Bottle feeding momma!!!!

Connie - posted on 01/04/2010

I planned throughout my entire pregnancy and with my mom's blessing since she breastfed me, that I would do the same with my daughter. The consultant for the hospital came in with the breast pump, hooked me up, and my husband shot me the dirtest look ever. He said to me after she left "I hope you don't plan on doing this forever because you look like your being milked like a COW!" I couldn't help but LMAO! It was true. He then came up with all the pro's and con's of it and he said based on my personality and lifestyle breastfeeding wouldn't work best for me. A few minutes later I called the nurse to request more forumla. I've been bottle feeding her since!

Me and my husband drag race in our spare time. So the term "bottle fed" reminded us of nirtous bottles and the use of it to create more horsepower. It totally fit our lifestyle alright! lol

Danielle - posted on 01/04/2010

My baby's exclusively bottle fed and he's thriving! I'm with you!

Nichole - posted on 01/04/2010

I agree! My son has been bottle fed since 4 days old. He just wasn't interested in breastfeeding and I wasn't producing enough. Once he started bottle feeding he was happier. I think if/when I have another I will just start with bottle feeding.

Anna - posted on 01/04/2010

i am totally with you on this. i tried breastfeeding. didnt work for me. my daughter is perfectly healthy with formula. i feel like i get dirty looks when i say i didnt breastfeed whether it be from other moms or even doctors.

Kylie - posted on 01/04/2010

Me too!!! And proud of it :D Funny story for you all. A friend of mine did b/f but put it in a bottle to go out in public, just so it was easy. She was feeding bub from the bottle in a cafe and an elderly lady just came up to her and ranted at her you should be feeding that baby breastmilk, you're a bad mother..and so on, then just wandered off. My friend was in shock and didn't say a word. So imagine ladies living 50 years ago and being a bottle feeding mommy!
P.S, My babies are all healthy and the two who are old enough to show it are rather smart if you ask me :D

Erin - posted on 01/03/2010

when i was in the hospital having my tiwns, lactation consults came to speak with me and i clearly stated i wasn't interested in breastfeeding.. so proceeded to name benefits and what not.. and again i said i wasn't interested and finally they left. It's not so much that i am against breastfeeding, but can u imagine breastfeeding twins every two hours.. not to mention they were pre term and ate more frequently than most.. i would never get a break, cause seriously my husband wasn't not going to feed them pumped milk.. twins are exhausting enough i didn't need the extra exhaustion! and as far as health goes, know mothers who breastfed their children and when their kids were the same age as mine are now, they had way more illnesses.. other than a few sniffles my kids are pretty healthy! I just don't get all the hype!... And yes it is very annoying when u go into the dr. office and they make u feel like a piece of shit for not breastfeeding!

Jeni - posted on 01/03/2010

my entire pregnancy i was so sure i was going to breastfeed, i didnt even stock up on formula or on a lot of bottles. however, after delivery that we tried it, i felt weird. then my little one was latching on right. i tried a couple of more times, but with all the interruptions in the hospital, i started giving her formula. when we got home, i pumped for the first week and gave it to her along with the formula. she is now in her second week, and i really had no milk coming out so she is strictly on formula. i admit that i have felt guilty plenty of times, and sometimes i cringe when friends or family members ask if im breastfeeding her. but reading all these posts have made me feel better. i wish i could have taken to nursing, but i so enjoy being able to feed her anywhere without feeling self concious or having to lock myself in the room. everyone should be respectful of others decisions. we are all trying our best :)

Samantha - posted on 01/03/2010

im sorry to say but i used to be the breastfeeding mamma who would think she is better than all the other mammas because i was breastfeeding and now that my son is bottle feeding i figured out that i was just down right stupid. Guess what us bottle feeding moms dont have to do....have sore nipples for the first week of having our baby, have to worry about where we are going to feed our child when we go out, and have to pump at work every four hours. We get to just dump and shake during night time feedings, we dont have to worry about our selves when we go out, we can feed our baby every where and anyone can feed our baby, AND PAIN FREE!!! YAY FOR FORMULA!!!

Meghan - posted on 01/02/2010

my 7month old has been on formula since day one cuz she wouldnt latch on. i so wanted to breastfeed but some babies just wont. my 7 month old hasnt been sick once.

