Why do you love bottle feeding? [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

dee dee

26-09-2005, 04:53

Hi all. Maybe it's just me and I am ultra sensitive about the whole breast vs bottle thing but I can never forget the look on certain people's faces as I mixed up a bottle of formula when I could no longer breastfeed.

So here is one for all us mums who chose the bottle:
Why do you love bottle feeding?

1. I love the way my daughter would gaze up at me as she drank her bottle (I speak in past tense as she is now such a sticky beak and is too busy looking around at everything else that is going on!! :p )

2. I love how hubby is able to feed my dd and they were able to form a special bond during feeding time

3. I love the reassurance of knowing how much my dd is drinking

4. I know that I chose the best option available to my daughter and I. She is happy, healthy and growing well, and that is the most important thing :)

jamb

26-09-2005, 06:02

I love it for the same reasons as you as well as-

I am FREE (although others may view that as selfish) and my boobies dont leak milk. I hated it when you could squeeze milk out of them made me feel completely unsexual (sorry if TMI)

I love that I dont resent my baby as was becoming the case during feeding time. It was a very tense time for the three of us and i never enjoyed it.

I love that he now wants to feed himself the bottle and i can have a little time out.

All these reasons have strengthened the love and bond between me and my bub that just didnt happen whilst BF.

Zarbz

26-09-2005, 06:29

I agree with you both I love it for all the same reasons!!!!

I also love that she sleeps through the nite!!!-most breast feed baby's I know don't!!!! This is what keeps me sane and i have so much more energy for my bub!!!!

I love that she is so much happy on the bottle and not starving!!!! - as was the case for the first 3wks of her life as I didn't have enough milk 4 her!!!!

Thanks for this Thread it good to know we bottle feeding mums are not alone in how this helps our bubs!!!!!!!!! :)

belinda

26-09-2005, 06:59

i also bottle fed on about 2 weeks after my little man was born due to medical reasons after alot of family saying you have to breast feed and didnt understand why i couldnt even know the doctor said i couldnt and alot of people giving you bad look while your out but i got over that and just love bottle feeding him.

i agree with you all too and it is so nice to have hubby feeding and bonding with them too.. your not selfish mummajack i felt the same that i was free and could pop out while hubby looked after him and things like that.

and he was so much happier having a bottle too

also thanks for this thread too

belinda

Sarie

26-09-2005, 07:03

I agree with all those reasons. I also would never have been able to get my boobs out around other people when it was feed time.
It's also a great bonding experience for dad's. My hubby loves to feed our younger bub. He was the same with our older son.
I didn't breast feed at all. Bottle fed from day one with both. Nathan has only ever had one bad cold in his 2.5 years and he's happy and healthy.

Shazbutt

26-09-2005, 07:06

I love it for the same reasons you guys do too-

Hubby can feed bub and have a bit of him & her time...& I get a bit of a chance to do something else!!

I know just how much milk she's getting as like Zarbz I didn't have enough milk for my first daughter - hence going straight on the bottle for my second DD...

They do seem to sleep much better...THANK GOD!! :p

Like Sarie, I hated the thought of BFing in public, and my kids too have had no really bad colds or anything...

I hate to say it but I just plain didn't like Bfing at all, and having trouble the first time kind of made me resent DD1, and that wasn't good...

I am lucky as my MIL didn't BF all of her kids either, so i don't have her looking down on me, she actually encouraged me to do what i felt was right...(wonders will never cease huh!!) MY MOTHER was the one who pushed me to keep going and to have a go at BF this time... :rolleyes:

We as mothers should not have to justify why we do certain things, as we are only trying to do what is best for our kiddies...and ourselves.

ThomasMum

26-09-2005, 07:32

Advantages of bottle feeding
Bottle-fed babies need to be fed less
I know how much milk my baby drinks
Anyone can feed the baby
You can resume �normal� life sooner

Hi all. Maybe it's just me and I am ultra sensitive about the whole breast vs bottle thing but I can never forget the look on my inlaws face as I mixed up a bottle of formula when I could no longer breastfeed.

:)

Hey ya dee dee and all, I can understand how you feel, just remember we are very special people too! The main thing is, your bubs are all sooo GORGEOUS!!! Obviously youse all are doing the right thing!

Oh by the way, I wasn't being cheeky nor anything but did you know that I replied the breastfeeding post eventho Thomas has been bottle-fed since he was 3 months old? Coz I'm a proud mama! *giggle*

One most important thing also is that my DH can have these special times too with Thomas whenever he feeds him! What a lucky bub/dad eh?

I BF Thomas until he was 3 months old.

