BreastFeeding vs. Formula Feeding?

kirstenvroman · September 2015

Okay so I've had numerous people ask me if I'm going to breastfeed or formula feed. I'm only 8 weeks along but this seems like a big decision I need to make. Does anyone have any pros/cons for breastfeeding AND formula feeding? thanks in advance!

Jules08 · September 2015

You do what's best for you and your family.

I breastfed DS for 13 months, but there were times that I had to supplement with formula because I was sick and my supply dropped. So there were periods of a week or two when we nursed as often as we could, but still offered formula to make sure he was eating enough. Also, when we first got home from the hospital, DS refused to nurse for 13 or 14 hours, formula was my only option as I didn't have my pump yet.

vtmomin12 · September 2015

There is lots of information out there. Ultimately, you have to do what's best for you.

I was set on nursing my first child. She was a late pre-term baby, very stubborn and inpatient (still is!), had trouble gaining weight and, after two months of solid trying nursing didn't work out. Therefore, I made the decision to exclusively pump. I did it for 13 months and it was tough, but it was very important to me that she get breastmilk one way or another. For this baby, I plan to try nursing again. We did have to supplement occassionally with formula when she went through growth spurts and I couldn't keep up. She survived just fine

, although her tummy was much more sensitive to it (think projectile spit-up!).

If you choose to breastfeed, just do lots of research beforehand. For the most part, it's hard work in the beginning. I think for some it "just happens" but most people I know have bumps in the road that first month or two. Be armed with information, have the number to a lactation consultant ready, get help from nurses in the hospital and listen to mommy friends that have been through it! We took a breastfeeding class at the hospital before our daughter was born and it was great too. And if involved, definitely have daddy join too. You'll need the support so it's important to have him on board!

I am definitely on the boat that breastmilk is best; however, it doesn't work out for everyone or simply isn't everyone's choice. I respect that. Many people feel it's their business how you feed baby, which is ridiculous. Either way, you're doing what's best for you and baby!

Jules08 · September 2015

vtmomin12 said:

Many people feel it's their business how you feed baby, which is ridiculous.

Oh the opinions and unsolicited advice; everyone else knows best and feels that it is their right and duty to tell you so.

cmerribury · September 2015

I'd suggest doing research on both and consult your OB and pediatrician, but ultimately it will come down to what works best for you and your family. I agree with the above posters, ignore the naysayers and do what you think is best. I breastfed until my son was 9 months and he weaned himself. After that we switched to formula. He also got supplemental formula at night in the first 9 months because he was still hungry after I nursed. There were several women who felt I "gave up" too early when he weaned himself, but I just ignored them. I know plenty of women who tried and it didn't work for them, and they have perfectly healthy, happy children. Good luck with your decision.

AnnikaD20 · September 2015

This is such a personal decision that it's hard to give good advice, but you can find lots of good info on the pros and cons of each. Generally, our culture seems to be pretty pro-breastfeeding, which I think is overall a good thing. Breastfeeding can be tricky and having good support makes the difference for a lot of women. If there are no other factors, "breast is best" and can be amazing when it works well for both mom and baby. But a lot of moms and babies have other factors. To names a few more common ones, there can be supply issues, latch issues, meds for mom, or just not enjoying it and being stressed out the whole time (mental health is important too.)

Whether you choose breastfeeding, formula, or a mix, as long as you are giving your baby the nutrition it needs you are a good mom.

kt012885 · September 2015

Like others said you have to decide for yourself and do the research. I breastfed DD for 12 months and it was the hardest but most rewarding thing I've ever done. I had to supplement formula from 9 months on just bc I wasn't producing enough and DD weaned herself but I still kept on pumping and gave it to her in a bottle. There are many benefits that goes along with breastfeeding and it's also free-which for me was a huge thing. I will definitely be breastfeeding LO when he/she arrives. Good luck with what you decide!

yodiggity · September 2015

I plan to BF if at all possible. I will go back to work after 11 weeks and will pump at work. I'm lucky to have a private office and semi-private fridge access. On top of all of the obvious health benefits of BF vs FF, it's FREE! ^:)^

TheBorg7of9 · September 2015

I would highly recommend you take a breastfeeding class before the baby is born. They have them at hospitals. Also check out kellymom.com.
I have found breastfeeding to be pretty easy after the first 6 weeks. Much easier than making a bottle every time. And you don't have to bring bottles with you when you leave the house. Just your boobs.

