s/o Formula - - BF, FF or unsure?

JLyn821

I'll be 100% honest with you all. I have no idea what I'll be doing. I've never had the desire to BF. I obviously don't have anything against it, but I just never felt that overwhelming desire to do it. DH said it's up to me since it's my body. I've always just assumed I'd FF....but lately, the idea of the cost savings of BF vs. FF is the only thing that's making me think about BFing.

I don't want this to turn into a judge-y BF vs. FF post. I'm honestly just curious to see where you ladies all fit in. You don't need to explain your reasons or anything. I know how sensitive this topic can be.

Did you/do you plan to.....

lb1117

I am planning to exclusively formula feed. We're always been signing up for the formula samples, deals and coupons. We are slowly buying bottles with coupons too. 

kanels11

I was the same as you. Just didn't have the big urge to breastfeed. That being said, I attempted breastfeeding with Arthur. He didn't have a good latch and it just was more frustrating for him and in turn for me.

I was however able to get a good supply going with pumping. We have been able to feed Arthur only breast milk but I am pumping and giving him the milk I pump. So far that is what is working for us. And it's mainly about the cost if BM vs. FF.

pistolpackinmomma

I really wanted to BF R but we ended up having to switch to a special formula. I really want to bf this one but will understand if I can't. However this time I'm willing to cut all dairy out of my diet. I never realized before how badly I wanted to bf. That and I hate washing bottles and mixing for mil with a passion. It's just a PITA when we are traveling and I'm trying to get everything clean in a hotel bathroom sink. That and with bfing I won't have to worry about if we have enough bottles packed like we do now. I just think bfing was easier, even though we had our struggles. If someone wants to ff then yay them! As long as you feed your kid one or the other then we won't have issues.

sparklingdiamond

I do want to try to BF.  Honestly, it kind of overwhelms me, but I do want to attempt it!

brij2006

I'm hoping to BF, but if it doesn't work out then it isn't the end of the world to me. However, I think I will only BF till 6 months or so, then switch to formula or a mix of both.

amccul20

I have always had the desire to bf. to me its such a natural and beautiful thing.

I don't really care what other people want to do though. I'm not judgey about it

skreedrake

I plan on BFing, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I have to switch to FF. I am nervous about BFing, though, because I already have such sensitive breasts/nipples (even before I got pregnant, I couldn't stand DH touching them, etc. - sad for him, I know!). I'm going to give it my best shot, though.

I am also worried about having to go on ADs. I am already prone to depression and am worried that I'll have PPD. If I can't BF because of any medications I need to be on, again... I won't beat myself up over it.

Oh, but the cost savings of BFing would be nice...

Venti29

I'm in the 'do what you want camp'. I really wanted to bf and did for the first two months, but we had to supplement as they weren't gaining enough weight. Adding formula has freed me up a lot, and right now we're 50/50.
I hate pumping, bottles, warming up milk... Etc. but I love the convience of it all when we're out.

I will say, being able to whip out my boob and calm a kid down is so very nice.

NotMrsSmith11

If you're not sure, I would suggest you at least try it.  It does come relatively easy to some women and if you're one of those lucky ones, you'll reap a lot of benefits for yourself and your baby.

I was determined to BF, even though it totally weirded me out (and still kind of does if I think about it too much).  It has not come easily to me at all, and it has definitely been the hardest part by far about becoming a mom.  I don't judge anyone who chooses to stop or can't do it or whatever.

As hard as it has been for me, though, it is still completely worth it to me to combo feed, which has surprised me in a way.  When he was born and I nursed him for the first time, I didn't even have time to think about it being weird, because I was still on the rollercoaster of giving birth.  I got a lot of support in the hospital, and by the time we went home I knew I would keep going until my body gave out, even if we had to supplement, and here we are today.

