Did You Decide Not to Breastfeed?

I've breastfed all of my children, but my philosophy is "a fed baby is a happy baby." Whatever you do just has to work for you and the baby, not anyone else.

I'm going to go against the grain here... I made a very concious decision to not breastfeed my DD. It was a personal choice of mine and mine alone. I am still (3.5 years later) very happy with my decision. :)

WoW.... breastfeeding and Autism... thats a new one. Think there might have been a screw loose behind that comment!! Just saying....

I chose not to breastfeed my first. I am pregnant with my second and am planning on going straight to formula with him as well. I was treated respectfully for my decision at the hospital and received no pressure to breastfeed. Breastfeeding just isn't for me. It is a personal decision...I just wish everyone realized that. Every mom gets to raise her kids in her own way...

My husband and I were both formula fed and feel we turned out pretty darn well ; )

Me- I knew BF was not for me. Like another poster, it is just gross. I don't like to see it much less participate. UGH.

Our daughter si 16, fantastic health, rarely ever been on an antibiotic, all Honors/AP classes, co captian of cheer squad and in orchestra......we couldn't be blessed more.

It was he$$ at the hospital, even though my Dr. was aware of my decision. The hospital would not give me formula because the BF brigade seemed to run the nursery. It took my Dr. and husband to warn them to stay away from me or security would be involved. I can't believe how they feel they know everything and actually deny new moms formula when they ask for it. Needless to say, they left me alone after my hubby got through with them.

Also, you can't convince me that it is NORMAL for a 2-4 yr old to go latch on to mom. I think that is a mom who can't let go and it is detrimental to the mental health of the child.

Don't let anyone make you feel guilty either way.. It is a personal choice and everyone does not feel the same way about BF.

I did...

I was eager to breastfeed my son, i read everything and knew everything i needed to know about breastfeeding....

It never hurt, he latched since day 1 and i was producing enough milk.....but it made me miserable....i did it for almost 2 months, and every time i felt so sad, i didnt feel any bond, i didnt like it...i felt that being with my son was like going to work, i didnt enjoy it and for me was an obligation...(dont get me wrong, i love my son and i spent every second with him....it was just bf)

I wanted to stop but i felt guilty, the fact that i was physically able to feed him but made me miserable, made me feel even worse.....i wanted to quit but it was hard cuz i wanted to give him the best of everything..

I even went to a La Leche League meeting, looking for support....they made me feel worst....like i was a terrible person for not loving it....they even told me that my son was not going to develop at his full potential if i formula feed him....trust me, in there i got everything but support....

So after the meeting i talked to my DH and to my child pediatrician, and both made me feel better about stopping it, so i did....

And i began to enjoy every second of being a mom....BF wasnt for me, it made me depressed.....and i dont believe that having a sad mommy was better than formula for my son...btw, now i know that this was a form of ppd

My son is 8 months now, he has never been sick,he began to crawl at 5 months and is already cruising and trying to walk by himself, hes a very curious and smart boy....and i really dont believe breast milk would have made such a big difference....

I really, really wanted to breastfeed my babies, but I did not have enough milk. It was a difficult and painful ordeal with my first son to realize it wasn't going to work and it was because of my body. I didn't even know with him that he wasn't getting enough until we went back to the doctor and he had lost weight!

It was extremely painful to have so-called "experts" (breastfeeding Nazis) tell me there is "no such thing as inadequate supply." I tried all their "tricks" (like pumping every two hours, taking fennel, etc) and just made myself misearable!

I did BF and wished I could have done it longer but due to many obstacles, I could only do 5 months with the 1st and 7 months with the 2nd.

But I will on principle "flower" all the responders who said they did not BF -- And I do not even care what their reason was. I have seen and heard very hurtful and downright hateful things done to mothers who use formula. And so whatever I can do to off-set that hurt and guilt, I will.

I didn't with the first two simply because I did not want to. I am one of those "crunchy" homebirth moms too! The third one was born last April and all of a sudden I had the feeling I wanted to. Best thing I have ever done. Going on 10 months now. So easy. Wish I had breastfed the first two.

