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3rd Trimester
Bottle-feeders come in
Don't answer if you think it's too personal, but, why are you thinking on not breastfeeding? Do you feel bad about it?
I have some friends who never even considered breastfeeding, for no apparent reason other than they just weren't feeling it. Maybe they also wanted to be able to share feeding responsibilities with hubby.
I'm considering not breastfeeding, or if I do breastfeed maybe only for the first few weeks, but I wanted to hear other's opinions on the topic, which is pretty taboo I guess since society (at least I feel) is like "you must breastfeed!"
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Bottle-feeders come in
I'm exclusively FFing and will not BF at all.
I wrote a blog post about it that you are welcome to read, but it boils down to the breast reduction I had 2 years ago.
https://heirtoblair.blogspot.com/2009/05/dont-call-me-bessie-mmkay.html
I just wanted to let you know that if you choose to bf for the first few weeks, that's fine, but often bf'ing is very challenging the first few weeks-for me, it would have been like only doing the hard part and not enjoying the "easy" part that came after about 8 weeks--now. I am fine with ff'ing, but I guess I just wanted to warn you that bf'ing in the first few weeks is the hardest part and it's wonderful if you try it and do that for your LO, but it's like you'd be missing out on the "reward" of the easiness of the next few weeks or months if you only did the first. Does that make sense?
And I think society cares too much with how women feed their LO's...as long as you're feeding them, who cares how!?!
I am thinking of trying to breastfeed just for a short time to take adv. if there is any health benefit and help kick start my body into getting back in order and. . just out of curiousity but there is no way I will be able to continue it full time or for a very long time. And, frankly, I'm not really dedicated to the idea.
Why bother BFing in this modern country where we have access to plenty of clean water and formula has been successful for generations?
They say BF babies are smarter and healthier but I have yet to see truly convincing evidence of this. Fact is, its difficult to get a real control group and study humans in an ethical manner.
My DH was a traditionally BF baby he had major ear infection problems when he was young. No one in my family has breastfed including grandmothers on either side, my mom or my aunt and all of us turned out fine. In fact, I've been pretty exceptionally healthy all my life so it is probably more related to genetics or luck or lifestyle or something?
They say its cheaper to BF. It is, but I crunched the numbers and for me it doesn't provide enough savings for me BFing vs. compared to buying generic powdered formula, especially when allowing for BFing pumps/accessories.
Why not BF?
I want my DH to share responsibility
I am going back to work full time. My employer does have a decent nursing room but still it out is going to be a big challenge.
Potential pain and difficulties.
Ability to eat and drink what you want when you want it guilt-free.
Actually, some of the uppity breastfeeding types kind of turn me off of it
i am exclusively bottle feeding. i have epilepsy and am on seizure meds so have decided I don't want to expose him to more meds.
I have received some definite bad reactions from people but I am holding strong to my decision
I think it's made too big a deal of on both ends of it. No one in my family breast fed, so they think i'm crazy for even trying it. Dh's mom didn't try either.
I took a breastfeeding class, and Dh came with me. I honestly don't know what I want to do still. I left the class feeling like I didn't even want to deal with it at all.
The reasons I don't really want to do it are, dealing with the pain, not being able to share responsibility, was told that I shouldn't pump until after 4 weeks to regulate supply by BF instructor. I've also read that BFmoms are more tired, and the thought of feeding for 30 mins to an hour up to 12 times a day is just plain scary!
I do feel bad when I think that I don't want to do it, I am going to try it, however I won't feel bad if I FF.
I'm not doing it. The whole idea of it kind of weirds me out to be honest. I don't think I could ever do it in public and that would be pretty limiting. I also don't like the idea of pumping. At all.
I went through a very long time trying to conceieve and now after 40 weeks of pregnancy, I'm really looking forward to having my body and my life back. I want to be able to leave my baby with my mom overnight or for a few hours with a nanny and not worry about it.
My H was breastfed and I was not. We are equally intelligent and quick, and both very healthy. However, my H suffers horribly from allergies and is constantly medicating himself, whereas I am completely allergy free and in perfect health. So I just don't believe all the hype.
I BF with DS until he was about 3 month old. I probably will BF with this one for at least a few weeks but am really debating not. Here's why:
Caden Reese - 8/1/06
Mackenzie Jo - 10/9/09
I only nursed DS in the hospital and hated every single second of it. I loathed the idea of having to do it. It was excruciatingly painful even though his latch was perfect and I had plenty supply. The LCs could not even figure out why it was so painful. So, I quit and never ever want to do that again. But I did pump for 6 wks. Oddly enough, to me nursing seemed so unnatural but pumping never bothered me.
But, I quit after only 6 wks b/c it was taking a physical and emotional toll on me big time. My breasts were a mess and I was still recovering from a c-section so my body was not in the best shape. Seeing myself in the mirror always brought tears to my eyes and I just didn't feel like good about myself anymore. I began dreading hearing DS cry b/c I knew he was hungry and I would have to feed him. I was scared that all that dread would turn to resentment so I knew my time to pump was coming to an end. Luckily, I had a wonderful supply and had already built quite a freezer stash.
I really don't want to BF DD and am on the fence about pumping this go around. I think I will just take it one day at a time and make a decision based on how I feel about it. With DS, I felt very pressured by DH to BF and he never realized how much pain (physical and emotional) I was in. Ultimately, I had to tell him that it was my body and my choice and I needed to do what was best for me in order to save my sanity.
Just wanted to say THANKS for all the helpful comments and advice. Got me thinkin ALOT. Thanks a million.
Too early to make any decisions, but I registered for a manual pump, and I will give it a go, but I'm ready to FF if that's what ends up being best for me.
Manual pump? I'm a first time mom so I haven't used one myself but from what I understand those are not so good. Also, if your not sure whether you will commit to it, did you know you can rent a hosptial pump? These are supposed to be a lot better. Just might want to think about that.