I know several moms IRL who, once they got over the hurdle of the first 2 weeks or so, have had it super easy and never looked back.  And those first 2 weeks suck no matter how you are feeding your baby.

bobcee

I BF both my kids and I'm not going to lie, it's tough.  At first they are so dependent on you and you literally feel like they are attached to you constantly.  That being said, it is so much easier IMO when you go out and it's a definite cost savings which is great. Also it helped me get back to my pre pregnancy weight within a few weeks. It does get easier as they get older and are on more of a schedule and though I was looking forward to getting my body back when I was BFing DD, I was still sad when I stopped.

I think if you're on the fence, you should give it a go.  You may love it or you may hate it.  You won't know until you try and there's no saying you have to keep it up if it's not for you.  Don't let anyone shame you either way.  Make the choice that works for you.  Either way, your kid will get what it needs.

saralynn7

I really wanted to BF due to benefits for me and LO but her latch was terrible and she's her mother's child....impatient. When trying to EBF we couldn't get it to work well and we both ended up in tears and frustrated even after meeting with LC's. I pumped some and for as long as I could before my milk stopped coming in. At best I could get about 2 oz. and at the worst I'd get about .5 oz. Clearly not enough to fill her up so we went to FF and she's been perfectly fine. If we have a 2nd I'll probably still give it a shot but I won't be upset with myself if it doesn't work. 

MRads

I was hesitant about BF, but I honestly love it. I love the connection I have with B. I love that I feed him. I am kind of amazed at breast milk, too. I put it on his cuts and they clear right up. We've both been sick twice since he was born and he's bounced back a lot more quickly. They say milk is a natural cure for clearing up eye gunk and ear infections. I love that I can wear him, nurse him and grocery shop or clean all at the same time. I love that I don't have to always have bottles with me.

BF is not necessarily easy. It can be really really difficult. And working and BF adds another layer of stress. Bf is not for everybody, but I did it to save money and got so much in return.

Eta: it should say that I love the connection I have with B while nursing. Sorry if that came off judgey or superior. It is our time together and we connect in a way that we don't at any other point in the day, personally.

carcrashheart

We exclusively FF. I never had a desire to BF. It hasn't been all that costly. We switched to sam's club formula when he was 3 months old. It's $23 for a 42oz container. At first it lasted two weeks. Then when he was bigger it lasted one week. Now we are back to two weeks.

Honestly, if you don't have the desire to BF then I wouldn't decide based on cost. There are going to be BF related costs even if the pump is covered by insurance.

And I promise-I have quite a bond with my child. And we have never had any issues with LO wanting me over DH because only I have the milk. I feel it's unfair to imply that there is more of a bond with a BF'ing situation.

MRads

I'm not implying there is more of a bond. Nursing is my time to bond with him and the way I best bond with him. If I weren't nursing, I'm sure wed find other ways.

gatorwife

I exclusively FF as well.  I never wanted to BF.  We switched to the generic brand and it is cost effective for us.  I have a great bond with N, and DH has a great bond too.  She is also growing like a weed. 

LittleLady77

You may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of BFing and FFing. I learned a lot when I had that conversation.

bridget0117

I wanted to only FF but my doctor pushed and pushed the BF and explained all the cons and pros and a few weeks before my EDD I decided to try BFing.

I did only BF for a week and it was painful. My nipples bled and every time she started eating it hurt so bad. So I talked to a nurse at her pedis appointment and she was a lot of help but it still hurt. Isis wanted to eat ALL.NIGHT.LONG and ALL.DAY.LONG!! I couldn't stop feeding her to go pee without her crying. If I would pump 2oz she would drink that in 5 minutes and then I had to do 40mins on each boob. It was painful.

One day I decided to try formula and wow what a difference. Now we are doing FF and BF but I think I'll only do BF for a couple more weeks and that's it.

Formula is expensive though.

Anyway, that got long. Sorry. I wanted to comment because I picked SS (even though I don't know what that means, lol) because I'm doing both as of right now.

MRads

I also think that if you do go the BF route, it is really helpful to go in with the attitude that if it doesn't work out, that's ok, too. If you do choose BF, I have some local resources that have been invaluable to me.