Lisa

I made the decision not to BF for multiple reasons: 1- knew it wouldn't be feasible with our schedules, 2- never grew enough on top....went from FLAT to barely an A cup with not much there to latch to, 3- milk never really flourished, but never really tried to make it either, 4- knew it was a struggle for my mother for the same reasons, she stopped after attempting and felt like a failure and I didn't want that added pressure on me, 5- being a formula fed baby and turning out healthy and intelligent, I knew my baby would be just fine......

It is a personal choice and there are BILLIONS of babies who have been formula fed and are just fine.......drives me batty with all the arguments that say kids will be smarter, healthier, etc.......I don't believe it because I've seen unhealthy on both sides, learning disorders on both sides, differing levels of intelligence, etc......Just my thoughts.....

I did. My son is now nearly 8. The idea of breastfeeding didn't appeal to me and I didn't want to. That was my choice. No regrets.

Cindy k., there is no such thing as rotton breastmilk.

Mallory P seriously? Maybe no one is investigating your breaking news angle because there's nothing there? I mean really, don't you think that if the biggest childhood health and education epidemic of our time were linked to something as obvious as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding someone would have figured it out by now? Totally laughable. FWIW, I have two relatives with Asperger's and both were FF - should we investigate that angle?

And what is this "rise" in breastfeeding? Breastfeeding is how most of our species was fed for oh, I dunno, a couple hundred thousand years. We got away from it for much of the past 100 years, but a slow change towards getting back to our biological norm is hardly a "rise" that can be correlated with ASD and other health and learning epidemics. I've read some wacky posts on this forum and usually ignore them but yours is so preposterous that I couldn't not comment back.

I tried with my first and had a low milk supply. It became a very stressful situation. With my second, I did for about 2 days until my husband said maybe this just isn't for us. We were so much more relaxed after that. Today I have 2 beautiful healthy girls, ages 3 & 6, and no regrets.

In response to one of the posts below, there is NO biological link between breastfeeding and autism. None whatsoever. Women have been breastfeeding, literally, as long as there have been women. Formula is a tiny blip on the radar compared with that. To suggest that breastfeeding is somehow responsible for autism is not only incorrect and ridiculous, it's also profoundly irresponsible and unethical.

If someone decides that breastfeeding is not for her, well okay. But that's a personal decision. To discourage others from breastfeeding because of a specious speculation like that is way not okay, sister. It's what they call a bad, bad thing to do.

I breastfed my first child up to about 6 months. She was never full so I always had to supplement with formula. The other thing that strongly caught my attention was that I continued to hear people say that their babies didn't get sick during the time they were being breastfed. I also discovered that these same people were SAHM. I at the time was working and my child was in daycare and constantly sick.

When I had my second daughter, I decided that this just wasn't for me so I didn't breastfeed her. This was my decision and I never let anyone who is so passionate about breastfeeding make me feel bad about a personal decision that does not affect them but me.

Some women will treat you as if you comittted a cardinal sin if you decided not to breast feed. It's a mother's personal decision. You do you, I'll do me and that's it! :0)

I was hell-bent on doing it with my first child...and it failed miserably. It was nothing but depression, heartache, guilt, and nasty comments from other women. With my second child I decided to actually enjoy my baby and not agonize over such a decision. For me, it made all the difference in the world and I am so happy that I did not nurse.

This is for Rb's Mom, but for anyone else out there as well who may feel intense sadness upon nursing their babies -- Someone recently posted this link to a doula list I'm on. It's about a recently identified breastfeeding disorder that causes intense sadness upon letdown -- please don't feel guilty about not nursing if this is happening to you.

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2011/02/11/newly-id...

Nursing has always been a gloriously positive experience for me, and I have nursed my first two children until they were 36 and 39 months, and my third is 25 months and still going strong, but no one should feel guilty if they cannot nurse for physical or emotional reasons. If not nursing makes you a better mom, then perhaps that is best for your baby.