Tammy - posted on 01/02/2010

I totally agree! With my 1st I really tried, but due to a few problems, it was determined that I couldn't. I got so discouraged, and actually cried. I thought I had failed as a mother. Then a doctor had a good talk with me and told me that the formula I was giving her was providing her with enough nutrients to be healthy and I most certainly didn't fail as a mother. And once my daughter started bottle feeding I found I could get so much more help with feeding the baby and I didn't have to use that very painful breast pump to do it. Now that I've had 3 babies, I'm proud to say, I've bottle fed them all, and they are all ok. There's not a darn thing wrong with bottle feeding so don't get discouraged!

Allison - posted on 01/02/2010

My daughter is 4 months old. I am seen my a military hospital since my husband is a marine and they are EXTREMELY pro breastfeeding. I was in an extreme amount of pain because of my HORRIBLE delivery experience and the lactation consultants had me in pure tears because no only could i physically not do it because my daughter wouldnt latch but i was in so much pain. Come to find out i had pre-eclampsia AFTER delivery which is extremely rare which caused me to not be able to breastfeed. I was re-admitted and put on SEVERAL medications that would have passed through breastmilk therefor i wouldnt have been able to breastfeed. Almost everytime i take my daughter to the doctor i am asked if i breastfeed and when i say no i get looked at like i am a horrible mother and that i am not doing the right thing; which makes me have to go into my entire birthing experience and then they apologize for criticizing me. I feel that the society should lighten up a little on breastfeeding and not make you feel as if your a bad mother if you cant do it. My husband had to have a talking to with the lactation consultants because of the way they were forcing me to do it when i was CLEARLY not able to. I just wish society would lighten up on the mothers that cant breastfeed. I was not breastfed and im perfectly fine. And actually healthier than my friends that WERE breastfed

Jessica - posted on 01/02/2010

It's sad, really. I wanted to breastfeed my daughter and did for almost 3 months (I was the first of 3 generations on my side of the family who could do it at all) and my supply just kind of stopped one day. I had been so bombarded with the pro breastfeeding campaign not only from other moms, but in the hospital as well, I was terrified of giving my daughter formula. I tried supplementing thinking small amounts of formula would be ok but her little system had a tough time with both at once. So I gave up breastfeeding altogether. As I came to find out, formula is not liquid death like some of the breastfeeding ads make it seem. I really agree people push it way too hard on us!

Bianca - posted on 01/02/2010

i made milk only once, and have bottle fed my daughter since. when we were in the hospital we realized that she wasnt getting anything from me! GO BOTTLES!!!

Ashley - posted on 01/02/2010

i never wanted to breastfeed....didnt even try it. i bottlefed my oldest and bottlefeeding my youngest. i'm happy with my decision and have never felt guilty for how i chose to feed my children. their happy and so am i

Emma - posted on 01/02/2010

Don't stress about what other people think or say hun. Just do what is best for your child. I tried breastfeeding but my lil boy bailey wouldn't take. and he is just as healthy as the rest.

Christi - posted on 01/02/2010

It's a mother's choice and you know what, I never produced any milk so my son was breastfed from day one. He is now more advanced than other children his age and his doctor says he is one of the healthiest child he has seen in a long time.

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

I agree i was able to breast feed both of my children for a short time and was no longer able to meet there nutritional needs, son was 9 ibs 5 oz daughter was 10 ibs 6 oz at birth. Do you want them to starve or have formula, there are a ton of medical reasons not to breast feed and tons of good reasons not to as well.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Chrissy:

I know the feeling. I wasn't able to breastfeed and my mother couldn't do it for me or my brother. Formula today is amazing. At least with formula, you don't have to give your baby an extra vitamin supplement because breastmilk doesn't hold enough vit d.

It is not true that breastfed babies need extra vitamins.  Breastmilk doesn't have large amounts of vitamin D, but the amount that is there (just like iron and other vitamins and minerals) is more readily absorbed.  Just wanted to clear up that misconception...

Chrissy - posted on 01/01/2010

I know the feeling. I wasn't able to breastfeed and my mother couldn't do it for me or my brother. Formula today is amazing. At least with formula, you don't have to give your baby an extra vitamin supplement because breastmilk doesn't hold enough vit d.

