I'd like to know why you feed your baby the way you do!

Chalaine09 · August 2010

I breast feed and pump. DS gets a bottle when I'm at school and can't get home. I chose to BF because it's more natural, the extra bonding, how it's cheaper and "more convenient" (for me it is, I'm terrible about remembering to clean the few bottles he uses now!!) and, of course, the "ease" of loosing the extra weight.

Why do you formula feed? Breast feed? Pump only?

I'm just curious as to reasons behind your choice, not to judge or anything, just to know

D_Nett86 · August 2010

I FF because DS was really jaundice and my milk was taking it's time coming in so we had to start supplementing to get his liver cleaned out faster. DS had a bad latch to start with and once I start supplementing and seeing how easy FF was for him I gave up. I broke my heart and it took me a few days to get over the fact that he like the bottle more than my boob. I tried to pump too but between him eatting every 2 hours and me trying to pump it was just too much. I couldn't get anything else done.

synchrosally · August 2010

I EBF. I told myself I wanted to try and so far so good. I am a SAHM and won't be going back to work until DS is a year old, so at the moment I only pump when I need to leave him.

Wilwarin · August 2010

Chalaine09:
I breast feed and pump. DS gets a bottle when I'm at school and can't get home. I chose to BF because it's more natural, the extra bonding, how it's cheaper and "more convenient" (for me it is, I'm terrible about remembering to clean the few bottles he uses now!!) and, of course, the "ease" of loosing the extra weight.

For all of the reasons you listed.

PinkPeony6210 · August 2010

I FF because I had a very low supply, and DD obviously wasn't getting enough. I tried pumping, but wasn't meeting DD's demand, so it was extremely stressful. Giving up BF was one of the hardest things I had to do...I still feel guilty sometimes. I hope to try BF again once we have another LO.

sabrinafair · August 2010

I FF because I had a breast reduction and just didn't get enough milk to come in. I pumped for 6 weeks and was able to give me one full meal a day, but that was with 7-10 pumping sessions to get that one meal. Eventually even my doctor told me that it would be best to quit pumping and spend that extra time with LO instead. Broke my heart

Rachelilly23 · August 2010

The biggest reason I have right now for me to continue EBF is that it's free! I just feel like if I can BF, it saves so much money in the end. It's also just more convenient not having to deal with bottles. There are just more health benefits to doing it as well, so I think it's best for LO. And I love that I can lose weight faster than I would if I wasn't BFing.

I pump when I absolutely have to, but I really haven't had to very often the past 2 months- just more so in the beginning when DS had jaundice and had to stay in phototherapy.

I've felt like giving up on BFing since DS was born since I've had a lot of trouble with it, but it's getting easier so I'm just going to push through as long as I can.

martini-time · August 2010

I pump and supplement with formula. DS has reflux and it seems to really bother him when he's feeding unless he's held upright. I find it hard to do so with breastfeeding, so I started pumping. After pumping in every spare moment I had, I started supplementing with formula. I try and breastfeed him at least once a day, but it's pretty frustrating. It makes me so sad we're both missing out on that special bond, but I had to do what was right for us and what was going to keep my baby happy and full.

monkeyqueen · August 2010

I formula feed, because, despite my best efforts to change my feelings, I hate breastfeeding.

Brags0607 · August 2010

I FF because I was unsuccessful BFing due to a poor latch & frustration on both our parts. I also tried pumping, but I had a low supply that could not keep up with the demands of DS despite taking Fenugreek and adjusting my diet. FF was not my first choice, but I have quickly learned that nothing goes according to plan. What matters is that DS is happy & has a full belly!

badgergirl2003 · August 2010

I FF cuz its far more convenient, I just didn't want to bf, and so far no one has been able to show me anything detrimental about it.

bsmerelda@yahoo.com · August 2010

I BF b/c it's cheaper, and healthier for the baby. Plus, I love the special bonding time I get w/ DS. At first BF was SO hard. I had cracked bleeding nipples and was SO sore, but now all of that is gone and were still rolling w/ it.