I didn't BF my son. my eating habits werent the best and I wasnt sure I could get him the proper nutrients. plus I dont care what research shows I dont think breast milk makes your kid healthier or smarter. I was formula fed as a baby, and I was a very healthy child and still rarely get sick and my IQ is in the gifted range

I nursed both my kids, but counted down the minutes until I "could stop." I never loved it, never even liked it, but did it because I felt it was right for them. I was always soooo jealous of the woman who were formula feeding because they seemed to be able to let go of the guilt and feed their babies in a way that they could enjoy.

Not everyone loves being pregnant (me!). Not everyone loves breastfeeding (me!). But just because I don't love the moments that those little children are literally attached to my body doesn't mean that I don't love them with all my heart. That's the connection that really matters.

I decided NOT to BF. I have no regrets.

I decided not to breastfeed way before ever trying to get pregnant, my reasons were number 1, I had seen how out of shape your breast get from nursing from some of my friends, number 2 I am already large breasted and I knew caring milk they would get even larger, but my main reasons were the bottle is easier to get rid of, the breast however are always there, and I had seen to many children past infancy digging into and trying to get into their mothers shirts in public after the breast, plus i have noticed that many women breast feed well into the ages that a baby should be using a cup. I started cup training my baby's when the teeth started coming in and they could sit up. I have had baby's as young as 3 months that could hold their own bottles, I still of course held them so they could get the nurturing, I think in some baby's breast feeding makes them lazy, a bottle and cup they at a very early age have instinc to hold them. breast feed baby's just lay there. I know there are moms out there that are going to want slam me, but before you do let me tell you my kids are grown all healthy and happy, and my sons have thanked me for not breast feeding them, they said that is something they would not want to have a mental picture of they are 27 and 24. I have never had any evidence that breast feeding is best, as long as moms are holding their babys while be feed, the nurturing they are gettin is the same, and the 14 month old In my daycare was put on formula by his doctor at 6 months because he needed to gain weight. To breast feed or not to is a personal choice and formula fed baby's are no less healthy or happy than breast fed baby's, the few I did know that breast fed was because they didn't want to spend the money on formula. And it's not fair to the fathers, my husband spent time in feedings just like did, feeding a baby is not exclusively just the right of the mother. J.

I did it the first three months, but like the other L., couldn't wait to stop. It was just not my thing, it made my PPD worse I think. Never let anyone make you feel guilty. I had a few people act like I was doing something wrong by stopping so soon, but I made it clear that their opinion was noted, but promptly ignored.

I dont think it should be called "breastfeed", it should just be called "feed". And the other way should be called "alternative method of feeding".
If for some reason you can't feed your infant and have to use alternative methods we should be thankful they have been invented.
If there was no alternative methods for feeding babies the population would sure be different wouldnt it? That's a reality check.

Before I had children I did not want to. When I got pregnant I wanted to try, due to extreme stress I did not have a good supply. I breast fed maybe a good 5 minutes in the hospital before she was taken to the NICU. After that it was nothing but "trying" for three months. She never wanted to latch, and I didn't produce hardly anything.
I did everything my dr's and lactation specialists told me (including prescription pills to help), with NO increase to my supply. So both advised me to stop. Now that my SO and I are talking about when we want to TTC again, i'm honestly not sure I want to try it again.
I can't tell you how many rude comments I got from people, even strangers that saw formula in my cart.
VG there is a such thing as rotten milk. I don't know the exact medical term, but my moms breast milk was tested and was found to have high numbers of her body's toxins in it, which in turn almost killed my brother. It was also this really weird bluish color she said. I was concerned about this while pregnant and my OBGYN told me it's not hereditary and it rarely happens. It does happen though.

Funny thing with me-my mom didn't nurse any of the 3 of us, my sister didn't nurse her kids but I knew that I would nurse my kids. Never a doubt in my mind.

Even when my son was born 8 weeks early, it was still my goal. And you know what? I am immensely glad it was. I had to be given the rubella vac before I left the hospital and because he was a preemie I had to pump and dump. His little tummy was so upset the entire 2 weeks. I felt horrible seeing him like that. The minute he was back on my milk he was fine. I had to pump (round the clock) for 12 weeks until I could teach him how to nurse. He went on to nurse till he was 16 months old. Best decision and sacrifices I've ever made.