Bobbie - posted on 01/01/2010

I think it should be up to the mother on what she wants to do. I know when I had my daughter the staff there was really pushing the breastfeeding. I did breastfeed/pump for about a month. I did because she was born premature. What some does not understand is sometimes mothers can not produce the milk that is needed. Anyways I think we should be able to do as we please when it comes to feeding our babies. I agree with you 100%

Jacquelyn - posted on 01/01/2010

I'm in total agreement with all of you. I breast fed my first two boys (my first born son when I actualy had him before he went up for adoption) for almost 6 months but always had problems producing enough for them straight from the womb they would eat and eat and eat my second son ate 8 ozs a bottle. My daughter unfortunatly is on formula. I loved breastfeeding but I've had to do formula and formula with rice for every single one of my children. I also had to pump and i've noticed that everyone was on my case because I couldn't get them to latch correctly. First son bit the you know what out of me and my second son sucked like a hoover my poor tatas couldn't handle it. And my daughter just couldn't get her tiny mouth onthere right. So pumping and bottle and I had a mother come up to me and lecture me on how I was damaging my children because I was bottle feeding. She ASSUMED I was formula feeding. Some people are so ignorant!

Sry had a rant going. Totally get it and totally support however anyone has to feed their child. As long as it's healthy and making them happy i see no problems with formula. POWER TO THE BOTTLE!!! lol

Betty - posted on 01/01/2010

The idea of breast feeding gives me the willies. I will try it out anyway because it has it's unique perks but I don't expect it to work for me. Nice to hear from moms who aren't all nutty over the breast feeding.
I think the reason kids are getting smarter these days is because formula is getting better. If only it were getting cheaper too.

Jessica - posted on 01/01/2010

I totally agree with you! I did breast feed for 6 months and I struggled with it everyday. My daughter has been on formula now for about a month and she is doing just fine. Formula is not the devil!!!!! Every baby and momma is different and how you choose to feed your baby is just that YOUR CHOICE!!! Good Luck and dont let anyone get ya down.

Mattee - posted on 01/01/2010

I am a breastfeeding mother. I feel like the method of feeding your child is your choice. I, however love breastfeeding... I have given my son bottles of expressed milk once or twice, and when my husband wants to feed him, I get a bottle ready of expressed milk. When I made the decision to breasfeed it really wasn't for the right reasons. My biggest reason was money. But now that my son is here, I can't imagine it any other way. I started birth control and my supply went down and it totally freaked me out, that's when I realized how important it is to me. I guess I just have a strong instinct to breastfeed and I understand that others just don't. My old boss actually said that it grossed her out to have a baby sucking on her breast... To me it's completely natural, but it's ok when it's not, too...



We all know it's good for baby, but it's good for mom, too! Just something to think about....

I don't want to be attacked for this.... There are so so many benefits to the mother, too! I have lost 30 lbs of pregnancy weight in less than 5 weeks! It helps with PP bleeding and uterus contracting back down. It also makes your body release oxytocin which helps with PP depression, too! (That is awsome for me because I have a history of depression and anxiety disorders.) It also reduces the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. Strengthens bones, which helps fight osteoporosis. There's many benefits and I can go on and on....



(This post it not to offend/ disrespect anyone, it simply reflects my opinion and reasons for MY personal decision)

Malissa - posted on 01/01/2010

There's a forum just for moms who bottle feed their babies (Formula Feeding Moms) it's pretty cool. A lot of us there either couldn't or wouldn't breast feed and were pretty open about answering questions on both sides of the fence. My son had issues latching so at 3 weeks he was pump fed only and when I dried up we switched. He's 7 months old and doing great. Plus if you think about it, in grandparents day they didn't do either (breast or formula) most of a generation grew up on carnation condensed milk. Plus bottle feeding has one very cool perk that breastfeeding doesn't, the baby can bond with whomever is holding the bottle. Yay bottle feeding!

