breast or bottle poll - to include the new moms...

[Melly+2]

i was just 19 when i started bf, was determined, would never chose drinking over feeding my baby no way

 

[Tasha20]

i was just 19 when i started bf, was determined, would never chose drinking over feeding my baby no way

And thats great, but I dont think you will find and 16,17 or 18 yr olds bfing? or very few

But that is because a lot of them have babies for the wrong reasons, and because formula is so readuly available and advertised I do think it makes it easy for them.

I wonder what our teen pregnancy statistics would be like if we were like Hungary and you couldnt get formula without perscription? hmmm would be interesting

 

[lauramumof2]

i was just 19 when i started bf, was determined, would never chose drinking over feeding my baby no way

I wonder what our teen pregnancy statistics would be like if we were like Hungary and you couldnt get formula without perscription? hmmm would be interesting

I cannot see that it would make an awful lot of difference. You can get contraception free and a lot of people, not just teenagers dont use it.

Cost didnt feature in my reasoning.

 

[Rosieroo]

Tasha - my mum was 16 when she had me and breastfed me for two weeks as she was quite bullied into it by the midwives. She soon turned to formula though as she hated the feeling of me feeding from her, and she also bottlefed my two sisters (who were born when she was in her twenties).

 

[Joy and Ben]

Although I live in a town that is very PRO bf, most of my friends chose to bottle feed from day one (we are all in our mid/late twenties). I was the only member of our social group who chose to bf at the start, but as I said before, when it started to go wrong I felt like I was the only person who couldn't do it and was scared to ask for help from HV and knew that none of my friends could help as they hadn't gone down that route. Altough it was blooming hard work, I'd still try with any future children and hopefully feel more confident to ask for help and support if necessary.
Possible younger mums feel more shy about exposing their breasts and still see them as sexual, where as older mums are more comfortable with their bodies etc.

Sorry not really sure what point I'm making but just thought I'd waffle on anyway!!! Sorry!!!

 

[leckershell]

I haven't been on for a couple of days to check this thread... sorry everyone, as I said in the first post I really didn't mean to start an argument. I know that breast/bottle threads can get heated which is why I reread my post to check that it didn't come across as argumentative or anti-formula in any way.

The meaning of my thread was wondering why I don't see many people breastfeeding, and wondering whether it was just me not seeing it because the mothers I associate with tend to be about the same age as me. I wondered if it was a young people thing not to breastfeed.

I know that some moms choose not to breastfeed, and some moms wanted to but couldn't. I wasn't disputing that, nor do I have any problem with formula - I voted "combination" as I sometimes out of choice do give Ryan a bottle. I was merely asking whether anyone else had felt that breastfeeding seemed uncommon and whether they felt, as a breastfeeder, they were in the minority, and if so whether this was an age thing.

Sorry if I upset anyone xx

 

[Freya]

Hi,
I am old(ish) 35 - very middle class and am the only person in my circle of friends who couldn't breast feed. I was gutted. Some of my friends have found bfeeding really easy to do and some have had a little difficulty but no one had as much difficulty as me. I think older mums are more likely to give it a go.
As for where I live I think there is like a bfeeding clique who look down on bottle feeding mums a bit opposite than some of the experiences other breast feeding mums have had.
I used to feel dreadful about not being able to bfeed but as both my children are older now and I don't have to face the same kinds of questions from bfeeding mums I have got over it.
I can sympathise with mums who decide to bfeed getting the looks and comments as I have seen it done myself.
I can also sympathise with mums who have tried and failed because you always feel like you have to justify yourself and then you get the impression that people don't believe you and think that you just haven't tried hard enough.
I think people should be encouraged to bfeed and not enough support is given BUT if people choose not to then that is there choice.

 

[weenik]

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, but have just voted and I breastfeed. I'm not young though - I'm 30 and most of my friends are quite traditional and are/will breastfeed, mostly because that's how they were fed. I love breastfeeding, and thought I would hide in a corner to do it but I don't - the whole world has seen my boobs

 

[ecomum]

i breastfed my daughter 'til she was 1, and i will breastfeed my next child as long as they want.
i had major problems with recurring thrush, and too much milk, but my baby refused to take a bottle of expressed milk!
i am so proud of myself that i persevered, but i had a lot of support from my hv (a bf councillor), my family, my partner, and a bf support group. this made a world of difference.

i often found i was the only bf mum at groups as well.

personally, and this in no way is my opinion OF bottlefeeders, but to me it would be a very unnatural thing to do.

 

[Princess_Puddles]

I would have breastfed if it wasn't for the thought of being seen by my friends in town etc... It had NOTHING to do with being able to go out again as even now I don't drink and very rarely go out!!

 

[Daggers]

Sorry I know this was posted awhile back but as I don't log on very often thought I'd put my 2 pnece in as well ( ). I still BF, however as Otis is now over a year he gets cows/goats milk during the day but still has boob in the morning and at night, not sure when to start weening him completely.
Yes it is difficult in the beginning as they feed soooo much and you're the only one able to feed them, in saying that I did express until Otis was 6 months when he refused to take a bottle any more , but as he was feeding less anyway it wasn't that bad anymore and now... well it's a doddle!!!
Even now when Otis hasn't been well (has had a cold for the last couple of days) and he's not eating he will take the boob! I'm also not bothered at this stage to BF in public it's natural and as far as i'm concerned that's why I have breasts - to provide my little one with nurishment'. However I do respect everyone for whatever choice they make as I'm sure that it is made with your baby's best interest at heart.

 

[mrs_tommo22]

I bottle feed and have no hang ups, and want to tell mums who BF that i admire them because I couldnt do it!

So hats off to your breastfeeding ladies!