Ultimately, I really do think that happy mama equals happy baby applies best in the feeding decision, regardless of what you decide and how you end up at that decision.

pb&fluff

I intended to BF, but my boobs had other plans.  We use Enfamil (never switched to generic), and I'll be honest, we spend a ton on formula each month.  I can't convince DH to switch to generic because the one time we tried, he was too young and it messed with his belly.  I also had so many Enfamil checks from friends and girls on the board, that I actually didn't pay for formula for 4 months.  It was awesome.  I can't wait to be done with it.

As for the bonding thing, I kind of felt like I had more of a chance to bond because instead of him being squished against my boob or hid under a nursing cover, I could look right into his eyes.  I love it.  Sounds cheesy, but true.

pistolpackinmomma

LittleLady77 said:

You may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of BFing and FFing. I learned a lot when I had that conversation.

Honestly, I feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to go straight to FF if that is what someone wants to do.  I don't think I would want to go to a doctor who is going to bully me into BFing.  Formula is just as good as BM.  R hasn't been sick once in his 9 months but I know BFed babies who were sick within the first month.  Yes antibodies transfer from mom to baby but it is such a small amount.  Really the best time to count on antibodies is if mom gets sick because her antibodies will be kicked into high gear but even that doesn't guarantee that baby won't get sick too.  Besides that I was FFing when I got so sick my mom had to come stay a few days with me and R still never caught it.  I feel a lot of the BFing is healthier for the baby is propaganda being used to push BFing over formula.

waterfall213

BFing didn't work for us. I pumped for 6 months and then switched to formula. I'm not one to judge BF vs formula. As long as you're feeding your baby there's nothing to judge, IMO.

LittleLady77

pistolpackinmomma said:

LittleLady77 said:

You may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of BFing and FFing. I learned a lot when I had that conversation.

Honestly, I feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to go straight to FF if that is what someone wants to do.  I don't think I would want to go to a doctor who is going to bully me into BFing.  Formula is just as good as BM.  R hasn't been sick once in his 9 months but I know BFed babies who were sick within the first month.  Yes antibodies transfer from mom to baby but it is such a small amount.  Really the best time to count on antibodies is if mom gets sick because her antibodies will be kicked into high gear but even that doesn't guarantee that baby won't get sick too.  Besides that I was FFing when I got so sick my mom had to come stay a few days with me and R still never caught it.  I feel a lot of the BFing is healthier for the baby is propaganda being used to push BFing over formula.

Um wow. All I said was you may want to ask your healthcare provider and that I learned good stuff when I did. I never said FFing is bad, nor have I ever said that in the past. I might end up FFing myself. It's nice to know you think all the research out there is propaganda but that really has nothing to do with my comment. I don't think the advice of "ask your doctor for the facts" is ever bad advice.

lb1117

@LittleLady77 - I didn't think you meant it that way. For some of us who have hang ups about BFing, talking to a healthcare provider that will just make us feel more guilty about our choice, wouldn't be helpful. I *think* that's what PPM was trying to say. I am going into it with the plan to FF (dreading having this convo with my midwife though). BFing gives me anxiety just thinking about it. I know for me, it wouldn't be healthy, mentally and emotionally. I am already being closely watched for anxiety and depression during the pregnancy and PPD after. I can't imagine adding BFIng to the mix.

wiggyslilsis

I exclusively FF. I had no desire to breastfeed but on top of it all my health issues and my need to do with my body what I needed to do with my body was important. My OB was super supportive of my decision but the other doctors in the practice put pressure on me.

Honestly if you really want to talk to a healthcare professional about FF vs BF talk to a pediatrician. LO's pedi was very supportive. She said there are pros and consto both sidoes but supported me 100%

Using coupons and signing up for samples helps a ton with cost. Also, we switched back and forth between enfamil and similac with no problem to her tummy since her doc said they are almost/exactly the same.

Also, I know this is anecdotal, but my daughter is 18 mo and has yet to get sick (PS I am super nervous for sick season this year since I have no experience with it) and we have a super strong bond

cinderin

pistolpackinmomma said:

LittleLady77 said:

You may want to talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of BFing and FFing. I learned a lot when I had that conversation.