Anne - posted on 01/01/2010

I tried breast feeding my first and it did not work out. He wanted to much milk right away. He would scream any time I took him away from my breast. I switched him to the bottle and he started downing 8 ounces of formula right away and be done with the it in 10 minutes. My second I decided to have another go at it but she was to slow. Even when I switched her to the bottle she would take her time and only drink like an ounce in an hour. Then I had twins that were born 1 month and 1 week early. The nurses told me that for the best rest and easiest time to put them on the bottle right away, so that is what I did. I have 4 kids that are bottle fed and all of them big healthy children. My oldest is about 50 lbs and 6 years old. My second is 42 lbs and 5 years old. My third and fourth are 35/36 lbs and 2 years old. Not to mention that I think that they are all smart kids too.

Callinda - posted on 01/01/2010

I think these people you have encountered are probably a minority.
I am "pro-breastfeeding" I suppose you could say, because it is best for the baby. But it is not my place to make judgements on someone else for making their own decisions.

I do however think that this "disrepect" does go both way - I have seen a few posts elsewhere on this forum that state breastfeeding is "disgusting", "replusive", etc and that breastfeeding past one year is "bordering on child abuse"!!

Just a side note with respect to advertising & promotional material about breastfeeding being everywhere - it is a fact that the rate of breastfeeding mothers is declining in our society, due to many choosing to bottle feed. Breastmilk is better for babies and it is important that pregnant/new mums do know all the facts so they can be fully educated when they make their decision as to how they will feed their baby.

I hope I have not offended anyone with this post, just trying to express another opinion in a respectful way :)

Jessica - posted on 01/01/2010

I'm still breastfeeding my 6 month old, and wouldn't have it any other way, but I agree with you all parents shouldn't condemn each others choices, either way. It seems like for me though there is more "pressure" to formula feed. I just get kind of sad because out of all the people I know who have babies or will soon, almost none of them want to breastfeed. That's fine, but I just feel left out!

Ashley=) - posted on 01/01/2010

Quoting Kelli:

I breastfed my son for about a month, after trying to leave him with his dad for an hour to just get out of the house for a while and getting a call 15 min into that time saying that I had to come back with the milk supply-- I decided to switch to formula. I'm so sick of feeling guilty for it, my son was happier with the formula as he was a big hungry baby and got fuller with the formula, and I was happier b/c I didn't always have to be awake for feedings, nor did I have to plan a week in advance to get a sitter (my MIL will babysit with only an hour's notice) I loved being able to roll over, go back to sleep and let hubby get up to make the bottle. I wont say that I don't miss the feeling I got while nursing and I will probably nurse my next baby for a short time, maybe the first 6 wks while I'm healing up, but beyond that its formula for sure. I don't think anyone should judge anyone else for the decisions they make. And quite frankly I'm sick of everytime I turn around some book, or website or noisy person is telling me whats best for my son... I feel like when I trust my own instincts rather than some book's advice, the outcome is better. But that's my little rant. Yes you're right, BFing is pushed on us so hard that you do sometimes feel like that's the only option and anything else is equivalent to neglect. It sucks, but thats the way of life, ppl always judge, in any aspect of life. Just let it roll off your back and know that you are doing the absolute best you can do for your child.

i agree 100% its all about finding what is best for a happy Mother and a happy mother is a happy baby.being a parent is about enjoying the bonding experience with our baby.If breast or formula is whats going to work for you then be completely happy with the choice you have chosen and feel no guilt what so ever&good luck:)

Kelli - posted on 12/31/2009

I breastfed my son for about a month, after trying to leave him with his dad for an hour to just get out of the house for a while and getting a call 15 min into that time saying that I had to come back with the milk supply-- I decided to switch to formula. I'm so sick of feeling guilty for it, my son was happier with the formula as he was a big hungry baby and got fuller with the formula, and I was happier b/c I didn't always have to be awake for feedings, nor did I have to plan a week in advance to get a sitter (my MIL will babysit with only an hour's notice) I loved being able to roll over, go back to sleep and let hubby get up to make the bottle. I wont say that I don't miss the feeling I got while nursing and I will probably nurse my next baby for a short time, maybe the first 6 wks while I'm healing up, but beyond that its formula for sure. I don't think anyone should judge anyone else for the decisions they make. And quite frankly I'm sick of everytime I turn around some book, or website or noisy person is telling me whats best for my son... I feel like when I trust my own instincts rather than some book's advice, the outcome is better. But that's my little rant. Yes you're right, BFing is pushed on us so hard that you do sometimes feel like that's the only option and anything else is equivalent to neglect. It sucks, but thats the way of life, ppl always judge, in any aspect of life. Just let it roll off your back and know that you are doing the absolute best you can do for your child.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 12/31/2009

The criticisms and judgements go both ways. I know some bottle feeding moms say breastfeeding moms judge them for not breastfeeding. I also know that bottle feeding moms judge breastfeeding moms. No one should judge moms for any reason because being a mom is hard enough as it is...

