Question by Ashlyn: What is your take on breastfeeding versus bottle feeding?
I am pregnant with my first child and I leaning more toward bottle feeding. i know breastfeeding is free and it is good for the baby. But given my job and our lifestyle, I think it would be better to bottle feed. But everyone is pressuring to breastfeed, so I am mixed on the subject. Just wanted some other opinions. THanks!
Best answer:
Answer by *~Eliyana Lisette due june 1st~*
I would rather breastfeed just because i heard it makes u closer with ur baby and its healthier, but if u cant because of a job and things like that i think it would be better to formula feed or u should just do both or pump breastmilk into a bottle so whoever is babysitting can feed breastmilk from the bottle.
Add your own answer in the comments!
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There is no formula on the market which contains antibodies. There is no formula on the market which is designed to meet the complete nutrional needs of your baby. There is no formula which is as gentle and easily digested as breast milk.
I understand that the breast isn’t for everybody, however it is still best. If you can you should try it.
There are many options for the busy mother, pumping even offering the breast for night feedings, only.
If possibly try to get some breast milk into baby.
Bottle feeding is absolutely easier. Bottle feeding is always an option, and in the end as long as baby is fed everything is OK. Just simply not all foods are created equal, and breast is absolutely the best.
You could always pump your milk. alot of work places allow you time to pump and the person caring for your child can come and get it. or you can store up alot in the freezer and pump at work and toss that in the freezer as well…
BUT you are going to get alot of rude answers on this question. yes breastfeeding has WAY better nutrition, however a fed baby is a fed baby…… you do what you feel comfy with. your baby is going to get some of the same nutrients from formula. they have got it quiet close to breast milk. although it is not the same it is still very good for them.
don’t listen to the rude people… they have no idea what they are talking about. i feel very strong about breastfeeding. my son is 5 1/2 months and i ma still breastfeeding but i would never put a mother down for feeding their baby formula. it is food to…. just let the rude answers pass you buy.
Congrats on the baby! and good luck.
I think that as long as you can breast feed, you should. you’re right, it saves LOTS of money and it’s so easy to just latch your baby on to you, especially in the middle of the night, instead of having to prepare a bottle. of course, I’m sure you’re aware of the health benefits and they say that supposedly babies that are breast fed have higher IQ’s. I bf and I do so because I love the bond that I share with my baby when I’m feeding him. it’s amazing, simply put. if you are going back to work or feel like you don’t want to have to be around your baby all the time to feed him, you could breast feed in the beginning and then switch to formula. you could pump your breast milk and bottle feed your baby or you could do a combo of both breast milk and formula.
whatever you choose, I REALLY think you should try to breast feed, if only for a while. trust me, after you have him, you’ll want to do nothing more than just relax and sit and cuddle with your new baby, and breast feeding will “fit in” with that. it’s HARD at first, but after a few weeks, you’ll forget all about everything when you’re feeding your baby.
congrats and good luck!
edit: check out the kellymom website for tons of info about breast feeding. it’s saved my life and my sanity.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/bf-life.html
I didn’t think anything about breastfeeding but just went ahead with it. It was challenging initially to do but I find it quite easy now and I don’t have to think about getting bottles made up in the night or worrying about extra feeds as it’s with me when we go out. I sadly didn’t express milk initially to get our son used to bottle feeding so it’s been down to me from the start so that can be really tiring. It is also extremely cost effective although you do have to watch your diet a bit closer as what you eat can have affects on the baby.
Most of my friends bottle feed and they prefer it because of the convenience aspect. (ie. hubby/partner can share the feeding and you get to sleep through some of the feeds) and there’s no worrying about what you’re eating.
My choice would be breast-feed and with the next baby I’ll express and get them used to bottles so Daddy can help out with feeds.
At the end of the day it’s what suits you and your hubby/partner.
Lol
I chose to formula feed and now my son is 5 months old and i regret it i wish i could go back in time i would have breastfeed him being its healthier and you loose your weight a lot faster!! i suggest to any new mother to breastfeed because if you don’t i think you will regret it like i do!! I don’t think i was educated enough on the subject and it why i opted not to do it!!! Get educated search around on the net go to parenting classes get all the info you can it will help you a lot in choosing!! and you can pump and still have a busy life style remember its whats best for your baby that what you need to think of not of your self if you do think about your being selfish if you don’t because of you lifestyle there are other options than just breastfeeding you can pump and still be able to give them breast milk over formula!!!!
I think that every family is different and what works for one,doesn’t for others.You should do whatever is best for YOUR family.No one else’s opinion matters here but yours.You make a decision & stick to it.If you are confident that you made the best choice,then no one should be able to make you feel guilty about it..Congratulations to you as well.
SoGlam makes a good point. What if you don’t breastfeed and then wish you had? It’s a good idea to go ahead and TRY breastfeeding. If you don’t like it, quitting is easy. If you DON’T try it and then decide you want to weeks later, it is difficult (and sometimes not possible) to make the change.
You didn’t specify what sort of lifestyle you had that would make it difficult, but just know that many working mothers make it work with a quality breast pump. Even if you decide to do formula while you’re at work and breastfeed while you’re at home with baby, it will be a benefit to the child. Any little bit of breastmilk you can give is liquid gold–even if you just breastfeed while you’re in the hospital and then switch to formula when you go home!
Who knows–you may love breastfeeding. I’d give it a try. The worst thing that could happen is that you will prove yourself right and can quit knowing it’s the best choice for you.
Any breastfeeding is better than no breastfeeding at all. Ideally, every infant would be put to the breast and allowed to nurse on demand until they were eating solid foods, and then allowed to continue to nurse until they were ready to wean. That doesn’t work for every mother, and I certainly understand that. Even one day of breastfeeding is better than none at all. There’s no harm in giving it a try.