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

My main reason was for the health benefits for the baby.

As difficult as it was for me (and it was pretty horrific), I can say that there was definitely an unexpected bond that I felt while BF that was not there while bottle feeding.

The closeness of physically giving nourishment to your DC from your body, and the endorphins (I can't recall the name of the hormone - oxitocin, maybe) that are released while BF were something that I totally did not expect and cherished. It is something I can't really describe but was definiitely beautiful and is what I regretted the most when I had to turn to formula feeding.

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

Why I started BFing-- health for baby and me
Why I continued even though it was soooo hard-- the bond I feel with my DD and the fact that she has dairy allergies

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

It is free
It's best for my child
I lost weight
Knowing that when I hold my DS he tries to feed through my shirt, he doesn't do that to anyone else. I like knowing that only I can give him what he wants.

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

The main reason was health benefits for DS but there were so many other reasons too. Its free, I got to lose 22 pounds without really trying, I felt more "mommy-ish". I loved BFing.

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

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

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

Message edited 6/18/2009 11:36:10 AM.

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

Posted by KangaMom

Breast Milk by far is the Best Nutrition you can give your child...

The Bond you share during Nursing is unexplainable...

The immunities passed on from Mom to Child are like no other...

Many health benefits for Both Mom and Child...

Watching your Child Nurse and knowing your body is making Food and Nutrition for them is a true Miracle!

It is All Natural, no additives - preservatives.

Right there, ready to go anytime

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

it makes me sad when moms get so defensive.

do what makes you happy. if you feel the ultimate bond with your baby is with a bottle, then great, glad you found the strongest way to bond.

if other moms feel its through nursing, they why care what they feel?

Just be secure in the parent you are. If you want to change something next time around, then do it. If you are happy with your choices then it should not matter what anyone else says or thinks.

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

My honest answer is because my husband really wanted me to and I figured I would give it a try for him and for the baby.

I breastfed for 1 month and then I had enough.

Having breastfed and bottle fed, I do not see a difference in the bond with my daughter.

You have to set the "mood" when feeding. When I was breastfeeding I couldn't have noise ..I got too nervous. I needed to be completely relaxed. That helped me be in touch with my daughter more closely.

I do the same thing when feeding Abby now- No tv,there is singing,there is talking to her, eye contact...
Those are the things that foster a bond with the two of us, not necessarily the breast.

Message edited 6/18/2009 12:04:50 PM.

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

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

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

Honestly, because it is free. The cost of feeding two babies formula was scary to us.
They eat mostly breastmilk, but have some formula during the day too - usually one bottle right before bed.
I do not really feel any more of a bond with them breast feeding vs. bottle feeding. Actually, while I am feeding them a bottle, they look at me, they hold my hands... but when I breastfeed they close their eyes or stare at some random spot. Mady grabs my shirt, Jonah scratches his head. I see it as a way for them to eat, and that is really all.

I AM glad they are getting the breast milk because I know it has many health benefits, but I can't say I love it like many women do.

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

Truth? DH wanted me to do it. I never wanted to. I did it until we both got thrush and it wouldn't clear up.

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

I could not BF, but I choose to pump. DD was a preemie and I knew that she needed all she could to get stronger.

I was only able to do it for 2 weeks, but the nurses in the NICU agreed that it was better then nothing.

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

the best possible nutrition for my babies.

I was always weirded out by BF before I had children. It grossed me out a bit. But when I got pregnant, for some reason there was no doubt in my mind that I would BF no matter what. I endured terrible terrible pain & trouble for weeks with both children, but there was no way I was giving up. I've actually never felt that strongly about anything. Can't explain it.

Because I went back to work at six months with my first & it will be seven months with my second, I supplemented two bottles a day of formula so I didn't have to pump. I nursed my first for one year, and my second is now 4 months old. I'm fortunate that it's worked out so well.

Now that I BF, I've discovered there are other wonderful benefits as well that I wasn't aware of before I started. BF is the best way to soothe my fussy baby. It's amazing!!! All she needs is my arms holding her tight & my breast and she is instantly at ease. I always wonder what I would do in that situation if she was solely a formula baby.

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

Posted by Goobster

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by Cakes

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.....

I agree with the question.

I think very highly of women who BF however I think as mothers we bond with our children because they are our children. We created them and nourish them and love them.

Some may say women who don't breastfeed don't understand the bond because they didn't go through it.

I would counter, women who do breastfeed don't understand the bond (and implied limitations of said bond) between a non-breastfeeding mother and her DC because they have never experienced it (even when you wean your child, it's not the same. Your experience is influenced by the fact that you BF for several weeks/months/years).

