Breastfeeding?

[Cheryl19]

Seems silly to ask but whats the difference between breast feeding and formula?
I put my little girl on formula as soon as she was born (4 years ago) But my OH is convincing me to breast feed baby. Just wanted to know the difference, lol

Btw, Im team blue this time around
1 of each!! Happy Happy Happy

 

[CARNAT22]

Apart from the obvious difference that the baby is fed from your boob, Breastfeeding is proven to be more beneficial for several reasons:

• Breast milk is the only natural food designed for your baby.
• Breastfeeding protects your baby from infections and diseases.
• Breast milk provides health benefits for your baby.
• Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mum.
• It’s free.
• It’s available whenever and wherever your baby needs a feed.
• It’s the right temperature.
• It can build a strong physical and emotional bond between mother and baby.
• It can give you a great sense of achievement.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/why-breastfeed.aspx#close

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[beckyboo1]

Everything that carnat says!

Breast feeding is proven to improve your babies immune systems. Even if you only breast feed for a short amount of time it has great benefits

One of the other benefits is its free!!! Also no messing about sterilising bottles etc and making up feeds

I'd honestly encourage everyone to at least give it a go. There's lots of support out there for you and when LO arrives there's plenty of support over in baby and toddler section

I realise not everyone can breast feed but I do think you should give it a go xx

 

[Kayelle]

It's amazing!
It's milk made for him not baby cows
It's free
Protects baby from infection etc
When he wakes at night I just have to put him on boon not fuss about making bottle
Some say it reduces risk of breast cancer
Baby doesn't poo so much (which proves its tailor made for him as there is less waste )
Uterus goes back to shape quicker
Helping me lose weight lol
I love Bf, so proud that we are doing so well

 

[Mrs Wibbily]

I am going to try my best not to sound like a breast feeding obsessive but I am so i will try and curb my enthusiasm.

I am a great believer that if you can do it and get over what could be a tough few first weeks then you'll love it. I had lots of problems, bleeding nipples, unable to express, baby not doing it right and then as if by magic I was able to do it and it was magic. I did it for 13 months and i am planning on doing it again.

I promise you if i can do it, anyone can. I would call my mum and my MIL and sob down the phone that I couldn't do it anymore and that i was going to give him a bottle, somehow through sheer determination and not wanting to feel like a failure (please understand I do NOT think that other women who choose to bottle feed or cannot breastfeed are failures, these were my own demons) I managed to do it and I am so pleased I did because I have an amazing bond with my son and I am hoping the same will happen with my next little one. It's one of the things i am really looking forward to.

So yeah if you can do it then go for it. xxx

 

[Lynds77]

I am kinda shocked you dont know this having had one baby already! this is my first pregnancy and I have been getting bombarded with leaflets and advice on "breast is best!"

 

[cosmicgirl]

It's human milk for human babies x

 

[tinytoes]

It's shocking you didn't know this ! Anyway it's defo the best option for your baby and as a mum who wasn't in a position to breast feed I can advise you enough to try it , I feel like I missed out on something important !

 

[buchg6]

Breastfeeding is the better of the two options if u can manage it. I breastfed both mine up until they were nearly a year, and it will be the same for the new one. I absolutely hate it though the only reason I did it was because that is what they are meant to have. A lot of mums love the closeness it brings and the bond u get. Don't beat yourself up if u can't manage though it is hard work, esp those first couple of weeks.

 

[Kayelle]

Hi buch, just curious, how come you didn't like it? Just wondering

 

[SunnySue]

I know this may be a little controversial but I would like to say that if breast feeding isn't something you feel comfortable with please don't let OH or other people force you into it. Whether or not to breast feed is a very personal decision based on your own feelings and circumstances and many women don't breastfeed through no fault of their own.
I tried to breast feed my first LO and found it a horrendous experience and had give up after 5 days, for that reason I do not intend to try this time.
I have a wonderful bond with my son, one that would not be a any stronger based on his method of feeding. He is 13 months old and has never had any illness' , not even a proper cold. Formula feeding suited us and that's all that matters.
Good on the ladies that do breast feed, I am not against it in any way, I just wanted to point out that it is not for everyone so don't feel guilty if you decide not to

 

[buchg6]

I just hated everything about it. Lol. I hate getting my baps out in front of everyone and anyone all the time. I hated being stuck to the sofa, bed, chair etc. When I went out I found it really hard to find somewhere to feed and I if I was out with people I hated disrupting everything we had planned. I know they said it wasn't a problem etc but u can't help feeling guilty. I hated the pain when latching on, and when the babyh't fed for a while. U your boobs are hard, massive and leaking. I didn't like not being able to share the feeds esp at night. And when they get teeth and bite touchy ! Lol. I carried on ouchy because it is the beat thing for him/her and its only a year of my life for something that will set him/her up for the best start in theirs.

 

[leesey]

I just hated everything about it. Lol. I hate getting my baps out in front of everyone and anyone all the time. I hated being stuck to the sofa, bed, chair etc. When I went out I found it really hard to find somewhere to feed and I if I was out with people I hated disrupting everything we had planned. I know they said it wasn't a problem etc but u can't help feeling guilty. I hated the pain when latching on, and when the babyh't fed for a while. U your boobs are hard, massive and leaking. I didn't like not being able to share the feeds esp at night. And when they get teeth and bite touchy ! Lol. I carried on ouchy because it is the beat thing for him/her and its only a year of my life for something that will set him/her up for the best start in theirs.

If this was a problem for you did no one suggest bottled breast milk to you? Expressing and bottling your own milk allows for all those things you just said you found to be a problem, sharing the feeds, feeding in public, etc. It's not an easy option by any means but if you can get the balance right between breast and bottle then you're getting the best of both worlds.

I intend to start feeding expressed milk after 2 weeks, and hopefully it will work out well enough that I can continue doing so. I'll be using Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature, which is designed to work in harmony with breastfeeding.

I just don't understand why so many people insist it's one or the other, breast or formula. As long as you are able to express enough to keep the milk going, then it's a valid option for most people! But they feel like failures and turn to formula.

OP - Discuss your thoughts with an NCT breastfeeding counsellor, or there might be someone at your hospital who specialises in this. Don't let anyone pressure you either way.

 

[buchg6]

Sorry I forgot to say I expressed milk after feeding for a month. It was crap as well. It's slow and boring, quicker just breastfeeding. Lol though I did have a manual pump not an electric one. I wouldnt formula feed as its just something I wouldn't consider, I had no problems physically feeding really just me that hated it. If that makes sense. I'm a bit of a determaine cow whenI i decide to do something

 

[lizsamuel80]

Breast milk is so much better for your baby and their poos smell so much better and there is less waste (poos are smaller).

Breast milk has heaps of nutrients and if it's a hot day they have found that your body adjusts and puts more fluid in it to help prevent dehydration. Plus there is no cleaning bottles and it's on tap at the perfect temp all the time. It's wonderful stuff.

Unfortunately not everyone can do it. I struggled to do it with my first and broke down at my doctors because I refused to use formula for my son. He advised me to stop trying and just move on I gave him the best chance at it and it was causing problems. I felt so GUILTY!!!! But it improved my relationship with my baby.

My second baby latched on the moment she was born and didn't let go for 6 months. I didn't care where I was at a restaurant, at the movies or in a park I'd whip it out and feed her I'd do it discreetly though. I loved it I felt so good and I can't wait to do it again.