to formula after 4 weeks, bf was tough and it seemed like I was constantly feeding LO (he was a ferocious feeder and got a blister on his top lip!), he was getting really fussy and the tiredness was taking its toll. I never managed to bf in front of anyone except DH and my mum nevermind the general public! Some mums just seem to take to bf no bother and I admire those who stick at it, but I'm glad I gave it a go. LO took to FF no bother and I found it easier to get out and about and got a bit more rest as he goes for longer between feeds. BF and FF both have their pros and cons, eg I found the bonding that comes with BF lovely and it is convenient especially for night feeds, but FF gives me more freedom IMO. At the end of the day it's whatever works best for you and baba.

 

[OmarsMum]

I wanted to BF as it's the norm in my family & among my friends. I was prepared for both before giving birth (breast pads, pump, nipples cream, bottles, steriliser, bottles brushes, & a tin of formula. I had a traumatic emergency CS. Lo only latched on once immediately after the birth then he couldnt. They starved him for 18 hrs at the hospital, he developed juandice after 2 days from the lack of feeding. a BFing consultant tried for 2 hrs before giving up & requesting FFing every 2 hrs as he was poorly. I tried to pump at the hospital but it didnt work. When we went back home I also tried expressing but I didnt get a single drop. When he finally latched on after 3 weeks there was no milk. I tried for another 10 days but with no success. I gave up at around 6 weeks as I didnt have any milk to BF. xx

 

[polo_princess]

It was a combination of several factors for me, including the fact that ive had a boob job and how it was done, my work and family commitments, etc etc, it was clear that FF was the best option for us

 

[Lightworker]

thanks ladies for ur answers so far x

 

[Nic1107]

Didn't choose; Carmen wouldn't take the breast for love or for money. She wouldn't even accept a bottle that she had to work too hard at, she was using medium-flow teats from day one. Pumping only worked for so long, and then I had to go back on sleeping pills for my severe insomnia, and stronger pain pills for my broken tailbone and didn't want to pass either on to her even though they're supposedly safe. FF ended up being a blessing in disguise, although I was gutted at first not to be able to BF.

 

[mrsthomas623]

Struggled physically and emotionally with breastfeeding so I switched to FFing at about 2 weeks old and felt much better. I will try to breastfeed again if we have another child.

 

[bluebaby]

I decided while I was pregnant to formula feed as that was what I thought was better for me and also the baby for many reasons. I didn't change my mind when the baby was born and don't regret my decision

 

[bump_wanted]

i really wanted to BF i tried in the hospital and LO wouldnt latch at all i panicked he wasnt eating and was jaundice so gave him formula, i tried to express but nothing came out i was leaking like mad at other times so i dont understand why that was but he ended up thriving on formula

im not sure if we had baby number 2 if i would BF as i keep thinking but Ollie wasnt BF so is that not giving them both an equal chance, thats probably a silly thing to say but you know how you feel guilty about somethings xx