Now don't kill eachother but...

Angela - posted on 11/02/2011

OMGOSH yes pumping exclusively is so much harder and also pumping and feeding...(like I did) She did it for a year Jenn I give her props too. I could not hold on for a year.
What bothered me at first was the midwife kept telling me I was doing something wrong when my baby would not latch properly...come to find out she had a medical issue and it was not me. I felt terrible of myself at first. That is not how a Mama should feel when doing her best for her little one.

Jenn - posted on 11/02/2011

Ooh those lactation consultants really piss me off! Some a great but most are boob bullies. My sister pumped and fed her babies breastmilk from a bottle for one year each. That is sooo much harder to do and I was so proud of her! Great Moms do the very best they can with whatever situation they are given.

Lin - posted on 11/02/2011

I tried breast feeding with both my boys and both times it didn't work out. With the oldest, I would try and then just give him pumped milk; about a month later when he was just getting the hang of it, my husband got sick and I was advised to keep them separated; I could find someone to take the baby, but not my husband, and as a result I couldn't keep up with the breastfeeding. My youngest just wouldn't take to me, and the lactation consultant was so hellbent on me not pumping I didn't really get the support I needed and gave up.

Angela - posted on 10/30/2011

I want to add, that a bottle can be easier for a baby who has a problem with sucking...That is what happen with my youngest Claire, she had an injury to her neck that caused her to have this funny suck. So she preferred the bottle nipple because she could get more from it.
Just because something is "natural" IE breastfeeding it does not mean it is always best. In Claire's case bottle was best, I pumped mostly but she never got a good full feed off my breast.

Jenn - posted on 10/28/2011

Breast...both my kids for a long ass time and it was a very love/hate relationship with BFing! It has been three years since my five year old weaned and my boobs still cringe when i hear a baby cry :)

Seriously, I do think breast is best but as long as a baby is getting the proper nourishment and thriving...who really cares how the baby got it?

Savvy Mama - posted on 10/27/2011

I've done both. One was all bottle, one all breast, one was both.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/25/2011

Same here, I also don't understand the concept of following the mom around and rating her post as funny. But that's just me because my mother taught me manners.

Angela - posted on 10/25/2011

I want to add I do not understand the concept of anyone bullying a Mother because she does not BF.

Angela - posted on 10/25/2011

I think breast is best but formula is not bad at all. I did both I had my reasons and I know I did what was best for all my kids and myself.
I am not sure how I was feed as a baby... I suspect formula...my Mom was never around much so I doubt she BF

Christy - posted on 10/20/2011

I tried to BF with my first, and he was allergic to dairy. I couldn't cut out the dairy since I am diabetic (for 33 yrs). So used the BA.

Charlie - posted on 10/18/2011

I breastfed both to 6 months then pumped then formula fed.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/18/2011

My 7 month old does get a bottle (Nuk, Born Free and Avent are the best for breast feeding babies IMO) from daddy from time to time or from her big sister when we're driving.

Honestly I like breast feeding because it's so much easier than formula. You don't have to mix up a boob. But since I was bottle fed as a baby I don't look down on bottle feeding moms

Constance - posted on 10/18/2011

It is a personal decision. It isn't selffish one way or another. I did both with all my kids. My husband also liked being involved in the feedings because he missed so much with the older ones so the younger 2 where feed both from day one.

Ianina - posted on 10/17/2011

I tried to BF the twins but didn't had enough supply for them, so I had to gave them formula too. I mixed BM and formula for a month and a half and after that, ran out of milk. So they are formula fed since then

Stifler's - posted on 10/16/2011

Bottle. I tried to BF but like... it didn't work out.

Carolee - posted on 10/16/2011

Breast for 6 months with the first, 3 with the second. Formula after that.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/15/2011

I started out breastfeeding both of my children. I had to pump for the first two weeks with my daughter because she was a premie and had to have surgery. My milk supply dried up after a couple of months. She had a very slow suck and out of a bottle it took her up to an hour to drink 2 oz.

I breastfed my son until he was about 5 1/2 months. I was having to supplement the last month. I couldn't keep up with his demand. Total drama happened that prevented me from breastfeeding or even pumping. When he switched to formula, he was taking about 60 oz a day and only weighed 11 lbs. No wonder I had been losing weight.

The list of benifits of breastfeeding helped me keep to my resolve during times of major cluster feedings and such, but the main reason I chose to BF was it makes more sense to me to feed a child something that was specifically designed by NATURE for a human baby, then something made in a lab by science.

