All the brilliant reasons why you should NOT breastfeed

Julie - posted on 01/07/2010

Quoting Emma:

*snip*

Your son has started to teeth, your nipples will get bitten.
My friend gave me a great way to deal with that issue and has so far worked. 

*snip*

Can you pass this advice along?  I would appreciate it.

In my area (Manitoba, Canada) it seems as though bf-ing is almost pushed onto us!  I had decided that I would be bf-ing, even before I decided that I wanted kids, so this was not a problem for me.  A friend of mine did have a problem with this though.  She tried very hard to bf her son, but could not produce enough milk.  The nurses said he was getting plenty, even though he had no wet or dirty diapers.  He would cry endlessly, until she gave up, and gave him formula.  I think that she tried for about a week?  She feels horrible, and doesn't understand why anyone would actually choose to pay $120 a month, to go through the hassle of formula feeding.

To all the so-called "professionals" that say that there is no benefits after a certain time...  At my hospital, I was given a magnet with bf info on it.  It states baby's age, tummy size. how often to bf, how many wet diapers in a day, and how many soiled.  It states "Breastfeeding into the toddler years has many  benefits for you and your child." 

Tara Lee - posted on 01/06/2010

I love this post! It has given me many laughs. Even if it still amazes me how many ignorant people there are out there. Thank God there are so many of us who are not. Congrats to all of us who did NOT listen.

Kristina - posted on 01/06/2010

my mother told me that i had to tuffen up my nipples to be able to desensitize them so that when he latched on it would not hurt. You do this by taking a washcloth no soap, unless you use baby soap and rub in a clockwise and then counterclockwise fashion. This worked very well and my son is almost eight months and nursing just fine. I only used my lanolin for about a month and your milk will help heal your breasts if they hurt.

Tara Lee - posted on 01/06/2010

Quoting TEMEKA:



"My mother-in-law, when we stayed with them, would sneak in and take the baby out of his crib before I could hear him - she'd literally lay in wait outside his room and take him and feed him a bottle. Oh my gosh - "HI, meet the mommy monster!" Despite my grumblings it didn't cease. I felt like, uh, you trying to steal my baby? She is of that thought that I wasn't being a "good mom" just giving him boob. Are people really that un...informed!?"





OMG...Did you hurt her? I can honestly say, this would not have gone over well with me or my husband. If I absultly had to even stay there, and I would have left if possible, I would have moved the baby into my room and away from her...OMG...I just cannot believe anyone would actually do this

Terri - posted on 01/06/2010

I have 4 children and am still breastfeeding my 12 month old daughter 4 times a day, so having 4 children is no excuse for saying you cant breastfeed anymore. Its just a matter of time management. I went to a xmas do a couple of weeks ago and my stepdad and my mum made comments about me giving up feeding. I told them that it is recommended to feed until 2 years now and they made snide comments under their breathes like "never did you any harm not being breastfed that long" and "professionals go to extremes these days".



I just bite my tongue knowing Im giving my daughter the best!

Elanor - posted on 01/06/2010

Quoting Janice:

Quoting Stephanie:

My husband's grandmother and mother both tell me that if I've been at work all day and then come home, my milk is "bad" because its been sitting all day, and I should either not bf her, or drink a glass of water to cleanse it....... LOL!! okayyy....

My SIL who is BF her 7mo. old has said the same thing. If you go a while with out pumping the breast milk goes sour. She didn't say anything about drinking water to cleanse it. She got the info from someone who works for the NY state nutrition department. Now im curious if there is any truth to the statement. My daughter is only 2 mo. and Im not back to work yet but I would like more info on this.

Not true! I am a breastfeeding supporter. I myself had a weeks break  from feeding, and didn't have a problem. Breastmilk works on supply and demand, so it is only there when the baby feeds, the body produces. It certainly doesn't SIT there! And your body insulates and incubates what is there. 

Tannis - posted on 01/05/2010

Love the twin comments. my twins weaned themselves at 15 months. It was getting to be painful but they were, and continue to be, very aggressive eaters! If I hadn't nursed the girls, i wouldn't have heard the end of it from teh MIL.