Honestly, I feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to go straight to FF if that is what someone wants to do.  I don't think I would want to go to a doctor who is going to bully me into BFing.  Formula is just as good as BM.  R hasn't been sick once in his 9 months but I know BFed babies who were sick within the first month.  Yes antibodies transfer from mom to baby but it is such a small amount.  Really the best time to count on antibodies is if mom gets sick because her antibodies will be kicked into high gear but even that doesn't guarantee that baby won't get sick too.  Besides that I was FFing when I got so sick my mom had to come stay a few days with me and R still never caught it.  I feel a lot of the BFing is healthier for the baby is propaganda being used to push BFing over formula.

BF is a lot of work and really hard. But any and all studies will tell you that there *is* a difference and BF is better. Propaganda? The only ones who advertise are the formula companies, they make money when you FF. 

I have had close friends who have tried and tried BF and couldn't get it to work and had to FF. I wouldn't judge someone for doing so. 

Personally, I went into BF saying that I would do it if it worked. Well, I have had a lot of challenges, but I didn't realize how important BF was to me until I was doing it. So I have been putting in the effort to get it to work. 

As I said, I wouldn't judge someone for FF, but it is not accurate to say that FF is "just as good as BF". It isn't. BF is better. 

LittleLady77

lb1117 said:

@LittleLady77 - I didn't think you meant it that way. For some of us who have hang ups about BFing, talking to a healthcare provider that will just make us feel more guilty about our choice, wouldn't be helpful. I *think* that's what PPM was trying to say. I am going into it with the plan to FF (dreading having this convo with my midwife though). BFing gives me anxiety just thinking about it. I know for me, it wouldn't be healthy, mentally and emotionally. I am already being closely watched for anxiety and depression during the pregnancy and PPD after. I can't imagine adding BFIng to the mix.

I love it that you own this and run with it. Ain't no shame in your game sister! Honestly, it's great that you know yourself and what's best for your family. I'm the opposite of you. I really want to BF and have terrible anxiety about FFing for a number of reasons including the fact that I have a semi-crippled left hand. The thought of juggling 2 babies and 2 bottles freaks me out. My doctor made me way more comfortable with the idea that I can't control everything and that's okay.

Venti29

LL, everyone talked about an over supply in the beginning, it made me scared to pump... I wish I would have. I never made enough to freeze (with twins), if I would have kept my supply up in the beginning I would have had more than I needed, not just enough'. As soon as you introduce a bottle it's hard to go back. I miss them getting 100% bm. I know it's okay, it's just the way I feel.
So my advice is take advantage of all the milk in the beginning (whenever your supply comes in) Pump it

I just pumped 10oz, back in the day it would have been 15-20.
I take all the tricks to keep the milk I have. Oatmeal, brewers yeast, pills... It's work! Good luck

LittleLady77

@venti29 thanks lady! BFing twins is so daunting but I really want to do it. I appreciate the tips.

Whippet8

My plan was the EBF, and because it was so important to me (I know it isn't as important to others), I tried very hard to make it work. 

When Cora was 8 months old, I had weaned myself down to pumping only once a day while at work (and still producing juuuust enough) that I stopped pumping all together. So, after 8 months, she was FF at daycare and I nursed her in the morning and at night. 

With #2, I plan to EBF, and I'm hoping that my knowledge now will help me if we have issues, but I'm not sure if I would try so hard to make it work. The idea of going through what I already did AND having a crazy toddler running around blows my mind. 

Kaiene

I tried to BF with DS but he had latching and sucking problems, even with a nipple shield. I quit pumping on a bad day when I was feeling overwhelmed and I regret that. He's a happy, 18 month old now.

I plan to try again with 2.0 and signed DH and I up for a BF class again. The hospital where I'm delivering is very pro breast feeding, and has LC available from 6a - 10p, so I plan to have them come and help at as many feedings as I can while we are there. I'd really like for it to work out, but I am ok if it doesn't, because DS has grown and developed just like he's supposed to.