Thread: *~Reasons for Formula Feeding (Plus Blinkies)~*

7/31/06:

Originally Posted by va_army_wife

My oldest DD had a bad latch from the start, and the LC I saw was NO help. She seriously made me feel like I was failing because we couldn't get it right and I spent a week fighting to work it out. I called the local LLL chapter and all I got was that I was new at this and it takes time, have patience. After DD's weight dropped, the ped said we had no choice. We tried 4 different formula's before we found one that DD wouldn't projectile vomit all over the place. She's growing like a weed and is pretty darn healthy. During the school year she very rarely brought home any of the ickys that were going around.

My youngest DD was a bit of a preemie so when she was born her blood sugars were low. We tried nursing but her sugar levels wouldn't come up enough to satisfy the doctors so they insisted we give her bottles. Again, a bad reaction. After she threw up 3 different formula's I sent DH out to the store and we got the same kind we'd used the first time around. Instant success. Her sugars came up and she was finally sleeping a little. Once my milk was in I BF whenever I could but never really established a good supply, and I was pumping so I wouldn't be nursing in public. We always carried formula and a bottle with us, in case of a real pinch. Rarely used it but it made ME feel better knowing it was there if we needed it. We went to exclusively formula after about 8 weeks. I look at it as at least I tried, and at least DD got the benefits of BM for that time.

With this baby we have already decided we'll try BF again, but we are going to pack a bottle and a can of our choice of formula in my hospital bag in case we run into problems. Some would say that's automatically setting me and baby up for failure, I say its a good precaution to take.

8/14/06:

Originally Posted by ~kristen~

I have FF from the very beginning. Why? ~because I wanted to.

8/20/06:

Originally Posted by becky20fan

My intent was to BF when my daughter was born. However, she was a 9 lb 2 oz baby with a huge appetite and was screaming in the hospital because she wasn't able to latch on, my milk hadn't come in yet, and she was HUNGRY. So I started cup feeding the formula so she wouldn't get nipple confusion, still planning to BF. I finally got her to latch with the help of a LC and a nipple shield (I think that's what it's called), but I couldn't tell what she was getting and to be honest, it was obvious that she preferred the formula. Still, I was going to try, so I rented a pump from the hospital. Got home and while hubby was out getting my pain prescription (I had a c-section), I tried to BF, my daughter Kaylee is screaming bloody murder because she's starving, I can't get her to latch on, so by the time hubby came home I tol dhim I had decided to formula feed. All I wanted was her to have a full tummy and not be so unhappy, and it just seemed the right decision for us. It's worked out, my mom and my husband have been able to help with the feedings, I've been able to get some sleep, she's been able to get on a 4 hour feeding schedule, and the only issue I've had is that she has issues with gas, which she may or may not have had if she were breastfed.

9/12/06:

Originally Posted by Amaranthine

I planned on BFing long before the baby was born. I felt I owed it to her to at least try. I did. The nurse and I spent ages trying to get her to latch after she was born. Avalon just would not have it! We finally had to give her a bottle and try again later. Try after try failed. I expressed milk for as long as I could. A week and a half after she was born I had developed extreme post-partum depression and had to be put on Prozac. That was the final blow! She's 100% formula fed now. She doesn't seem to mind much. She's happy and healthy.

10/04/06:

Originally Posted by Juuli

I´m bottlefeeding because breastfeeding did´nt go so well with my children because my milk wasn´t enough for them. So I´m pumping all the milk I get (6 to 7 oz) and the rest he gets is formula. This way I did also with my first child and continued untill she was 2,5 months old.
My second child is 1 month now and I try to continue pumping until he is 2 months.
I´m sad that nursing didn´t workout for me but I actually prefer bottlefeeding for many many reasons.

10/24/06:

Originally Posted by BeaniesMom

Well ladies, today I've fallen off the breastfeeding bandwagon. My baby is only 11 days old, but I've had it. My mom died two weeks ago and since the baby was born I've been in great spirits, considering everything (like an unexpected inducement that led to c-section 24 hours later...). But the baby didn't latch properly, I got serious blisters, the lactation consultant said to breastfeed for me would be a "four handed operation," and I've been pumping for two weeks and been engorged THREE TIMES during that time (OUCH!). I hardly get to hold the baby and feed her because I'm too busy pumping, and to top it all off, she went from happy and sleepy on the formula (supplemented when I only had colostrum) to MISERABLE on my milk-- all gassy, no sleep, crying hysterically. SO, as of today I'm done. Baby will be a formula baby like I was, my husband was, etc..... I feel bad, but I think she'd rather have a happy mommy than a miserable one. I have SO MUCH respect for people who breastfeed and wish I could've gone longer, but sanity dictates something else now. Now I just have to wean these HUGE boobs back down to size! Wish me luck!
By the way, I got SUCH pressure from everyone on this decision. Every nurse at the hospital, at my pediatrician's office, at my gyno office, etc. all tried to reconvince me to give it "one more try." Argh!!!