Lise - posted on 01/05/2010

Quoting Ivonka:

oh, wow. In my case my boy would not latch on and I didn't lactate just yet. The nurse that visited me at home 4 days after I had my georgous son, told me that if I didn't have any milk already then I'm most likely dried up and I should just give it up and stick with formula. She was so negative about the breastfeeding! Well, what would she say to that: next day I went for help to the local breastfeeding clinic and a nice lady/lactation consultant helped us, Max latched on, I have great milk supply and we had no problems since. He is 4 and 1/2 months and loves the boob.

Good for you!  So many women would give up.

Ivonka - posted on 01/05/2010

You were probably already told, that the breast size does not matter when it comes to breastfeeding. I have friends with small breasts and they had such huge milk supply they could spray across the room with their milk...lol...not that they tried. My little "baracuda mouth" son sucked so hard it was painful and I got what looked like under skin blood blisters, only they were very small and each nipple had one. The pain was at the beginning of each feeding, for a couple of minutes but to the point of nausea, I just clenched my teeth and waited it out, and put some Lansinoh cream on my nipples right after each feeding. the cream is safe for the baby, so you don't have to wash it off and it helped a lot. The nipples were sore for about 2 weeks or so, at the time I thought it would never get better and then one day I realized it didn't hurt anymore. Breastfeeding became very pleasant and relaxing, to the point it would almost put me to sleep...lol Funny how it all works.

Ivonka - posted on 01/05/2010

oh, wow. In my case my boy would not latch on and I didn't lactate just yet. The nurse that visited me at home 4 days after I had my georgous son, told me that if I didn't have any milk already then I'm most likely dried up and I should just give it up and stick with formula. She was so negative about the breastfeeding! Well, what would she say to that: next day I went for help to the local breastfeeding clinic and a nice lady/lactation consultant helped us, Max latched on, I have great milk supply and we had no problems since. He is 4 and 1/2 months and loves the boob.

Rebecca - posted on 01/05/2010

Quoting Emalia:

REALLY enjoying this thread! I am a doctor (family practitioner) who breastfed my son til after age 3yrs despite part-time working from 6 weeks and then working 70-80hr weeks on hospital rounds from time he was 8 months old... We loved the time together feeding coz I couldn't actually do anything else (witness Temeka trying to type!)... I'm interested to know where you all are from ladies? I'm from New Zealand, now in Australia and when my son was tiny I got nothing but support from everyone I met - including all nurses/ midwives/ doctors/ hospital staff who had to witness me feeding on my meal breaks at work..... he gradually slowed down put we continued our bedtime bonding snuggles right up after his 3rd birthday - really helped when we moved house/ went on holiday to settle him down.... Also - I had inverted nipples right up until labour - they really used to annoy me, but feeding my son sorted them right out!! When I have bf'ing patients on medications I ALWAYS encourage them to express and throw away so they can continue after meds are done.... I hope new generation of doctors are hearing mums re: bf'ing....

I am in Australia. I have a VERY supportive family! My mum, my MIL and my hubby all love the fact i bf my daughter. I have noticed that most people opt to breastfeed nowadays. Our hospitals are very pro-breastfeeding. I have had encouragement from all medical staff, friends and family. Its in my opinion that mums that bottle feed are frowned upon nowadays. My experience with breastfeeding is one of the best experiences of my life! I am feeding my 6 month old now typing one handed, i look down and wouldnt give it up for anybody! She will tell me when she's ready! Although my MIL did try and tell me she is growing so fast she needs to be getting cereal as well. But how do you think she got to be so big up till now???

Jennifer - posted on 01/05/2010

When my daughter came down with the H1N1 dr.s told me to stop nursing her there was no benefit anymore she's 2 now and I needed to think about the new baby not getting sick. Well she would n;t take a cup would not eat solid foods but I was suppose stop nursing her. I didn't listen to them and she pulled thru good with just being nursed and my baby did just fine.. I wish dr.s would get a clue!

Lise - posted on 01/05/2010

Ok, here's the most recent one... A friend told me it wasn't in her makeup to be responsible for a baby's food (reason why she's not breastfeeding). Ummm... What do you think your job is as a mom?

Janice - posted on 01/05/2010

Quoting Stephanie:

My husband's grandmother and mother both tell me that if I've been at work all day and then come home, my milk is "bad" because its been sitting all day, and I should either not bf her, or drink a glass of water to cleanse it....... LOL!! okayyy....

My SIL who is BF her 7mo. old has said the same thing. If you go a while with out pumping the breast milk goes sour. She didn't say anything about drinking water to cleanse it. She got the info from someone who works for the NY state nutrition department. Now im curious if there is any truth to the statement. My daughter is only 2 mo. and Im not back to work yet but I would like more info on this.