I always knew I would breast feed my baby, but I was a rare exception, believe it or not. I don't put down the women who chose not to. Heck, their kids are all happy, healthy and well adjusted. It just wasn't for them. One of them did try and it lasted about half a second. She was uncomfortable and nervous and the baby didn't take to that so she never tried again.
Many women, no offense or judgements, who are younger moms choose not to nurse even before their child is born. They have their reasons and I don't think it means they love their babies any less.
To me, it was natural and I'm glad I did it, but I would lie if I said it didn't hurt and there's more to it than just a baby sucking on you for milk. My boobs got so huge that it caused so much back pain I could barely hold my babies for a while until things subsided a bit.
It just doesn't work for some people for various reasons and I don't look down on them for that. I really don't.
I have a family member who adopted an infant and she couldn't nurse her baby. It doesn't mean the child wasn't fed, loved, and nurtured. The child is a perfectly healthy adult now.
Sometimes it's a choice, sometimes it's not possible.
A well loved baby can thrive either way.

Just my opinion.

I chose not to breastfeed my son. I had bottles, nipples, and other supplies ready before he was born. No one tried to really talk me into breastfeeding. A few people told me the benefits, but no one was rude or forceful about it.
It turned out to be a good decision and I'm glad I had supplies ready. My milk was bad (who ever heard of rotten breast milk?!), so I couldn't have breastfed anyway.

I tried but my daughter wouldn't do it. The pumping was giving me PPD, so I switched to formula. I dont feel bad about it, especially when my mom told me I wouldnt breastfeed either as a baby.

I didn;t read your responses but my 2 cents is, don't feel pressured to if you don't want to. I did for a few weeks and got mastitis twice, had poor latch and was much better when I pumped (just for a few weeks) and dad or mil could give bottle, even though washing bottles etc is a pain too. don't feel any guilt, i wish I hadn't let it bother me that i didn't bf. HAPPY MAMA, HAPPY BABY.

BF is a very personal choice and only the mother should decide. If you do not do it then you should not feel giulty about it or let anyone make you feel guilty.

One thing that I noticed in these answers that struck out to me is the people who do not like the idea of breastfeeding have called it "gross" among other words but none of the people who are proponents of it have given a strong opionion about how the other option is "gross".

The point that I am trying to make is that if you beleive that it is offensive that someone pushes you to do it then when you do ther reverse by calling the process the of breastfeeding "gross" that is offensive too. That pretty much puts you in the boat like the people who force it on women who decide against it.

I had no desire to breast feed and did not. I did want to share caring for DS 50:50 with DH and we have from day 1. For us that would have been much more difficult if I was the only one getting up at night. I also went back to work at 4 weeks and I had no desire to pump. I have never regretted this decision.

This is certainly a question that gets people's blood boiling! It's amazing how passionate people can get about this topic.

While I do happen to be pro-breastfeeding, I certainly don't condone anyone pushing a woman to do ANYTHING she doesn't feel comfortable with. Breastfeeding is a commitment, one that at times can be extremely challenging. Just because it was right for me doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

I didn't read all of the responses below (there were so many!), but I did read the one in which the author believes there is a correlation between autism and breastfeeding. I have NEVER heard of that, and I think it is a little dangerous to make such a statement with no medical evidence to back it up.

If you're trying to make the decision about whether or not to breastfeed, just make sure you do a little research so you don't have any regrets! Here's a link to a post we did at www.morethanmothers.com about breastfeeding. Hope it gives you some helpful info! Best of luck to you!!

http://morethanmothers.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/the-abcs-...