But the special moments DH and I have with him from bottle-feeds lives on. Especially when he looks at me with his HUGE eyes whilst he drinking his milk (from his bottle), or the occasional smiles he gave now and then. His little fingers playing my face whilst he drinking his milk (from his bottle).
His cute breath smells still the same�
Oh and most importantly, he�s healthy, happy, very smart baby, the only times he goes to doc is for his immunization! All from BF and bottles!
Isn�t he lucky! :p

Rell

26-09-2005, 09:18

I love that I dont resent my baby as was becoming the case during feeding time. It was a very tense time for the three of us and i never enjoyed it.

.

Mummajack you have made me feel so much better. I thought I was the only mother who started to resent her bub when BF. Trying to BF my bubs always ended in both of us crying.
I love bottle feeding because
Dad gets bonding time too

Me and my baby are happier

We have great cuddles while feeding

Harmony83

26-09-2005, 09:34

The things that I like about bottle feeding is:-
- It is convenient (I know alot of people say its a hassle but I don't think it is)

- I know exactly how much bubs is getting. (me and bubs used to go around in cirlcles, whenever he cried I'd try feed him, not sure if he was hungry or not, so he got in the habit of 'snacking' all the time, and not having a decent feed.

- Bonding with Daddy (There is something really special about watching this grown man ever so gently feed a precious baby, then lovingly pop him over his shoulder for a 'burp'!)

- Brayden is alot happier now that I am less stressed. (I gave up breast feeding at 3 months, I was so stressed about it all the time, ie has he had enough, is he attaching right, am I producing enough milk)

- I know Brayden is getting great nutrition from formula (Formula is not the 'junk food' we all think it is, it does contain all the nutrients growing babies need)

- And of course its nice to be able to drop bubs off at Nanas so we can do the groceries, without worrying that he might get hungry and I'm not there.

Thanks guys!!!

brooke

26-09-2005, 11:35

hi everyone,
I am so happy about this post! My forst child ( a little girl) is due in decemeber and I have decided not to breastfeed. It just something that i can not bring my self to do!

My midwife keeps trying to push breastfeeding at every vist but I think she is starting to get the point now!

I am just wondering what type of formula should i use? No one can seem to give me an answer all I ever get is..... " breast is best"
and i dont doubt that is the case its just something I can not bring myself to do!

My husband is very supportive of my decision and to my suprise so is both of our mothers! its just a shame about everyone else!

Thank you again ladies.... I feel so much better about my decision

Rell

26-09-2005, 12:11

Hi Brooke
There are 2 main types of formula used (apart from soy and ones for babies with alergies) they are the standard and the gold. The difference is the gold contains fatty acids which are said to occore naturaly in breast milk and helps with brain growth.
My daughter had reflux so used Karecare thickened formula (did not contain the fatty acids) and my son used the Karecare gold until he was 6mths and then I moved him onto the standard Karecare.

Good on you for sticking to what you believe is right for you and your baby. My daughter was formula feed from 6 weeks and is now a very happy, healthy, and smart 3 1/2yr old. Her friend was BF until 14mths and throught out winter has had a constant cold, my daughter has had 2 very mild colds. Don't lissen to what others say formula is a great souce of food for you baby.

Good luck

Trix

26-09-2005, 12:41

poshBecks

26-09-2005, 13:00

Bottle feeding doesn't hurt!!!!!!!!!!!

I hated breast feeding ds, it was such a relief to me to put him on the bottle. I think it helped me to bond better with him because i didn't have to cry at feed time anymore :o !! Plus all the other ones suggested are a bonus too!
I'm hoping to find breast feeding this time around a bit easier, however, i'm not going to stress about it this time if i can't.

Becky
_______________
Mum of .....
Connor, 18 months
Bump, Due in Dec

Harmony83

26-09-2005, 13:03

Hey Trix,
Stop stressing about it, when the time comes you will make the best decision for your baby and yourself. If you decide not to breastfeed, don't feel badly about it, Formula is not bad for your baby, it has all the nutrients your growing baby needs. I never breastfed in public either (hands up to the mums that can) but I never could. You can always try breastfeeding, and if it doesn't work out don't feel badly about it, whichever way you go, you will have all of bubhub supporting you!!! So relax and enjoy your pregnancy... :D

Mumof3Princesses

26-09-2005, 13:24

For me, absolutely HATED breast feeding. :mad:

I have quite small nipples that I could not latch her on myself. Every nurse in the hopsital would have touched my tits to help latch bub on. DD1 had such a hard suck too. Each time they wheeled her in at night, I would pretend I was asleep so I didn't have to feed her because the pain was so bad. What kind of mum feels like that!! Anyhow, I developed severe mastitis and had the shakes and my temp went up to 40 deg. They put cabbage leaves on my breasts to control the swelling but they cooked on me and smelled terrible. I ended up staying in hospital for nine days after giving birth to her. Actually, I would rather have gone though labour every four hours than feed my own child. I was so upset - all the books and magazines I read spoke about every problem that can occur through labour but I found nothing on hassles with b/f. I thought it was the most natural thing a mother can do - boy was I wrong!!!