Jesika - posted on 12/31/2009

i tried to breastfeed but ended up getting a serious infection and stopped producing milk very early on. i had no choice but to bottle feed which was fine with me! i see absolutely NOTHING wrong with it! it is the parents choice!

Erin - posted on 12/31/2009

I also didn't want to breastfeed, but felt pressured to w/#1. I have an inverted nipple and a flat one :( and was super self conscious about this my ENTIRE life and so when I was pressured to do this, and low and behold it didn't work (regardless of WHATEVER contraption I used to try to help it along) it was just horrible for me and very depressing!!! I exclusively pump and bottle feed my babies, I STILL get flack from the breastfeeding brigade because I don't feed directly from the breast! They are frustrating and I feel for you who use formula! Because if I get that much flack feeding breast milk y'all are getting it WAY worse w/formula and all the BS can be really hurtful!!!

Katherine - posted on 12/31/2009

i have bottle fed all my children mostly becasue i found out w/ my first while brest feeding that my children are born lactosinolerent. the only reason i even breast fed my first is cus i felt pressured to and now they pressure so many more moms. the hospital i went to didnt provide formula like they used to and they didnt give you a pacifire like they used to and i felt like they were looking at me really badly for bottle feeding.

RaeLynn - posted on 12/31/2009

I breastfed my children because everyone told me it was the best and healthiest thing for them, but I did not enjoy it all. It was nice to not have to haul bottle around with me. But I only breastfed for 2 months with my oldest and then I had enuough. My 2nd I actually breastfed her for 3 weeks then we got thrush, so I decided to pump for 2 months, and my 3rd I only breastfed for 3 weeks, but I wasnt producing enough milk so my peditrician told me to supplement her, and after 3 weeks of doing both and being miserable I decided to just give her formula.

I dont think it matters how you child is being fed, as long as he/she is healthy and happy, who cares.If you want to breastfeed your child, breastfeed, if you want to bottle feed, bottle feed, anyone who doesnt like, can kiss your a$$. But that is my opinion. If I would have not lived with my parents when I had my oldest, I would have never breastfed her, But my mom convinced me to do it, and when I had my 2nd & 3rd daughters, I breastfed them because I breastfed my oldest.

But now I am just rambling, but do what makes YOU happy, F*** everyone else!

Brandice - posted on 12/31/2009

I was told that "breast is best" but I made my own decision and chose not to breastfeed either one of my children. I wasn't really able to as I had complications after both births and was super weak and barely able to walk, let alone hold and feed my baby. I'm a modest person and just couldn't imagine whipping out my boob to feed my baby in front of my husband, let alone strangers. I was lucky that I had a OB and a Ped. that agree that it's the mother's choice and that there's nothing wrong with only bottle feeding.

Rachael - posted on 12/31/2009

i never wanted to breastfeed cuz i always felt weird about but i tried breastfeeding and then supplementing with formula until my osn was 2 month's old because it was important to hsi dad. I still hated it so i have been formula feeding only since then and am much happier and my son grows the same and is just as healthy. i think that you should do whatever is comfortable for you. everyone's different

Elizabeth - posted on 12/31/2009

Quoting Tania:

I breastfed both of my kids but both of them had to be supplemented from time to time because I couldn't always produce enough milk. I don't see the problem with bottle feeding it should be the mom's choice. It was hard breadtfeeding in public because so many people stared and gave dirty looks. I didn't really care if they didn't like it don't look it's not like I was parading my boob out in public. Why is it ok for strippers to paradr half naked but when pople see someone breastfeeding it's wrong.