Jayce - posted on 10/15/2011

I pumped and bottle fed the breast milk. I really wanted to breast feed but it wasn't meant to be. My son was born premature and was tube fed (milk that I pumped) for 2.5 months. When it came time to introduce the breast he would have nothing to do with it. So i pumped until my milk dried up 8 months later.

I believe that breast is best but it doesn't work that way for every mother. I would never jugde a mother whether she chose breast or bottle because I don't know her story.

I was bottle fed.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/15/2011

I've never had an issue giving Lilli a bottle, in fact since she's been able to sit up just before she turned 6 months she's had bottle times at home because she can't observe as much when she breast feeds. She did take bottles at the babysitter before I moved to BC as well. But she will not take a soother! She just sucks for a few minutes then gives me her daddy's frown.

Teresa - posted on 10/15/2011

That's interesting Michelle. My girls didn't care WHAT was in their mouths... breast, bottle, pacifier, finger, toy, whatever... as long as something was in there. My son took a pacifier a couple of times in the hospital, but other than that.... it was my boob and my boob only. He did mouth his toys some, but not nearly as much/often as his sisters had.

Michelle - posted on 10/15/2011

I breastfed my son for a year, my older daughter for 15 months, and am currently breastfeeding my youngest daughter (10 months). Neither of my girls would take a bottle of breast milk or anything else. Straight to sippy cups. They never would take a pacifier either. My son would take breast milk in the bottle or in the boob and used a pacifier for a year. We recently found out that he has sensory processing disorder so that's probably why he would when the girls wouldn't/ won't. Not saying that every kid that takes a bottle has these issues, just that it stood out in our house because our babies don't. But I mostly found if I timed things good I could leave the girls with my parents to go out with my husband or do things without a problem. Of course now even the little one eats regular food so it's really easy. I've always wondered what percentage of breastfed babies never take a bottle. It seems pretty common.

Teresa - posted on 10/15/2011

I'm super pro breastfeeding and do wish every mother could/would, but for OTHER people.... as long as the kid is fed and loved... it's not a big deal to me.

I breastfed my girls for 15 months. They were cup fed some formula in the hospital until they stopped losing weight, had half a dozen or so bottles in the middle of the night in the first 2ish months (breastmilk if I could pump... formula usually), and occasionally on their 'nursing strike weekend' at 5 months. Otherwise it was breastmilk straight from the tap.

My son breastfed for 3.25 years. I tried once at 2 months to give him a bottle w/ breastmilk. He looked at me like I was crazy and screamed til I stuck the boob in his mouth. I never tried again. ;)

My brother and I were both breastfed til 2-3....

Jurnee - posted on 10/15/2011

Its not a big regret, I have 4 from 9-26 and they are all well and healthy, no allergies. I do think of how much time I wasted making bottles and money spent. I do tell people now to at least try breast feeding, but in the end I think whatever works best for each family is ultimately whats best for them.

Michelle - posted on 10/15/2011

I was actually a formula baby because my mom was unable to breast feed. Which does happen and formula has saved many babies since it's invention because their moms couldn't. I don't know how I feel about situations where women just don't want to breast feed because they think it's gross (although I do wonder if they had more support in breast feeding if they wouldn't feel differently but maybe not who knows). I once read the autobiography of a holocaust surviver and while in the prison camp a guard had cut off one of her npples and her other breast was hurt badly as well. When she finally was married and had children many years after the war she could only partially breast feed on one side. She could not say enouh about how wonderful formula was for her when it was invented.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/15/2011

Laura, sometimes I wish I had tried to breast feed my 7 year old longer. But she's been doing great for the past 7 years and the only major issue I had with her was kidney reflux and that's genetic.

Honestly I find breast feeding a lot easier than doing formula. You always have a breast or 2 filled with milk, you don't have to mix it and you just have to pull up a shirt. I had to bottle feed my 7 month old for a 24hr period back in June because I'd had surgery to remove an IUD and we both hated it. She would give me the nastiest looks as if to say 'I see my breakfast/lunch/dinner why the hell are you giving me a bottle?!" I even managed to breast feed on the plane. I just can't breast feed in a car and she knows it so she gets bottles when mommy can't do it.

Nikki, ooh yeah that woman is a bitch! And I highly doubt her facts.

Christina - posted on 10/15/2011

Laura, don't look back and regret not breastfeeding. It is not important how you feed your baby, just that you feed them.

