I was wondering how many of you breastfed or formula fed? or if you chose to do both



as for me..i tried the whole breastfeeding at the hospital for 4 days..it was ok..but when i got home i felt overwhelmed...and wasnt getting enough milk to come out w/the breast pump..i broke down and gave in to formula...i probably could have done it if i stuck to it..

what do u say? is one better than the other?

oh...also i've read that some dcts think that if u formula feed it leads to a heavier baby? do u think this is true?

what other stuff have you heard bout breastfed or formula fed babies?

Personally I don't think EITHER side is "better" because in the end it is what is best for YOUR baby. Okay...so breastmilk has more antibodies but what good are they if the baby isn't latching on or eating or...NONE!!

I breastfed Daniel for 14 mos because he weened himself off (I think because my big ol' pregnant belly got in his way LOL) and am breastfeeding our daughter but because it is what works for US not because some book or doctor said so.

If I was unable to feed them that way at least I knew I had tried and so FORMULA would be the best thing for them. Am I amking ANY sense? IMO it is more important to me that the children are growing and are healthy I don't care if formula or breastmilk is the path that gets and keeps them there. [soapbox]

Okay...I'm done. Just makes me angry when people make others feel bad about choice they make for THIER own kids! :x ~Kerri

I think different things work for different babies. My son was really big and breastmilk exclusively just didn't satisfy him so I had to nurse and do formula. Now DD loved nursing and it satisfied her until she was 9 months old and then she went on formula until she was 1.

I have to agree that both are excellent sources of nutrition for babies and whichever one (or both) that works for you and your baby is the best choice.

Stephanie

I breastfeed Jeremy for 3 months, Julia for 12 months and then Joel for 20 months. I must say Julia and Joel were my healthier babies. Joel's never even had an ear infection and Julia just one. Jeremy had a ton of them. You do what you have to do. Either way works. :)

I breastfeed all three as well. But, with that said, it really is what works best for you and yours.


The only bad I can ever see is when someone is so anti or pro that they hurt others feelings.

I breastfeed both of mine, James till 10 months and Austin still is (5 months right now). My best friend formula feeds her little one since breastfeeding didn't work for her either. I think that whatever works for your family is best.

The only thing that would make a baby heavy is if they are getting too much food. I would think that could happen to both breastfed and formula. As long as you let the baby decided how much he/she want's they take what they need.

In answer to the question on which is better- breastmilk is far superior. We are so concerned about hurting people's feelings that we try to undermine that. If you feel you are doing everything right by your child, don't worry about others. And, I personally would never make anyone feel guilty for their choices if they are doing their best to provide for their child.

Also, my older daughter was roley poley, as is my younger daughter- and she started out at 2lb. 9 oz. Breastfeeding does that, but they lose their baby fat the older they get. My 22 month old is tall and slim. Formula is linked to weight problems because of the different types of fat in it.

I, too, believe that breastfeeding is superior. My baby is almost 11mos and has never been ill. I've read a lot of health benefits for mom, as well as baby. I will admit, in the beginning it was very overwelming. It was a huge adjustment and to top it off I had a breast infection for the first 2mos.(extremely painful!!) But I was very determined not to stop. I'm glad I didn't. It is soooo much easier now that she's older (and doesn't eat nearly as often...) and I enjoy the together time. Most of the people I know do/have used formula for various reasons. I think formula is a great alternative, but I do feel that everyone should at least try to breastfeed. In regards to not getting enough w/pump - newborns sometimes don't eat very much. Occasionally, a few sips may be good for a feeding. For future reference - Try the pump as they get a little older and pump first thing in the morning.

All 3 breastfed, child led weaning.

Bobert is still nursing. (14 mo.)

I breast fed twins and a singleton. I guess I had it easy. they were really easy about it and so I never experienced latching on problems or sore breasts, bleeding, nothing like that. My twins were fed both until about 4 or 5 weeks, maybe less. Mine were all weaned at 12 months. I do think breast milk is better than formula but like someone said, a mom has to do what is right and not feel guilty for it.

I breastfed my baby for a year and a half. She was rarely sick.

