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November 2016 Moms
sweetlyuntied
member
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Feeding babies
sweetlyuntied
member
So there have been some questions about breastfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, and the combination of the three. Let's talk about that here.
This thread has the potential to get...interesting. People can have very different ideas and opinions on how to feed babies and children. Opinions are nice but science is too. If you are able to include citations or relevant links in your post it can be very helpful!
This thread has the potential to get...interesting. People can have very different ideas and opinions on how to feed babies and children. Opinions are nice but science is too. If you are able to include citations or relevant links in your post it can be very helpful!
Re: Feeding babies
I am NOT an expert, but I think it's pretty cool how the whole process of nursing works. I also think its cool that we have this magical substance called Baby Formula that we can use when nursing isn't a good option. I like talking about this stuff.
The end!
I totally geeked out on breastfeeding the first time around and love to talk about it
- KellyMom.com
- La Leche League
These resources have been shared before, but might as well get them in this thread. I'm sure there are others too.It really gave me a new perspective - I support how any mama chooses to feed their LO! Just feed the kid.
But FWIW I do plan on trying EBF with this one. Hoping for success!
As long as our babies are fed, we are all good mommies!
BFP 3.8.16 EDD 11.20.16
Don't expect it to be instinctual for you or the baby.
It takes hard work and practices, and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.
If you end up switching to formula you are still a good mother, and you don't owe anyone an explanation.
Here's a question for all of you BF STMs... How do I handle traveling for work and BF? Sometimes I'm away for 4-5 days at a time. I'm lucky in that I can kind of make my own schedule when I'm traveling and be sure to schedule myself time to pump between meetings. I assume that I just build up a refridgerated/frozen stash before I go, pump while I'm traveling and then transport all of that milk back with me. Does that sound right? It seems like a lot of work when I think about it. I would love any tips or tricks!
I've gone back to work when both kids were 4.5 months old and pumped until they turned 1. Both my kids were night weaned around 20 months (recently for DS), both times mainly because I was pregnant and it became uncomfortable. Now I just nurse during daytime hours, almost exclusively at home, and almost exclusively in bed first thing in the morning/right at bedtime.
I'm happy to answer any breastfeeding questions that come up. I have no experience with formula, but support moms feeding babies however works best for them.
I plan to EBF if possible. I'll be a SAHM, eventually going to work part time at our family business. I am afraid of the first few days. I know you don't produce a lot in those days and I'm afraid I will be too tired and frustrated to keep going. I know my SIL has EBF 4 children and even with her 4th they pushed formula on her at the beginning in the hospital because her son was losing weight. I'm afraid as a FTM I won't be able to say no if that happens to me.
I'm hoping for the best but am glad I've read everyone's experiences because it makes me not feel so guilty if for some reason it doesn't end up working out.
eta: there's also an excellent chance that I'll get two weeks into that plan and then say f*ck it. Formula feeding worked well for us last time, but it was so. flippin. expensive.
Once were closer to birthing I have a crap ton of resources I can post from an amazing FB group I'm in.
One thing you can do to help yourself is to read up on what's normal for a breastfed baby as far as weight loss at first. I would also ask the nurses why they think baby needs that bottle and listen to what they say. If it's just that baby "seems hungry", that's one thing, but there could be a very real need to address something they're concerned about. I hesitate to advocate for going against medical advice since there are times when formula might be needed (like jaundice, I believe). Those medical professionals generally have your baby's best interest in mind.
Also, some women choose to give a bottle of formula occasionally for a number of reasons while still breastfeeding. And that's ok too.
We bought organic formula because I have hang ups about non-organic substances for tiny bodies. Man, formula is expensive! For FF moms, do you know/remember how much you were/are spending on formula each month? Genuinely curious, not knocking FF.
IUI #1 Feb 2012= DS1 born 11/2012
Unmedicated BFP (first post-weaning cycle)=DS2 born 9/2014
Unmedicated BFP (first post-weaning cycle again)= EDD 11/2016
IUI #1 Feb 2012= DS1 born 11/2012
Unmedicated BFP (first post-weaning cycle)=DS2 born 9/2014
Unmedicated BFP (first post-weaning cycle again)= EDD 11/2016
Do you fly? A pump is considered a medical device and not a carry on, and TSA rules are actually pretty accommodating - no limit on the amount you can carry on. You'll just need a good cooler (this will count as a carry on) and lots and lots of ice/ice packs. Dry ice is even allowed if you package/label it correctly when you have a particularly long day of travel.
And actually, more recent data shows that early supplementation can actually lead to an increase in breastfeeding duration, especially in the case of slow growers, anxious moms, or medical issues.