Megan - posted on 01/05/2010

My mother-in-law informed while I was still pregnant that formula-feeding was the best option. Her claim was that whenever she was feeding her baby out in public (from a bottle), she could look her son in the eyes while a breast-feeding mom had her baby's face covered. So, in her mind, breast-feeding babies don't have enough of a "bond" with their mothers.... lol

Janice - posted on 01/05/2010

Quoting Joan:

i havent even had my baby yet and i get comments like;

1) you smoked ciggerettes so you shouldnt nurse. your body is toxic. forever.
2) you dont need to pump, that is what working mothers do. ( i do plan on working, i was advised to take it easy during pregency because of having four nasty trips to the er and fear of loosing baby )
3) your breasts will sag. (so will the breats on my brother who weighs in at 400lbs and all the real breasts i know about)
4) you are to much of a bitch for that, baby will become a bitch like you. its in your body and you will give it to her. (so you dont like me then?)
5) i respected my body to much to do that to myself. (WHAT?)
6) you will fail. just take the free formula the state will give you
7) you will never loose weight if you bf (yeah, and eat unhealthy foods and dont be active)
8) (from my hubby who is just confused) so they shouldnt be tuched untill the baby is done with them? (only because im not in the mood... to have my milk excreated by hand and by you.)
9) your breasts are to big, the baby will sufficate. (offened because im a c cup)

best one yet from my sister inlaw who spews bad advice and cant recall that she and her beloved husband are abusive to there children.

10) your selfish if you breast feed. (i didnt even stop to ask why she thinks that, but im sure it is worth a smirk. she seems to belive the things she says)

So I have to share a recent article i read about smokers and breastfeeding. I quit many years before my daughter was born but any way  Quoting American Baby & AAP "The benefits of breastfeeding are so overwhelming that they outweigh any potential risk from nicotine exposure in breastmilk. The article also said that 1/2 of peditricians were aware of this new finding.

Also breastfeeding is the absolute best way to lose the baby weight. I have lost 30 lbs in 8 weeks. I do not exercise or eat right like i should (i take vitamins) People's jaws drop when they find out i had a baby 9 weeks ago.

Francine - posted on 01/05/2010

I am so lucky to be in Australia from what I am reading here... I have heard very few of these. I have heard "oh, if it is too hard, just give up" because I was having a lot of trouble for the first couple of weeks. The midwife who came out to the house though was really supportive and gave me some really helpful tips. One of those tips was nipple shields, they are silicone shields that fit over the nipple to protect from cracking and also helps because my nipples are a difficult shape (not quite inverted but basically just flat).



My family is very supportive for the most part. My brother has a song and dance about me having my boob out, but as long as I let him know I am going to feed, he stays out of the room. His choice, I am not going to hide when feeding around my family. Mum keeps telling me how well I am doing, she was only able to breast feed for 3 months for my sister. My daughter is in the 97th percentile on the chart so I am not worried about the amount I am feeding her. :-)



I have to go to work when she is 6 months, but I plan to express while I am at work. She already accepts the bottle, which makes life easier when I go out. I express most nights before I go to bed so we have bottles in the freezer.



It is a shame so many people are so ill informed and inconsiderate with some of these comments.



Good luck to all of you.

Catherine - posted on 01/05/2010

that is hilarious! my son is exclusivley bf and he got teeth early! he has 8 and he is 8 months old. i always blame bf on the teeth haha.

Elissa - posted on 01/03/2010

silliest i have heard:



ur boy will become a pervert

he's growing a lot so needs more

if u cant express a lot, baby isnt getting a lot



most worrying and horrific i have heard:



if u breastfeed past 1 year its child abuse.



where do these people get this nonsense - it makes me mad.



i exclusively breastfeed and my boy goes out without me all tnhe time. in fact he is currently watching footy with his dad at his grandas. we just time it or express.



i nfeed anywhere and everywhere. once i even fed him on a wall at a bus stop. he more than doubled his birthweight in 3 months and is a happy, chilled wee boy.



i do hear nonsense from women who did b/f also. usually because they decided, or someone else did, that baby was feeding to much. i b/f on demand so if hes hungry i feed. ud be amazed how many people just dont get the concept.