I went into it both times with the intention to breastfeed. I never had a great supply either time, but with the first, I was able to breastfeed for 4 months and supplement. However, with the 2nd -and having to still care for the first, who was 2, I threw in the towel at 6 weeks. I was already having to supplement and I no longer had the "luxury" of nursing every 30 minutes all day or staying hooked up to my pump constantly. Contrary to what many will tell you, there are some of us who don't EVER get an adequate supply -no matter what! In the old days our babies died or we had to be lucky enough to find a wet nurse. Both of my grandmothers had this problem (and managed to raise 5 and 6 children on homemade formula and relative's breastmilk) and my own mother NEVER had anything other than colostrum. Milk never came in for her, so it seems to be a genetic thing. If I had oodles of milk, I would have breastfed both longer, but I probably would have supplemented as well. I'm a big believer in pumping so dad can get up in the middle of the night too! I also don't think anyone should stress themselves out about it. I don't care what anyone says -formula fed babies are just fine. They are just as smart and healthy as breastfed babies. I have my father and mother and all of their very long-lived and healthy siblings (my mother was the only one to die so young at 64), myself and my two sons as a testament to that fact. My husband wasn't breastfed either, and he's never been sickly and has quite a high IQ.

I think it is rare that woman predetermine not to breastfeed. I think that the high rate of bottle feeding is more to do with the difficulty some woman have breastfeeding. That being said, I choose to bottle feed my first because breastfeeding was so difficult for us. I succeeded breastfeeding with my second, but only with a very very rough road to success. If I have a third I may not breastfeed because I already know that i have a difficult time with supply.

BF is best for every child, but BF is not best for every mom. It takes time, desire, sacrifice and consistency. That's not possible for all moms.

I BF both my girls until they self-weaned at 9 months. I hated having to constantly be on call for food, (neither one would ever take a bottle) but I loved being the only person in the world who could give my babies the best nourishment available. It made me feel powerful, important and connected to them in a way that no one else ever would be.

If you can BF, great. If you can't, oh well. The world will keep spinning. *;-)

I breastfed my daughter for the first 6 weeks and don't get me wrong, I loved it. I love the bond it created and I loved the closeness. I also loved the fact that her poop didn't smell at all! However, due to her MANY sensitivities I had to switch her to hypoallergenic formula. Truth be told... if I ever have another baby I think I would go straight to formula. It's easier to pinpoint sensitivities and anyone can feed baby during mom's recovery.

Wow. I've been through some of the responses and it seems that your original question isn't really answered. If I had asked your question, I would feel some pressure from the answers TO breastfeed.

I did not and had no desire to breastfeed. I knew I would get slack for it, but oh well. It just isn't for me. No other reason. I'm sure I could have...but had absolutely no desire. I'm not conviced that breastfeeding is the best for all children anyways. Formula has come a long ways. Plus, anything you put into your body, your baby gets. My girls are allergic to milk, wheat, soy, etc., and if I were to eat any of that my baby may get it through my milk (I'm not certain of this but it sounds reasonable). I know medicines get transferred.

Anyways, I believe breastfeeding is a strictly personal decision and it is OK to say no. You and you alone know the reasons why or why not.

Good luck to you.
(sorry for the rant)

I had no intention of breastfeeding but my husband and the nurses convinced me to take a class on it and try it. I tried it and it wasn't a problem but I HATED it. I stopped after about a week. I didn't get the whole bonding thing because I bonded just fine with my son. He also had no more health problems than anyone else. So everyone should just do what feels right for them. The kids all grow up fine either way.

Hope this helps!

I choose not to with all 3 of my boys. There was never really a question in my mind. My doctor was even supportive of my decision and I had a different one for my last. The only person that ever gave me and trouble was the consultant at the WIC office. At my first appt I told them I wouldn't be breast feeding so no one needed to call me. Someone called me anyway and I told her I would be using formula. She was really nasty with me and I finally had to tell her to back off. She wound up tell me "I hope you're happy washing bottles in the middle of the night" and then she hung up on me. I didn't let that bother me and I kept washing bottles.

I personally did not. My dd's are 10 and 16. Neither were really sick as babies, nothing more then the common cold and a few bouts of flu. They are smart, healthy, well rounded individuals. I think it's a personal choice and whatever works for you is BEST.

I did not breastfeed. I tried with my first for about a week. My milk came in late due to some labor complications, and DS never latched right. I also didn't like the lactation counselors manhandling my boobs (it hurt!) to show me how to do it.
And in the end, I found it to be more work and more painful that I'd like.

With my 2nd, I didn't even bother, I just let me milk run dry.

