Breast or Bottle? PLEASE READ FIRST!

[maoriprincess]

my baby is now 6 weeks old and is thriving...she's so adorable and loves her big brother and sister to bits...she only smiles for them!!...i am really trying hard to fully breastfeed for as long as possible but i have a 4 year old and a 2 1/2 yr old and they have started playing up lately...i think its because most of my time is taken up breast feeding and i have hardly anytime or them or anything else for that matter...im torn between keep breast feeding or giving her the bottle...my baby was exactly 9 pounds born and at 6 weeks is now 11 pounds so shes gaining weight fine but it takes soooo long...by the end of the day im physically mentally and emotionally drained and she gets up 4 times during the night the last being at about 5ish before morning but just as i get back to sleep its time to get up to get my other kids ready for kindy...its hard because im getting mad at even the sillest things that my kids do or even my mum...its not fair...idk what to do...i want to continue breastfeeding as i know its best but i dont want to miss out on my other 2 kids too..what should i do???

[ammanda]

formula will not hurt!!!! go ahead if you want, u dont have to listen to all the benefits or non benefit.. just do whats right for you and your children.. like said, formula is pretty much the same as breast milk these days!!!!!

[Rozy321]

Keep going, mama!  Breastfeeding is so hard the first few months but then it gets much faster and easier.  I guarantee that BFing is not the reason your kids are having trouble with the new baby; they will have a period of adjustment to a new baby no matter what you are feeding.  Consider buying (and learning to safely use) a sling so you can feed hands-free and be more available to them.  

If you need more encouragement just go google "benefits of breastfeeding," or (not as a scare tactic, just FYI, I wish I'd known) "formula Enterobacter sakazakii" or "Similac recall" and hopefully that will push you in the right direction :-)  It's so good for your body, too!  It's NO money out of your pocket, it reduces your risk of breast cancer and burns calories!!  No formula can do that :-P

[connorethansmom]

I guess I would look past breastfeeding and see if your problems would really be solved by switching to a bottle.  You sound tired and in need of support.  I hope you can get that.  I have a 2 year old and 4.5 year old and am due in 7 weeks - so I will be right there with you.  I've never bottle fed so I don't know if its any easier on you or not, I would just be cautious to make a decision right now with hormones, lack of sleep, etc.  If it were me I would give it some more time - sounds like your little bundle is thriving.

[julianovak]

I enjoyed breastfeeding my first, but couldnt due to supply issues.... Im not planning on doing it again... although i WISH WISH WISH i had the motivation to do it. I feel guilty now. lol. even before baby is even here. But i think im going to be too into BF while my child will be cooking up a storm... lol.So I wish i knew what to say.... ITs hard to make that choice to go to formula regardless the situtation.

[mom2ariana]

my daughters pediatrician told me there is not a lot of difference in formula and breastmilk. the only difference is antibodies. the nutrition is exactly the same.
no offense trying43, but i completley disagree with you.
a. not everyone loses weight from breastfeeding. i have a friend that only lost 20 of her 60 lbs and she exclusively breastfed for 6 months. i have another friend who breastfed for longer than that and she said she only lost her a s s
b. there is little to no evidence to support the fact that they get sick less often. my ped told me that he sees breastfed and formula fed babies sick all the time. for ex. he said he saw a breastfed baby with menigitis
c. it does NOT reduce the risk of SIDS. SIDS is associated with sleeping positions, poverty, etc...and there is NO correlation between SIDS and formula. NONE.
d. every antibody you have your baby posesses up until they are 6 weeks old. they acquire it from the placenta.

my baby is formula fed. i find it to be easier, more convienent, better for her ( she is a more healthy weight because i can ENSURE she gets all the proper vitamins ). i find SOME not ALL breastfed babies to be too small. she is right on track growth wise and i am so happy with my decision to not breastfeed. i can make sacrifices for my daughter without breastfeeding.

[jenkaye21]

I have four children, and have tried to b/f all of them.  With the first two, I had no luck; #3 nursed for 5 weeks, and #4 nursed for 6 weeks.  Felt like FOREVER.  Especially difficult because of the other kids, the time it took-- it's like you're constantly nursing-- it is exhausting and draining.  
I wanted to reply, though, because while I know 6 weeks of nursing gave my baby a good start, I really regret giving it up "so soon".  I wish I had hung in there longer, because I know it is supposed to get easier, as they get older and need to eat less frequently, especially once they start solids, etc.  It is easy to stop but you can't, unfortunately, decide to start again.  Just some food for thought, you'll need to do whatever is best for your family and your baby will be fine, regardless. =) Good luck!