What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Just curious. I can think of a few but curious to know what the biggest reason was fo everyone.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

for me i like the convenience of it.. i hate preparing bottles and worrying if i have enough formula while i'm out.
Of course i am a NICU nurse and teach breastfeeding, how to and the benefits of it so it's drilled into my head that breast is best
I like the immunities and antibodies it provides for the baby
I don't really find the weight loss thing to be true although i always hope it will be.
I love the way the baby looks up at me while he's feeding

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

I know I will be flamed but BM is best. Everybody says it, PEDS, etc.. This is why I did it. This is why I did as long as I could. So this is not about making anyone feel guilty if they could not, did not want to, etc..

That being said, I was a formula baby and "think" I turned out OK. I stopped BFing DS at 6 months PP. I felt horrible not being able to do further than that. I don't think once you BF that you ever feel ready to stop.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

My reason isn't probably very common. I didn't BF my first child. BF'ing weirded me out and I had no interest in even trying. He passed due to SIDS. I was determined to to everything possible that is 'suppose' to reduce the risk of SIDS so I BF's my next 2 children.


After BF'ing 2 babies I still didn't like BF'ing. it no longer weirds me out but its not really for me, but I will BF any future children I may have for the same reason above. I just hope one day I will really get a chance to enjoy it.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

there's no denying, it is the best. My whole life I am sort of an all or nothing person. So if it was time to get my mom on, the full speed ahead.

If something is the best, and free...quite the win win situation. Then add on the cancer decreasing benefits to me.

I love the fact that when my kid had all allergies to almost everything, instead of switching formulas around, I just had to change my diet.

I know people will doubt this...but I swear on my life...while nursing, my kid never had any respiratory issues. I stop nursing, 5 days later he is in distress. I do believe it provided antibodies against asthma for the time being.

eta: wanted to add, I feel that any mom who even attempted nursing is a breastfeeding mom.

Message edited 6/17/2009 10:44:14 PM.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

i have a few
the bond
healthy for the baby
and no bottles to clean and it is easy lol

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Before DS was born, BF really turned me off and I didn't want to do it. DH guilt tripped/borderline forced me to do it in the beginning. Now that I got over the initial difficulty of it, I absolutely LOVE BFing. Total surprise. I feel like we are bonding and I love watching him suck. He has this cute little facial expression when he feeds. I also want DS to get the best nutrition he can possibly get. I never thought I could love and care as much as I do for DS.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

My mom is the main reason. She BFed both my sister and me- each for 2 years. I'm older. I was 3 when my sister was born and about 5 when she was weaned. I really think that it imprinted deeply on me. My mother said that I used to pretend to BF my dolls. It was just the way babies were fed in my world. It always stayed with me and giving formula was never a thought.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

The reasons I planned to BF was for the convenience of it, the money factor, and mostly because of the bond with the baby.

Sadly, my milk never came in, so all of my panning was for nothing.

As an aside....I hate the phrase "breastmilk is best". It may very well be true....but I feel like I failed my daughter somehow because I couldn't do that for her. And even 2 years later, it still hurts.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

I do! completely believe you are a bfing mom.

I think its a huge step to be able to take your boob to their mouth. whatever happens after that point is going to happen, but you nursed.

The bond was weird for me. I do believe its a strong bond...what could be stronger? your baby is feeding off of you, completely connected.

mine was an addict. I always feared he only liked me for my boobs! I was really scared to wean to see what our new relationship was going to be. he still loved me.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

The main reason? Because it's the best nutrition I can offer my babies.\

That was the reason that had me determined to succeed when I was pregnant with my first, but now that I've done it, I can add convenience & the amazing bonding experience.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Message edited 6/17/2009 11:32:13 PM.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

the bond. and the health benefits. and the nature of it.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

-Best possible nutrition
-Health benefits for me and the baby
-Convenience
-Its FREE
-Bonding

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

My personal reasons are the health benefits, cost savings, bonding.

I never ever thought that I would breastfeed. It was something I was really turned off by until I became pregnant and my husband aproached me about it. I never really knew much about it since my family never was really pro-breastfeeding. It was something never discussed. DH realy wanted me to consider it and so I agreed that I would try it out. In the hospital I tried and when I did it, I just thought it was so amazing.

So with DS#2 there was no question. I just loved the bonding I felt especially with my second child. Since I also stopped working afte DS#2 we really were able to save a lot of money.

I hope all of that makes sense:)

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Because it was free! j/k although BF DD did save me tons as she would have had to have been on a special formula since she has a dairy allergy. The main reason for me is the most obvious, breastmilk is best it has great health benefits and was made specifically for my DD. I felt I owed it to my child to at least give it a try. Thankfully she took to it like a champ and I made it further than I would have ever imagined (12.5mths!)

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

it's the healthiest food... that was the only reason. I found the whole thing to be extremely exhausting and somewhat frustrating. I couldn't stand waking up every 2 hours... too much pressure!

I give EBF moms tons of credit. I could only do it for 3 months with about 8 oz of supplement every day.

Message edited 6/18/2009 12:08:24 AM.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

I felt it was the best nutritionally that I could give DS. Also, for the bond, even though it didn't work out because of latch issues, so now I pump & bottle feed, and will continue to do so.

We had DS on formula for a few weeks when we suspected a milk protein allergy, and he was miserable on it. As soon as we switched back to my milk, he was a different baby. This to me says my milk is the best for my baby..and I will do whatever it takes to continue giving it to him.

And it's free..can't beat that lol.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

I did it mainly for the health benefits for DS. Breast is best as other have said. I also have supplemented with formula from the beginning. BF is not easy and I needed a little relief every once in a while in the beginning. Now that DS is 3 months old, BF is great. It is so easy during the night to not have to make a bottle. Another great thing is how calm BF makes him. He could be super cranky and all you have to do is nurse him for a few minutes and he is asleep.

For all the girls who BF just for the weight loss, don't be upset if it doesn't happen. I'm having the hardest time losing my baby weight. BF has not helped at all. All it did was make my belly go down very quickly in the beginning. I have heard from a few people that they didn't loss the rest of the baby weight until they stopped nursing.

Message edited 6/18/2009 12:18:27 AM.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

My main reason was because I really wanted to whip 'em out as often as possible.

I kid. I kid. I had to stop after less than 2 weeks for medical reasons. I do sort of consider myself a BF mom but if someone asks me a quick question about whether I did or did not BF, I say that I didn't. I don't think that I can pretend that my experience could have been similar to those who lasted many months with BF but I feel that I know a lot about BF and that I now know some ways to make it work.

I am not saying that this would be a main reason to BF but the milk and the baby smell so much sweeter!!!!!!!! Also, a doctor who BF told me that the time she pumped at work was her time to sort of meditate and relax as she adjusted to being a new mother who was working.

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

Re: What was/is the main reason you chose to BF

ok while I personally agree that it's the best nutrition for your baby -can someone explain to me how it's a bond like no other?

This is the part I don't understand. I have a bond with my children, had I BF'ed them would the bond be different? The experience would be.... but the bond?

In what way? I'm totally being serious.....