Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

And if so...why?

I never had this want to do it and I am on the fence about it. I think Im feeling mroe pressure from others to do it.

I do understand the health benefits of it...and I do agree its probably better for the baby, but I still dont feel this great want to do it.

Anyone else feel similair?

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I never had the DESIRE to do it, but I do think I will give it a try.

It just seems like I should at least try it before I say absolutely not.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I will not breastfeed. I also understand the benefits and feel guilty at times, but I've decided not to even try.

I know some people think i should give it a shot, but I have no desire. My brother and I were both formula fed and are fine. I just don't feel comfortable with the act or the dependency. My DH is fine with my decision.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

i ahve no desire either.. not that I don't know the benefits.. but I know plenty of babies (myself included) who were FF and were fine as well. I also expect to go back to work withink 8 weeks so I can't exactly pump very often at my job.. it's a personal decision and I think that you have to look at alot of differernt aspects of it, before you commit to something so HUGE.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Initially I was adamantly NOT going to do it. I was turned off by pressure and the way the media makes it out- that it's the only way to go, that if you don't your kid will be sick all the time and have allergies. I know kids who were breastfed who had allergies and were sick all the time!

I was afraid to say anything to SIL because she is a huge BF advocate. But when it came up she said, "It's not for everyone and you have to do what is best for you." For some reason, her attitude made me reconsider.

However, I won't pump at work. That means that I may only be able to do it for the time I am on leave. I teach in a small school, with limited space. All I need is for a kid to get into my classroom (locked or not, they always manage to get in when they need to!) while I'm pumping. My other options are the bookroom (dirty) or a bathroom stall (gross). The 8-10 weeks I will be home is something, and I have also decided that time spent pumping at work will mean that I have that much more school-related work to do at home. I'd rather leave work at work and use formula, in that case.

I still strongly believe that we all have to do what is best for us as individuals, and it is frustrating that women can't support each other and not judge. (No reference to anyone on this thread, just a general observation)

Message edited 11/18/2006 6:40:10 PM.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I have not one piece of desire in me to due it either, DH wants me to for certain reasons, but I don't want to and it is my body and I will do as I choose, i know it sounds very self centered, but noone in my family did it, so i don't see the big deal....

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I feel much better that Im not alone....I kinda felt alone in the decision.

I too feel the demands will be more then I can handle....And I do feel a certain sexual way about my breasts, not maternal.....

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I have no desire to do it and I won't be. I also will be back at work in about 8 weeks and I certainly cannot pump at my job.

I was FF and I am fine.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I will not breastfeed and I didnt with my DS. I'm not into the dependency and we had no issues at all with formula with my 1st little guy. In fact his first real cold wasnt until he was 2 and off the formula.
I don't regret not BFing and I wont this time around either.
I tried the best I could to ignore the pressure because there is plenty of it.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I did BF my DD for 4 months, and even though it was long, hard, painful struggle for the first 8 weeks, it kinda grew on me, BUT I REFUSE to pump at work so i had to wean her before i went back.

While i did love it, and found it inconvenient at times, especially while out, it felt so nice when i had my "freedom" back when i stopped.

The guillt is the hardest part, DD has been formula fed since about 3 months old and on 100% formula at 4 months, and was/is doing just fine.

For the next one, i am prob not going to BF, for a couple reasons-

1-have a 14 month at home now and there's no way i would have time to BF while chasing her,
2-last time i had a very difficult delivery and the after effects were exaggerated by BF'ing hormones
3-and because of the hormones, i had extended PP blues. That's was awful!
4-With a 14 month old, DH and I will def need help and sleep this time, so night wakings we have to take turns, when you nurse, it's all on you.

I don't think BF'ing leads to saggy boobs, cause i know plenty of women that have saggy boobs that didn't breastfeed.

PREGNANCY ruins your boobs!

Message edited 11/18/2006 8:21:09 PM.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I am not PG yet but I have no desire to breastfeed when the time comes. DH and I have talked at length about this topic and he mentioned that his mother breast fed him and his sisters which was rather UNcommon in the early 70s. His aunt was a nurse and convinced her to do so. He would like me to do it.

Recently, we had a conversation about babies and colds and earaches and what not. MIL said DH had them all the time. My mother didnt breastfeed any of the 4 of us and none of us had chronic earaches or a lot of other childhood ailments (besides chicken pox which EVERYONE got). Im thinking that breastfeeding didnt make a difference for MILs kids. I also made it very clear that when the time comes, I would prefer if DH explained to his family to keep their opinions to themselves and allow us to make our own choices.

I do not feel as if I would be shortchanging my children one bit.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Well - 2 reasons - I had a breast reduction, and my nipples aren't really "out" type of nips - - so theres not much to latch onto unless its very cold in the room...

