Breast or Bottle? You Decide!

Cassie - posted on 12/18/2010

Promote breastfeeding all the way!!! A lot of women/mothers do not know the many benefits of breastfeeding. I mean they know that breastmilk is the best, but they think formula is just as good. Society allows promotion of formula, through advertisement on tv, in the mail, free samples through doctors offices and the "take home gift" of formula from the hospital. If we don't give factual information to mom's about breastfeeding, then who will? The formula companies unethical marketing make women feel as though only a small amount of women can breastfeed. Which is not true!!! I think the statistics for moms who can't produce enough are about 3%. I'm in nursing school to be a nurse-midwife and doing rounds on the mother/baby floor in the hospital, I was surprised and upset with the lack of knowledge and support for breastfeeding. A nurse actually stated to me, "I prefer them to bottle feed, that way I can keep track of how much the baby is getting." Hospitals should be promoting health and nothing else!!! And if they aren't even going to promote breastfeeding, then who will? We as breastfeeding moms or moms who have breastfed should be the "advertisement"... Of course women who choose (or have to) formula feed should never feel guilty for that. But everyone needs factual information so they can make educated decisions. And women who choose to formula feed shouldn't get mad about others trying to promote breastfeeding. Remember there's no advertisement out there for breastfeeding!!!

Maria - posted on 12/18/2010

Omg yes!! im a young mom and when my friend got pregnant she was interested in BF and everyday she would ask me how it was going and everyday i would emphasize how great it was how amazing it was and everything!! lol i guess that was my way i felt like everyone should do it!! and if she didnt i would get mad those were my hormones acting up lol!

Janice - posted on 12/17/2010

I begin with telling expecting mothers how I was on the fence and thenI learned how easy and wonderful breastfeeding is for both babies and mommies. I try not to preach but instead just tell people why breastfeeding is great and only hard for a very short time. Recently a certain formula was recalled for having bug parts in it. I love saying "Im so glad I never have to worry about feeding my baby bugs!" haha. I have a really hard time telling people certain things like, formula increases obesity since my daughter was a chunker and I know many skinny formula babies. I also enjoy reminding people that women have breastfed their babies for thousands of years and formula was invented for orphans as a last resort.

Tine - posted on 12/16/2010

Excellent, ta for that. It can be hard to explain in simple terms why breast is normal and best, the reasons why people commonly don't succeed (common misconceptions and misinformation) and how formula is harmful to babies.
The more info the merrier!
:-)

Kathy - posted on 12/14/2010

I don't think it's a matter of "talking them into it." The benefits are pretty well documented. I think what is needed is support for the mum to make an INFORMED choice. By that I mean letting her know that help and support is available whatever her choice. It means helping the mum/mum-to-be in developing con fidence in her body. If she is interested she might ask for more information - that's when you can get into your full blown spiel about the tips and techniques of breastfeeding - but only if it's appropriate and she asks.

If we're talking with mums who had unfortunate experiences with earlier babies, it's a really delicate situation, particularly if their earlier problems have resulted from insufficient knowledge. Information is the key. But I think we can only help/support if we are asked to.

Amanda - posted on 12/14/2010

Please don't forget about the mothers who did everything in their power to BF but were unable to. My son had serious latching problems. I got help from a consultant and took every supplement possible, pumped constantly, and yet never made more than 2 ounces a day for my 10 lb 13 oz boy. I did not choose formula, it chose me. I am often judged by others about the bottle....it was not a choice I was proud to make but my son needed to eat and I had no other option. Don't forget about us mommies who know BF is best but due to low supply or other problems were forced to feed our children artificially.

Lydia - posted on 12/14/2010

Honestly I don't understand women that don't even try breastfeeding. It has so many benefits that it's always worth a try... The only "benefit" of formula feeding is the independence of the mother and for me this is not even worth to be called benefit. If you want to be independent from your child, you don't need children. I think formula is a great invention to provide food for a baby if the mother is unable to breastfeed for medical reasons, but not more than that.
I really don't know how any mom who researches on the topic could still decide not to breastfeed. Yes, there is a chance you'll have pain, yes, there is mastitis and clogged milk ducts, but who says you'll get it? Maybe you will have no problem at all, maybe you'll have, but to most bf problems there are solutions.

Briana - posted on 12/13/2010

I've had a couple friends give birth in the past couple months and they have talked to me about breastfeeding. Most of you know me, I am very pro-choice when it comes to feeding your baby :) I believe that each parent makes the best decision for them and they're child, and no one has the right to tell them what they're doing is wrong. But I try to promote the pro's of breastfeeding. Like, my son is almost 9 months and just got his first cold. And it wasn't even that bad. He just had a stuffy and runny nose and his cold was over in a jiffy. Or that with breastfeeding, there's little to no bottles to clean or formula to buy. However, I do not condemn those who formula or bottle feed. My son was bottle fed for the first 3 weeks because we struggled with latching on. One of the things my friends love about me is that I don't shove breastfeeding down their throats. And guess what? Most of them breastfeed because I was so open minded!

Kristin - posted on 12/13/2010

I breastfeed my daughter till she was a little over 13 months, and like a week after I had stoped she got so sick ( just a cold) and i was so upset and i thought it was all my fault.

Dora - posted on 12/13/2010

If someone asks for my opinion on the subject then I give it. I was a breast feeding mom with my first and will do the same for the second. I generally don't bring it up cause I never want another mother feeling bad about not breast feeding. i also don't believe in trying to push someone into something they may not feel comfortable doing or just not choose to do it. It is a personal choice. But if someone asks me about breast feeding then I tell them all the positives and negatives.