Per this study, if there's a concern about "nipple confusion" a syringe or cup can be used too:
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/05/08/peds.2012-2809
My husband knew from very early in our dating that I wasn't going to do it and he said he would always support me. Last year, as we got close to "Go Year!" while he didn't backtrack on his word, he started questioning me a lot more. I started researching the crap out of the topic because I wanted to show him up (yeah, we're competitive like that), but then I also decided that I wanted him to be fully on-board that FF wasn't just because "it's her body". I wanted it to be his choice too.
I won't say there aren't any benefits to BF (because that's just crazy talk to say that), but what I decided was that none of the research out there convinced me that it was worth it for my lifestyle. Just like my mother did with her children, my children will never hold their own bottle. If they are taking a bottle, they will always be held and being fed by someone (be it me, my husband, other family or friends). To me, that is the exact same as the baby being held while nursing. And just like other mothers I will be working to providing food/nourishment for my child.
I also was unimpressed with studies claiming BF babes have certain advantages especially when reviewing the populations comparatively .Eg: BF babes have been linked to having higher IQs in later childhood. But higher IQs are also linked to having a higher socioeconomic status, which coincidentally is the same population that is more frequently BFs. Basically, how can you say it's because you BF and not from anything else? If you want some interesting reading, read the studies where they compare children from the same household who were fed differently. Absolute fascinating literature that pretty much comes to the conclusion that BF and FF has no statistical difference.
My husband's favorite stat to quote (and I will try to re-find the paper were it was published) is that BF children have less incidents of digestive issues. But when you calculate the math out, it turns out what that means that out of 1,000 children, 1 BF child will have 1 less incident of diarrhea than FF children.
The overarching point of everything I learned is is that breast may be best, but best isn't much better. And for my husband and I, what's best is what works for us and the benefits we see with formula far outweigh the slight edge BF has over FF.
All my research also made it easier for my to support my SIL in her attempts to do so and then support her when she made the choice to stop (also gave me the tools to knock some sense into my BIL as he opposed her stopping). I wish she had a better experience with it because she admitted to me that she wasn't happy in her first few months as a new mom because of her struggles at BF. I know how much she wanted it, but they are both happy and healthy and content and that's what matter most.
In general, I just love feeding my children. I don't care where their nutrition comes from, so long as they're fed. That look in their eyes as they're getting a full belly. Playing with their hands. And as they get older they stop eating and coo and sing to you.
I think the way that I like to describe it is that formula is a perfectly nutritious, well-balanced meal. Breastmilk is a perfectly nutritious, well-balanced meal, that is custom made with your baby's unique nutritional and immunological needs in mind. Most of the "long term" benefits to baby are under a significant number of other pressures, and as @KilgraveMadeMeDoIt mentioned in the "dumb questions" post, many of those are balanced out by the fact that we live in the technologically advanced society.
I would still argue that breastmilk is superior, and would still encourage moms to consider trying breast-feeding, but it is just one of many many many decisions that we are going to have to make, and ultimately is not the end-all and be-all of anything.
I'm a little torn this time...I was planning on FF, but I may try and supplement this time since I'll be having 2 (much more likely to come early) and would love to be able to pass on some of my immunity if at all possible. That being said, if it doesn't work I will not beat myself up this time! A fed baby is a happy baby!
Sweet DD born at 41 weeks Feb 2015
*Diagnosed with lean PCOS*
TWINS due 11/22/2016
MMC 01/26/12
MC 12/25/12, D&C 01/05/13
BFP 03/05/13, EDD 11/12/13. HB 175 @ 9w2d. Its a Girl!
DX with EA/TEF Type C & Tracheomalaysia
MC @ 13wks 01/15/15
BFP 1/11/18, EDD 9/21/18
I was totally team breastfeeding with my daughter. I had some really bad complications from my epidural that landed me back in the hospital - with terrible mastitis among other things - and a 105 fever, without my daughter for 6 days. Needless to say, breastfeeding fell apart. I tried pumping for a while, but I couldn't even sit up and it was seriously a shit show. It was HORRIBLE. I finally texted my OB at like 3am and was like "how do I stop, I can't do this anymore". The guilt I felt when I threw in the towel was unreal - combination PP whoremones and people's asshole comments. It seriously rocked me. This time, I'll try it, and if it's sucky in any way, I'll switch to formula gladly with NO guilt. My daughter is perfect, no matter how I fed her. It seems like the most important thing in the world, but even now, at 2, it makes no difference how I fed her in the first year. No one's going to ask me when she's in kindergarten.
If you're feeding your baby, you're doing a great job.