11/6/06:

Originally Posted by wtsparkle

Boy is it great to know I'm not in this FF alone. I FF my older two kids and they are both healthy. My dd (now 7) was allergic to the milk and soy, but when we finally figured out the problem and switched her to rice it helped. The way I see it...there is risks to infections etc. in everything and everyplace we go. BFing scares the crud out of me and I don't want to be in pain when I should be home enjoying the bonding time with my child. Yippie....my decision is made. No BF!!!

3/1/07:

Originally Posted by Honey3.14

So glad to find this board.

Why do I ff? Because I have Chrons disease. Because if I don't take my meds for that I'll end up in the hospital and if I breast feed on those, my baby could end up in the hospital.
I had a c-section and was told I wouldn't have to take my meds for a few weeks because if I did I wouldn't heal properly. So I'll admit I did try to breastfeed for the first few days. He latched like a pro. Not a problem.

Then my milk came in. I don't know what happened there. He stopped taking the boob. He didnt want me at all. He wanted the formula and he gobbled it down faster than anything I'd ever seen. I cried. But he's happier on formula and now that I'm having chrons relapses and back on the drugs, I'm glad he didn't want me. I can't be on the drugs that I need and breastfeed. If I had been able to bf for longer, I might have been a lot sicker than I was and I might be in the hospital, then I wouldn't be able to BF at all in there.

I once saw a blinkie and I wish I could find it that said Formula Fed Babies are just as happy, just as healthy and most importantly, just as loved as breast fed babies. Thats my baby. He's just as happy, just as healthy and just as loved as any breastfed baby.

6/27/07:

Originally Posted by bean3

Originally Posted by steubified

I am going to bottle feed (formula feed). My first reaction to any bf'ing is borderline disgust (sorry that I offend ppl, but hey, you asked). I have been introduced to it very poorly by other people; aka, popping out your boob in public right in front of teenage boys and sensitive children. I also just don't feel comfortable with the thought of feeding my baby that way. I do know that it is better for the baby to bf, but I do also know that formula is the NEXT best thing--so why not? I also found out that with my hx of depression, PPD is something I'm going to be definitely fighting. I will have to get back on my natural meds right after birth to fight the PPD, and you absolutely cannot bf while on them, so that's the reason I usually tell ppl when they ask about bf'ing.

I formula fed my first. Largely because when I raised my niece, we formula fed her, so that is what I was familiar with. Also, my boyfriend at the time would not ALLOW me to breast-feed because then he couldn't play with them. BTW, he was an ***.

I breast-fed my second, and I was really happy with. I am a WAHM though, so this was a LOT easier than it would have been had I had to pump. I got more sleep and didn't have to worry as much about getting caught without formula.

With this one, I am going to start off breast-feeding, but if I have to go to formula because of medication issues, I will, no problem.

I will say that the over-zealous attitude of a lot of breast-feeders has me *this close* to NOT breastfeeding. I am also as discreet as possible, but this whole whipping out the entire boob thing has me very put off. I will nurse anywhere, but I also don't want to draw attention to the fact that I am doing it.

I also read a bunch where people think it is *sad* to see a bottle-fed baby...come on. First, they don't know if it is breast-milk or formula in that bottle. Second, I would be *sad* if a baby was not fed well...period. I don't care if it is FF or BF.

Anyway, you are not the only one that has picked up on that opinion. I've been on both sides. I may be a nursing mother now, but I still don't see thinks like that.

7/10/07:

Originally Posted by kmaypottery

I went back to work and pumping was awful. it was so hard on my body and being away from DD dried me up. I made 8 oz a day when I was away from her and she was drinking 6 oz at a time. She breezed through the reserve that I had pumped for her to eat at daycare and it became all to comsuming for me.

I understand your guilt but try not to be too hard on yourself. Just remember that FF mommies want the best for their babies too. Sometimes the media and books make us feel like it's a terrible thing but it's OK. My daughter is thriving and growing well. She is hitting all of her milestones and is a happy little sweetie.