Anneke - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting Jessica:

These are a few reasons I have heard from people for them not breastfeeding- " I don't want to take my nipple rings out". " I'm not a cow , I don't want something hanging off my boob all day." " I'm not gunna breast feed cos then I can't go out drinking in the weekend" . I personally think it is sad that they made the choice to have babies and then gave such selfish reasons for not giving thier babies the best start they could. Once you have kids the last thing you should be is selfish..... You have to put your kids first not only with breast feeding but in all aspects. On another note my little girls were/are both healthy chubby breast fed bubbies and my doctors visits and hospital trips are almost non existant as apposed to some of the mum's who gave these reasons. Makes me glad for the choices I made!!

So many poeple recoil in horror when I say I dont drink or go to clubs, then look at my child and say why am I still breastfeeding and I should stop and get out and get drunk every weekend? I had a baby I will look after it there is no room for going out and living like a single person on a weekend. Parenthood for me dosnt involve that and I give it all to my child, even breastmilk! although getting out for one peacevul meal would be nice once a year lol

My mum bought me formula milk when I was pregnant,. 4 tins of it. I still have them 4 tins and my son is 1 in febrary and everyone is asking me when I am going to stop breastfeeding. I dont understand why everyone is concerned when I will stop? if you see my son he is good and healthy, he looks angelic and always happy. why ask like its a problem? why say to keep that tin milk just in case? that forula will never pass my sons lips ! and I dont want to get peed on the weekend I have a child to look after.

Sorry for ranting the amount of people that ask me about not going out and think I should have a life like thers where someone else takes care of their baby on forumla is woofle. Every weekend someone has a problem and asks why i cant just make up some bottles and chuck my baby with someone (and there is no one but me and his dad to take care of him). To busy with my baby to get drunk I done enough of that when I was younger and things have changed. I dont mind giving up my freedom to nurse my baby I dont know why others things I shouldnt.

end of rant lol

Nicole - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting Anna:

Quoting Andy:

My mother-in-law does not agree with bfing at all, when my 9 mo old daughter started eating cereal, the MIL was so happy because she felt that the baby wanted/needed a new taste. "She's probably sick of just milk all the time" were her exact words. Yes, babies get tired of being cuddled and feeling safe, right?!!! Crazy woman:)

i think we have the same mother in law! ;)

hey!! thats my mother spot on!!!

Nicole - posted on 01/03/2010

i have loved reading through these comments!! what a good laugh!

i'm so happy i have a supportive husband - he asked me not to stop tiill our son decides to stop. i asked him "so if our son wants to drink from mommy's boobies when he's 3?" hubby said, "let him!"

Elanor - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting Lexie:

My favorite is when people say that their child is allergic to breastmilk. Newborn acne and rash is normal for a child, it is not an indication that they are breaking out in hives.

That seems to be said a lot by docs in the US. I haven't heard that in the UK much. I can see where the confusion come from on that one. My son is so allergic to dairy (not mummy milk) that it affects him through my milk. I have given up all dairy and he's just fine now. It's a very small price to pay. The only way a baby would be alllergic to breastmilk would be if the had a TRUE lactose allergy (not to be confused with lactose intolerence, which only occurs when older, prob due to a build up of too much dairy).

Breastmilk is very high in lactose,so if you had a truelactose allergy (which is very rare) they would be allergic to the breastmilk.

Anna - posted on 01/02/2010

I hear things all the time! Mostly that breastmilk isn’t enough, he needs more, (Oh and my sons in the 98th percentile.) Or that he gets tired of breastmilk… which it’s obvious that he does NOT. I’ve had a few close family members say, at 7 months or so, that he is too big to still be breastfeeding. I’ve heard the breastfeeding til he’s 10 joke (and he’s only 11 months old now.) And I’ve had a doctor tell me that if my thrush didn’t clear up that I would have to wean. When I heard that I was almost in tears because I was not gonna wean but I was so desperate to get rid of the thrush. It’s gone now btw and we are going strong! His pediatrician now is telling me that since he’s in the 98th percentile he needs to slow down..? And that I should not be nursing him through the night any more, which is probably true but it’s so much easier and we aren’t ready to start that battle. He nurses twice during the 12 hour night that he sleeps. Anyway, I know there’s probably plenty more that I’ve heard but when I think of them I’ll post more.

