Why would you NOT breastfeed?

[Scout]

Sorry I really am, it's because when I did stop breastfeeding my babies fell ill (it was really the best thing for them, but I should have respected not for everybody).
I'm really sorry again, I'd rather this thread was removed because I know that this is a friendly forum and what I said was rude, so I am really very, sorry. What I should, well, I d*mn right shouldn't have. I can see why people have reason to hate me for saying that because it was a load of c**p.... sorry again, I should watch what I say.

 

[beanie]

Sorry I really am, it's because when I did stop breastfeeding my babies fell ill (it was really the best thing for them, but I should have respected not for everybody).
I'm really sorry again, I'd rather this thread was removed because I know that this is a friendly forum and what I said was rude, so I am really very, sorry. What I should, well, I d*mn right shouldn't have. I can see why people have reason to hate me for saying that because it was a load of c**p.... sorry again, I should watch what I say.

hmm perhaps next time you might re-read your posts...this is a supportive forum and whilst debate is welcomed, as you have found out being rude isn't. Am going to leave this thread for a bit as I feel everyone should have the oppertunity to read your apology.

 

[Jen & Her Men]

apology accepted

Just as Beanie says think before you post next time. Sometimes what we write can come across harsher than how we mean it so its always good to read stuff back to make sure we arnt going to offend anyone unnecessarily.

 

[mrs_tommo22]

I tried to feed my babies by boob but a lack of milk on both occasions stopped that fronm happening. I cried and got upset by it and worse was the fact my poor babies were miserable and hungry. Im not going through that again and making myself feel bad.

I have fed two babies on formula and they are both amazing and healthy. So i would quite happily feed another baby on formula.

Scout with all due respect you cant call formula crap.

 

[Scout]

I should have read it and promise I will from now.
It wasn't exactly what I meant no, it came across as if I was making out you were horrible not to breastfeed.
Thank you for accepting my apology, hopefully no bad feelings.

 

[Scout]

No no not formula being c**p, my post!

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Okey dokey

 

[Scout]

 

[dannii87]

If there is no issues, obviously some woman are unable to, but if you can, heathily, breastfeed, I don't know why you'd give them some stuff made from a factory, when you have the natural? I breastfed my 2, and always will if I have more.

You're after replies from women who chose to bottle feed from the start without trying I assume?

I breastfed Evie until today (not sure if you've read some of the stuff in this section about our breastfeeding journey? It's been a tough ol' ride!) I decided this morning to stop.

There is no doubt about it - I CAN breastfeed - I have the milk, I have the baby - It's not as easy as that though unfortunately. Obviously if I could breastfeed without any problems I'd do it til 6 months! But we've hit a lot of struggles along the way and neither me nor baby have been very happy at feeding times!

I'm sorry your LO fell ill after you stopped breastfeeding. Maybe it was just a coincidence? If formula was so bad for babies, the government would have made it illegal yonks ago!

Oh and also, my Mum fed me & my brother successfully, no problem at all! When it came to my youngest brother, she couldn't. Hit lots of struggles! So never assume you can breastfeed again just because you and your first LO managed it. It's all about teamwork xx

 

[Scout]

Thanks, I stopped breastfeeding with both to see, I'm young and single, it was hardgoing especially when both my LO's are close in age, really close.
But they were stubborn and both became ill, not sersiously, just mild, but when they were BF again it was fine. Possibly it's just my LO's.

 

[Mildly]

When in hospital (I had a c section and so was in for about four days) I found that the midwives encouraged formula top ups when I was experiencing problems with latching and my son's tongue tie. I think they were trying to help out and to make things easier on me however I wish I hadn't as it made things quite difficult after we got home re breastfeeding. Bizarrely I also witnessed the same midwives encourage breastfeeding with mothers who wanted to bottle feed.

I definitely think that the reality of breastfeeding is not properly explored during antenatal classes. I was lucky enough to attend a breast feeding workshop but even then, I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was/is. I have attended two BFN drop in centres since giving birth and have found the level of support amazing especially in their support of our tongue tie problems.

I would love to have been one of those women who found breastfeeding easy from the start and to be honest anyone who cannot understand why some women choose to bottle feed possibly hasn't encountered that many problems past the initial latching. As others have said the decision is one of personal choice, just as all parenting decisions are. Not to mention all babies are different so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for others.

 

[charlie84]

Like others have said its not always about deciding not to breastfeed, sometimes its forced upon them via milk supply problems, health problems etc.

Luckily i have managed to get this far breastfeeding and TBH with you i have only just started to enjoy it. Since birth i have struggled immensely with feeding my baby and there have been many times i wanted to switch to formula. I think if Calleigh had ever figured out how to use a bottle i would have possibly been a formula mummy now.

I also think the support is not there when needed, i had little help at the hospital with breastfeeding and i think then is an important time to receive help and assistance especially for a first time mum like myself.

 

[Sage]

hmmmm.

thanks for making yourself clearer before i bit your head off i chose to bottle fed because i knew my son would grow up just as healthy as a breast fed baby either way. if anyone disagrees with that, i cant point out the differences hes just as manic and loveable as every other baby i no! My OH can be a part of feeding just as much as me. hes helped me equally to feed ky into a healthy baby boy which i think is lovely and precious to me that we've done it together. I no what amount he's intaking and its personally what i felt comfortable with.