I think its going to be WAY too difficult....

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I was all for it while PG with DD and she was SO lazy. She would not latch....I tried for almost 2 weeks. I'm sure I could have tried more, longer, or harder, but it was not worth it to me to go through all that work just to get her to TRY to eat. She took a bottle like a champ! Who am I to argue with a baby? I pumped for 6 weeks but because I was not drinking enough water my supply stunk. I got 1 bottle, sometimes enough for 2 a day.
Did I feel guilty? Yes.
Did I feel like a failure? Yes.
Is she healthy and happy almost 11 months later? YES
DH was thrilled he was able to participate as well as family that came to visit and many of DH friends (yes I let single guys in their 20's feed an infant)

She has ONLY had 2 colds so far, neither of which needed medication. She has THRIVED. No signs of food allergies. VERY healthy appetite.

My only advice is to do what is best for you. You will feel guilty no matter what because people are SO good at putting their nose where it does not belong. They don't know what is best for you and your child.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I have no desire to BF. Nothing against anyone who does. I think it is a completely personal chioce and I do not think anyone should be looked down upon if they choose not to breastfeed. DH wants me to breastfeed, and it doesn't help that my sister in law breastfed her daughter until she was 2. I am willing to compromise by pumping.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I didn't really have any desire to BF, but I figured I'd give it a try. Ella made it pretty easy on me so I did/am BFing, but I still introduced pumped bottles at 3 weeks so others could feed her, and she now gets formula and BM.

I find BF to be more convenient at night, and FF to be more convenient when we're out and about. This way I've got the best of both...(though I think I'll stop BFing soon now that she's on solid foods and not eating during the night)

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I was pressured to BF with DS and had a HORRIBLE experience. Instead of recovering,I totured myself for a month. I will not give in and repeat that again,baby #2 will be FF and I do not feel guilty.
My sister BF her children and they were constantly sick and even worse- colicky. They never had good sleeping patterns and personally I think it was because they were hungry and not satisfied(but you know how it is,no one wants to hear anyones 2 cents).
I am not knocking BF at all,I think it is a personal decision but at the same time,it is not for everyone. I have no "legit" excuses for myself..I will be a SAHM for the first time,I would have time to BF,pump,whatever it takes..but guess what? I don't want to.
Just as I respect the right of women to BF,they should respect my decision not to.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I understand what you mean about the guilt and the pressure from others. I have made the decision not to BF. It has to do with the dependency on me, how I want DH to be apart of it and personnally it's a modesty issue. The act itself makes me feel weird. Yes, this may sound selfish, but it is my decision. I can't stand it when people try to press their opinions on you when this is clearly a personal decision. As for the guilt, I know the benefits of BFing and feel bad I am denying my daugther these things, but both my sister and I were formula fed and we both turned out fine.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I just wanted to add my own personal feelings..my DS is 2 months old, i tried BF'ing shortly in the hospital, felt such tremendous guilt about it-in the end i hated it, and DS woudln't latch, he ended up with a fever from dehydration so i threw in the towel, put him on formula and he has been so great since.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing...and i know people that love it, and people like me who tried it but didn't love it..and some people who just didn't want any part of it.

Just know in your heart that your child WILL be receiving more than adequate nutrition, and I bond so much with my son during feedings and at other times during the day...

I would get so upset when reading posts (not necessarily on here) about how breastfeeding lets a mother bond more with her child...let me tell you this is NOT true at all. I bond exactly the same with him, maybe just in a slightly different way.

You will all have healthy, wonderful children...don't ever feel guilt, believe me! Its not worth it.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

Just dont have the desire nor do i want that commitment. i also hear that your boobs are never the same after it..

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I knew I didn't want too and didn't. I also won't with my next. It is really a personal decision. My DH would have liked me too but understood how I felt so he was fine with it.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I will give it a try when I get the chance. An interesting thing my friend found out when her preemies were born. If your baby is born early your body is actually producing the colostrum and milk that they need at that specific time. She pumped for about 4 weeks when her babies were born at 29 weeks-she neded up stopping because the pumping was not really producing for her. That being said, her babies are doing great now and have been exclusively FF since about 4-6 weeks.

I understand the feeling because if I do think about it it somewhat makes me uncomfortable, but I really want to try it and see how it is for real. As far as teh health benefits we could go all day long on that one! Plenty of FF babies are happy and healthy. I also like BF because it is a lot less expensive.

Re: Does anyone KNOW that they wont Breastfeed?

I had no desire to do it, but told DH I would try it. It worked for us, but it is a big committment. My problem is now that I don't really want to for #2, but how can I BF #1 for a year and not BF #2?