Anna - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Andy:

My mother-in-law does not agree with bfing at all, when my 9 mo old daughter started eating cereal, the MIL was so happy because she felt that the baby wanted/needed a new taste. "She's probably sick of just milk all the time" were her exact words. Yes, babies get tired of being cuddled and feeling safe, right?!!! Crazy woman:)

i think we have the same mother in law! ;)

Lexie - posted on 01/02/2010

My favorite is when people say that their child is allergic to breastmilk. Newborn acne and rash is normal for a child, it is not an indication that they are breaking out in hives.

Marcela - posted on 01/02/2010

My twins babies were at the NICU for 5 days because they were premature. I had had a cesarean, so I was still at the hospital, and started pumping inmediately. One of the nurses looked at the colostrum I was getting (very little) and said: "You can't save that. that's not milk nor colostrum, that's breast dirt, the breast is cleaning itself from the inside out" O.O And that comes from a health professional!!!!

I had many like that because Cyprus-where I live- is a formula country. But I also had a great pesiatrician and lactacion consultant, and we did it nonetheless: My babies are now 16 months and still breastfed!

Sarah - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Melissa:

Quoting Michelle:

My family is supportive, but I have a contribution...I have a friend who is a LLL leader. She told me one that I had never heard before b/c someone said it to her & she had to set them straight. "Breastfeeding stops baby's teeth from coming in." Whaaaaat? Seriously?

I didn't have teeth until I was 16 months (I was bfed) My daughter, now 8 months has no teeth and I have heard from several people that the reason she doesn't have teeth is because I am "forcing" her to BF!!!

That is not true! My youngest brother got his first tooth at 2 months old, and he was exclusively bf for 2 years by my mother, like me and the rest of my brothers and sisters. We all got our teeth during the time we were bfing.

Elanor - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Melissa:

Quoting Michelle:

My family is supportive, but I have a contribution...I have a friend who is a LLL leader. She told me one that I had never heard before b/c someone said it to her & she had to set them straight. "Breastfeeding stops baby's teeth from coming in." Whaaaaat? Seriously?

I didn't have teeth until I was 16 months (I was bfed) My daughter, now 8 months has no teeth and I have heard from several people that the reason she doesn't have teeth is because I am "forcing" her to BF!!!

So not true (er how do you think we survived before man invented formula) I am suprised that was said by LLL.

My first son never had a drop of formula, full bfed had first tooth at 7months, my youngest is 6 months now and has 2 teeth, had his 1st at 5 months.

When babies get thier teeth is genetic. Some babies are born with them they are called natal teeth and are wobbley to aid early feeding. 

Melissa - posted on 01/01/2010

Quoting Michelle:

My family is supportive, but I have a contribution...I have a friend who is a LLL leader. She told me one that I had never heard before b/c someone said it to her & she had to set them straight. "Breastfeeding stops baby's teeth from coming in." Whaaaaat? Seriously?

I didn't have teeth until I was 16 months (I was bfed) My daughter, now 8 months has no teeth and I have heard from several people that the reason she doesn't have teeth is because I am "forcing" her to BF!!!

Lisa - posted on 01/01/2010

Quoting Elanor:

Firstly - please tell me where on this thread anyone was ridiculing or harrassing anyone that HAS to formula feed??

 

Wowa, calm down you miss-understand me

all im saying is that i have found australia (act and nsw in my experiance) to be so pro breast-feeding that the DOCTORS NURSES and OTHER MUMS i have delt with personally have been harrassing us 4 not BFing

 

I found it very interesting and equally humerous to hear that ppl who are breast feeding have had similar experiances in reverse

 

I completely agree that all mums should stick together whether the  BF/Formula is as a result of inability or choice its up to the mum(and dad) or atleast it should be, this thread is for a laugh and many of the "reasons" to formula feed here are hillarious

Joanna - posted on 01/01/2010

I love this topic. All of the healthcare professionals I have been in contact with were very pro-breastfeeding. My husband is the best! The thing I hear from everyone is "breastfeeding is soo much work, there's nothing wrong with formula". I know that babies who are formula fed sleep longer at night. I also know that by breastfeeding my 2 mo son, that I am doing the best for him. He is gaining like 3 lbs a month. Yes, breastfeeding is a lot of work. But how selfish is it to give your baby formula, just to get a little sleep or not to feed him/her as often. Who really benefits more in the long run when formula fed. I plan on breastfeeding my son until he's ready to wean.