Its hard when some people think its selfish (i dont mean ANYONE on this forum just speaking in general terms) thats the last thing i want people to think, its surprising how bad some people can make you feel for not breast feeding. and then on the other side so many people have ago at people breastfeeding in public! whats wrong with the world!!

 

[Steelgoddess]

oooo ooooo I can read my crystal ball... its getting clearer... I can see Urchin... yes... Urchin and shes locking this thread

Mystic Squig lol!!!

 

[dannii87]

Its hard when some people think its selfish (i dont mean ANYONE on this forum just speaking in general terms) thats the last thing i want people to think, its surprising how bad some people can make you feel for not breast feeding. and then on the other side so many people have ago at people breastfeeding in public! whats wrong with the world!!

Aww bless you sweet! Totally agree though.

There's kids in the world starving, I think the way we feed our children is irrelevant, it's the fact they are being fed which is most important!

Scout, you could have started something brilliant here This could be a "unite bottle and breast" thread and we could all become lovers and live happily ever after on a hill somewhere with beautiful babies and big ol' boobies (and bottles )

x

 

[Steelgoddess]

Scout, you could have started something brilliant here This could be a "unite bottle and breast" thread and we could all become lovers and live happily ever after on a hill somewhere with beautiful babies and big ol' boobies (and bottles )

x

I just wanted to say i was so nervous about going to the Bluewater meet recently as i was just becoming accustomed to bottle feeding and starting to feel a little bit confident so was unsure how I would feel is someone else was boob feeding...

(Before that a post like this would have me running off in tears and rethinking whether I should go back to boob feeding or feeling like a failure, one of the reasons i needed to take a break from the forum recently to regain my confidence as a mummy and know my choices were right for me)

The meet was lovely, it was a real representaion of the forum, lovely ladies, some bottle feed, some booby fed everyone had a great time and tbh it really didnt matter who was doing what i think the cute babies stole the show lol not one of those babies looked ill, or underweight to me!!

Id just like to add it REALLY does not matter I think the hapiness of both the child AND the mother are equally important and not alot of ppl realise you have to remake the choices all over again when weening the nippers onto solids as to what to feed them so its a whole other ball game.

 

[Jen & Her Men]

Scout, you could have started something brilliant here This could be a "unite bottle and breast" thread and we could all become lovers and live happily ever after on a hill somewhere with beautiful babies and big ol' boobies (and bottles )

x

I just wanted to say i was so nervous about going to the Bluewater meet recently as i was just becoming accustomed to bottle feeding and starting to feel a little bit confident so was unsure how I would feel is someone else was boob feeding...

(Before that a post like this would have me running off in tears and rethinking whether I should go back to boob feeding or feeling like a failure, one of the reasons i needed to take a break from the forum recently to regain my confidence as a mummy and know my choices were right for me)

The meet was lovely, it was a real representaion of the forum, lovely ladies, some bottle feed, some booby fed everyone had a great time and tbh it really didnt matter who was doing what i think the cute babies stole the show lol not one of those babies looked ill, or underweight to me!!

Id just like to add it REALLY does not matter I think the hapiness of both the child AND the mother are equally important and not alot of ppl realise you have to remake the choices all over again when weening the nippers onto solids as to what to feed them so its a whole other ball game.

Amen to that!!

Hurrah!!

 

[Becky]

Every parent and every child is unique and as a parent every decision you make about how you're going to bring up a child is hard because half the time even after you've made up your mind you feel self doubt. It's part of parenting and the problem is that due to each mother and child's individuality there is rarely a right or wrong answer. All we can do as parents is make the best decision we can at the time, with the knowledge we have at the time.

I would never judge a woman who was bottle-feeding her happy content, well loved baby. I can never fully understand how she got to her decision but if she and her baby were obviously happy then what more can you ask from the mother.

I'm a huge supporter of breast-feeding and it worked for me and DD, but as has been stated there's no guarantee it will work for this baby. All I can hope is that we find a way to be happy together.

As Sharne has said, there are loads of options for every conceivable decision you need to make as a parent and some of them will be thought of as controversial but if the end result is happy mummy and baby then who are we to question their decision.

 

[CoreysMummy]

I had to stop because he was throwing everything up, so I had no milk. Started formula when he was about a week old.

However, what I have answered is not really an answer to the question you asked.

I chose to BF, but couldnt, however, a friend of mine, with all 3 of hers chose to bottle feed from the off, because she felt that her boobies were more of a sexual object than something she wanted to feed her childeren with, she felt wierd thinking about it. So didnt BF.

Everyone is different, and id never judge someone for bottle feeding from the off if thats what they want to do. There are alot of advantages to bottle feeding, Daddy being part of the feeding, being able to go out for the day and not worry, knowing how much LO is eating etc.

Its personal choice, and no one should be made to feel bad about a particular decision, so long as baby is happy, healthy and loved thats all that matters.

 

[AnnaR2B]

I'm gonna apologise too, because i snapped a bit when i saw your thread
I did breast feed for a few weeks, and i know its so good for babies, but it honestly made me feel like crap - whether it was hormones...or whatever, i did have a very long (5 day) induction resulting in a c-sec so I felt generally poo, and I felt breastfeeding was making me feel worse.
I felt guilty about stopping when i could do it - which is probably why i get a bit defensive
But my boy is healthy and huge, got his first cold this week at 6 months and is absolutely thriving on formula and food.
Kudos to you for apologising..it takes nuts