re: Breast feeding or bottle?

Quoting Jocelynn Rose:" Some Cons are: Mastitis, plugged milk ducts and engorgement if the baby is not feeding frequently or ... [snip!] ... Stress can reduce amount of milk you make. Cannot use certain medicines or foods. Cracked, Blistered, Bloody, Sore Nipples."

Not all of these are true. You CAN tell if baby is getting enough, simply by their gaining weight and having enough wet diapers.

Also, you are just as likely to get engorged/plugged ducts/mastitis when FFing, because your milk comes it and you have to wait for it to dry up.

<blockquote><b>Quoting It's a boy!!!!*3/27/13*:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Jocelynn Rose:</b>" Some Cons are: Mastitis, plugged milk ducts ... [snip!] ... go spend money on more. I formula fed my oldest and hated it. Breast fed my youngest and will breastfeed this baby also."</blockquote>



You know where it comes from if you make it yourself. It's not hard and much healthier.

Quoting khigh:" <blockquote><b>Quoting It's a boy!!!!*3/27/13*:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... this baby also."</blockquote> You know where it comes from if you make it yourself. It's not hard and much healthier."

This was one of my major reasons for breastfeeding. There are no rats, bugs, or are pests in my boobs.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Faith1LovesMLP:</b>" This was one of my major reasons for breastfeeding. There are no rats, bugs, or are pests in my boobs. "</blockquote>




I used raw goat milk from my grandparents farm mixed with molasses. DD's pedi preferred that over commercial formula and I did to. I don't use cow products and would never give her soy formula.

I breastfed my first and loved it. We breastfed for her first 2 years until i became pregnant with my second and my milk dried up.

I hated breastfeeding my second and went straight to formula after 5 weeks of hell. He loved it way better than my breastmilk.

I just say it all depends. Breastmilk is the healthiest but formula is also a healthy way of feeding your baby.But do what works for you and your baby.

So my question is If I am eating junk like I am dieing to do like soda and fast food ect is breastfeeding still better for the baby? I really would prefer to not have my child eat junk food for as long as possible.

Quoting Sonya Wyatt:" So my question is If I am eating junk like I am dieing to do like soda and fast food ect is breastfeeding ... [snip!] ... is breastfeeding still better for the baby? I really would prefer to not have my child eat junk food for as long as possible."

Breastfeeding is still better, yes, even if your diet has a lot of junk food. Formula feeding is only superior to breastfeeding in SEVERE cases of malnutrition.

Quoting Sonya Wyatt:" So my question is If I am eating junk like I am dieing to do like soda and fast food ect is breastfeeding ... [snip!] ... is breastfeeding still better for the baby? I really would prefer to not have my child eat junk food for as long as possible."

Yes, it's still healthier than formula feeding.

My advice would be to try breastfeeding for at least 2 weeks before deciding. I mean, you can always decide to go the formula route later, and it's pretty difficult to get your breastmilk supply back if you regret not breastfeeding. And keep at it if you can, for at least 2 weeks before giving up. Because the first several days can be hard, you have to give yourself and baby time to get the hang of it. I almost gave up the by week 2 because my nips hurt so bad, but once we got a good latch it didn't hurt anymore. Also, they cluster feed like crazy those first couple of weeks and it's exhausting, but be patient, it does get better!

If I were you, I would introduce a bottle and paci, after week 2, at least a couple a times a day. That way, if you need time to yourself or whatever, you can pump and let someone else help you out and give baby a bottle. I made the mistake of not ever giving dd a bottle or paci and now I can't even go get a haircut because no one else can keep her. She screams if you try to give her a bottle, and even if she drinks it she's still not satisfied and continues to scream until she nurses....

Anyhoo, BREASTFEEDIN IS AWESOME! I don't think you'll regret at least trying. Good luck!

Quoting M&D's Momma:" I breastfed my first and loved it. We breastfed for her first 2 years until i became pregnant with my ... [snip!] ... Breastmilk is the healthiest but formula is also a healthy way of feeding your baby.But do what works for you and your baby."

Breastfeeding is almost always better - even if you smoke....seriously & all major health agencies agree on that one. The few time sit might be better to formula feed would be if baby had a rare metabolic disorder like galactosemia (baby can't eat regular formula either in that case) or if mom had HIV OR if mom had to take a medication that did not have a breastfeeding friendly option.

Other than that, from a health perspective - ALWAYS better. And if you are worried about fast food, google msg & infant formula. It also contain corn syrup solids. I think that alone ought to tell you plenty if you are trying to avoid baby getting exposed to any undesirable ingredients.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing to do for a child. I did it for 3 months with my daughter and 5 months with the twins.
That might not sound like much, but for me it was an accomplishment. I hated it, and was so glad to switch. I'm so horrible  

Quoting ProginoskesII (SuperKink):" Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing to do for a child. I did it for 3 months with my daughter and 5 months ... [snip!] ... might not sound like much, but for me it was an accomplishment. I hated it, and was so glad to switch. I'm so horrible  "

You are not horrible & you are right - EVERY amount you do it matters...