Rainbowheart · September 2015

Baby number 2 will be breastfed just like baby number 1. Our first nursed until she was 2. It was great for us. She never had gas or tummy problems as an infant. She never took to a bottle so that made hints a little difficult for a while. Formula is just to expensive for our family.

melandyga · September 2015

I agree with the above posters - breast milk is more beneficial than formula, but it isn't a "given" for everyone; it just doesn't work for some moms and/or babies. I breastfed (or pumped) for DD for 13 months. I had 3 months of Maternity Leave/FMLA and returned to working full-time after. I started pumping at work 3x a day, then it went down to 2, then to 1 as she started weaning.

I have 3 pieces of advice if you choose to breastfeed:

1. Let it be YOUR decision. A close family member of mine let her mom and sisters talk her out of it b/c THEY wanted to hold the baby and cuddle her and feed her her bottle. Her baby ended up being very intolerant to several brands of formula and may have done much better on breast milk. For her baby number two, I have her convinced to give it a shot!

2. Don't be afraid to pump. I had no one close to me that had breastfed recently, so I was kind of flying blind. My milk came in super fast and was too much for the baby when she was just a few days old. I know now that if I'd have just pumped a little of that out, she and I both would've had a whole lot more sleep and fewer tears!

3. Get a car charger for your pump! It sounds silly, but I pumped in the car a ton of times! I kept a baby blanket and a chip clip that I would just clip to the handle above the window and pump as I rode. It kept us from being tied to the house when DD was younger. Of course, I could just grab the baby and have her do her thing, but you can't do that while you're riding. Pump while riding = no time wasted when you get where you're going = happy baby with a bottle full of milk when she's ready for it.

I was very lucky the first time around. I had plenty of milk the whole time she BF and she never had a drop of formula. I know that's rare and I hope the same for you if you decide to go that way! Oh - one more thing - it does save a ton of money! At $30+ a can, formula is expensive!

mojomama6 · September 2015

For me it wasn't even a question when I had my first. Of course I would breastfeed! Breast is NOT actually best, it's the biological norm to which anything else must be compared (which is not to say that formula isn't adequate- it's the difference between fresh organic food and canned with preservatives food, you know? We all know we need more fresh to be our best, but it doesn't always work that way for whatever reason).
Lucky for me, my first baby was a dream to breastfeed. We had zero issues, none at any point in the 14 months she nursed. My second child was a mess. She was term, but tiny (under six pounds); she struggled to latch with her tiny mouth; she was horribly sick because of my ob and in the nicu, which meant she couldn't stay awake long enough to nurse and had an ng tube while I pumped; we got treatment-resistant thrush because of the antibiotics that saved her life, and my nipples looked like hamburger for five months... If she had been my first, I would would have given up and never tried again. I agree with pp's to take a class; have a consultant's number on hand, have someone take a look in the first few days to make sure it's going well even if you don't think you're having problems. Join the local La Leche League while you're still pregnant! Yes, they have a rep for being a little bit militant, but at least in my chapter, they are full to bursting with information and experience and love to help, so you feel ok calling in the middle of the night.
I feel pretty strongly that outside of a few unfortunate situations, every woman owes it to her baby and to herself to at least try. I know a woman who hated every minute of breastfeeding as much as I've loved it... But she tried again with each kid, just in case it was different this time, and then she felt no guilt for giving up, which is the way it should be- no guilt.

