Why not breastfeed?

Hey there, question from an ignorant new mum-to-be...

I'm aware that there are some negative feelings towards women who choose to bottle feed. Why?

Also, why would some women choose not to breastfeed? I've heard a lot of good things about breastfeeding, nothing bad at all... so why wouldn't everyone want to bf?

I hope this is not a sensitive question...?

Some friends have been on (essential) medication that would go through the breast milk. There are sometimes cultural issues where BF is not common.

BF can be really hard, esp at the start. I had no idea what I was doing and neither did my baby (even though we were in hospital for 5 days after the birth). My milk didn't come in till day 8 which was insanely uncomfortable, I got a breast infection the next day (and have had 6 since ), and my MW only saw me for about 20 minutes a day if that, in the week after discharge so there wasn't much support with BF. I would have stopped, except a friend's mum is a lactation consultant - she came over for a few hours, and luckily my issue was reasonably easy to work on. Since then I'm lucky to have not had any problems (but everytime I get a breast infection I keep thinking "why the hell am I doing this").   

Hi

 

I think you really have to wait until you've had your baby and then you'll know what a BFing mother can go thru....Coz unless your gonna be one of the very small minority of people who have Zero pain or problems Bfing then you really wont know why a mum would'nt BF until you've experienced it yourself..Plus it would depend on your lifestyle also...

My son is formula feed coz he was a tongue and lip sucka & it was very very hard and frustrating for him to latch on plus my nipples got a real battering from all the attemps to try to feed him so My DP & I decided to put him on the bottle, I use the tommie tippie closer to nature bottles and he still has minor problems latching onto the teat properly sometimes...So for me personally I didnt want my son to be frustrated and to upset to feed everytime he was wanting Boobies...Some people may say and or think I took the easy way out for my own benefit but I'd rather have a happy baby and not a frustrated unhappy bubba...

 

This is a very sensitive subject for some people, So it's each to their own I'd say & I would never judge anyone on how they decide to feed their baby...

 

A Happy Baby = A Happy Mum xox

Basically Flissty's answer sums it up. Some women desperately want to bf and something happens that can't be sorted and the have to switch to bottle. Others don't have the info or the support to encourage them to bf so don't know any better.

There is some good info here about why bfing is considered to be so beneficial, some of the reasons include:
* lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical problems than bottle-fed babies

* Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses.

*Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well.

* A breast-fed baby's digestive tract contains large amounts of Lactobacillus bifidus, beneficial bacteria that prevent the growth of harmful organisms. Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, never contaminated by polluted water or dirty bottles, which can also lead to diarrhea in the infant.

* Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.

* Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It's harder work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth. The baby at the breast also can control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping. With a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.

* Nursing may have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating an early emotional attachment between mother and child. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, the distance between a nursing baby and its mother's face. Studies have found that infants as young as 1 week prefer the smell of their own mother's milk. When nursing pads soaked with breast milk are placed in their cribs, they turn their faces toward the one that smells familiar.

* Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there is skin-to-skin contact during feeding. Parents of bottle-fed babies may be tempted to prop bottles in the baby's mouth, with no human contact during feeding. But a nursing mother must cuddle her infant closely many times during the day. Nursing becomes more than a way to feed a baby; it's a source of warmth and comfort.

Haha this should be a fun topic

I knew it was going to be hard the first time I went for a scan and plastered all over the walls of the hospital were numbers for breastfeeding support groups. I assumed very early on that something that requires that many support groups can't be a walk in the park. I have to admit I knew a women (before I had kids) that didn't brestfeed her babies and I just thought how terrible what a bad Mother. But you really can't ever understand untill you've been there now I'm just like her lol!
I personally (I'm sure theres alot of people about to shake their heads at this) hated breastfeeding. I'm just not that person. I know its best and any future children I'll do it for the first month but thats it.
I stopped after a month with my twins becasue I never produced enough milk but I felt awful. Mostly I was scared what peoples reactions would be. We push breastfeeding so hard in this country and for some women it just doesn't happen. The whole time I was breastfeeding I felt awful and it was taking 2 hours to feed both babies (i was 3hourly feeding) so towards the end I couldn't stand the sight of my own babies. (mind you I did have 2) I was a happier and better Mother once I switched to bottle and I never looked back. Myself and all 3 sisters were bottle babies and my children will be as well. Theres nothing wrong with formula my girls are thriving on it and getting my very best attention

It just come down to if your able to hack it and personal choice. I have a massive respect for women that breastfeed its a hard road.