So I said NO to b/f for DDs 2&3 (they didn't even get a smell) and had absolutely no guilt what so ever. All the sterilising is a bit of a hass but I can live with that!
I won't be trying again with #4 either (whenever that may be). I can't afford to get that sick again with three older children to care for.

Do what you think is right for you and your family - everyone else can mind their own business!! :D

dee dee

26-09-2005, 16:51

Great to see so much positive feedback on bottle feeding. Us mums are made to feel guilty about enough things without having to feel guilty about one of the most important things, feeding and nourishing our babies.

Brooke there are so many formulas out there, that the choice on which one to use can be confusing. I personally chose to use the Nan ha gold and so far we have had no problems.

It was reassuring to know that the tears (from me) and resentment when trying to breastfeed also happened to others. I thought that it was just me. I mean not that its a good thing but at least I am normal!! (haha you know what I mean?)

~Chick79~

26-09-2005, 17:17

All throughout my pregnancy I was determined to BF - after trying (and believe me I tried!) for the first week and half i was devasted to have to come to the realisation that this was not going to work and I would have to bottle feed.

Like Mummajack & Rell I really began to resent Ryan everytime he cried for a feed and in the end my doctor was the one that told me to stop as it was not helping me or Ryan. After speaking with him, the lactation consultant at the hospital and one of my best friends the trusty pharmacist (hehe) we put Ryan on the NAN 1HA and he thrieved!! Have not looked back since!

What is best is that Daddy has been able to help out with feeds and also makes it easier for when I am sick etc... While i still think BF is more convenient (as in no need to heat water, sterlise all that stuff), it is not the be all and end all! Formula these days is just as good!

People shouldn't look down on us bottle feeding mums & dads just because our babies are bottle fed - it is our right to choose as the parent!

Sarie

26-09-2005, 17:18

Thanks for this thread, my first baby is due March 2006 and I thought I might be weird freaking out at the thought of BF!!! I still may give it a little try, but I'm already pretty sure I won't like it, I don't even like the thought of it, nor do I like the fact in public i'd have to juggle feeding the baby while trying to cover myself up.

My hubby wants to bottle feed so he can join in too.

I've already been getting the questions from friends and even some acquaintances "so, are you going to breast or bottle feed?", when I said i'm not sure, they always say "breast is best!!" like i've never heard it before and that they need to convince me!

I don't know what to say to these people! I'm already stressing about it and I've got another 6 months to go!!

This was exactly how I felt. In the end I made the choice to bottle feed and I'm very glad that I did. My hubby is wonderful and did all of the night feeds with both our kids, as he's more of a night person than I am. So he had the chance to bond with the boys just as much as I did.
Don't let anyone make you feel that you are doing the wrong thing. If they are real friends they will support you no matter what your choice. I bottle fed from day one with both of our boys, I didn't ever feel like I wanted to breast feed, it just wasn't for me.
If you ever need to talk I'm here.

Zarbz

26-09-2005, 19:58

Its great to read this thread and not feel alone in my feelings!!!!!!!

What I don't understand is why is there such an aweful stereo type of bottlefeeding??????? I spoke to my ped when I decided to bottle feed and he told me that most premmies as fed formula and that breast milk has no goodness left after roughly 6months-So HA to all you BF mums out there that think your doing beta by your kids, you my not b beta than you think!!!!! :eek:

Sorry if this has upset anyone but I've just had it up to my eyeballs with BF's that think they're so wonderful!!!!! & look down on me like I'm poisoning my daughter!!!!! :mad:

Maghan

28-09-2005, 05:18

Zarbz, I don't look down my nose at anyone as long as they love and look after their kids's to the best of their ability. I breastfed my ds until he was four and am still breastfeeding my dd and she is nearly 3. Some people get freaked by that thought alone, but I don't pedal it, it rings my bell and not any of my friend's bells. I never got a day's mother's milk in my life and I turned out pretty good. As long as your happy with your decision and you think your doing the absolute best for your baby, tell people to deal with the problems in their own lives before they judge others! P.S I think your paedatrician didn't give you the full facts, but that's history now and I don't want a big debate, just wanted to give you my point of view!