Jurnee - posted on 10/15/2011

I was bottle fed, had to be I was adopted. I bottle fed all 4 of mine, its just what I had grown up around, and with my 1st I only had 10 days after her birth to return to school,so I didnt think it would be feasible. Looking back I wish I had tried to breast feed

Christina - posted on 10/15/2011

I've done both. I breastfed my oldest for 8.5mnths. He would have formula while he was at daycare, but I breastfed him exclusively on the weekends and before he went to daycare and after I picked him up.

My second weaned herself at 2mnths old. She was born with autism and couldn't handle breastfeeding. So she was exclusively bottle fed.

My third and fourth were EBF. They were both preemies, and I knew how important it was to try EBF with them. Then the little stinkers refused bottles. No one could bottle feed them! So I was literally stuck by them until they were 6mnths old and able to eat baby food and drink from sippy cups.



I was breast fed.

Liz - posted on 10/15/2011

Would she not take it in a cup either?

~♥Little Miss - posted on 10/15/2011

I BF both my kids, and did not introduce a bottle early enough for my daughter. I BF her for 15 months. She NEVER would take a bottle, even with BM in it.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 10/15/2011

BOTH!

Michelle - posted on 10/15/2011

I have 3 children and started breastfeeding them all. My first I had to put him on the bottle at 5 weeks, I just couldn't keep up. #2 I fedd for 6 months until I went back to work and with #3 she self weaned at 5.5 months.

I was breastfed and so was my husband. We are all pretty healthy and the kids just get the usual runny nose and cough in winter.

Tara - posted on 10/15/2011

If you can, then breast, if not, then bottle. I wasn't able to breastfeed more than the first couple of days because (A) my milk never came in properly with either child and (B) I had a breast reduction in my 20's and neither of my girls were able to get enough of the milk I was producing out.

I tried everything - the drugs, the herbal supplements, feeding on demand (every hour), pumping and nothing worked. I went to the bottle with both girls because I decided I wanted to have happy, fed children.

I have a friend who had no problem producing milk but chose to bottle feed because the idea of breast-feeding grossed her out. I didn't agree with that choice, but it was her child and her body so I didn't say anything to her about it.

My mom breast-fed all 3 of us, but pumped and used the bottle with my middle sister because my sister had a lot of medical issues and had to be held in certain positions in order to be able to feed at all. My husband was breast-fed and he has 2 adopted siblings that were bottle-fed.

I think women like the one you are talking about are the ones that are being selfish and nasty - yes, breast is best, but there are a number of reasons why women can't, or won't breastfeed.

Nikki - posted on 10/15/2011

Meggy that K woman is a bitch! wow. I am pro breast feeding but I wasn't able to continue breastfeeding exclusively after 5 months because we had a lot of medical issues. I was able to pump and substitute for a further couple of months, but I still feel guilty and bad that I wasn't able to breastfeed for as long as I wanted to. I don't judge other mother's for their choices, I understand how difficult breast feeding can be, so while I would always encourage breast feeding I would never make another mother feel bad for choosing formula instead.

Lady - posted on 10/15/2011

Breast is best - but unfortunatley not suitable for everyone. I was lucky and was able to breastfeed all my 4 of my chldren - exclusivley for the first 4 months thn started introducing bottles and stopped when they were about 8 month. I had my mum staying with me for the first couple of weeks when my first son was born - she was a nursery nurse working in the hospital with new born babies - part of her job was to help new mums breastfeed so it was like having my own lactation coach for two weeks - it set me in great stead for the next 3 - I did have problems wih blisters and blockages and they bloody hurt but I fed through the pain knowing I was doing the best for my babies. They are all very healty and I think they benifited - I dodn't like to judge what other do but it does kind of bug me when mothers decide before they even have childen that their not going to even try breastfeeding - if you at least try it and decide it's not for you then fair enough - but at least give it a go - that's what you were given boobs for for goodness sake!!!

Liz - posted on 10/15/2011

I don't really care what any individual woman does; it's none of my business.



But it's sad to me that there's very little lactation education and support in the US. We are a "convenience" society.



I live abroad in Eastern Europe, and co-sleeping and extended breastfeeding seem more the norm. A lot of women need to work because it's not a rich country and a second income is needed, so I'm guessing there's a lot of formula feeding as well -- but co-sleeping and breastfeeding a toddler aren't looked down on as "weird."



I know many mothers who breastfed and co-slept until the child was 3-5.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/15/2011

That's another reason I chose breast milk. My nephew's on the bottle and all I can think of is how my brother and SIL's cost of living went up.

Oh to make this even more fun, what were you given? Because I was formula fed/

Michelle - posted on 10/14/2011

Breast because I think it's healthier, it's easier (no mixing, heating etc), and it's cheaper.