Choosing Between Breastfeeding And Formula Feeding
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Anonymous
| I’m expecting my first baby next month and I’m not sure I want to breastfeed. It’s just seems to painful and I already have flat nipples and PCOS ( unlikely to make enough milk). Formula feeding will also mean by husband can do some of the feedings. All of my friends and family had issues without breastfeeding and eventually combo fed or switched to formula. I do feel guilty but I plan on buying a very high quality formula if I do decide to not breastfeed. I haven’t made a decision yet. Did you choose to breastfeed or formula feed? What made you decide? |
Anonymous
| My body decided for me. Do what works for you and don’t bring any guilt on yourself. Start with “I’ll try it” and give it a couple of weeks (it’s miserable for everyone in the beginning). But if it’s not for you - happy formula! |
Anonymous
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I breastfed for about 14 months. I wasn’t sure I would want to or if it would work - frankly it just seemed like an odd experience to wrap my brain around before baby came. I decided to take it one day at a time in the beginning, then a week, month, etc. I think there is a lot to be said for waiting until baby is here and seeing how it goes. It’s also smart to have formula on hand at home in case it doesn’t work. I have a six pack of ready to feeds at the house because I’m expecting number two in a few weeks.
Good luck OP! |
Anonymous
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You can easily start with breastfeeding and then switch over to formula. But you really can’t start with formula and then switch over to breastfeeding. So…start with breastfeeding. Take a breastfeeding class. Knowledge is power. Have a good session with a lactation consultant. If it doesn’t work for you, switch. It’s all good.
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Anonymous
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You don’t know until you try, so it can’t hurt to try, knowing formula is right there if you need it.
Once my supply came in, my husband gave a bottle of formula or pumped milk once a day, NBD. I also found BF much easier to do than FF once everything clicked. That’s my personal experience, everyone’s experience is valid, and yet someone will feel compelled to argue with me. About my own lived experience. |
Anonymous
| I choose to breastfeed because it seemed easier to me -- no fussing with bottles; my mother and sister both exclusively breastfed so I was intimidated by the complexity and unknown of it (yes, this is kind of stupid in retrospect but no one's really rational with a newborn). I turned out to be easy for me so I just stuck with it after that. If formula seems less intimidating to you, I say go with that! No need to make yourself stressed with a new baby. You could try breastfeeding the first couple days after birth if you wanted, still expecting to mostly formula feed. Or not! Honestly, I think you should go with what feels easiest and least stressful for your family. |
Anonymous
Your body and your baby will decide for you  I was adamant about breastfeeding. Couldn’t make enough milk with first kid (only made 3/4 oz a feed) despite seeing a lactation consultant 4 times and pumping every two hours for 9 weeks. With my second I started seeing a lactation consultant before delivery and formulated a plan. Despite following the plan to a T, seeing the lactation consultant several times, I still wasn’t able to make more than 3/4 oz a feed. Now pregnant with my third. Going to tell the hospital that I will be combination feeding from the beginning snd will see how it goes with breastfeeding. From what I’ve seen, breastfeeding (once established) is easier in that newborn stage when the baby is waking up every two hours (preparing formula or heating formula) in the middle of the night is a pain. But when the baby is older formula feeding seems easier. You will find out what works for you.
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Anonymous
This. Also it isn’t a binary choice. You can nurse for a day, for a week, for a month and your baby will still get many of the benefits. You can combo feed from day one to take the pressure off yourself and give your DH the chance to feed the baby. |
Anonymous
| I had a lot of breastfeeding issues with my first and pumped until 6 months. It was tough and I knew I didn’t want to do it again. Breastfeeding wa share with my second baby and I switched over to formula right away. I have no regrets. |
Anonymous
| I nursed longer and longer with each baby. I was an over-producer and donated with my last two. I was not paying for crap formula! I'd look for donor milk before I'd feed my baby something so packed with chemicals and subject to recall |
Anonymous
| I formula fed. It was much easier for me. Breastfeeding was super painful and we had weight issues. I also didn’t make enough milk and it didn’t make sense to keep trying to breastfeed. Formula feeding is easy. It’s literally fill a bottle and that’s it. We had enough bottles and only washed once a day at night. The cost sucks but I would have spent a lot of money on breastfeeding supplies and seeing LCs. Do what works for you. You don’t have to decide yet. Wait until the baby comes and then make a decision. You can also combo feed if you choose to. |
Anonymous
| I agree with the try it. Who knows—it might be easy. But if it’s not, or it stresses you out, or it means you can’t take a medication that helps you be healthy, or whatever. Then formula is great. |
Anonymous
Don’t listen to this. Formula is well regulated and more than adequate as a breast milk alternative. |
Anonymous
+1 There’s so much to learn! |
Anonymous
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I surprised myself with how much I wanted to nurse my babies because I thought I would opt against before my first was born. I never made enough to sustain my children exclusively breastfeeding but I had a lovely nursing/comfort nursing relationship with them anyway.
To the hateful PP screeching about formula—in the 3 years I fed formula to my 3 kids there was never a recall of a leading formula brand. Formula is safe and works great. |