LadyDuby · September 2015

I'll be breastfeeding because 1. Healthiest thing for you and baby and 2. Saves so much money. But yes research research research! But I personally think breastfeeding is the way to go. It helps you lose weight, you can't get pregnant while you're breastfeeding, there are so so so many more good things in breast milk, there's just so much. Really read into it. A lot of women struggle in the beginning but don't give up!

kcbarbo78 · September 2015

This issue can elicit a lot of passion, judgment, information and misinformation. Do lots of research, talk to your OB, trust your instincts, and if you think you'll want to try at least to breast feed you might benefit from a breastfeeding class. The good news is that there is a lot of support for mothers who breast feed - from classes to lactation consultants to Facebook groups to advocates both militant and rational (a far cry from when my mother had her first child and was told that her desire to breastfeed was old-fashioned and backwards) - but you may find yourself on the defensive from time to time if you choose to exclusively formula feed and may have to stand up for yourself when confronted by overly aggressive lactation consultants, intrusive strangers or judgmental peers. Ultimately, you should make the decision that's best for you and your family. I've chosen to formula feed, and my OB is supportive, so definitely pick your doctor's brain if you're on the fence.

laurcor · September 2015

Someone else brought up a good point. YOU make the decision that works best for you. I had a family member try to talk me out of nursing my son (I think because it made her uncomfortable). I didn't listen to her and ended up nursing him for nearly 13 months and it was the best decision for my son and myself. My husband also loved it because I was solely responsible for feeding...but he was in charge of diaper changes

pinottoparenthood · September 2015

You're opening a huge can of worms here.

Breastmilk is the best and most complete nutrition for your baby, and it's also free. So I don't understand why anyone wouldn't at least TRY to breastfeed. Having said that, it is each mom's decision, and formula is a great option for moms who cannot breastfeed for whatever reason.

I personally breastfed my son for 18 months and absolutely LOVED it, especially once I got past the first month or so which was painful. We had some bumps along the way (milk blisters, clogged ducts, nursing strikes), but it was 100% worth it to me. So I say at least be open minded and into it willing to give breastfeeding a chance. And know that it takes a few weeks or even a few months to get the hang of it, so to give it a fair shot you have to try for longer than a day or a week.

Good luck. Ultimately it's your family, and honestly, I think it's rude for people to ask you that. I would say NOYB! (unless it was my husband or my mom).

AnnikaD20 · September 2015

LadyDuby said:

you can't get pregnant while you're breastfeeding

While breastfeeding lowers your odds of getting pregnant, you can absolutely get pregnant while breastfeeding. Source: me and a bunch of other moms on here who are still breastfeeding and very much pregnant.

I agree with all of your other points.

pinottoparenthood · September 2015

AnnikaD20 said:

LadyDuby said:

you can't get pregnant while you're breastfeeding

While breastfeeding lowers your odds of getting pregnant, you can absolutely get pregnant while breastfeeding. Source: me and a bunch of other moms on here who are still breastfeeding and very much pregnant.

I agree with all of your other points.

True true! Although many women do not ovulate/menstruate during the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding (where baby gets 100% of nutrition from breastmilk), some unlucky women do get their period back right away even with breastfeeding full-time... and since you ovulate BEFORE you get your period, you would have no way of knowing that you were fertile and could get pregnant.

Also, the more solids your baby begins to eat, the less milk he or she will drink... and at that point it is very likely that your period will come back if it hasn't already, and you will be fertile, even if you are still nursing some.

mojomama6 · September 2015

... and since you ovulate BEFORE you get your period, you would have no way of knowing that you were fertile and could get pregnant.
-------quote fail
Not entirely true. I'm sure a huge number of women on this board charted their cycles to get pregnant? Charting to avoid isn't that much different. So if you continue charting after the birth, you could actually know that your fertility had returned before your first post partum period.
Also, lactational amenorrhea has a 98% success rate, as good as low estrogen bcp (the ones you usually get if you're breastfeeding). The rules for that method are that your baby must be 6 months or under, receive no artificial nipples, and feed every four hours round the clock. And obviously, as stated in the name, you must not have had a period since the birth.
The point is that while one definitely CAN get knocked up again while nursing (me me me!), the odds are lower, and with some observation, breastfeeding can be used as a rather effective form of birth control.

Kc0825 · September 2015

Breastfeeding all the way. If you can that is. Some ladies have health conditions that make it impossible to breastfeed. I am for it 100% I breastfed my son exclusively till 9 or 10 months then he had too many teeth so I started pumping more. And started the switch to whole milk. Now that I'm planning on working I'll have to pump a lot more but The bond it creates with your baby is like no other.

