Anyone who says breastfeeding is cheaper than formula is full of it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just my 2 cents about issues: I had no idea that BF just does not work out sometimes. My husband and i took a class all about BF and never once did the instructor mention the problems you could run into, or the bottom line that for some women, it does not work out (myself being one of those). I had extremely low supply, had to supplement right from the hospital, pumped every 2 hours for 2 weeks and saw virtually no increase, was trying to nurse and bottle feed and pump, took fenugreek, saw a lac consultant. After 3 weeks, I finally decided it was better for DS and I to enjoy our time together and give up being crazed about BF and trying to pump all the time. Whatever works for you is best!

Do you think part of the issue could be that US hospitals adhere to certain weight lost, must give formula guidelines? My daughter was 1 ounce from getting formula in the hospital. I did not end up having supply issues, but I often wonder, if she had lost that ounce and they had given her a bottle, what would have happened? Since they didn't, she was hungry and kept trying and trying to latch and going after me. I can understand the point of supplementing when a certain percentage of the weight has been lost, however doesn't it seem kind of weird when you think about the fact that no babies that are 1 or 2 day's old are really able to get much since its just colostrum anyway? My milk didn't come in until I was home from the hospital after a csection, so like day 5? I think the weight loss percentage thing was just luck of the draw for us.

Yes, yes, and YES. As a doula I have personally witnessed many (MANY) women wind up with breastfeeding problems due to the poor breastfeeding information and care they received in the hospital. This is why I always encourage my clients to meet with La Leche League before they give birth, so that they will have established a relationship with someone who has excellent breastfeeding information and can serve as a resource which counter-balances the hospital nurse, OB, or pediatrician. Remember that doctors and nurses in our current medical system are not usually trained in human lactation, so their advice often does not always help to preserve breastfeeding. It makes me so sad to hear about women who were encouraged (or forced) to start supplementing when their baby was only one or two days old. Unfortunately for many women, this early supplementation can be the fast track to a baby who won't latch and long-term supply issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be really interested to hear to what extent these physical problems existed in earlier times when breastfeeding was the norm and what the solutions for them were then.

I remember reading that in one study of breastfeeding in an African village they found that mothers of newborns breastfed every hour. Frequent breastfeeding means you are less likely to get clogged ducts and mastitis. Also not wearing a bra means less thrush.

Some PPs mentioned that when a mother can't breastfeed in many societies a relative or friend will BF her baby. In other words, it takes a village to raise a child.

[Anonymous]

It's cheaper because you are giving your baby the BEST food, in the long run you are giving them better health. And causing you less doctor visits...it pays off in the end...keep with it if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been really interesting to me because I somehow managed to go almost 30 years without realizing the large number of problems that apparently go along with breastfeeding. I did not know there was a whole industry around products associated with it, from special chairs and pillows to pumps of varying intensity. My mother breastfed all 3 of her children, at a time when it was not common to do that. My entire experience prior to having a child was that breastfeeding is the right thing to do for your baby - I never once heard the caveat "if that is what you choose" or "if you are able to" before moving here. When my friends started having children, they did complain of the difficulties of breastfeeding, but most of those difficulties involved unsupportive doctors, nurses and family members. I never heard of physical difficulties. I do not for a second disbelieve their existence, but it really is surprising to me how many people in this area seem to have physical problems breastfeeding.

I would be really interested to hear to what extent these physical problems existed in earlier times when breastfeeding was the norm and what the solutions for them were then.

If a mom had physical problems breastfeeding, if they could afford it, the family hired a wet nurse. That's a choice just like formula is a choice. Also, many, many babies died from inadequate nutrition and inability to nurse. No, I don't have statistics because data like that wasn't gathered even 100 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been really interesting to me because I somehow managed to go almost 30 years without realizing the large number of problems that apparently go along with breastfeeding. I did not know there was a whole industry around products associated with it, from special chairs and pillows to pumps of varying intensity. My mother breastfed all 3 of her children, at a time when it was not common to do that. My entire experience prior to having a child was that breastfeeding is the right thing to do for your baby - I never once heard the caveat "if that is what you choose" or "if you are able to" before moving here. When my friends started having children, they did complain of the difficulties of breastfeeding, but most of those difficulties involved unsupportive doctors, nurses and family members. I never heard of physical difficulties. I do not for a second disbelieve their existence, but it really is surprising to me how many people in this area seem to have physical problems breastfeeding.

I would be really interested to hear to what extent these physical problems existed in earlier times when breastfeeding was the norm and what the solutions for them were then.

