Since Mod is not here, i would like to stir the sh!t up...

lpennie16 · February 2010

FolanMama- You mentioned in UO how you thought babies were easy (i am paraphrasing here) if not breastfed. Please clarify b/c I disagree.

Sunndraggon · February 2010

yea...i posted in UP, but it is so far down.........what do you mean that they would be no work at all??

Garnetbaby09 · February 2010

Sunndraggon:

yea...i posted in UP, but it is so far down.........what do you mean that they would be no work at all??

Holy... Lil was a handful and I FF!

brandonsfuturewife07 · February 2010

thanks for doing this lpennie. that's a crock & a half.

102503Natalie · February 2010

I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

lisaohgee · February 2010

Yeah, I don't get it.

alicatt79 · February 2010

I think BFing is way easier than FF. The only reason I was able to stick with it for 14 months is because I'm so lazy.

KeepingItLowKey · February 2010

haha i thought my baby was easy because I breastfed... I just had to stick a diaper or 2 in my purse and we were always set to go...

mabst196 · February 2010

Folan's comment gets a huge eye roll from me. I FF past two weeks and no, it wasn't automatically easier once I stopped. Do I think BF throws a new level on taking care of a newborn absolutely, but not doing it doesn't mean you don't have no frustrations.

*blondiem* · February 2010

102503Natalie:
I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

This. Exactly.

My life as a mother exponentially changed the day that I weaned.

lpennie16 · February 2010

My experience:

DS1 was FF. I went through several formulas before I found one that didn't make him poop explosively, vomit, etc. I had to feed him 2 oz., burp, wait 10 minutes, feed 2 more ounces, burp.... for a total of 8 ounces. It was time consuming. I got spit up on A LOT. Bottles had to be held at a perfect angle or guaranteed he would spit up tons.

DS2 is BF. going great now, but took a lot of work to get latch and supply working.

I think both can be hard or easy depends on the baby.

violetvirgo · February 2010

102503Natalie:
I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

along these lines - i have to admit bf-ing was easy peasy for me and i cannot IMAGINE having to wash bottles and worry about keeping enough formula in the house or how many bottles to take somewhere. all i had to do was remember diapers and we were good for the day!

LukeAndAmanda · February 2010

Tell that to a mom who has a child who has milk intolerance issues. My DD spent every waking moment screaming after I was no longer able to BF her. She only slept 14/15 hours a day. Which we all know isn't the norm for newborns. My life would have been a MILLION times easier if I could have breastfed her.

MsLindseyLou · February 2010

*blondiem*:
102503Natalie:
I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).
This. Exactly.
My life as a mother exponentially changed the day that I weaned.

I agree. It was a lot of pressure to be the primary food source...maybe it would've been different if she wasn't born early...

ajanes · February 2010

I BF, EP, and FF. Let me tell you none of them were easy. Newborns aren't easy. At least mine wasn't. I had a lot less stress when I quit BF/EP but I had a ton of guilt that it didn't work. It's a trade-off.

nbjenni · February 2010

I 100000% think that formula feeding was easier than pumping - bonus points for not feeling like a leaky, hormonal cow. Different strokes for different folks.

102503Natalie · February 2010

violetvirgo:
102503Natalie:

I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

along these lines - i have to admit bf-ing was easy peasy for me and i cannot IMAGINE having to wash bottles and worry about keeping enough formula in the house or how many bottles to take somewhere. all i had to do was remember diapers and we were good for the day!

After all of the issues I had with BFing, washing bottles was a drop in the bucket.

Sunndraggon · February 2010

*blondiem*:
102503Natalie:

I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

This. Exactly.

My life as a mother exponentially changed the day that I weaned.

Sayind BF can be stressful, or saying it is a different expereince altogether from FF, is ione thing, but she actually said not having BF baby would be no work at all.This ios VERY different.

Toosdai · February 2010

ITA with Natalienumbers.

Life was a whole hell of a lot easier once she weaned. Other people could feed her and I wasn't strapped to a pump for a good part of the day.

