Breastfeeding vs Formula - study question

I bf both times because;

• Because I wanted them to get all the antibodies
• Its so much more convenient
• Its super cheap

When Isabelle switched to formula I actually asked on here what people were using and thats how I made my decision as to which one to use.

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?
I firmly believe breast is best. Its very convenient & cheap! Nothing really influenced me, I suppose seeing alot of my family BFing did however.

If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision? n/a

Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?
I could answer this with what breastpump & bottles we use, but they didn't influence my decision to BF. Just makes things a little easier with returning to work.

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?
Very much so... it is well advertised that 'breast is best' so I chose to breastfeed. After 7 weeks I felt like Ty wasn't satisfied from breastmilk and so started giving him a formula top up after each breastfeed. It became increasingly harder to keep him interested in breastfeeding so after around 4 months I switch to exclusively bottle feeding. I think the amount of pressure to not bottle feed is completely ridiculous. I have an extremely happy healthy SETTLED bottle fed baby.

If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision?
Common sense. I believe that because of my own diet it was best to bottle feed as being a single parent with a newborn there is little time to create 3 healthy meals a day with all the required nutrients! I was eating fast meals when I had time so thought he would not be getting what he needed from breastmilk.
I also found there was little information once I had decided to formula feed... everything is about breastfeeding, there is little information for those who want to bottle feed. I guess word of mouth was the only thing for me to help decide which bottles, formula etc... to use.


Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?
No

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?
- I knew that breastfeeding is considered best back home and made sure I chose health professionals who would support my choice to BF. I had my baby at what is considered the most "mother friendly" hospital in Singapore and they are also VERY pro BF. C ended up arriving 8 weeks early so I was even more determined to BF exclusively for at least the first 6 months, and hopefully 1 year.

As it turned out, we had quite a lot of trouble with the latch because I have big @@ and small nipples and of course C was teeny so I smothered him But we got off to an OK start and I BF for the first 4 months exclusively but then started giving formula top ups as C was slow to gain weight. At 4.5 months we switched to all FF as my supply was getting worse and it was really stressing me out.

If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision?
- I got lots of information from C's paediatrician, the midwives at the Well Baby clinic we attend and also from friends who were FF.

The midwife and the paed in particular were VERY supportive of switching as we had had such a long road with a premmie and all that goes with it. They answered all my questions, helped me BF for as long as I could and supported me in my decision to FF.

Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?
- Not really, although I had bought an Avent manual pump at a Baby Fair prior to C being born - thank goodness! As I ended up having to pump 3 hrly to get my milk in while C was in the NICU and too small to try BF. Then I was pumping 3hrly to tube feed him till we switched to BF. So that pump was like another limb for a while!

Thanks everyone for your replies!

You have provided some valuable insite and is something that can't be read in any books. Your views will be very helpful.

Buzzy...yes, the same course. It is good so far - pretty full on in the first year (where I am) but apparently that eases off for the second. Lots of good study where you can actually use the information in your classes, so not all theory...thanks for asking!

I had always planned to BF my baby, but would have been happy to FF had that not worked out. I have quite flat nipples so had in the back of my mind that it might be difficult.

Primarily i wanted to BF for different reasons: Bonding, cheap, convienient, health benefits, weight loss for mum!
Here we are 6 months down the track still BF, though my son does have formula occasionaly when I am at work and not back in time to BF.

I was 'topping him up' with formula after a few feeds for a while as he was struggling to gain weight, initally I felt guilty as I couldnt give him what he needed by BF, but then reassuered myself that formula was giving him the extra he needed. he is now on solids so I have stopped this.

As for choosing what to go with, I just vought a few sample packs, he liked the first one, so stuck with that.

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?  I suppose the biggest infuence was environmental.  My mum, MIL, sisters and aunties all breastfed so it never occured to me that I wouldn't. 

The reasons I breastfeed for 12+ months is that I firmly believe breastmilk is best nutritionally, it's cheap, it's a special time and something I can do with my baby that noone else does with them and specialist advised that bfing past 12mo will give my kids the best shot at avoiding a hereditory condition.


Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?  When I introduced formula for daytime feeds at 5mo I used the same that friends were using.

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?
I really wanted to BF as it is better for the baby, and just assumed it would be easy as it's "natural". But between H being born early and not being able to latch and minimal colostrum in the first few days(I was over the moon when I got 1mL) the paed told us we had to start topping him up as he was loosing weight and had low blood sugar levels. I felt really guilty and some of the midwives were really quite horrible about it.

I was never able to exclusively BF, and we are continuing to top up with formula and will probably wean him into formula at 6 months.


If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision?
My post natal midwife was fantastic, and I got a lot of information from OhBaby. In general though, it was much easier to find information about BF than FF; I was also reluctant to ask b/c of the attitude of some health professionals.

Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?
No product made me decide to either BF or FF but having an electric breast pump made things heaps easier in the first few weeks; the TT closer to nature bottles are also really good.

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?

Ethan had trouble from the beginning (and so did I )and then just wouldn't take it.. due to allergies we later found out ...so at 8 weeks he went onto a formula for a week before allergic reaction then onto Neocate (special formula)..if this hadn't happened we would probably have persevered...

thought i did and still do get frustrated at people who tell me I didn't through lack of education or not trying hard enough :( I wouldn't judge them !

If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision?
(see above as to why) but on the whole apart form on here and the paed didn't get much support or info. He also needed formula once at hospital and we were made to feel like we were giving him poison by everyone except mw and made to sign forms etc.. was pathetic.


Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?

no

Edited by Four_eyes

Where there any influences in choosing breastfeeding over formula or vice versa?

Yes, not that anyone could sway my own strong feelings on BF but NICU had a great influence on me in making me belive that BF twins could be done. We started using formula at 3 months because of the struggle I was having with them on the breast, supported by NICU homecare.

If you decided on formula feeding did you have information that supported your decision?

No real information but I realised sanity overruled stressful breastfeeding.

Were there any particular products that influenced your decision?

Yes, we started with Karicare as that is what's used in NICU but later tried Nurture due to a friends recommendation as it's less frothy & easier to mix than karicare so we continued with Nurture.

Good luck with your studys.