Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I bounced back and forth about breastfeeding litterally until I delivered, I decided not to, nobody at the hospital pressured me at all. It's a personal choice. Before I gave birth I asked my pediatrician his opionion and he has no problem with bottle feeding, he said his kids were bottle fed. Don't let anyone pressure you to do something you don't want to do. Don't feel guilty either.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I totally agree with the ladies on this board... do what you feel is right for you, don't feel pressured or guilty about your decisions.

Like the other moms on the board I got the unsolicited opinions about whether to breastfeed or not. And people even have the nerve to ARGUE with you about your decision when you are kind enough to share it with them. Very annoying!

My son was formula-fed and we'll be formula-feeding this baby too. It was the best decision for us and I have no regrets.

Surprisingly, the nurses in the hospital and my doctors were all very supportive of our decision, no one tried to pressure us to breastfeed.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I am going to pump the entire time and give him my milk in a bottle. As of right now, I am not comfortable with actually BF.

I think it is a very personal choice that I made with DH.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I'm not breast feeding either. It's your own personal choice and everyone has their reasons for doing it or not. I really believe some people just like to have something to say. My step mother told me I was narrow minded for not even giving it a try. There is always going to be someone who dosen't agree with something you are doing or planning on doing with YOUR child.

I say screw them!

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I'm going to attempt to do both, if thats possible. I'm not convinced I 100% want to BF, but I want to give it a try. Even if I do BF though, I don't have the type of schedule where I can always be accessible to the baby and/or pump.

So ideally, I'd want to BF for 1-2 feedings a day, and formula feed for the rest.

As for people's comments, my inlaws are 100% pro-breastfeeding and my parents/siblings are not comfortable with the idea - so I'm stuck in the middle

Message edited 5/5/2006 3:38:31 PM.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

When I was preggo with my son I knew deep down it was not for me, but I caved into the pressure and tried it. It didnt work out...he didn't latch, he lost weight, Similac was looking good. I personally don't like the idea of it, no matter how natural everyone says it is. So, when this baby is born I am not ging to breastfeed. He or she will have formula from the get go. My son has pretty much been formula fed from about two weeks old and he is doing just fine...great in fact. Developmentally ahead of most kiddos his age, so no one can argue that formula held him back in anyway.

So, do what you feel best with and tune out anyone that criticizes you.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I'm still on the fence. I have always leaned toward not breastfeeding and really think I will go that way. My Mother "coached" hundreds of girls in breastfeeding and constantly reminds me that it's not for everyone and if you really don't want to do it, it's better for you and the baby not to.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I don't plan on doing it when the time comes. Why? I am simply not interested. that may be cold to some but OH WELL. In discussions I hear the comments too about immunities and health and bonding with a child. I am one of four children. None of us were breast fed. None of us were sickly children. We didnt have ear infections, we didnt have chronic issues. We were just fine. And as far as bonding with our mother is concerned, we love and care very deeply for her. Who knows if we had all been breastfed, the only difference may be that she'd be LIVING with one of us. How much closer could we get.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

this can be a hard topic to talk about with others....everyone feels like their opinion is right and only yours matters.

On a side note, I find it a bit ironic that you are looking for support on NOT BFing, and I quickly read through the replies already and I read some PRO BFing info....

In any case, I formula fed - it was super easy and convenient for all of us.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I wont be! I didnt BF with my son...

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I think that its a personal decision- one way or the other-


I feel for you- although I choose to BF, I got some much grief for it, that after 2 months, I couldnt stand to hear how horrible I was for choosing to do so, and gave it up...


DONT let anyone effect your decision, one way or the other...


I also wanted to let you know my exp. @ the hospital- I think they pushed more for a bottle here and there (they gave my baby a bottle while I was in recovery, w/o asking me, and knowing I wanted to BF!) I feel I didnt get the support I needed from the hospital staff...so the last thing they did- was push BFing...

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I breastfeed but I had my family HATE that I was....the ped in the hospital forced me into using formula! I got guilt for trying to BF....it is NOT okay to bully anyone into either decision.
I am sorry you feel this way.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I didnt BF either child. I do feel guilty that I didnt but that was my decision

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I didn't BF either...it was just something I wasn't comfortable with. I guess you're not the only one because there's many women who didn't BF either.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I was dead set on breastfeeding and Alyson decided otherwise....

I had a TERRIBLE time trying to get her to latch on. She took the formula fine in the hospital and I kept trying at home....she just wouldn't have it. She must have been lazy because it's easier for them to get what they want from a bottle....

I didn't force the issue on her, I was tired, she was hungry so we went with formula.

Your choice....your baby will grow and be healthy either way and that is all that matters

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I am not pregnant, but I will not breast feed. I made that decision a long time ago. But you have to do what you feel comfortable with.

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I didnt BF my kids..I tried it with the first and me and the baby would get to frustrated...

I never felt bad about it...

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

I didn't BF either. I was never 100% sure whether I wanted to or not but I knew I'd give it try. Well, I gave it a try (though not much of a try I'll admit) and I was completely fine with not doing it. I chose to pump for as long as I could so I could give him as much breastmilk as possible in the beginning. That worked out just fine for me. I gave EBM (expressed breast milk) and formula for the first 6 weeks. I was happy with that compromise and will do it with my next baby, if I ever have another.

As for people asking and giving you grief while pg, I always told people - I am going to try to BF and see how it goes...BFing is not easy... and I am not opposed to supplementing with formula. No one can really yell at you for wanting to try. That's only for people close to you. You'd be surprised how many feel they are totally entitled to ask you such a personal question just because you have a swollen belly. It's like a pregnant belly carries a sign that says "Yes you can comment on my body any way you like and ask me all kinds of personal questions"! That is NOT the case. I told alot of people I "wasn't sure" - the polite reply. And towards the end I got so sick of the personal questions that I just started saying "You know I'm not comfortable discussing that" just flat out "It's really none of your business". My favorite was "Why do you ask? Did you breastfeed?" even to the MEN who would ask me!

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?

Re: anyone NOT breastfeeding?