If a mom had physical problems breastfeeding, if they could afford it, the family hired a wet nurse. That's a choice just like formula is a choice. Also, many, many babies died from inadequate nutrition and inability to nurse. No, I don't have statistics because data like that wasn't gathered even 100 years ago.

Additionally, babies were often fed goat's milk, or if we're talking about roughly 100 years ago, some homemade version of "formula" or even cow's milk.

[Anonymous]

My pump has paid for itself 100x over - it's lasted through 3 children in which I exclusively pumped for 12 months (yes, it was a big pain to live my life in 4 hour increments!).

So, the $169 I spent on the Ameda pump/parts gave all 3 of my children the BEST food, it gave me sleep so DH could feed, it gave DH and I sanity so MIL could feed while we had a date night, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just my 2 cents about issues: I had no idea that BF just does not work out sometimes. My husband and i took a class all about BF and never once did the instructor mention the problems you could run into, or the bottom line that for some women, it does not work out (myself being one of those). I had extremely low supply, had to supplement right from the hospital, pumped every 2 hours for 2 weeks and saw virtually no increase, was trying to nurse and bottle feed and pump, took fenugreek, saw a lac consultant. After 3 weeks, I finally decided it was better for DS and I to enjoy our time together and give up being crazed about BF and trying to pump all the time. Whatever works for you is best!

Do you think part of the issue could be that US hospitals adhere to certain weight lost, must give formula guidelines? My daughter was 1 ounce from getting formula in the hospital. I did not end up having supply issues, but I often wonder, if she had lost that ounce and they had given her a bottle, what would have happened? Since they didn't, she was hungry and kept trying and trying to latch and going after me. I can understand the point of supplementing when a certain percentage of the weight has been lost, however doesn't it seem kind of weird when you think about the fact that no babies that are 1 or 2 day's old are really able to get much since its just colostrum anyway? My milk didn't come in until I was home from the hospital after a csection, so like day 5? I think the weight loss percentage thing was just luck of the draw for us.

Yes, yes, and YES. As a doula I have personally witnessed many (MANY) women wind up with breastfeeding problems due to the poor breastfeeding information and care they received in the hospital. This is why I always encourage my clients to meet with La Leche League before they give birth, so that they will have established a relationship with someone who has excellent breastfeeding information and can serve as a resource which counter-balances the hospital nurse, OB, or pediatrician. Remember that doctors and nurses in our current medical system are not usually trained in human lactation, so their advice often does not always help to preserve breastfeeding. It makes me so sad to hear about women who were encouraged (or forced) to start supplementing when their baby was only one or two days old. Unfortunately for many women, this early supplementation can be the fast track to a baby who won't latch and long-term supply issues.

Well, I had to supplement for a couple of days after DS was born because my milk was slow to come in. We did not go by any weight loss indicators - we just observed him closely and he was very clearly unhappy and hungry because he kept sucking and sucking and nothing was coming out. We finally gave formula after the hospital pediatrician suggested it, and it could not have been clearer to me that that was what he needed. He gulped down the bottle and went to sleep immediately. We gave formula for the next two days, then my milk came in and we threw away the bottles. He's 10 months and still nursing like a champ. So, I don't think anything horrible would have happened to your daughter or you, if the hungry baby got some food. It would have been horrible for me to keep my son crying and hungry for the sake of some crazy purist lactation philosophy.

[Anonymous]

I spent around $350 on two electric double pumps (on sale and works great), hands free bra, extra bottles and storage bags and containers, prenatal vitamins and herbs for supply, and small miscellaneous stuff like soothies and breast pads. I had latching problems and intense pain the first few weeks and took advantage of the hospital and (free) lactation consultants at work. BFing can be cheap if you try to do everything the economical way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spent around $350 on two electric double pumps (on sale and works great), hands free bra, extra bottles and storage bags and containers, prenatal vitamins and herbs for supply, and small miscellaneous stuff like soothies and breast pads. I had latching problems and intense pain the first few weeks and took advantage of the hospital and (free) lactation consultants at work. BFing can be cheap if you try to do everything the economical way.

how the hell did you do that for $350??? A pump alone costs $300

[Anonymous]

I had a breast reduction years ago, so my expenses are very much not the norm. Best of the shape and size of my nipples my DD is unable to get all of her food directly from the breast, so I do still need to pump to top her off after each feeding. I also pump after each feeding to keep up my supply which is precarious to begin with and is just enough to give my DD what she needs every day. Also, since I work outside of the home, I need to pump to send milk to daycare. Because of my past breast reduction, I need to use a hospital-grade pump to maintain my supply. (With DD#1 my supply took a huge dip when I switched from the hospital grade to a Medela Freestyle). So here's what I've spent and continue to spend to breastfeed DD#2 :