ChristinaCT · February 2010

That was me too. My supply never came in & I was stressed out all the time. DS kept losing weight & wanting to cluster feed & then get upset because he wasn't getting a darn thing. Ugh it was a mess. Once I went to Formula everything else seemed "easy" so to speak, because I was less stressed out & DS was happier & fed.

tiniestjohnson · February 2010

This is a ridiculous argument becuase it totally depends on what type of baby (you know, quiet, colicky, good sleeper, bad sleeper) and what type of breastfeeding experience a mother has. My bf experience was awful, so yeah, I would say that it all was easier when I quit. That doesnt make it do for others.

ronnie day · February 2010

KeepingItLowKey:
haha i thought my baby was easy because I breastfed... I just had to stick a diaper or 2 in my purse and we were always set to go...

This exactly. I didn't have to carry a diaper bag, and honestly it was so much easier than when we moved her to whole milk.

When we went on vacation before she was weaned, I didn't have to worry about anything. After she was weaned, it was a constant PITA. there was many times I forgot drop-ins or whatever.

Bottles were a PITA for me.

exhausted_bride · February 2010

102503Natalie:

I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

ITA. It was wayyyy easier when I stopped BF at 8 weeks. Yes, all kids are different, blah blah, but had I stuck it out like I intended of course it would have been way more work. Just speaking for myself.

RaphSandra2005 · February 2010

lpennie16:
My experience:

DS1 was FF. I went through several formulas before I found one that didn't make him poop explosively, vomit, etc. I had to feed him 2 oz., burp, wait 10 minutes, feed 2 more ounces, burp.... for a total of 8 ounces. It was time consuming. I got spit up on A LOT. Bottles had to be held at a perfect angle or guaranteed he would spit up tons.

DS2 is BF. going great now, but took a lot of work to get latch and supply working.

I think both can be hard or easy depends on the baby.

Exactly. This is why blanket statements like "babies are easy as long as you don't breastfeed" are bunk.

ChristinaCT · February 2010

ChristinaCT:
That was me too. My supply never came in & I was stressed out all the time. DS kept losing weight & wanting to cluster feed & then get upset because he wasn't getting a darn thing. Ugh it was a mess. Once I went to Formula everything else seemed "easy" so to speak, because I was less stressed out & DS was happier & fed.

I meant to quote Nat's post about BF/FF for her...

Tess12 · February 2010

102503Natalie:
I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

Yes, exactly. My life got much easier once I gave up on breastfeeding.

ABMcKinney · February 2010

I think it depends on the baby! Robbie was FF past 2 weeks and was a very, very easy baby. It wasn't too much trouble to just throw a few bottles of ready made formula in to the diaper bag.

Landon isn't as easy as Robbie, but he's still a pretty good baby. But now I have to worry about what I wear when I go out- it has to be nursing friendly. I have to pump at work. Other than that I do think it's easier to BF once you get the hang of it. Especially once you get comfortable NIP!

zach'swife · February 2010

ajanes:
I BF, EP, and FF. Let me tell you none of them were easy. Newborns aren't easy. At least mine wasn't. I had a lot less stress when I quit BF/EP but I had a ton of guilt that it didn't work. It's a trade-off.

Exactly. Yes

J&A2008 · February 2010

I would LOVE to hear a woman's experience where she has a baby that is "no work at all." What BS.

We EBF, and I love it. It is a ton of work. On the one hand, BFing is "easy" because you don't worry about how much to feed, mixing formula, carting it with you, etc. On the other hand, I had to do all the feedings. DH's perspective is that EBF babies are more difficult because he couldn't play as big a role. If DS needs comforting, he wants mom and boobs.

nhonzel · February 2010

I am just focused on the fact someone thinks raising a baby is easy - FF or not. lol

peeps61308 · February 2010

nbjenni:
I 100000% think that formula feeding was easier than pumping - bonus points for not feeling like a leaky, hormonal cow. Different strokes for different folks.

Ditto this. Every word.

skoorbnibor · February 2010

are you f'ing kidding me??

FALLingForChris · February 2010

nbjenni:
I 100000% think that formula feeding was easier than pumping - bonus points for not feeling like a leaky, hormonal cow. Different strokes for different folks.

I think this should our mantra sometimes on here. I hate generalizations and putting qualifiers on stuff, which I know I'm guilty of doing too, but we need to remember that everyone is different!