Shandie_725 · August 2010

LO had an okay latch at the hospital but once we came home, she could barely latch. She went almost a day with barely eating. I pump two times a day and feed her BM when I have enough for a full bottle and FF when there's not. It's hard since I planned on BF and pumping enough to let DH feed her over night, but my LO is gaining the weight she needs and is happy.

Shandie_725 · August 2010

LO had an okay latch at the hospital but once we came home, she could barely latch. She went almost a day with barely eating. I pump two times a day and feed her BM when I have enough for a full bottle and FF when there's not. It's hard since I planned on BF and pumping enough to let DH feed her over night, but my LO is gaining the weight she needs and is happy.

Brit&Nate · August 2010

I EBF and here's why:

-DD was formula fed and had the worst stomach issues. Not to say that they were 100% caused by her formula, or that Paul would have the same issues, but I really didn't want to take the chance

-FF is expensive, and with DD's special formula, VERY expensive

-It was almost a challenge to myself to see if I could do it

-most of all, I love it. I really do. It has been a very easy road for us and I feel extremely lucky.

naturegirl417 · August 2010

I feed pumped breastmilk supplemented with formula. I'm hoping to wean her onto all formula by 6 months so I can spend more time playing with her and not hooked up to this stupid machine. I pump because DD has a terrible latch as well as AR and she responded well to bottle feeding in a seated position.

Palan · August 2010

We give a mix of pumped BM and FF. DS has a posterior cleft palate and can not create enough suction to BF (I really really wanted to and was devestated when he could not latch). I wanted to exclusively pump but had low supply early on and the time needed to feed DS (long due to the cleft) and then pump was putting too much stress on both of us so we use a mix of formula and BM throughout the day and just formula for the early morning feeding. I just stopped pumping but have about a month supply that we are working through.

1ht

susie985 · August 2010

I mostly EBF. There are maybe 2 or 3 times a week when I will give her 2 oz of formula, when she is cluster feeding and my boobs can't keep up, though that is rare.

I do it because it is great for LO and it is free and mostly convenient. Also she loves it and prefers it to the bottle, sometimes refuses a bottle. I also like the fact that it is special bonding time and nobody else can do that for her. I am very grateful to have a great supply and no BFing problems thus far.

I do pump sometimes just so I can build a little freezer supply for when I want to go out or whatever.

jjgal · August 2010

I breastfeed because it's the healthiest thing I can do for my child. I'm giving her everything she needs for life right now. It's been an easy road for both of us, and we love our bonding time together. I pump in the morning and at night so that DH can give her one bottle a day to prepare her for when I go back to work and she has to take bottles.

AmandaAndTj · August 2010

ErinKD:
I FF because I had a very low supply, and DD obviously wasn't getting enough. I tried pumping, but wasn't meeting DD's demand, so it was extremely stressful. Giving up BF was one of the hardest things I had to do...I still feel guilty sometimes. I hope to try BF again once we have another LO.

this is me exactly

MrsH44 · August 2010

I EP because it gives me and LO all of the benefits of breastfeeding (all the reasons PPs have listed) and I find it much easier than BFing. LO was having a really hard time latching, he was barely eating, he was getting frustrated, I was getting frustrated, but I really didn't want to have to FF, so I thought I'd try pumping, and I love it! I can pump and feed him in about half of the time it took to BF, I love that I know exactly how much he's eating, other people can feed him if they want to, DH can get up with him at least once at night and it helped build up my supply.

hydies33 · August 2010

I EBF because:

1. It's healthiest for my LO

2. It's healthiest for me (the risk of female cancers are reduced)

3. It's free

4. I hate the smell of formula. Yuck.

BF was really, really difficult in the beginning, but I'm proud of myself for sticking with it. That being said, I'm thankful there are healthy alternatives in case something would have happened that prevented me from being able to BF.