Some info on milk production for worried mom's. Your milk supply is simple a supply and demand system. Your body will produce the amount of milk you need, as long as you are feeding your baby on demand. I have also never used the lanolin cream. I've only rubbed my nipples with breast milk after feeding. Breast milk has natural healing properties.



There are still many people out there that don't care if you breastfeed your baby, but don't want it done in there presence. It seems to bother women, more than men. It's the most natural thing. Why do I feel like I have to hide when I breastfeed. I know I can pump and bottle, but my baby doesn't eat well from the bottle.

Sarah - posted on 01/01/2010

Lol.... my MIL came in the room once when we were visiting and she saw me bfing laying down, and she stopped in shock and was like, 'NO THATS WRONG!!! You should SIT UP!!!' Good Lord...

Elanor - posted on 01/01/2010

Quoting Lisa:

you know as clearly STUPID as most of this advice is i would relish a little bit of it round here! its nice to know that not everyone is solely BRESTFEED driven (even if they are radically wrong the other way)

i planned to breast feed and tried my best in hospital despite cracked and bleeding nipples, my son attached really well but to no avail - my milk never came in, neither his attempts nor repeated pumping could produce any milk (or colostrum) and even after leaving hospital i never had any milk come in (bub is now 5mths)

so we turned to formula and have never looked back he is happy, healthy and growing well
although formula is a close substitute for breast milk science can not reproduce the immune system benefits of breast feeding but all we have heard is constant harassing and ridicule that we are not doing the best for our baby, that i didnt try hard enough, that he will become seriously ill, undernourished and one nurse even suggested mentally impaired because of not breast feeding

oh dear... guess STUPID advice comes in all forms =)

Firstly - please tell me where on this thread anyone was ridiculing or harrassing anyone that HAS to formula feed?? I don't think anyone is trying to make anyone feel bad, and pretty much everything that has been said is fact. There is about 0.01% of people that physically cannot breastfeed, and perhaps you are one of those (maybe your son's latch wasn't that good, but it is something you will never know) In your situation I personally would never critisize you, but the medical staff (who often have little or no breastfeeding training, the goverments of westernized countries who allow formula companies to monopolise the market, and do not put enough money into breastfeeding services, as well as the formula companies themselves, who use irresponsible advertising to give people false beliefs).

It's funny how alot of women who could not breastfeed, suddenly jump down the throats of breastfeeding women who are simply speaking fact (it does happen alot). I myself am a breastfeeding supporter, in UK (I have more training in breastfeeding than a midwife, health visitor or GP - yet these medical staff dish out as much stupid advice, as the MIL, SIL etc people comments that have been on here).

I personally think us women should stick together, and not be up against each other (I bet the formula companies love the fact that women, have pretty much segragated themselves, and are fighting amonst themselves about this.) Breastmilk is for human babies FACT, cows milk is for cow babies FACT, formula is cows milk FACT. Women have breastfed for thousands of years and the human race has survived on it, FACT, it is a learned art, FACT. But with support from other mummys we can pretty much all do it. In my opinion formula should only be there if someone REALLY needs it, and it certainly shouldn't be the big business it is. (these companies make money out of making women feel they can't do something that is natural - sick).

If I couldn't breastfeed, I would buy human breastmilk to feed to my children. As I like to say 'No udder milk will do!!!'

Chris - posted on 01/01/2010

My sister-in-law claims her doctor told her not to breastfeed because it would stretch out her nipples. Seriously?!? A doctor?!?

Lisa - posted on 01/01/2010

you know as clearly STUPID as most of this advice is i would relish a little bit of it round here! its nice to know that not everyone is solely BRESTFEED driven (even if they are radically wrong the other way)



i planned to breast feed and tried my best in hospital despite cracked and bleeding nipples, my son attached really well but to no avail - my milk never came in, neither his attempts nor repeated pumping could produce any milk (or colostrum) and even after leaving hospital i never had any milk come in (bub is now 5mths)



so we turned to formula and have never looked back he is happy, healthy and growing well

although formula is a close substitute for breast milk science can not reproduce the immune system benefits of breast feeding but all we have heard is constant harassing and ridicule that we are not doing the best for our baby, that i didnt try hard enough, that he will become seriously ill, undernourished and one nurse even suggested mentally impaired because of not breast feeding



oh dear... guess STUPID advice comes in all forms =)

Courtney - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting Amanda:

A really common one that I have heard is that breastfed babies won't sleep through the night... What a joke. My kids both slept through the night at 3 months, just like any other baby. Also, I have had several people say that breasfed babies can not be put on a schedule, and that you need to just nurse them any time they cry so you will have adequate milk. Totally bogus. People forget that the baby needs to actually be hungry when they go to the breast or they will only take in the foremilk, not the rich fatty hindmilk. And also, you do not need to pop the kid on your boob every time they cry! I have had soooo many people go "Oh, he must be hungry" just because he is crying... Nope, kids cry for other reasons. I am finding some of these responses quite funny!