Thats the problem is that Bfing is pushed so hard onto people especially 1st time mums and Practically every person I know thats gone from BFing to  formula feeding have all said that they worried about what other people will think & there are a couple of ladies on my thread that are going thru those feelings at the moment and my heart really goes out to them because ontop of everything else going on with their Newborn baby they've got this extra pressure on them... It's quite sad really.... Everybody wants whats best for their babies.....

 

Spicychick I bet your wishing you never started this topic now, LOL...Im gonna go abit Off Topic now, I started a topic a while ago for this scan pic site where if you've got a good toilet shot of bubs Sonographers take a look at your pic and tell you the gender & man I only had the best intentions at heart but I started getting shot down by some people that didnt agree with my topic & I was like WTF, No ones getting hurt and it was just abit of fun etc, but it didnt go down well with some, But anyway they got my scan right... LOL..

Before I start, don't worry Spicy Chick, I know exactly what you meant by your question!

I have to say that breastfeeding is a lot harder than I thought it would be, even though I'm one of those women who finds the actual process easy (no problems latching, no breast infections, no sore nipples etc).

There's a lot of nervous energy taken up in getting positioning right and worrying if your baby is getting enough milk etc - boobs don't come with a gauge like bottles do! Plus the simple fact that your body is constantly working to make the milk, not to mention the calories going directly into the milk, and it can be fairly exhausting. It uses up an average of 800 calories a day, that's the equivalent of an hour's aerobics, and on top of a bit of sleep deprivation you really feel it some days! Plus you do feel the weight of responsibility - it's not like the father can whip his boobs out to placate bubs (although apparently 10% of men can lactate )

Don't feel sorry you created this topic, I think it's worth pregnant women being prepared by knowing that it can be difficult! I know I used to think you just put your nipple in the baby's mouth and away you went - not so!

Sometimes it just doesnt happen how you planned it to.

For me, i really had my heart set on breastfeeding, I tried for 4 weeks but Caden wouldnt stay latched on, my nipples were bleeding and very sore and I was miserable and so was Caden. He wasnt gaining nearly enough weight and he wasnt happy, cried all the time.

So we made the choice for my sanity and Cadens well being, that we would formula feed, and from the weekend we started I had a different baby and Caden had a happy mummy.

Breastfeeding IS great but it isnt always THAT great.

First off - good question! If you don't know - ask! I BF my DD for nearly 11mths 'til I had a bad stomach bug and she weaned herself while I was out of action. I work part time and expressed and she had that in a bottle so the switch to formula was quite easy. BF was OK - I didn't love it but I did it and I'm glad I did. However since I have had my DD I have met several women who had awful experiences trying to BF and then guilt and shame over bottle feeding. There are proven advantages to BF but they don't necessarily out weigh other things for the mother and baby! The worst was a girl who really struggled and didn't ask for help and her son lost weight and they kept telling her that BF was important and she kept trying but in the end switched to formula. Her son is now three and has developmental delays they think are related to his poor nourishment in his first few weeks. Obviously it should never have happened and she should have had more support (i didn't know her then) but it is important to be honest with yourself and acknowledge if BF is not working. And not feel guilty!

So having just made the desicion to wean my 5 month old from breast to bottle (and am sitting here with cabbage leaves in my bra feeling like a right plonker) after having yet another bout of cracked and blistered nipples and what appears to be thrush again, I do wonder why I bothered to BF somedays. I was determined that this time it would be easier (not so) I would last longer (not so) I wouldn't be in pain all day everyday (def not so), I am still doing ebm as well as formula and DS has taken to the bottle like a duck to water. I can now enjoy feeding with no pain........and thats a major thing.

I wish it were so easy, that every mother ccould enjoy it but reality is that its only like that for a few, so don't be surprised if it ends up being harder than you thought it would be, and I hope for you that it goes really well and you have no issues