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

[Anonymous]

actually, I think the suntanning topless to strengthen nipple skin is quite hilarious. Is that for real?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I had a breast reduction too, PP, and even though I was only 18 at the time the doctor made sure I understood that it could prevent or limit breastfeeding down the road. I chose to do it anyway and I don't regret it, although like you I had to work very hard at making BFing work to any degree. But I don't think it's reasonable to compare my costs to the normal costs of BFing vs. formula, because it's based on a discretionary choice I made. It's apples and oranges.

[Anonymous]

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.

I had a breast reduction too, PP, and even though I was only 18 at the time the doctor made sure I understood that it could prevent or limit breastfeeding down the road. I chose to do it anyway and I don't regret it, although like you I had to work very hard at making BFing work to any degree. But I don't think it's reasonable to compare my costs to the normal costs of BFing vs. formula, because it's based on a discretionary choice I made. It's apples and oranges.

PP here again, I wasn't stating at all that my costs were comparable to the normal costs. I did say that my case was not at all the norm. I was simply trying to make a point that although for me breastfeeding is a lot more expensive than formula-feeding, I think it's worth it. Usually the cost of breastfeeding is a lot cheaper than formula-feeding. I know that for a fact, because my sister has spent absolutely nothing on breastfeeding 4 children aside from the cost of a few nursing bras. She has saved a bunch of money for her family by breastfeeding. She is, however, a SAHM so she also doesn't need to spend money on pumping. She is not choosing to breastfeed because it is cheaper than formula. She is choosing to do something good for her children because she can. Not everyone can breastfeed, but I was trying, clearly unsuccessfully, to make a point that there are other reasons to breastfeed aside from the (usually) financial benefits. Even though I have to spend a ton of money to breastfeed there are health benefits and emotional benefits for me and my DD that are worth the cost and effort. I would hate for any mother who has the means to decide not to breastfeed just because as the OP stated it is maybe more expensive for some people than formula.

[Anonymous]

New poster and mom of a 29w preemie

Around 10 sessions with an awesome LC: $0 (or maybe the cost was just folded into our huge hospital bills)
1 session with the crappy LC who ignored the fact that I was crying because I'd just had a preemie and lectured me about "Breast is Best": $0
Nursing attire: $0 (got it all second hand)
6 month rental of hospital grade pump for home: $360
PIS for work: $280
Multiple pumping kits for home, work, and NICU: $180
Breast milk bags and other storage: $200
Supplements: $300

Some women can nurse on the cheap and some can't. What made me angry and sad when I was the super emotional new mom of a tiny sick baby was the complete lack of empathy from moms who had an easy time breastfeeding and held the attitude that if it's not easy and cheap you're doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster and mom of a 29w preemie

Around 10 sessions with an awesome LC: $0 (or maybe the cost was just folded into our huge hospital bills)
1 session with the crappy LC who ignored the fact that I was crying because I'd just had a preemie and lectured me about "Breast is Best": $0
Nursing attire: $0 (got it all second hand)
6 month rental of hospital grade pump for home: $360
PIS for work: $280
Multiple pumping kits for home, work, and NICU: $180
Breast milk bags and other storage: $200
Supplements: $300

Some women can nurse on the cheap and some can't. What made me angry and sad when I was the super emotional new mom of a tiny sick baby was the complete lack of empathy from moms who had an easy time breastfeeding and held the attitude that if it's not easy and cheap you're doing it wrong.

Bingo!

[adinaINdc]

Hmm. My youngest is five now and my oldest is almost eight. Before my oldest was born, I bought a breast pump kit for about $150 and maybe about $25 worth of extra bottles/materials. But bottles would be used for formula too. The kit came in a bag, so I carried it back and forth to work (no need for multiple pumps). I had a small stock of frozen bags in the freezer, which I don't think I ever had to use (no need for an extra freezer). I did splurge on two nursing bras but no nursing cloths (a tanktop under a tee shirt serves the same purpose, pull the shirt up and the tank down). And I had a consultant that I had to pay for with the first baby (I didn't know what I was doing and had no one who could show me). $175 for supplies, two bras at $50 each, plus the consulting fees of about $200 = $425.

I used the same pump, bottles and materials for baby #2. So that's $425 for two kids, or $212.50 each total.

Each one breastfed for three years but I wasn't really pumping much after 12 or so months post-birth each time (I can't remember completely).

I just checked the costs of breast pump kits now and they cost about the same.

My brother an his wife pay $200/month on "sensitive tummy" formula. I would guess that regular formula would cost $180/month?

It took my brother seven weeks to pay for formula what I paid for pumping for both kids total so, for sure, I got the better financial deal. Not to mention kids who have had less sickness, which, in turn, costs less in terms of medical bills, time off of work, and general sanity.

[Anonymous]

adinaINdc wrote:Hmm. My youngest is five now and my oldest is almost eight. Before my oldest was born, I bought a breast pump kit for about $150 and maybe about $25 worth of extra bottles/materials. But bottles would be used for formula too. The kit came in a bag, so I carried it back and forth to work (no need for multiple pumps). I had a small stock of frozen bags in the freezer, which I don't think I ever had to use (no need for an extra freezer). I did splurge on two nursing bras but no nursing cloths (a tanktop under a tee shirt serves the same purpose, pull the shirt up and the tank down). And I had a consultant that I had to pay for with the first baby (I didn't know what I was doing and had no one who could show me). $175 for supplies, two bras at $50 each, plus the consulting fees of about $200 = $425.

I used the same pump, bottles and materials for baby #2. So that's $425 for two kids, or $212.50 each total.

Each one breastfed for three years but I wasn't really pumping much after 12 or so months post-birth each time (I can't remember completely).

I just checked the costs of breast pump kits now and they cost about the same.

My brother an his wife pay $200/month on "sensitive tummy" formula. I would guess that regular formula would cost $180/month?

It took my brother seven weeks to pay for formula what I paid for pumping for both kids total so, for sure, I got the better financial deal. Not to mention kids who have had less sickness, which, in turn, costs less in terms of medical bills, time off of work, and general sanity.

Time is also a factor. For reasons I won't get into here, I couldn't breastfeed directly, and EPed. When I finally switched to formula at around 4 months, I got four hours of my day back. Regular formula was about $100/month. $3/day for four hours of my time? Yes, please. I am hoping to not have the same issues with the next baby; if I am able to feed directly then I won't have to deal with that awful time suck. So for me, there was a VERY significant cost to breastfeeding - time.