1. 2 consultations with an LC: $250
2. Rental of a hospital grade pump: $55/month for 12 months -- so $660 total
3. Domperidone (to maintain my supply): $586 for a 1 year supply
4. Fenugreek (to maintain my supply): $9/month for 12 months -- so $108 total
5. Blessed Thistle (to maintain supply): $6.50/month for 12 months -- so $75 total
6. Goats Rue (to maintain supply): $30/month for 12 months -- so $360 total
7. 6 bottles for storing milk and feeding pumped milk -- $20

At 1 year I'll drop all the supplements and the pumping and just feed from the breast only, so total cost of everything will be $2059. That's definitely more than formula-feeding if you only need regular formula, but I love breastfeeding. I love the bond I share with my daughter, and I love being able to feed her something that is so good for her. I had to supplement with formula for my first DD and eventually rely solely on formula after 6-7 months when my supply completely disappeared, so I think every mom has to do what they need to do to feed their children and keep them healthy. But, I will say that the money I've spent this time around to be able to exclusively feed my DD2 breastmilk has been 100% worth it.

[Anonymous]

I would never take a non-FDA approved drug like Domperidone just to avoid formula. That's where I draw the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be really interested to hear to what extent these physical problems existed in earlier times when breastfeeding was the norm and what the solutions for them were then.

Wet nurses for those who could afford them, and sadly, lots more babies died before the invention of formula.

Yes, exactly. Infant mortality rates were much higher back then.

[Anonymous]

11:06 here. Lansinoh pumps only retail around $150 and when I wanted to buy, they were on sale for $100. I have never tried the pricier Medela or hospital grade to compare, but mine have been satisfactory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I
1. 2 consultations with an LC: $250
2. Rental of a hospital grade pump: $55/month for 12 months -- so $660 total
3. Domperidone (to maintain my supply): $586 for a 1 year supply
4. Fenugreek (to maintain my supply): $9/month for 12 months -- so $108 total
5. Blessed Thistle (to maintain supply): $6.50/month for 12 months -- so $75 total
6. Goats Rue (to maintain supply): $30/month for 12 months -- so $360 total
7. 6 bottles for storing milk and feeding pumped milk -- $20.

This has got to be a joke!!
1. I had a consultation with LC at the hospital: $0
2. No rental, bought pump online at ebay: $200
3. brewers yeast tablets to maintain supply $5 (did not use it much, gave me thrush)
4. stout beer to maintain supply ( would down half a glas per day) : $3 (thats pushing it)
5. Nipple cream: $15
7. Plastic bags for storing milk: $8

before baby: suntanning topless (backyard) to strenghten the skin in the nipple area: $0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I
1. 2 consultations with an LC: $250
2. Rental of a hospital grade pump: $55/month for 12 months -- so $660 total
3. Domperidone (to maintain my supply): $586 for a 1 year supply
4. Fenugreek (to maintain my supply): $9/month for 12 months -- so $108 total
5. Blessed Thistle (to maintain supply): $6.50/month for 12 months -- so $75 total
6. Goats Rue (to maintain supply): $30/month for 12 months -- so $360 total
7. 6 bottles for storing milk and feeding pumped milk -- $20.

This has got to be a joke!!
1. I had a consultation with LC at the hospital: $0
2. No rental, bought pump online at ebay: $200
3. brewers yeast tablets to maintain supply $5 (did not use it much, gave me thrush)
4. stout beer to maintain supply ( would down half a glas per day) : $3 (thats pushing it)
5. Nipple cream: $15
7. Plastic bags for storing milk: $8

before baby: suntanning topless (backyard) to strenghten the skin in the nipple area: $0

PP here. Why do you think this is a joke? Did you read my whole post. I had a breast reduction surgery 15 years ago. Even though it's been a while, I still need more help than most women to have any sort of milk supply. There are plenty of women in my situation. Just take a look at the BFAR (breastfeeding after reduction) website if you don't believe me. With my first DD I only took fenugreek and goats rue, and I had to supplement about 50-70% of my DD's total intake with formula. Breastfeeding is really important to me, and it's worth the expense and trouble. I said right up front that I am not the most common case, so I obviously don't think this is the norm. But, I don't think you have to say my post is a joke.