The bond I have with my child is like no other because she is mine-not because of how I fed her.

I have to say I agree. Every woman has a bond with her baby simply b/c they carried them. HEck or not even. What about women who adopt a baby? Who is anyone to say they haven't bonded with their child?

I just don't see how anyone can judge another's bond with their baby. That's like saying ALL SAHMs have a better bond off the bat with their children for being their primary caretakers, when the reality is that is not true. Every mother-child situation is different.

Is it a sacrifice? Yes, I do believe that it is for many. But a better bond? You can BF and feel more bonded, or not. You can FF and feel more bonded or not. They are plenty of people who BF and don't care for it, but do it for $ reasons. So it's really how you FEEL about it, as opposed to a automatic guarantee of a "better bond".

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

Posted by Mikismom

Posted by Goobster

I have to say I agree. Every woman has a bond with her baby simply b/c they carried them. HEck or not even. What about women who adopt a baby? Who is anyone to say they haven't bonded with their child?

I just don't see how anyone can judge another's bond with their baby. That's like saying ALL SAHMs have a better bond off the bat with their children for being their primary caretakers, when the reality is that is not true. Every mother-child situation is different.

Is it a sacrifice? Yes, I do believe that it is for many. But a better bond? You can BF and feel more bonded, or not. You can FF and feel more bonded or not. They are plenty of people who BF and don't care for it, but do it for $ reasons. So it's really how you FEEL about it, as opposed to a automatic guarantee of a "better bond".

no one is saying that moms who ff CANNOT bond with their babies but the bond is different, I know for me it was and I did both ff and BF

Message edited 6/18/2009 12:35:46 PM.

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

Not one reason, but a combo:
healthy for baby and mother; free; and to lose weight (heard it burns 600 calories - all i needed to hear to get me going!)

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

honestly, i did it for 14 mos with dd#1 pumping and bfing...and am so not an open person, i am very modest and didn't advertise it at all....but i couldn't stop, i kept telling myself it was for my dd's health and it seems to have worked, she has had one ear infection and is rarely sick (thank goodness) despite being in daycare since she was 6 mos old.....so maybe there is something to the immunity thing....i say, its a personal choice, don't worry about what anyone else says or does, do what works for you!

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

I wanted that "breastfeeding bond" with my DD and I also wanted to provide her with the best possible nutrition that I could, as well as antibodies.

edited so no one would get annoyed.

Message edited 6/18/2009 1:27:28 PM.

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

I needed to just try because if I didn't I knew I would bug me. I went into thinking if it works great, if it doesn't that is fine too. Once DS came along that completely changed and I fought everyday to try and make it work and then stopped at 6 weeks. It just didn't work out for us.

With DD I went into it thinking the same way but she latched right away and it worked. I saved myself a lot of money too because she had/has dairy allergies so I just eliminated dairy from my diet.

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

Posted by Mikismom

Posted by Goobster

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by Cakes

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.....

I agree with the question.

I think very highly of women who BF however I think as mothers we bond with our children because they are our children. We created them and nourish them and love them.

Some may say women who don't breastfeed don't understand the bond because they didn't go through it.

I would counter, women who do breastfeed don't understand the bond (and implied limitations of said bond) between a non-breastfeeding mother and her DC because they have never experienced it (even when you wean your child, it's not the same. Your experience is influenced by the fact that you BF for several weeks/months/years).

The bond I have with my child is like no other because she is mine-not because of how I fed her.

I have to say I agree. Every woman has a bond with her baby simply b/c they carried them. HEck or not even. What about women who adopt a baby? Who is anyone to say they haven't bonded with their child?

I just don't see how anyone can judge another's bond with their baby. That's like saying ALL SAHMs have a better bond off the bat with their children for being their primary caretakers, when the reality is that is not true. Every mother-child situation is different.

Is it a sacrifice? Yes, I do believe that it is for many. But a better bond? You can BF and feel more bonded, or not. You can FF and feel more bonded or not. They are plenty of people who BF and don't care for it, but do it for $ reasons. So it's really how you FEEL about it, as opposed to a automatic guarantee of a "better bond".

no one is saying that moms who ff CANNOT bond with their babies but the bond is different, I know for me it was and I did both ff and BF

Message edited 6/18/2009 1:27:27 PM.

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

The main reason is the immunities and antibodies it provides for the baby. It is made espeically for a human baby. Another big reason was that I am on the fence about vaccinations and until I make a decision Bfing will help keep my baby as healthy as possible.

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

I did it for the nutrients that I was passing to my child.