Happy Mommy = happy baby (usually Wink )

J+O · February 2010

After trying to feed a baby who screamed for 20 minutes (no rooting reflux because he was early), then pumping for 20 minutes during every feeding time (every 2-3 hours) I get what she's saying. It was really hard for us.

FF wasn't easier in the beginning though, I remember thinking I was making his life horrible because he didn't take to formula well... it came out his nose a few times and I cried because I know how much that burns, and he was very constipated and had an upset tummy the first few weeks with formula... after that, our lives were much happier.

So in a sense, I get what she's saying... but I also see your side too.

exhausted_bride · February 2010

Well, it depends on the baby and the mom. I would take washing bottles over bleeding nipples any day. I could NOT get that latch right and would cry when I BFed. I stuck it out for 2 months and it did not get better and yes, I went to LC. Switching to formula was so.much.better. for us.

jenifairies · February 2010

102503Natalie:

I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

I agree with this. My recovery would have been 100x easier if I'd just given her a bottle. Plus, I honestly think that FF babies have less sleep issues. Not that it would keep me from BFing with the next one, but when your boob is their comfort object, it's hard to get them back to sleep without it. And BF babies eat more often.

ABMcKinney · February 2010

J&A2008:

I would LOVE to hear a woman's experience where she has a baby that is "no work at all." What BS.

Robbie is relatively no work. I swear, the kid is ridiculously easy. It's okay though, Landon had colic for 3 weeks so we got our dues ;-)

Monkeybuttwhat · February 2010

102503Natalie:
I didn't read the OP, but I will definitely admit that being a mother was 100% easier for me after I weaned. I had major supply issues and lived my life around a pump. The stress my supply issues really affected my experience as a mother those first four months, and I was extremely happy when I weaned. Maybe that's what she meant? Some women have a very easy time breast-feeding. Others, like myself, have an extremely difficult journey with it which makes motherhood more stressful (if they allow it to - which I did).

It was the same way for me. After I hung up the pump at 4 months DD and I were both happier and had more time together. I wasn't happy about weaning it was soooo hard to make that call. The pumping, cleaning, then on top of that feeding process was horrid, I did have an easier time when I switched to FF. But...being a mother to a 4 month old was still super Fing hard. But it was easier for me when I switched to FF.

I wasn't breastfeeding though I was EPing. I really never felt like it was the same. I always felt like it wasn't as good as breastfeeding and I was like a fake BFer if that makes sense.

I didn't get that whole bonding thing. My baby was crying in her boppy bouncer with me telling her to just hold on one sec while mommy gets your milk. As I was sobbing and pumping and feeling like a failure.

I didn't get to read what Folan said though so i am not commenting on that yet.

102503Natalie · February 2010

ABMcKinney:
J&A2008:

I would LOVE to hear a woman's experience where she has a baby that is "no work at all." What BS.

Robbie is relatively no work. I swear, the kid is ridiculously easy. It's okay though, Landon had colic for 3 weeks so we got our dues ;-)

I'll chime in and say that Anna is ridiculously easy, too. She's this way for everyone - her babysitter, my family, my husband.

She's just a sweet, laid back little girl. I am very nervous for #2. Can I luck out like that again? Probably not.

violetvirgo · February 2010

ABMcKinney:
J&A2008:

I would LOVE to hear a woman's experience where she has a baby that is "no work at all." What BS.

Robbie is relatively no work. I swear, the kid is ridiculously easy. It's okay though, Landon had colic for 3 weeks so we got our dues ;-)

you are really making a case for a one and done for me - lol. dd is super easy and i just KNOW #2 is going to be some sort of evil!!!

KeepingItLowKey · February 2010

Lydia was almost no work. Slept all the time, only ate 4 times a day after a couple weeks (with Dr's approval since she was so big and not hungry more than that- no we weren't starving her...)... got up once a night for feedings the first 2 weeks and then STTN... I was shocked at how little we had to do. She was really no work until she started crawling at 10 months!

Which is why I am terrified that we will have no idea what to do if #2 is difficult since I don't think we know what babies are really like!?

Want a personalized experience?

Since Mod is not here, i would like to stir the sh!t up...

Re: Since Mod is not here, i would like to stir the sh!t up...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards