Breast feeding vs formula feeding

[Sh072014]

hey ladies.

What are your thoughts on breast feeding vs formula feeding?

My step kids were only formula fed and they turned out perfectly fine. They slept amazingly as babies too

I am 16 weeks pregnant. I am trying to decide what I want to do. I've never liked my boobs being touched. I am not sure if I will be able to breast feed?
What are your experiences and thoughts? What do you plan to do?

Thanks

[schenner2]

I personally plan to breastfeed my second.  Nursed my first for 14 months. My pros were in the middle of the night i didnt need to really do much other than pick up my baby and nurse not riffle through the kitchen for clean bottles and measuring out formula.  I have heard that formula spit up stains clothing worse  (never used formula so i dont know for sure).  Cheaper although you do need to increase your calorie intake so that is debatable.  I think i probably lost weight quicker than if i had of formula feed.  Plus the bond is the best!  Knowing you are the only one that can give your baby what they need and want is really an amazing feeling. my only Con is that in the middle of the night you cant realy nudge hubby and say your turn to get up with baby!  Although i am hopeful this baby will take a bottle and so i can take a few nights off here and there and sleep through the night. Lol. Yeah right!

[misstoyo]

I have done both and prefer breastfeeding. No matter what formula my boys always spit up more and had more gas that when they were exclusively breastfed. If you do bottle and formula make sure you do skin to skin like you would with breast feesing.

[GeekMom1213]

I nursed my first for two years. An amazing experience and one I'd never give up or change for anything. The first six weeks were so hard. We had a bad latch but I didn't know it, my nipples cracked and bruised and bled and I was incredibly engorged and in horrible pain at the lightest touch. My son's pediatrician told me I didn't have enough milk and I would have to supplement with formula since my baby kept losing weight. I did not accept that and called a lactation consultant who took hours to sit with me and teach me what I'd been doing wrong and how to feed my baby right. He gained about five ounces in a couple hours and we were on our way. It took huge amounts of determination and patience and love to make it through the rough part. I was wrecked when he self-weaned and I very much look forward to doing it all again. It's cheaper, it's easier, it's so incredibly healthy for baby, it reduces your risk for contracting cancer later in life, it's an excellent way to get more sleep than bottlefeeding moms get... and it's an awesome bonding opportunity.
I've got a friend who wasn't able to nurse as long as she knew was best. She was sexually abused when she was young and wasn't able to work through the flashbacks and feelings that it gave her when she latched her baby to her breast. She had a serious physical aversion to it and as a result dried up very quickly but she fought the feelings in order to nurse her son for the crucial first two months. I was super proud of her for trying so hard even considering what it did to her emotionally. Having support is so important.

[bec_jae_martin]

I think ur post is more about how u feel with your body. I have a family friend who just had her second and pretty much felt the same way u do about her boobs so she opted to formula feed. She was so nervous when she told me that she wasnt breastfeeding and why. I was like, nah babe, its ur body. She explained it as we give so much to our children of our bodies, can't we just keep one thing? If u know u are not good with having ur boobs touched, just own how you feel. That said, if ur really not sure, try toughening up ur nipples daIly after the shower now til bubs is ready, and maybe just aim for pumping ur colostrum? That way, u know you've given bubs a good start with some antibodies, but you dont have to feel weird when we are already as uncomfortable as we hopefully ever going to be.

[mae72007]

I formula fed my 1st BC I was 19, inexperienced, and had no knowledge or support for breastfeeding. I "tried" and just have up and switched to formula. It started out rocky, she was allergic to several different formulas, couldn't keep some of them down and we eventually had to switch to something the doctor recommended which was insanely expensive.
I breastfed my 2nd for a little over 2 years, at first it was painful and somewhat stressful learning how to get the hang of it. I went to a lactation consultant and OMG it made a world of difference. I am so happy I didn't give up.

This time I plan to breastfeed again.

[redheadxo]

My daughter is now 2 weeks old and I've been pumping and feeding her breastmilk that way. She would not latch and would just scream and scream until I gave her a bottle. Therefore in order to giver her breastmilk I opted to pump and feed. I top up with formula if I haven't been able to pump as much as my daughter needs.

There is no right answer though. All mom's are different and different things work for everyone.

[ksarahd]

I would recommend looking into your local La Leche League group. It is a group for women who are thinking about or currently are breastfeeding and is led by educated and experienced women. My Mom was a leader for a number of years before and after she had my little sister, her sixth child. I was about 10 at the time and used to attend meetings with her. I remember it being a very welcoming and non judgemental place to learn. I m pregnant with my first baby and am going to join my local chapter when my baby is born. They have a website and you can find what location is closest to you. They also often have contact information for the leaders if you have any questions not answered by the website.

[lousie_1986]

Loved breastfeeding :) hard for a few weeks, quite painful, but bearable. I'm pretty lazy, so to whip out a boob compared to getting up, scooping formula, making a bottle, screwing on lids, sterilizing, packing to go out... I'd personally do anything possible to make breastfeeding work!

[golden_child]

O I forgot the best part no getting up to get bottles in the middle of the night! But like the first young lady said to takes a lot of commitment!

[golden_child]

I am a first time mom & the only one from a big family to breastfeed!the first three days was tiring bit I push through them because I said I would breastfeed my whole pregnancy so I committed to it!  My son is now 8 months with four teeth first one came in at 5months, he crawls, learning to walk, he is speaking very smart alert & attentive

[jjolfert]

I breastfed my daughter for a year (3.5 months of which while pregnant). The first ten days were agony for me, but it was worth it to stick it out. It is so much easier having food ready and waiting whenever baby is hungry. I could go out without having to bring a bunch of stuff with me. I loved the closeness, the chance to slow down and sit to feed her, and the legitimate excuse to leave any social setting for a while.

Not to mention the health benefits for baby and mom. Baby has better immunity because of mom's antibodies through the milk, less likely to get ear or eye infections or stomach flu for up to the first 8 years of life (and that's only if you breastfeed exclusively for 6 months!), and they have fewer problems with digestion and constipation. For mom you lower the chances of breast and cervical cancer and can help prevent osteoporosis later in life. Pretty great IMO!

[Secondtimemomma]

I breastfed my first for 18months. The first few weeks are the hardest and then whenever they have growth spurts they cluster feed. But if you want to just stick your mind to it. If you have any issues contact a lactation they are wonderful help. I plan on breastfeeding this one for at least a year.

[Queeny01]

With my first child I formula fed him.
He is now 8 years old.He is a very intelligent 8 year old. Now I am 37 weeks and plan on breastfeeding with this one
But I am kinda like you so I will be pumping and this time I'm doing it because I just not sure where the formula comes.And not familiar with the ingredients in the formula.I hope this help u

[aliciababi]

I been thinking about this subject ic woukd like to c try and breast feed but if i produce enough milk andIif he latches but i think formula. Is okay my consider iz the power. And. If it Mskes them gasy but i know. The foemula is exprsive and i kboe i will noy have yhat much time off

[TeresaFlores]

I was unable to breastfeed with my 2 older sons and I am 34wks with my 3rd son and still can't breastfeed. Its totally up to the parent there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby as long as their fed and healthy..

[unknown_jones]

I was unable to latch my 1st because he was a preemie, I pumped for 2wks until my milk supply was down. I think I was inexperienced and stressed with my baby not being able to come home for 14days. He is now 8y/o and very healthy and intelligent. My 2nd child was breastfed for 2months but I also experienced issues, though I tried hard. He is now 22 months and also healthy and intelligent. This time I've done more reading on breastfeeding and I believe I have pinpointed where I went wrong in the past. I've been preparing this time like I'm taking a final exam. My goal is to breastfeed as long as possible. If it doesn't workout then formula it is. My advice is read up on both and do what makes you feel happy. Plenty of babies have done one or the other or both and have grown to be happy healthy children.

[mee25]

Am breast feeding my 3 months old son exclusively and its a great experience. I had plan to give him formula but when i was at the hospital they makes you breast feed your baby exclusively and i continued to do so.

[LaurenC86]

Sometimes more so.

[LaurenC86]

I formula fed my first and plan to with this one bc of medical reasons. My first was extremely healthy and never got sick her whole first year until she started daycare, and her pediatrician always commended me for how healthy she was and said she was one of the healthiest babies that he saw at the time. Obviously breast feeding is considered optimal, but if you do decide to formula feed then definitely don't beat yourself up about it bc formula fed babies get all the nutrition that they need and are in most cases just as healthy as a breast Fed baby. :-)

[pc010305]

I breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. It's a wonderful bonding experience. The first few weeks are different. Some women find them extremely painful. I did not. It was uncomfortable but bearable.

[jahawr89]

I want to breastfeed for at least the first 6 weeks so she can get the antibodies and everything for her immune system. If I can't,  I'll at least pump for her. When I was a baby it wasn't enough for me so my mum also supplemented with formula. I'll do whichever is best for my little girl. Yes. They say breast is best, but it's not always the case.

[Sass508]

I didn't breastfeed my son who also is "perfectly fine" (but who is to say what perfectly fine even means..
I plan to breastfeed this child. I feel really strongly about it this time. I'm really determined for it to work and I feel like I have up too easily the first time. It takes a lot of dedication! So if it's important to you, you'll make it work. Good luck :)