TheBorg7of9 · September 2015

Kc0825 said:
Breastfeeding all the way. If you can that is. Some ladies have health conditions that make it impossible to breastfeed. I am for it 100% I breastfed my son exclusively till 9 or 10 months then he had too many teeth so I started pumping more. And started the switch to whole milk. Now that I'm planning on working I'll have to pump a lot more but The bond it creates with your baby is like no other.

Too many teeth? This confuses me because I never felt my kids' teeth and I breastfed both till about 16 months and they had plenty of teeth. When they are latched properly you can't feel their teeth.

georgiagirl3050 · September 2015

TheBorg7of9 said:

Kc0825 said:
Breastfeeding all the way. If you can that is. Some ladies have health conditions that make it impossible to breastfeed. I am for it 100% I breastfed my son exclusively till 9 or 10 months then he had too many teeth so I started pumping more. And started the switch to whole milk. Now that I'm planning on working I'll have to pump a lot more but The bond it creates with your baby is like no other.
Too many teeth? This confuses me because I never felt my kids' teeth and I breastfed both till about 16 months and they had plenty of teeth. When they are latched properly you can't feel their teeth.

Ditto.

AmadorRose · September 2015

ebartenfeld said:

TheBorg7of9 said:

Kc0825 said:
Breastfeeding all the way. If you can that is. Some ladies have health conditions that make it impossible to breastfeed. I am for it 100% I breastfed my son exclusively till 9 or 10 months then he had too many teeth so I started pumping more. And started the switch to whole milk. Now that I'm planning on working I'll have to pump a lot more but The bond it creates with your baby is like no other.
Too many teeth? This confuses me because I never felt my kids' teeth and I breastfed both till about 16 months and they had plenty of teeth. When they are latched properly you can't feel their teeth.
Ditto.

I don't have any of my own yet, but three of my sisters BFd and all three of them decided it was time to quit when their kids started biting them while nursing, at first by accident and then because they knew it'd get a reaction. Among them, they have 14 children, all BFd.

rebelone · September 2015

I was only able to pump the whole time. Because of my CS, my milk never came in until 10 days later and she never latched. It was a struggle and I wasn't winning, even with the support of a LC. She just wouldn't. So I pumped all the time and I stopped producing all together when she was 4 months. I was so sad. I tried lactation cookies, Reglan, etc., it just wasn't enough to keep the factory going. It was an emotional struggle for me and I felt less than a mom to her because my body wouldn't make any more milk for her. But at least she had it for those 4 months. We also give her infant DHA and vitamin drops with iron (she was low). The pediatrician may also prescribe Vitamin D drops.

TheBorg7of9 · September 2015

AmadorRose said:

Breastfeeding all the way. If you can that is. Some ladies have health conditions that make it impossible to breastfeed. I am for it 100% I breastfed my son exclusively till 9 or 10 months then he had too many teeth so I started pumping more. And started the switch to whole milk. Now that I'm planning on working I'll have to pump a lot more but The bond it creates with your baby is like no other.
Too many teeth? This confuses me because I never felt my kids' teeth and I breastfed both till about 16 months and they had plenty of teeth. When they are latched properly you can't feel their teeth.
Ditto.
I don't have any of my own yet, but three of my sisters BFd and all three of them decided it was time to quit when their kids started biting them while nursing, at first by accident and then because they knew it'd get a reaction. Among them, they have 14 children, all BFd.

________

Yes, it is true that biting can sometimes be a problem. Both my kids tried biting me a few times. It's just a phase. The trick is to watch them very closely (no TV, no iPhone) and be ready to remove them from the nipple as soon as they unlatch. You see, it is physically impossible for a baby to be latched and to bite at the same time. Biting often occurs when the kid is done eating and he unlatches, but keeps his mouth there. I had to be ready to remove them from the nipple as soon as they stopped drinking. Also, if they did it on purpose, I would immediately stop the nursing session and put the baby down.

Here is an article from Kellymom about it. https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

I just want to get the info out there that there are many reasons that people think they need to stop breastfeeding, but it actually turns out they just need coping techniques.

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