Overall, I didn't want to be the only person responsible for overnight activities and didn't want to have to deal with pumping. (Plus, my boobs are still in great shape after 2 kids!).

That's my story!

I chose not to BF...My 8 yr old and 3 yr old are healthy and happy, and of normal weight and intelligence. I do not regret my decision. My ob/gyn was supportive, and even offered the fact that he was bottle fed and doesn't feel deprived b/c of it.
If breastfeeding makes a woman feel like a better mother b/c of it....more power to ya !
GREAT QUESTION by the way!

There's only ONE opinion that counts --- yours. If you want to breastfeed (and are able to) , do. If you don't want to breastfeed, don't.

i didn't bf either one of my children. for a lot of personal reasons. nothing medical, just personal preferences. i'm very self conscience and couldn't see myself bf in public or even in a bathroom. i was told by numerous people (including 2 bf SILs) that it was about every hour you had to bf and home wasn't conducive to that both of my children are highly intelligent (one is being tested for gifted the other at 4 is already reading) they rarely get sick, have no allergies, or anything else wrong with them.

I nursed my son until 19 months but I have three very good friends who intended to use formula their entire pregancy. I have other friends who gave breastfeeding a try but ended up switching to formula. However, these original three that I mentioned did decide not to breastfeed. They were not comfortable with breastfeeding at all (for themselves, they don't care how others want to feed their children). Their children are well loved, healthy and happy.

With my first daughter, I really wanted to try to nurse. I tried for over a month and she lost weight and we were supplementing. I was so stressed that I produced next to nothing. I decided to throw in the towel and lo and behold she gained weight and even though she is still a petite girl, she is healthy.

With daughter #2 I tried again and did a little better but NEVER had good production. And when she was on the breast, I found that I didn't LOVE it like so many ladies do, I wish I did, but that was me. With our son, I didn't even try. For me, there were just so many obstacles to overcome, I have found that "a happy mama makes a happy baby." I wish I could, but it just wasn't for me. Blessings to all those mamas that can and also to those who chose not to.

I knew early on I WOULD breastfeed... tho my family and friends were unsupportive at best and rude and demeaning at worst.

I had a very hard time the first month... I had a traumatic cesarean, Nursery nurses fed her formula eventho I had expressed THAT NONE would be given, my own family fed her formula while I napped - I had complications with the cesarean, I was a single Mom and needed support - but none was there.

Took almost 3 weeks before I met a stranger who would be my guidance into succeeding at breastfeeding... and IBCLC at the WIC department. I'm a staunch and vocal breastfeeding advocate - especially of child led weaning.

I am pregnant with #2 and I know I will breastfeed, eventho I'm a full time Nurse who will be returning to school. It can be done... tho others would like it to seem that it's harder than the 9 months of pregnancy and the hours of labor.

I dont think anyone decides to not breastfeed, well not many. Breastfeeding is so difficult these days because of the hospital births and the nurses trained to give the new baby a pacifier and bottle (unless otherwise directed) The sheer presence of formula being so readily available makes it easier to give up, when in the past We had to try harder becuase the other option was cows milk, or a wet nurse (another woman feeding our baby through her own breast) I pumped my milk with my first daughter, she would fall asleep at the breast because of her jaundice and the fact that it wasnt flowing, i was 21 and ignorant of the fact that i could breastfeed eventually after pumped milk was presented in the bottle, it would have just taken time. I still wish i had, my supply diminished and then disappeared and i was very sad about it. With my second daughter i didnt even buy formula or bottles, i powered through months of excruciating pain but trudged on.

ASide from single moms who have to work, medical conditions, and freak occurances of a dry milk i cant imagine choosing NOT to.

I have some medical things that we knew I couldn't breastfeed with. However, I would have chosen not to...even if I could have.

I breastfed both my kids - one till 10 months and the other 7 months, but it was never easy for me, due to inverted nipples. Especially in the beginning when they were small, it hurt like heck, so I never wanted to continue it beyond a year, and I was glad to stop.
I am glad I perservered with it though.
I don't really understand women who breastfeed their toddlers, I mean once a child has teeth, IMHO that is God's way of showing you that they can eat food

My Mom didn't with me or my sister (in the 60's).
My sister thought the whole idea was gross, so she did formula all the way with her daughter.
I breast fed my son for 5 months. I would have gone longer, but my supply was dwindling rapidly when I was pumping at work (I so hated pumping in the restroom but my work place was not very accommodating to breast feeding), so we switched to formula and he was fine.

