Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Why do poor people formula feed?
I mean the ones who don't have BFing issues. There was this one girl on 16&Pregnant who quoted some completely ridiculous BFing rumor and went on to formula feed. Perfectly healthy girl who didn't even attempt BFing.
Formula is farking expensive. And then the government pays for it. WHY WHYYYYYYY.
More periods! Here. And here.
Discuss.
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Re: Why do poor people formula feed?
You're right. Formula is ridiculously expensive!
I remember in one episode the girl was saying how its so hard to get up in the middle of the night to BF and then you have to clean up and 'all of that stuff'. Cuz it's so much easier to get out of bed and make a bottle to feed the baby. WTF?
Yes, but that's a stupid reason. Doesn't pregnancy kind of prepare you for weird and gross things?
Yes! This is the one I was referring to. Redhead, right?
I don't know why more women don't, unless they have isues. I had a friend that wanted to really bad but got mastasis (sp?) and had to stop at 4 weeks. On the other hand, I have a friend who tried, but didn't like it because she couldn't tell "exactly how much in ounces" the baby was getting. Seriously? Formula is crazy expensive! And it's not about what is convenient for YOU, it's whats best for your baby.
Now, if you have an issue and can't BF, I totally understand.
I think so. All the episodes kind of blend together after a while.
I'm sure a 16 year old isn't mentally prepared for the challenges of raising a child. I was totally against breast feeding because I felt like I was being pressured into it by everyone around me, and my mom FF me and my sisters and we turned out ok. But once I did more research on it I decided to give it a good try. Maybe they don't have access to classes or other resources explaining the benefits a little better.
I can understand not BF'ing at 16. those girls are probably so overwhelmed to begin with, I am sure 2 weeks of cluster feeding hell would send them over the edge. I know it did for me and I am 32! plus all the boyfriends were horrible, no good support.
I can not understand why 3 of my 30'ish friends decided to not even try.
My thoughts exactly.
Seriously? So where does the line stop? How big of an issue do you have to have before you're "allowed" to switch to formula? I get that formula is expensive, but it's a woman's choice how she wants to feed her child. Formula is healthy for babies too!
ETA: I just think it's sad when women fear getting judged tor FF and feel they have to justify it, regardless of how much of an effort they put into BF.Why does it matter? It's their child, they don't have to try BFing they don't want to..
It just doesn't make much sense to not try, especially these days when most everyone could use a little extra cash. Don't even get me started on the abuse of government social programs.
It is just a strange decision to make.
Old wives tales vs. cash. I choose you, cash!
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I think some people have issues with it, no matte rhow "stupid" others feel their reasons are. Why would you want the already overwhelmed unready mothers, who are practically children themselves, to add the stress of forcing BFing? I think as long as the Mom is happy, and the baby is growing and healthy, it shouldn't matter if you tried or not.?
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I ebf bc that's what works for me and it meant a LOT to me to do it. But I can tell you that I have a history of sexual abuse, and sometimes when LO latches on, it brings back harsh memories and sometimes I wonder if I should FF bc of it. Sorry if that's weird, but some people just have issues. ?
I don't take vitamins because they make DD sick and although I eat pretty well, this whole forced veganism is making me eat a lot of snacks. But you do know that your body will literally kill itself to provide the required nutrients to your baby, right? ?
Yes, I've heard of stuff like this, too. It's crazy!
I have to lol that she has a classification of issues that = Ok to not BF. don't worry... it's moms like this who think they are holier than thou who will do "what is convenient for them" in other areas of their life- yet, nothing is wrong about that.
Sometimes it IS about what is convenient for the mom and that is a fine reason not to BF. Some moms just find it creepy... or gross... or too painful... Regardless of WHY a woman chooses not to BF - it's no body's business but her's... and it's really sad when women like you say "I don't understand why they don't even try" or other bullshit like that.
We're all mothers- support each other in our choices... don't knock a woman b/c of her choice to do something that is totally healthy for her child - just because you choose to do something else that is also healthy for your child.
As for the OP - I can see asking this question as a generalization... not sure of the stats- but i would guess a small percentage of young/poor women BF - mostly because they are not educated about it, don't have resources to get that education, and don't have support to do it. BF is not easy - so if you don't know much about it and don't have support to do it- it's hard... and you don't bother or give up fast - which is why I assume a large number of young/poor do not do it.
This is what I've been told, too. And that BF'ing was seen as "disgusting". Now, if you really want to analyze, drinking another animal's milk is actually the disgusting factor, but we all do it. I really hope society begins to see BF'ing as the natural way of feeding our children in the near future. The fact that I am flying tomorrow and am worried sick about whether or not I will need to pump in an airport bathroom is also disgusting. ?
Most of them can get formula for free, and it is less work usually. What teenager doesn't want free and easier?
That being said, I am a proud FF. And I was a mom at 18. Now a second time mom at 28 and didn't change my opinion.
I get what you're going for, but unfortunatly, we don't get to judge their decisions. And I have some objection to the phrasing of your question, though I don't know. I think it's because it sounds derrogetory. Not everyone has a good job (or frankly, any job) and it's not necessarily through any fault of their own. Perhaps what you meant to ask was "Why do people formula feed then complain about the cost?" OR "Why do people who can't afford it choose to formula feed?" Or maybe you really did mean to imply that poor people don't have the right to make their own decisions about how to feed their children.
Oh ETA: I'm a 34 year old woman (sigh) with an excellent job. My DH also has an excellent job. We FF our DS because I have no choice. If not for his formula, my son would not be able to eat. It's $40 a can. We can afford it, but we get it for free through insurance. Do I get a pass on FF or getting free formula because I'm not poor?
My thoughts exactly. These girls are only 16. And yeah, 16 year olds shouldn't be getting KU, but BFing is probably the last thing that was on their mind. JMO!
I read a statistic that said the majority of BFers are upper middle class. I didn't get it either. Not having money is one of the main reason I made BFing work for me.
But if you really think about it... if you are poor and have to work a minimum wage job, BFing is probably extremely hard. They have to have a place to pump, they have to be able to afford a pump, ect, ect. It's probably easier to justify buying a $20 can of formula over a $200 pump.
W (02/2009), N (08/2012), and C (04/2014)
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When it comes to 16 and Pregnant, I admire the girls for KEEPING their babies and not aborting them. How they feed them is not my bidness! :-)?
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It's not the question of why do they. If they would be honest about why they don't. The one's I know could get a FREE good breast pump like a Medela one if they chose to BF.
Out of the two I know one both while pregnant said to them formula is just as good as BM. Now one (mom at 20) says I wouldn't have had enough any way. When the truth is that she felt it would make her boobs saggier and mess up her social life.
The other (mom at 20) tells the truth that the leaking disgusted her and made her sick so she couldn't do it. She also calls me her hero because I can do it.
Not to mention that the working poor typically have hourly jobs, with little to no benefits. Maternity Leave as we know it doesn't exist for everyone. If you had to go back to work within weeks of giving birth, breastfeeding could seem like a pretty daunting task. Besides education and support there are cultural factors, financial factors, and personal choice, among others.
When you look at the statistics (CDC), at 3 months postpartum only about 1/3 of women are breastfeeding AT ALL, and only 14% are EBF. BF is not that prevalent in our country which also contributes to social norms.