My little one slept 12 hours a night 9.30pm-9.30am from 8 weeks and was exclusively breastfed.

Plus the 3 hours she slept during the day. Also the best thing I found was being able to put her straight back to sleep using the boob if she did wake from things like teething etc.

She also set herself a routine, you can set your clock by her!

Elanor - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting Courtney:

That is another that you hear to death "I fed my child formula and he/she turned out just fine".
A. When the child is still a child how do you know they turned out fine, who's to say they wont develope something that could have been avoided by BFing in adult hood!
B. When this is said about adults I always laugh as the adult in question nearly always has some health 'issue' like obesity, diabetes etc etc....yep turned out just fine!

Exactly!!! Western socirties ahve higher incidences of alot of these illness', communities where there is 100% or near too breastfeeding have little or no problems with obessity, diabeties eczema (My son is so allergic to cows mmilk, it effects him through my milk, I am on a no dairy diet). P

Courtney - posted on 12/31/2009

That is another that you hear to death "I fed my child formula and he/she turned out just fine".
A. When the child is still a child how do you know they turned out fine, who's to say they wont develope something that could have been avoided by BFing in adult hood!
B. When this is said about adults I always laugh as the adult in question nearly always has some health 'issue' like obesity, diabetes etc etc....yep turned out just fine!

Courtney - posted on 12/31/2009

I was told by my MIL that my daughters severe eczema was caused by her being allergic to my milk!

We are coming up to her 2nd birthday in Feb and we are still going strong, no plans for weaning yet.

When people ask when we are going to wean I tell them not to worry, I will just drive to school at recess to feed her. That always flabbergasts them :P

Elanor - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting courtney :

my mil and sil keeping trying to get me to force my daughter on the bottle...they will call and one of the first questions they will ask is if she is feeding from the bottle yet? and when i say no she dont like the bottle (which she dont...she hates it) they keep saying keep trying everyday and maybe its because she smells the milk off my breasts and they should come over and try....i think and plenty of other people think they are just jelouse...my sil figures because she breast fed for like two weeks she knows everything about it and it drives me crazy...funny thing tho they have no problem passing her over when she needs to be changed but when she needs to be fed they complain about passing her over.

Well I think you are doing fab! I'd go crazy if that was mine. You'll have the last laugh when your wee one grows into a confident, clever and healthy child.

Courtney - posted on 12/31/2009

my mil and sil keeping trying to get me to force my daughter on the bottle...they will call and one of the first questions they will ask is if she is feeding from the bottle yet? and when i say no she dont like the bottle (which she dont...she hates it) they keep saying keep trying everyday and maybe its because she smells the milk off my breasts and they should come over and try....i think and plenty of other people think they are just jelouse...my sil figures because she breast fed for like two weeks she knows everything about it and it drives me crazy...funny thing tho they have no problem passing her over when she needs to be changed but when she needs to be fed they complain about passing her over.

Elanor - posted on 12/31/2009

And yet the best thing for him would've to be breastfed as much as possible!!! Both my boys had Jaundice, 1 for 76 weeks the other for 1day (incidently the one with jaundice for 1 day was constantly feeding, so it obviously helped)

Elanor - posted on 12/31/2009

That's so funny - I still can't get over peoples ignorance 'formula being better than breastmilk' that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard!!!!! Does your MIL not know that formula is cows milk, perfect for baby cows LOL!!!

Stephanie - posted on 12/31/2009

My husband's grandmother and mother both tell me that if I've been at work all day and then come home, my milk is "bad" because its been sitting all day, and I should either not bf her, or drink a glass of water to cleanse it....... LOL!! okayyy....