I would have LOVED to be able to exclusively breastfeed. I had a breast reduction that effected my ability to have an adequate supply, and my nipples didn't allow for a good latch. I pumped for both of my daughters and only supplemented with formula because I had to.

I bf my 1st untill she wanted to stop after having 2nd (prob. b/c of my new milk?).

With my 2nd, I tried to bf but doc. was worried about her wt. and thought I wasn't feeding her enough. So w/her I pumped and used a bottle and logged how many oz/day so I could "prove" I WAS feeding her...she was STILL slow to gain wt. WIC and my new doc says her wt. is ok and she is just small...but her sis is on the bigger side...AND he said the other doc was putting me and my new baby through stress with ordering unnessisary IV's ect.... he said u can tell by their build: 1st baby big-boned, 2nd baby small-boned. After a while I thought I would try to bf her but she never would. :(

My son is 7mos and I still bf only. I have formula on hand just in case my MIL needs it when she is watching him (but I nurse him right b4 i leave and am usualy back b4 he wants to nurse again) . He he is in the middle of a growth spurt and wants to nurse 2x as much (on this is on top of his normal nursing and eating 1st foods 3x's a day) so I use 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk in a sippy cup or bottle .

I will nurse all my kids as long as they want up to age 3ish. If I were a working mom, I would not nurse at all once I went back to work.

I really wanted to breastfeed, decided to give up, and then went back to it. I had problems from the moment my son was born, he wasn't sucking any milk out, and I didn't realize this for a couple of days. After jaundice and a few trips to check his blood, I was able to finally get him to breastfeed (with the help of some formula). When he was two weeks old, I got a horrible case of mastitis, couldn't handle the pain or lack of sleep (it was really hurting me), and gave up. I felt ok about the decision for about a week, then regretted it so much, it was something I had always wanted to do. I decided to relactate, and after a month of not nursing, started breastfeeding again. It was harder than the first time! It was so worth it though, and I nursed him until he was 2.

My older one refused the breast. So I pumped for her. After 3 months, that got very old so I switched to stictly formula. When the twins came along, one would nurse, the other wouldn't...again, I pumped for 3 months. Looking back, I'm kicking myself for not trying harder to get them to nurse. It's a special bonding time that only a mother is able to share with her child. Should we have any more--they will definitely be breastfed if it's at all humanly possible.

I am breastfeeding and I love it. I have struggled with a low supply and shallow latch and even through all of that I still think it's worth it. I've had a terrible time with coworkers being supportive of my pumping and work has been crazy since I spend part of my day pumping instead of getting things done. Still, still it is the most wonderful feeling to be providing for my little boy. I feel connected to him even when we are apart. He not only gets nourishment from it, but he is comforted when he nurses. I love it!

I chose not to but i was also super young, 18 when i had her, but if i have another i am planning on trying to breastfeed or atleast pump

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I chose not to but i was also super young, 18 when i had her, but if i have another i am planning on trying to breastfeed or atleast pump

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I started out breastfeeding all of my four. I switched to formula later on for all of them, but not by choice. I literally had some sort of milk-producing issue (I got a lot of opinions from many doctors about why, but couldn't do anything about it- even LLL couldn't help), and my children all got way too skinny. Kept happening earlier for each child. Child #1: I had to switch at ten months... Child#2: 6 months... Child #3: 4 months... Child #4: 2 months.

It was depressing and sad, but i wanted to keep positive, so I always tried. Never bottle fed by first choice, that's for sure- but thankfully it became a life-saver for my kids.

I didn't breastfeed my oldest. And regretted it.
So, when I had my second I did. For about 6 months. And then was sad I stopped.
So when I had my third, I breastfed for about a year.
It is a wonderful opportunity and I would encourage it when possible.

