Forum : Pregnancy

I couldn't aggree with you more!

I do actually intend on breast feeding - and at 36weeks now, really feel the pressure - 'I will be a bad mother or a failure' if I decide that breastfeeding doesn't work for me.
Becoming mothers is a big deal anyway, and the last thing we need is being 'frowned' upon and made to feel like poo just because we aren't able to or decide not to breast feed.

It is a personal choice and yes 'breast is best' but bottle feeding doesn't harm either if the instructions are followed correctly. Our NHS trust is a 'breast feeding' trust and have targets set for number of breast fed babies - the antenatal classes do not even go over bottle feeding; which to be honest as a first time mum I wouldn't know how to do either - like how to make up the formula? what temperature? sterilisation? None of that is even mentioned but yet would be important!

I think we all deserve support in whichever way we do decide to feed.

xx

i am completely in agreement as well. I am due in October and everyone keeps asking me if i am going to breastfeed and then frowning at me when i say i dont know yet, i might give it go but as far as i am concerned thats my business not theirs! x

hi ive bottle fed all my 4 and my eldest is almost 10 so hasnt done him any harm.
breast is best only if it is best ofr the mother which would mean if the mother is happy
with this otherwise bottle feeding is just as best. at the end of the day i think whats more important is if you are happy and baby is happy never mind how it fed.
good luck to all of you and enjoy being mothers!

hugs to all xx
ps my midwife was brilliant and didnt quoute any of this breast is best because as she said it isnt always true!!!

Hiya Lucy, your post has hit the nail on the head for me.

I don't know where people get off on telling you that your personal choice is wrong. I don't intend to breast feed as it's MY choice, and the people who come out with the "breast is best" hippy mumbo jumbo putting us down annoy me so much. Making out that we are doing something utterly dreadful to our children, its our bodys, our children and our choice to decide what we want to do, not some stranger who doesn't know us, or someone who thinks they know best just because they breast feed! Me and my older brother was brought up on bottles and we are fine!

As the above post says, it is only best if it is best for the mother, and for me personally it isn't. As you have said, fathers need to bond with their child too, so for them to be able to feed them by bottle is an amazing thing for them considering for the 9 months we carried our babys they haven't been able to get involved like we have.

Through family & friends, the baby's I have seen brough up on bottle seem alot more happier than the one's I know was brought up by breast, and also not as glinggy to the mother, they share affection to both there mum's and dad's equally.

If mothers feel they want to breast feed, then by all means go for it, but for them who pass judgment on others for not doing so, I pitty them for feeling they have the right to judge us...we don't pass judgment on them.

Thanks Lucy for posting about this subject, it's something that has been on my mind for a long time :)
xox

Hi, i have this from my midwife, mum, sister, sisters friends!! etc & thing is my sister is 5yrs older than me but no kids & everyone else - it was their choice to breast feed & i just dont like the idea of it!! im sick of hearing 'breast is best' - its not if its not YOUR own choice!!!!!! i thought maybe of doing the first feed on the breast but now think i dont really wanna... and i think its something i will decide on after the birth but i know once im home im bottle feeding.
Also, i dont want to have to express into a bottle for my fiance to feed his own daughter, i think he should be involved as me! x

I plan to breast feed but I agree with you all...I know plenty of mums who are frowned at because they bottle feed but people seem to ignore the reasons why they do it. One of my friends wasn't producing enough milk for her little one so has to bottle feed. I must say if it wasn't for the fact that you can express milk to then bottle feed your little one I probably would only bottle feed because 1) I get uncomfortable watching mums out and about breastfeeding in public so why should I put that on other people 2) my poor blokie would never get any time to bond with the baby and 3) I want to sleep at least 4 hours in a row during the night, my boyfriend can get up and feed the baby at 3am while I'm nicely snuggled up in bed!!
I'm sorry that other people feel pressured by those who are meant to be helping us eg midwives and the NHS, it is a huge and over talked about debate. I wish people would remember that formula milk wouldn't be allowed to be sold if it wasn't up to the right standards of doing your baby good!!!

im not taking sides with this cos i think what ever baby and mother are comfortable with is fine.its all personal at the end of the day.

i spoke to a friend of mine who goes to a breastfeeding club thing who was told after asking the reason they dont tell you much about bottle feeding one is to sway you more to breastfeeding but also because the information on everything mixing formula cleaning bottles etc is all proovided with the equipment you buy.we dont quite get instructions on our boobs lol.

there are good reasons which ever way you feed your baby but i think as long as your baby is feeding til they are satisfied it makes no difference.