Here is a clip (the link will lead to the rest of the list) I thought you might like to read before you ever call yourself horrible again.  


If you nurse your baby for a few days after birth:

• You provide him with a healthy dose of colostrum, often called the baby’s ‘first vaccine’.
• Colostrum is the sticky yellowish fluid that your body produces right after birth, before your milk ‘comes in’. Your body starts colostrum production during the last few months of your pregnancy as it prepares your breasts for lactation. Some moms are able to express drops of colostrum before they give birth, and small amounts may even leak out enough for moms to notice it on their clothes. (See article “Breast Milk Leakage“)
• Colostrum is highly concentrated, and is easy for the newborn’s immature system to digest. Its main function is to protect the newborn from infection by coating the baby’s intestinal tract and acting as a barrier to prevent the invasion of harmful bacteria. It protects your baby from illnesses that you have been exposed to, as well as illnesses that he may be exposed to. It also provides important nutrients, which is especially important for babies who are sick or premature.
• Colostrum functions as a laxative, helping clean out meconium (the dark greenish/black tarry stool that the baby’s intestines form before birth), helping reduce the incidence of jaundice (see article “Jaundice“) in the newborn baby.
• Sometime between the second and fifth day after your baby is born, your milk will change from colostrum to transitional milk, which is thinner and more plentiful. This milk also contains important antibodies, which will continue to protect your baby for as long as he nurses.
• After about the tenth to fourteenth day, the colostrum is gone, but the mature milk will continue to produce antibodies, just not as concentrated as the colostrum.
• The protein in breast milk is much easier to digest that the protein in cow’s milk or formula, making your baby less likely to suffer from digestive problems such as gassiness, rashes, and colic.
• Breastfeeding during these early days is helpful for you as well as your baby. Breastfeeding helps you develop a special closeness as you get to know this new little person who has entered your life, and also helps your body recover from childbirth more quickly by releasing hormones that contract your uterus and reduce postpartum bleeding.
• The benefits of breastfeeding in the early days provide an excellent reason to nurse your baby as early and as frequently as possible after birth, even if you feel that you can only do it for a short period of time.

If you nurse your baby for 4-6 weeks:

• You will be helping to ease his transition through the most vulnerable part of his infancy.
• Babies who are breastfed have lower rates of many illnesses, including digestive and respiratory problems, pneumonia and meningitis, and SIDS. For more information about the protective benefits, see the article “Why Breastfeed?
• Breastfeeding during the early weeks helps you recover from childbirth faster. Nursing ‘forces’ you to stay off your feet and sit still for long periods of time, since babies nurse so often during the first weeks of nursing while they are establishing your milk supply and growing so quickly. When you are bottle-feeding, it’s easy to let someone else feed the baby while you run around cleaning house or shopping. I think nursing is nature’s way of helping you get the rest you need while you are recovering from childbirth. Think about it – mothers used to stay in bed or in the hospital for at least a week or two after giving birth – now they are up and running after a 24 hour hospital stay.
• The hormones prolactin and oxytocin that are released when you nurse are called “the mothering hormones”, and help you relax. When researchers give them to laboratory mice, (even males), they start building nests and doing motherly things. They really are powerful hormones, and many mothers report that even when they are extremely stressed, they feel a rush of relaxation when their milk lets down.

If you nurse for 3-6 months:

• Your baby will be healthier than the baby who is formula fed.
• Studies have found that babies who were exclusively breastfed for at least four months had half as many ear infections as formula fed babies.
• Nursing can help you lose the extra weight you put on during pregnancy. Mothers who breastfed lose more weight by the time their babies are 3-6 months old than formula feeding mothers who consumed fewer calories, because breast milk production mobilizes the fat you stored during pregnancy, and also uses up about 500 calories each day. (See the article on “Nutrition, Weight Loss, Exercise and Breastfeeding” for more information).
• By the time you have been nursing for a few months, you have overcome any early obstacles such as engorgement, sore nipples, and marathon cluster feedings. Nursing is so much easier than bottle-feeding at this stage – no bottles to wash or carry, no constipation, and poops and spit up that smell so much better than formula-fed babies. Also, your baby isn’t nursing as often as a newborn, and you can give him occasional bottles if you choose to, which helps free you up from total responsibility for all feedings.

Quoting justanothamotha:" You are not horrible & you are right - EVERY amount you do it matters... Here is a clip (the link ... [snip!] ... and you can give him occasional bottles if you choose to, which helps free you up from total responsibility for all feedings."

I was being a bit silly, I don't actually feel all that bad about it.
But all that does make me feel even better, thank you.