I always wanted to breastfeed and had to fight a bit to be able to because of a bout with shingles 3 days after giving birth. And I agree with Shan S.

My daughter is about to be eight months old and yes I've been breastfeeding since birth. She gets baby food, infant cereal, baby juice at times one or two bottles of formula now when I'm at work and don't have any milk pumped; and whatever else my mom sneaks and gives her. But I think breast milk has done wonders for her development. She started sitting up, and tummy time at like 4and half months, scooting by five months, and been crawling ever since. Breastmilk is best, but its also a personal choice and commitment.

I breast fed in the hospital and pumped for a month. My kids were good nursers, me, not so much.

I did not breastfeed either of my children. The people in my family didn't breastfeed so it was not the norm for me and I was not comfortable with the thought with my oldest. With my daughter, I seriously considered it but in the end knew it was not for me.

Both my children are very healthy.

I needed to be on medications after each birth and new that I would be returning to work so I did not breastfeed. All three of my kids are healthy Praise God. I was a preemie and not breastfed and again healthy. It is a very personal decision and one that is between you and your family. We all can only do our best. BTW I think the formulas out there are great and really take the guess work out of gas...spit up..allergies etc....! I have no regrets whatsoever and was supported by my family. It sure made it easier for hubby and family to help out....Thanks for posting.

i had orginally thought that i was not going to breastfeed my 1st. i worked nightshift, young, scared. so i thought i would do formula no prob my mom formula fed me because i was too weak to nurse. i turned out alright i suppose. i bought bottles and everything. then on the day of her birth, when i held her i decided to try and breastfeed. i only got to for 4 months due to stress, workhours deminishing my milk blah blah blah but i am so glad i got to do it for the amount of time i did. its a pain in the beginning literally and figuratively. then we switched over to formula and all went well. i got to exclusively breastfeed my second for a year and it was great.
i used to think that was so weird that people would breastfeed when formula would be so much easier(so i thought) but its really just a matter of choice. i would suggest really asking people what are the pros and cons of each way of feeding because if you are the least bit interested in the idea of breastfeeding you can't ever get that chance again, you can try and fail then move to formula. its an experience that is really bonding and you feel really awesome once you both get it down. either way your baby will get the vitamins and minerals they need and grow up before you know it.

I decided not to breastfeed my daughter. If I could go back I would have aleast for the first 6 weeks.

I breastfed my first child (now 15) for 6 months - and then she went straight to a cup. I breastfed my son (now 12) for about 4 months ...with both i was working and I hated pumping. I didn't breastfeed my third child (now 8) at all. I tried and got a nasty infection the first month...painful and not good and kept me from being able to care for my other kids. Plus, I disliked very much nursing in public and could not stand pumping. There are many good reasons to breastfeed...but I think many good reasons not to as well. Do what's best for you and your baby - and following your doctor's advice.

I have breastfed all 3 of my children, though with the first, for one month. With my third, I am working and pumping. It is very time consuming and isolating from my co-workers but that is my time to think about little girl. So yes, it is hard at first and definitely a commitment. For me, a worthwhile commitment but just as in anything else in parenting, it needs to be something you believe in and want to do. I would encourage anyone to try and to know it will be hard at first but so rewarding, but I also feel strongly it is up to each of us to make the best choice for ourselves and our families.

i wanted too but my daughter would not latch on at all. i even had the lactation consultant in the room trying to help me also but my daughter was not having it at all.....so needless to say she was bottle fed.if i ever have another kid i will try again.

I didn't. I had a c-section because her heartbeat was jumping and it was late and she was starving because they wouldn't let me eat anything so while I was in recovery they asked if they could give her a bottle and I said yea I mean she was starving (duh they wouldn't let me eat). I mainly chose not to because I had a bad awkward relationship (have an ok one now with my parents and brother) with my parents and brother and my extended family (grandpa, etc) I didn't really know at all so it was a psychological thing too... my mom never was a mom to me, like she didn't teach me about my body and blah blah so yeah, it was impossible for me (at that point) to get past it because of psychological things. I have a 2 year old that talks better than most 3 and 4 year olds and people actually say she's tall for her age and she's healthy so no regrets :)