I Don't Want To Breastfeed..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Formula is not as good as breastmilk.
2. Moot point because it’s your choice.
3. Keep an open mind but say whatever you need to keep everyone off your back.

Breastmilk benefits are way overstated. They are only minimal and reap no longterm benefits.

[Anonymous]

I’d try, because you never know. If you hate it, stop.

[Anonymous]

For various reasons I decided I didn't want to breastfeed either. The nurses were a little pushy about it but I just kept it neutral as it was really none of their business. My son is now 8 and there is no way to tell who was breastfed and who had formula. You get to be a huge part of this equation--it's your body. You get to make the choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Formula is not as good as breastmilk.
2. Moot point because it’s your choice.
3. Keep an open mind but say whatever you need to keep everyone off your back.

Breastmilk benefits are way overstated. They are only minimal and reap no longterm benefits.

Man, the insecurity is real.

[Anonymous]

The best thing you can do is stop worrying about what other people think about ANY of your parenting choices. And you don’t have to defend yourself to anyone.

I would suggest that you find someone to mediate a conversation with your husband though, to help him learn how to be supportive of you. He needs a little refresher on what it means to listen as a partner.

I did choose to breast-feed and I did so for three years. But I don’t think that anyone should if they’re not feeling like that’s the right choice for them. And just like I would say to a breast-feeding mom it’s no one else’s business what you decide to do and how you feed your baby, feed your baby the way that makes sense for your family (that’s you, your baby, and your partner).

Ps: You could always donate those breast-feeding supplies and send a thank you note to in-laws as to where you donated them. It’s a little passive aggressive, but they’re making assumptions without checking in with you, or outright ignoring your intentions, so maybe that’s not so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Formula is not as good as breastmilk.
2. Moot point because it’s your choice.
3. Keep an open mind but say whatever you need to keep everyone off your back.

Breastmilk benefits are way overstated. They are only minimal and reap no longterm benefits.

Let’s not have this conversation again. It’s been debated on this site at least a million times. It’s a stale unneeded debate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Formula is not as good as breastmilk.
2. Moot point because it’s your choice.
3. Keep an open mind but say whatever you need to keep everyone off your back.

Formula is absolutely as good as breastmilk. Stop acting like you're so clever- you're obviously a zealot.

It is not.

[Anonymous]

OP, stop entertaining their opinions of how you choose to feed your child. Formula is an excellent choice... we are lucky that we have multiple healthy options to choose from.

Congrats, by the way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Formula is not as good as breastmilk.
2. Moot point because it’s your choice.
3. Keep an open mind but say whatever you need to keep everyone off your back.

Formula is absolutely as good as breastmilk. Stop acting like you're so clever- you're obviously a zealot.

It is not.

Go away. This isn't a Handmaids Tale. OP doesn't have to answer for what she does with her own breasts.

[Anonymous]

I know this seems like a huge deal now, but trust me, it isn’t. It’s the first of many things in parenting where other people will have opinions and you have to learn to ignore them. Consider this an opportunity to start practicing.

In many families the problem is the opposite. No support for breastfeeding and mom is pressured to stop. No matter what you do in parenting, someone judges it. People judge you if you don’t breastfeed but then also if you do it too long. You can’t win so just do what you know is the right thing for you.

I would keep an open mind about everything because sometimes things go differently than planned, but it is 100% ok not to breastfeed. Everyone knows their own situation best. I was in a playgroup where the moms ranged from straight to formula to breastfeeding a 4 yo. Everyone’s kids turned out fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing you maybe haven’t considered is how much easier nursing is than formula once you get the hand of it. Going out? Great, pack a diaper and wipes. No need for formula, water, sterile bottle, and cleaning it all over again when you get home. For me, I was so glad to give up the bottle with my second.

Are you joking? Being the only one who can feed your baby is not easy at all. Nursing is much harder than formula. With formula, anyone can feed your baby. Your husband, mother, mother in law, friend, heck anyone, can help with overnight feedings or bedtime feedings. You could even get a sitter!

When you’re a new mom, the feeding time is pretty precious, even during the night. The breastfeeding hormones kept me from being exhausted. Once I got over the soreness and things started to seem like a new normal around 4-5 weeks, I loved that I had a reason to get everyone to stop hogging my baby. She was mine. I mean, imagine hiring a babysitter for a newborn. WTF.

aren't you just a delightful little bundle of myopic judgement.

signed,
I exclusively breastfed, did not find it "precious" ever, and hired a babysitter at 3 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For various reasons I decided I didn't want to breastfeed either. The nurses were a little pushy about it but I just kept it neutral as it was really none of their business. My son is now 8 and there is no way to tell who was breastfed and who had formula. You get to be a huge part of this equation--it's your body. You get to make the choice.

This, OP. It might seem like a big deal now (and your DH is being a total jerk and absolutely does not get to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do with your body), but how you feed your baby is 100% immaterial in the long run. This is but a blip on the radar. Congrats on your new baby!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing you maybe haven’t considered is how much easier nursing is than formula once you get the hand of it. Going out? Great, pack a diaper and wipes. No need for formula, water, sterile bottle, and cleaning it all over again when you get home. For me, I was so glad to give up the bottle with my second.

Are you joking? Being the only one who can feed your baby is not easy at all. Nursing is much harder than formula. With formula, anyone can feed your baby. Your husband, mother, mother in law, friend, heck anyone, can help with overnight feedings or bedtime feedings. You could even get a sitter!

When you’re a new mom, the feeding time is pretty precious, even during the night. The breastfeeding hormones kept me from being exhausted. Once I got over the soreness and things started to seem like a new normal around 4-5 weeks, I loved that I had a reason to get everyone to stop hogging my baby. She was mine. I mean, imagine hiring a babysitter for a newborn. WTF.

aren't you just a delightful little bundle of myopic judgement.

signed,
I exclusively breastfed, did not find it "precious" ever, and hired a babysitter at 3 weeks.

+1 on being judgmental! And myopic.

I exclusively bottle fed my babies and I also found the nighttime feedings precious. Bonding doesn’t only come through breastfeeding. I have incredibly sweet memories of those early days and my kids still love to snuggle up with me. But it was beyond awesome to leave my 8 week old baby with my husband while I spent a couple hours getting a pedicure and a massage. There was no need to rush back so I even got lunch and then browsed through a book store!

There are lots of ways to be a good and engaged mom. OP has made her decision clear.

[Anonymous]

Don’t then. It’s your choice.

[Anonymous]

No one has any say in what you do with your body and you get complete choice in this.