I do notice that the formula babies have more ear infections than the other babies. At least that what I've observed in our daycare. Also the formula fed babies had a longer recovery time for most colds in general.

I would definately choose to breastfeed any future children, but it is a personal decision. It isn't always easy for other moms, every situation is different.

I voted breastfed, but I guess I should qualify that alittle. DS was bf until he was 3 months, then we switched to bottle because I was going back to work. DD was 90% bf with some supplimenting with bottle at granny's house.

My expireince is that dd was much healthier than ds. Even when I got sick while bf'ing, she did not get even a hint of it, not even a sniffle until she was 1 1/2 years old. DS had multiple ear infections and tubes in his ears just after his first birthday (if I had known then what I know now, that would have never happened).

For me, it's a convenience issue, as well as health. I don't want to go to the work of sterilizing bottles, preparing formula, running to the store for more, etc. I hope that I will be successful in breastfeeding. However, of course, if a baby isn't thriving on breastmilk, you have to do what you have to do.

Thankfully there's a lot of help out there for breastfeeding, such as La Leche League, lactation consultants, etc.

~Ruth

I did the same thing w/Ian. I breastfed in the hospital, but when I got home it was really overwhelming and my hormones really kicked in worse with the second child and I couldn't do it. I felt SO guilty, but then I looked at him and saw he was happy and healthy and asked God for the strength and went on.

I don't see that either way is better, it all depends on the mother and the child.

I also think it's all about what works for you and your baby. I attempted to bf my son, but he wouldn't latch on properly so we gave up, I bf my dd1 until she was 6 weeks old and decided to quit due to my busy work schedule. With dd2, I haven't worked and am still bfing and she'll be a year old tomorrow. To be honest, I don't think there has been any difference in their health. My dd1 did have a lot of ear infections, but my son didn't, and she got bf longer than he did. My dd2 has ear infections quite a lot, and she has been bf exclusively for the past 12 months. Every child is different and special. Just do what's comfortable and right for you.

I could only breastfeed Abby for one or two days. She wasn't latching on right and I had no help whatsoever. My nipples were cracked and bleeding by day two and even with nipple shields it was just too painful. And I didn't like the idea of her drinking my blood (sorry for TMI). So she went onto formula on day three. She wasn't getting enough milk because she wasn't latching on right and would only be on for like one or two minutes if five at the most. :(
She has always been healthy. No sickness whatsoever. She had a tiny cold that lasted like two or three days with no fever. Just a runny nose. And she is 23 months old now. Whereas I was always sick and I was breastfed. I'm not saying that formula is better. I just don't think formula causes health problems. Unless baby is allergic to it.
And Abby has never been overweight or chubby. She is so petite. But she has always gained weight like she should (according to the charts) and she has never been underweight. So I don't think formula definitely means overweight either. It all goes down to how much you feed them. You can overfeed a baby. It is just easier to overfeed with formula. Because babies will generally stop feeding if they are full (with breastfeeding).

Breastfeeding is good. You are giving your baby antibodies and the milk changes to suit your baby.
I am planning on breastfeeding Sophie. I now know about all the help I can get from a LC and LLL. Whereas with Abby no one told me. I had a terrible midwife who has never had kids but thought she could still show me how to breastfeed :? :shock: And she was no help.

I couldn't produce any milk so we formula fed, we loved it because hubby got to help feed and bond too and it was huge help for me not to be the only one who had to feed...it just worked well for us and since we didn't have an option, that was good! My little boy was never over the 50th percent on weight or height and ate a 9oz. formula bottle every two hours to satisfy him...so I think the weight thing is per kid...the three biggest kids I've known have all been breast fed.
Do what feels right for you and that will relax everyone and make it more enjoyable and satisfying for everyone involved!

Yes Paul offered to do night feeds if I left him bottles ready made in the fridge. But I never took him up on it. I didn't need to anyway. Abby slept through the night at one week old and has done ever since. It's something I'm going to miss this time ... I will be up probably every two hours to breastfeed. :( But it is worth it.

I bfeed. My dd slept 5hrs at hosp, 6hrs by 2wks, and 9-10hrs by about 3 mos, I think. So there's hope...

Thanks :) Hoping for another sleepy babe like Abby ;)