breast, bottle...why?

[Redstiletto]

I am not sure yet what I will do, but that is a decision that Dennis and I will make when we get to that part of planning this pregnancy.

 

[Tea]

With my first three, breast feeding was as easy as falling off a log. Put the baby to the breast and away you go. With my third, I could have feed a couple of children, and used to joke, that in the old days, I could have applied for a job as a wet nurse.
Then along came my fourth. No way was she going to feed, and none of my "tried and true" methods worked. I was in complete denial about nor being able to feed. Finally put her on the bottle, (which I had to go and purchase as I had weaned the others straight onto a cup) and used either soy or goats milk, as a milk allergy run in the family, so this was just to be on the safe side. Personally I think I lost my confidence, and as a result then couldn't feed numbers 5 or 6 past 6 weeks. Everyone said that was because I was so busy and stressed with 6 children that is was to be expected.
Then when number 7 came, my only prayer was that I could breast feed. Even though I worked full time (in our own business), and continued to after she was born, (she came to work with me every day), I breast fed her until she was 11 months.
Don't ask me was the difference was, because I'm not sure. Having experienced it from both sides, all I can say is, if you can breast feed, then wonderful, if you can't, don't beat yourself up. You do the best for the baby that you can. If possible though, getting the collostrum into the baby for the first few days, I do consider that most important, but if not possible, they will still thrive.
Hoping that I can feed number 8. For me it is God's special reward for going through child birth.
Tracey

 

[CarrieAg93]

I was all set to breastfeed my first, but he had to be in the NICU when he was born and was on a respirator so I couldn't directly breastfeed him. I did pump and they fed him through a tube. When he was realeased I got sick and again couldn't feed him. He was 6 wks old before we were both healthy enough to try breastfeeding. After being on a bottle he wanted nothing of it and we'd already been through enough trauma so I decided not to push it. After bottle feeding the first I just went ahead and bottle fed the next 2.

 

[gracefaith]

Wow, thank you all for your responses! I have almost completely decided to bottle feed, simply because the thought of breast feeding just terrifies me for some reason. No one in my family (extended or immediate) breastfed, so I guess it never occured to me to do it. Thank you all so much for your input!

Don't feel bad, I plan on breastfeeding but it terrifies me too. I think I might be too attached to the idea of breasts as being for show. I don't get all gooey at the thought of them being functional.

 

[Athene]

Being scared of breastfeeding is normal for women who haven't been exposed to nursing mothers all that much. Gracefaith and jessesgirl, it might be an idea for you to go sit in at some la leche league meetings or other breastfeeding support groups, most groups are more then happy to welcome the curious.

 

[GolfingMom]

I was bound and determined to have my babies natrualy and breastfeed ONLY. Needless to say, neither of them happened. My first baby wouldn't even try to breastfeed so I pumped then I got sever mastitus twice and had to stop and went to formula. With my second baby I was able to breastfeed for 3 weeks then got sever mastitus AGAIN and had to once again go to formula. And guess what... they are both just fine. My oldest is 2.5 years old and can almost count to 20 is learning spanish (thianks to Dora) and knows her shapes and colors. My baby will be a year next month and she is walking and doing just fine. I guess what I'm getting at is that while breast may be best, the world wont end if you have to just formula, your child will be just as smart and grow just the same. And please don't let people try to make you feel bad if you do use formula. Not every woman is capapble of breastfeeding.

 

[GolfingMom]

While I WAS able to nurse, I hated it. I started "losing it" and was almost about to take it out on the baby. The cost of formula didn't matter to us, I had bottles so one night I decided to stop. I nursed for almost 2 months and switched over.
With my second, I nursed the first two days or so and went straight to formula.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

My aim is to breastfeed and bottlefeed breastmilk in situations that breastfeeding isn't possible.

Having said that though, my whole 'mantra' in this is 'if mum is happy and healthy, baby is happy and healthy and family is happy and healthy - then let's all just leave well enough alone' - so if this isn't a possibility for me for whatever reasons, then I'll just be glad for any alternative that still means my baby gets fed...

Sasch

 

[~Nikki~]

Wow, thank you all for your responses! I have almost completely decided to bottle feed, simply because the thought of breast feeding just terrifies me for some reason. No one in my family (extended or immediate) breastfed, so I guess it never occured to me to do it. Thank you all so much for your input!

I was also absolutely terrified to breastfeed, mainly because I thought I'd feel the same as a cow with udders, like I was just a milk machine and nothing else...

But over the last couple of months of my pregnancy I started to change my mind and actually started liking the idea of breastfeeding.

And now I'm actually doing the breastfeeding I love it and wouldn't change it out of choice. I love the fact the my son is putting on weight and growing because I'm feeding him...

However, of course I would bottle feed if for any reason he wasn't able to breastfeed or I wasn't able to do it, and for me, as long as I've tried to breastfeed, if it didn't work out then obviously I'd be fine with bottle feeding as long as my baby stays healthy and continues to grow...

 

[Athene]

I was also absolutely terrified to breastfeed, mainly because I thought I'd feel the same as a cow with udders, like I was just a milk machine and nothing else...

LOL, that's how I feel when I'm using a breastpump.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I was apprehensive about breast feeding also. My husband wanted me to do it because obviously he wanted the most healthy start for our baby but I still wasn't convinced. In the end I agreed to just try it and that was the best parenting decision I've ever made. There was the usual learning curve associated with breast feeding but it turned into the most wonderful experience and I was sad for the nursing relationship to end when I weaned my daughter at 25 months. The breast feeding relationship is one of the things I'm most looking forward to with this new baby.

 

[jessesgirl]

Yeah, my husband really wanted me to breastfeed, too. He came from a family of five children, all of which were breastfed but the last one. I don't know!!! LOL, but I guess I still have about four months to decide!

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Im not going to breastfeed. I have rolled this decision around in my mind sooooooo much. I know ALL the health benefits and what not, but I just am not going to do it. Personal choice and I am satisified with it. Even though many may not agree or understand...

 

[RoseofLima]

Yeah, my husband really wanted me to breastfeed, too. He came from a family of five children, all of which were breastfed but the last one. I don't know!!! LOL, but I guess I still have about four months to decide!

Very often God's will for us in our lives is made clear to us through the desires of our husbands--expecially in things where left on our own we would make very different choices. Take that for whatever it's worth That's just been my experience. (Not with breastfeeding in my case-- but in many other areas)

 

[katelyn]

I was apprehensive about breast feeding also. My husband wanted me to do it because obviously he wanted the most healthy start for our baby but I still wasn't convinced. In the end I agreed to just try it and that was the best parenting decision I've ever made. There was the usual learning curve associated with breast feeding but it turned into the most wonderful experience and I was sad for the nursing relationship to end when I weaned my daughter at 25 months. The breast feeding relationship is one of the things I'm most looking forward to with this new baby.

My experience is similar. I was nervous about it because I didn't grow up around breastfeeding, but there were so many reasons (as the ladies here have already posted) that it sounded like a good idea, so I decided that I wanted to at least try it, and if for whatever reason I didn't like it, then I could always stop, but at least I would have tried and not have to wonder "what if?" It was rough getting started, but at the same time it was a special bonding experience, and once we got the hang of it I really enjoyed it!

 

[Keira]

I will breast feed. I have just heard it is more healthier for the baby and it is also much more cost affective(which I need).