Ramona - posted on 12/13/2010

What woman would decide that formula is more beneficial for their child than breastfeeding? I'm not knocking it, but I tend to doubt that ANYONE decides formula is actually better who has really done their research....
The only instances that I think it would be beneficial is if mom had some sort of autoimmune disorder or is HIV positive....

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/13/2010

I always say, becoming a woman is hard work! It's painful to develop breasts, it's painful to get cramps with your period.
It's painful the first time you have sex too!
It's pretty hard to be pregnant too, nausea, bloating, fatigue, round ligament pain, Braxton hicks......etc
It's VERY painful to give birth! And it's hard work too, contractions hurt, tire you out, make you nauseus. Etc

Breastfeeding can be hard too, you have to work on a good latch, it can hurt, it is time consuming, but- just like every other part of being a woman, it is rewarding!
Sex, pregnancy, even birth all have their perks :)
Once you learn how to breastfeed it is one of the most rewarding parts of being a woman!
And it makes being a mom easier too.
It's just another natural part of being a woman, and it is hard to learn sometimes, but we are strong, we ccan do it!

Brittany - posted on 12/12/2010

"Convincing" someome to BF is impossible. I think any kind of debate or argument seems to turn people off to the whole topic.
I have a relative who didn't BF because she didn't want her breasts to be "ruined." That kind of thing really upsets me. I also hate it when people say that BFing is "unnatural." I really believe that comments like that are made by stupid people. I know that's harsh, but there is nothing unnatural about it, and ALL evidence and examples prove that it's very natural. I really believe that the choice not to BF is made mostly from an uneduated standpoint.
When talking about it, I start with the emotional part, since that seems to resonate with every woman. I talk about the bonding experience and how I wouldn't trade it for the world. I also talk about how it makes me feel because it's something only I can do for my baby. These things don't mean squat scientifically, but they mean a lot to a mommy.
The next thing I talk about is the benefits. There are benefits for baby and mom. I encourage them to do research and checkout sites like kelly mom.
Finally, I talk about the realities. It is a really hard thing to commit to. It means that your schedule is limited to your baby's schedule. You have to make sure you're in a place you're able to BF every 3 hours for a lng time. You have to make sure you bring a nursing wrap and you've got clothing convienent for BFing. Additionally, baby doesn't always take to it right away. It was difficult for my son at first. But I kept saying, "Hey, he doen't have any experience at this. We're learning this together." That phrase has a big impact on moms in my experience. If you look at it as something you're learning together with your baby, it's a lot different.
Anyway, "talking someone into" BFing just isn't possible. But it is possible to encourage them in that direction.

Brandi - posted on 12/12/2010

I am actually an aspiring lactation consultant so it is hard for me to NOT promote BFing.

I try not to come off too preachy. And I am realistic and truthful about the BFing experience. Mainly because when I took the lactation class, they were soooo sugar coating the whole thing. BFing is hard. It is hard to get the hang of it, it is hard for your baby to get the hang of it, it's tough to establish a nursing relationship, if you're a new mommy there is so much worry and guesswork involved....but I always share the benefits as well and make it clear that even though it was tough at first, the benefits have outweighed the hard parts completely!

I also don't bring it up. I just let them ask me. I think asking "Oh are you going to BF? Why not?" is kinda pushy.

Laura Zoey - posted on 12/12/2010

I usually just try to educate people about the health risks of using formula. And the health risks of using bottles.
And the facts about how their babies deserve real milk from real nipples.
I try to teach them about what's normal in feeding babies, what obstacles can come around, how to problem solve, and how to remain confident that they can feed their babies with real milk!

There's really no benefits to breastfeeding, there's only risks to artificial feeding!

Katie - posted on 12/12/2010

I really don't try to talk anyone into breastfeeding, I just tell them why I love breastfeeding so much, and what great benefits it has. It's their choice how they want to feed their baby, and I'm not going to try to make them feel bad if they don't want to breastfeed their baby. My sister-in-law refused to breastfeed any of her 3 kids. I really don't know why, but it was her choice. I'm happy with my decision to breastfeed, and won't give my daughter formula unless there was an emergency. (Like I had to go to the hospital and couldn't be around her. But, really, what's the chances of that?) I plan on doing extended nursing, and it's my decision, and I'm happy with it. It's the most wonderful bond ever. My daughter will sometimes take a bottle, but it's always expressed milk, so she still get's mommy's milk.

Jodi - posted on 12/12/2010

I love that site personally, that and kelly mom are both great resources. I dont' try to talk people into breastfeeding, at least, not at length. I will lend them my 'Nursing Mother's Companion" book and my "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" book if they seem like they're on the fence on the issue. But it's not my place to pressure them into breastfeeding, I just make sure to put in the whole "I decided to nurse my daughter because all the research shows formula as inferior or inadequate. I know it was right for me, I really educated myself on it and it was clearly the best choice for my daughter and I." Sometimes throwing in the word "educated" about the issue, many women start to realize they made a huge decision with little information (not always, some women research loads and decide on formula, that's their right.)

I guess I don't try to talk anyone into breastfeeding, I do however, try to talk people into making an educated decision, whether that's formula or breastfeeding, women should have the information they need to make an informed decision.

Ramona - posted on 12/12/2010

"While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the BEST choice for every baby." I love that quote!!!

Amy - posted on 12/11/2010

Well I know breast is best, but honestly I give birth to biters so I've gone with bottles (although I put the extra time in to pump). When I talk to friends about it we all have different opinions and I'm excited one of my friends is going to try breastfeeding this next time around.