Jennifer - posted on 12/31/2009

lol I love this post!!!! my DS is almost 16m old & he loves to come & have a snack or just to cuddle! So far I have had ok support. My husband on BF is good..he just doens't believe our son should be able to ask for it. My grandmother says that (esp. from 3m-11m old) that my son was too fat & I needed to put him on a diet (Im not kidding) even though I repeatedly told her that my son's dr was NOT concerned. (he was over 28lbs at 12m old)



I was supprised at the lack of support at the hospital in the begining...my nursing consultant didn't come by until a few hours before I left the hopsital, after being there for 2.5days! Granted I really wasn't having any problems....another friend, same hospital was over run with guilt, by the nurses, as to why she wasn't BF...(poor thing)



Lastly...my son had to be put into hospital for severe Jaundice (was told this is more common is BF babies) & told that due to they needed to know exactly how much fluid oz he was getting I couldn't BF & he had to be fed formula..& my milk came in that night! grrr pumping 2oz of BM from each breast just to relieve pressure & they wouldn't let me feed that to him! In hindsight I will be more isistant

Jennifer - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting Temeka:

I finally do not have a kid on my lap and might be able to type something :-) This is the best thread!! Oh my gosh!

Someone posted above about the growth charts!! I have the BEST pediatrician - my daughter, also, like another poster above, was in the 5th percentile and my pediatrician said to NOT pay attention to the growth charts. They were based on formula fed babies and they get TOO much. That breast fed babies are healthier and require their own charts which aren't even in existence. They are NOT going to be near what formula fed babies are, they will be JUST RIGHT!!!

My mother-in-law, when we stayed with them, would sneak in and take the baby out of his crib before I could hear him - she'd literally lay in wait outside his room and take him and feed him a bottle. Oh my gosh - "HI, meet the mommy monster!" Despite my grumblings it didn't cease. I felt like, uh, you trying to steal my baby? She is of that thought that I wasn't being a "good mom" just giving him boob. Are people really that un...informed!?

My MIL was the same way.  While she never actually took my DS and gave him a bottle I often feared that she might, and she did complain incessantly about me nursing him.  "How much longer do you plan to nurse?" and "Formula is much better for the baby than breast milk -- those scientists know what their doing".  Really?!  I highly doubt that scientists can even come close to replicating what Mother Nature and evolution has perfected over time.

She's also said multiple times that she wanted to _adopt_ him herself and even threatened to call child services on several occasions early on.  Bottom line:  I think that she envied the bonding experience that I got while breastfeeding my DS and thought that by discouraging me that she might get to be closer to him herself.  (Fortunately she now realizes that she ultimately has to go through me to see her DGS so she plays much nicer these days.)

I'm proud and happy to report that my DS will be 1 yr old tomorrow and that he has been almost EBF for that entire time -- despite my DS's strong food allergies (I've had to strictly avoid dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts) and plenty of supply challenges along the way!

New mothers everywhere:  YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Ilona - posted on 12/31/2009

Gosh, thanks ladies, i am sitting at work and trying really hard not to laugh out loud at some of the stories!!! I have had a lot of bad advise too, but was always very direct with these people, tipo 'mind ur own buisness', funnily enough you get this kind of silly advise from people who never bf their children, its like they r trying to make me feel bad for doing it successfully...one cousin told me 'tis good to have a can of formula at home, just in case' and they all grew, meaning, i gave formula to my daughter and she is fine....doh!

Ilona - posted on 12/31/2009

Gosh, thanks ladies, i am sitting at work and trying really hard not to laugh out loud at some of the stories!!! I have had a lot of bad advise too, but was always very direct with these people, tipo 'mind ur own buisness', funnily enough you get this kind of silly advise from people who never bf their children, its like they r trying to make me feel bad for doing it successfully...one cousin told me 'tis good to have a can of formula at home, just in case' and they all grew, meaning, i gave formula to my daughter and she is fine....doh!

Rachel - posted on 12/30/2009

lol i love all these stories..i cant stand when ppl put their 2cents in and half these ppl probably never nursed their children..lol. i breastfed my daughter till she was about 13 months.alot of ppl told me that breastfeeding hurts, and my nipples will bleed and crack but i had none of that. it went perfectly i also got somemore crazy old wives tails after while i was pregnant... if i tickled her feet she would develope a studder..lmao, and while i was pregnant, if i bummped my belly intio something that would bruise my baby...crazy crazy crazy..breast is best!!