adryt86 · August 2010

I would hope that no one would ever bash someone for choosing to formula feed. I fully understand now why some choose to do it or have to start doing it instead of bf. I EBF but it is very very hard. My nipples hurt so bad even after two weeks and it can be so incredibly emotionally draining to be her only source of food. Since I will be working occasionally I will be getting a pump and starting to do some of that. But until then the thing really keeping me going is that it is good for her and it is a nice bond but also that I want to prove I can stick with something (im not super great at that) Needless to say, i know i will get over the pain and things will be fine here after a few more weeks

MrsBalletStar05 · August 2010

LO is formula fed and I have a million reasons why.

Convenience. Daddy can feed him or any other relative or friend. Daycare can feed him.

I have inverted nipples.

I can get back to *me* quicker

I can diet and not worry about eating too little to support milk production

I can eat things without worrying that it will have an adverse reaction to little one.

Went back to work fairly quickly, so it's easy not to have to pump.

JulzRulz · August 2010

I weaned a couple of weeks ago, because I start school in a week and won't be able (or willing, with the schedule I'll have) to pump.

sweetpea618 · August 2010

I tried EBF and DS was so fussy for hours after eating, he wasn't getting enough.I pumped every 2 hours and wasn't even getting 1/2 oz after several days of trying. We now FF not only for that reason, but DS threw my back to dialysis and meds are good for milk production, so I'm a proud FF!

chazlewo · August 2010

I BF (and pump 3-4 times/day at work). It's more convenient, healthy, cheaper, and I love it.

kmwills · August 2010

DD also had jaundice, as a pp mentioned, so we had to supplement with formula from the beginning to get her system cleared out. I also have very low supply. Despite my efforts to increase my supply, I still only get about 1/2 oz per day. So we FF primarily, but I'll put LO to my breast for about 5 minutes before each feeding while the bottle is warming so she can get what BM I do have.

I was really upset about the low supply at first, too. But as pp said, the important thing is that DD is happy and healthy. Rule #1: feed the baby.

jenxoxoxo · August 2010

synchrosally:
I EBF. I told myself I wanted to try and so far so good. I am a SAHM and won't be going back to work until DS is a year old, so at the moment I only pump when I need to leave him.

This. But I have a DD

BlondeBeachBride08 · August 2010

I BF because I've always wanted to do that for my child. It's free, I'm losing weight, it's handy. etc etc

Not gonna lie, it's been PAINFUL between thrush and some latch issues my nipples want to fall off but I haven't considered quitting. I want to BF for at least a year and I know it's going to get easier at some point.

kimmidawn9 · August 2010

I pump and give formula once a day. She had a hard time bf (my breasts were too big for her -38J pre-pregnant), Due to my size she would not latch. So I started pumping, it works for me. She used to eat for 45min-1hr and still be hungry, by pumping she is still getting my milk and i can be done (her eating and pumping) in a little as 20 min. I pump roughly 6-9 oz from both breats at a time. I started giving her formula at night so that i could get more than 2-3 hours of sleep in a row. Now she is sleeping 4-5 hours in a row sometimes up to 6.

My goal was to have her get breastmilk for at least 3 months (only have 1 more to go). I will probably wean her after that point so i can spend more time with her as she grows and is more mobile.

Quizzle · August 2010

I'm EBF and occasionally pumping. It's free, we're broke, and it seems the best thing to do for me. She did have some formula while in the hospital, mostly because I had a c-section and she was in the NICU for two days, but she hasn't had it since.

BFing is hard, her latch is sometimes good, sometimes not (it's especially bad on the right side, omg) but it seems to be worth it. I'm hoping to go back to work soon, assuming I get employed, so I'm pumping occasionally so we have a small stash for going out of the house or leaving her with family, and will pump more once I'm able to get a job and need daycare.

Plus the childbirth + BFing diet seems to really work well for me... I think I weigh less now than I have in years.

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