I totally agree if it is not taboo for a stripper to dance around a pole half naked then it should be taboo for a mother to nurish their child.  Afterall our brests are ther for that purpose not just for decoration.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/31/2009

Thank you so much for your post. I also had to bottle feed my children but not by choice. My eldest daughter is lactose intolerant and had to have soy formula and when my second child cam around I didn't produce enough milk for because like my eldest daughter i am also lactose intolerant and could not take in the amount of calcium needed to produce milk. My children are now 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 and they both are happy healthy children.

Angela - posted on 12/31/2009

i am sorry people have been disrespectful to you. I breastfeed, but not everyone can or wants too. it is your right to choose for yourself.

Francesca - posted on 12/31/2009

I do breastfeed however I completely agree. I see that most breastfeeding mothers like to criticize on these forums and I try my best to remind them that every mother does whats best for their own babies, and that they are the only ones to know what will do that. And if a happy mommy makes a happy baby. And that in such a joyess time, we of all people are entitled to have a little happiness. And if that means breast of bottle, its none of their business.

If we continue putting so much pressure on women to the point we treat them like failures what have we accomplished? Unhappy mothers ashamed for making choices that suit their family best?

I personally love breastfeeding. But because I am lazy and a control freak. I hate washing, prepping and lugging bottles around. And I have the trump card when all the relatives manhandle the baby. So I don't feed because its best. My motives are completely selfish. My selfish motivations are not nearly as admirable for reasons why many women bottlefeed.

September - posted on 12/31/2009

Well if it bothers you so much why don’t you ignore it? Seems like the logical thing to do! Why waste energy getting so worked up about it?

Alicia - posted on 12/31/2009

I wouldnt worry about it at all... i was unable to breastfeed my son because i never produced milk and my son is perfectly healthy, dont let the other moms get you down its your choice what to do, either way your child will be perfectly fine.

Loni - posted on 12/31/2009

It's sad that so many mothers out there condemn other moms for bottle feeding. Different strokes for different folks, right? I don't think anyone should try to impose their ideals onto another. As long as you are doing the best for your baby and you and him/her are happy, then it shouldn't matter what others think. I am a breastfeeding mom and I have never looked down on a bottle feeding mom. Nourishing your baby is a great bonding experience no matter how you do it. Don't let it get to you, you are doing great!

Tania - posted on 12/31/2009

I breastfed both of my kids but both of them had to be supplemented from time to time because I couldn't always produce enough milk. I don't see the problem with bottle feeding it should be the mom's choice. It was hard breadtfeeding in public because so many people stared and gave dirty looks. I didn't really care if they didn't like it don't look it's not like I was parading my boob out in public. Why is it ok for strippers to paradr half naked but when pople see someone breastfeeding it's wrong.

Natasha - posted on 12/31/2009

i totally here you on this one. i did breastfeed my daughter up until about 3 weeks ago. she is 11 months ........ however i also gave formula as well. i was only able to produce milk from one breast so she needed both.



i remember posting on the breastfeeding forum to a mother who needed advice on supplementing as well as breastfeeding and i was truly shocked when i got an email from one of the moderators telling me i couldnt mention formula in the post anymore.



anytime a mother has a question about weaning or supplementing those ladies push breastfeeding way to much. it never truly answers the mothers question.



it doesnt matter what the question " why is the sky blue" BREASTFEEDING !!!!!!!! lol



dont get me wrong i loved breastfeeding my child but was happy when she stopped at 11 months and i was really happy that she was able to do both as well.



i find it really sad how some of the ladies on here treat each other. its like a contest to see who the better parent is.

Nicole - posted on 12/31/2009

thank you! from day one and before haley was born i was always pressured into breast feeding. its just not for me. im sick of all the comments i get from bottle feeding her. she hasn't been sick yet. and if formula is so "bad" for babies, then why do they make it!? some people take their children off the boob and formula feed and they are still fine. i tell people all the time who are pregnant, don't let anyone change your decision on what you do, just shrug it off

Jessica - posted on 12/31/2009

I completly agree with you! Some women just are not meant to breast feed. My son has had formula from day one and hes just fine!

Kerry - posted on 12/31/2009

i agree i bottle fed ma lil boy and he is doing just fine he couldn't breastfeed anyway cose he has got a tongue tie i dont see what the problem is with the bottle