Sweetness
Joined: 04/01/07
Posts: 10 |
Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/01/07 10:07 PM
I hear almost every year a new theory from doctors about which is the best to do for the parent and the babies.
Personally, I think that if it is possible, because I know some women have a problem doing it, that breast feeding is the best to build immune systems in the babies. Even if it is only done for 3 or 4 months it gives them a head start health wise.
How do you feel about it?
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EviesEarth
Joined: 03/31/07
Posts: 18 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/01/07 10:33 PM
I breast fed my 2 boys and will do the same with next. (a girl due in May!)
I see it as the ultimate bonding experience. It is so natural and healthy for the baby. Healthy, that is considering if mom takes care of herself.
Yes, there are times when a mom can not breast feed her little one. I think if a mom can, then she should do it.
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molly18
Joined: 04/02/07
Posts: 14 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/02/07 6:40 PM
I bottle fed my daughter. I just didn't feel comfortable having her feed off my breast. I also was afraid that I would not know if she was getting any milk and starve.
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luvcamerasnic
Joined: 04/02/07
Posts: 14 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/02/07 7:53 PM
I was afraid at first that my daughter was not getting milk. She was a preemie and I had to make sure she was gaining weight. However, I absolutely could not afford to buy formula, so I pumped for a month and a half. After that, I realized that if she was hungry, she would let me know. We transitioned back to breast and I intend to nurse all my children. It was so much more convenient!
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EviesEarth
Joined: 03/31/07
Posts: 18 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/03/07 8:20 AM
I think just about every new mom worries about baby not getting enough when breast feeding. The best thing to do then is to take baby in for weekly weight checks. I did this with our first. Felt more confident with the second.
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britjojo
Joined: 04/05/07
Posts: 25 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/05/07 9:04 PM
Yes, you are right, EVERY breastfeeding mother worries about the kid getting enough. My daughter is almost two, and, as per WHO recommendations is still nursing. I intend for her to wean when she is ready, not at a time deemed fit by me or anyone else.
There is nothing else as good, nothing else will meet the child's needs for nutrition as well, and nothing else will support their immune system in those tender first months and years.
Plus, it reduces the risks of breast cancer in the mother and all cancers in childhood if you nurse for at least 12 months, continuously.
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glyphon
Joined: 04/06/07
Posts: 2 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/06/07 4:42 PM
I agree. I totally understand that many mothers end up needing to use a bottle and they shouldn't get any grief about it. But whenever possible it clearly is true that breast is best.
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britjojo
Joined: 04/05/07
Posts: 25 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/06/07 4:47 PM
However I think that the reverse is also true; mothers who choose to breastfeed should not get stick because or be expected to never talk about breastfeeding (as happened in my parenting group) because it might 'upset the formula moms'. If they can talk about which formula is best for their kid, we can talk about our issues too.
Likewise, if baby is hungry and you are out-feed it! Don't take it into a toilet stall and stick a blanket over it's head. The kid has every right to eat when it needs to, not when society says it should.
My friend's sig is wonderful, and reads;
"If you are uncomfortable with my nursing in public, feel free to put a blanket over your head and finish your meal in the bathroom".
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shinningstar
Joined: 04/06/07
Posts: 10 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/06/07 11:27 PM
Almost all mothers in our town prefer breast feeding simply because it's natural and economical. I've noticed that the price of milk in the market is increasing yearly. Some mothers don't have any choice at all.
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TexasGal
Joined: 04/01/07
Posts: 13 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/07/07 7:48 AM
"I hear almost every year a new theory from doctors about which is the best to do for the parent and the babies."
Really? I've never heard a single thing change. Breastfeeding is best for mother and baby. But not all babies are with their birth mothers and therefore can't be breastfed, and not all mothers are capable of or want to breastfeed.
I wish people would get stop being so stupid about breastfeeding mothers and acting like they should be ashamed of breastfeeding in public. There is nothing sexual about it. It is your problem if you can't make that distinction and you need to stop watching.
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Rowena105
Joined: 03/31/07
Posts: 15 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/07/07 11:49 PM
Well, ladies you have covered just about everything there is to say on this topic, at least what I would have said, and you have expressed it very well.
If you are worried about whether they get enough milk or not let me tell you a little story.
My daughter was on the breast from day one and it was at a time when you didn't have the babies in your room with you. They would bring the baby from the nursery, weigh them first and take them back and weigh them so they knew how much they retained.
My daughter fell asleep after about 1 minute on one breast and the nurses kept telling me I had to get her up to 3 mins on each side. Well, after 3 days she was still falling asleep after about 1 minute and I decided I was going to wake her up come heck or high water. So I did what the nurses suggested and flicked the bottom of her feet and "finally" she woke up. Promptly she threw up all over me, all over the bed and the floor.
The nurses rushed her back to the nursery and cleaned me and the room up and then came back and told me she had retained 6 oz of milk.
They then asked me to lower my bra and I did on the side she hadn't fed and the milk gushed out so fast and furious it went over the end of the bed before dropping to the floor.
So what was happening, according to them was she was being force fed by me because I had so much milk and that's why she fell asleep. So I had to take a towel and open my bra and let the milk pour out until it was a dribble and then start to feed her.
They said it was such ashame they didn't have premies because I could have fed a dozen of them.
I guess what I'm saying is if you want to know then do the weighing thing before and after the feeding and you will see how much they retain.
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Stephanie2377
Joined: 04/02/07
Posts: 4 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/09/07 1:32 PM
I wanted to breastfeed so badly. I did, but I had major supply issues. We knew because my son was losing weight and was dehydrated. We did the weighing thing, and he barely gained an ounce after nursing for awhile. In order to keep him from getting sick we had to supplement with formula.
I did the best I could and breastfed him as long as I could. We tried *everything* to help my supply. So, while I agree that breastmilk is the very best if you have it, formula saved my son's life.
I am happy for every drop of breastmilk that he got, though.
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mamab
Joined: 03/31/07
Posts: 17 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
04/11/07 9:26 AM
I had just the opposite problem - an over supply of milk with my first son. In fact, I could nurse him for about 15 minutes on each side, then pump about 8 ounces! I wish I could have sent it to a hospital or something for preemies, but that option was available where I lived. I could have easily have been a wet nurse!!
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chrissy
Joined: 07/06/07
Posts: 2 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
07/06/07 3:18 PM
check out website
naturalparent.org
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chrissy
Joined: 07/06/07
Posts: 2 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
07/06/07 3:19 PM
sorry that's
naturalchild.org
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pittsburgh parent
Joined: 04/05/07
Posts: 2 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
08/30/07 10:35 PM
I bottle feed all 3 of my children. It wasn't by choice with the first two but I saw no harm doing it with the third. My children were sick at max 3 times a year and they are all adviced in learning. I also have a strong bond with my kids. I honestly don't think it matters what or how you feed your child.
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pittsburgh parent
Joined: 04/05/07
Posts: 2 |
RE: Breast or Bottle Feeding
08/30/07 10:36 PM
I bottle feed all 3 of my children. It wasn't by choice with the first two but I saw no harm doing it with the third. My children were sick at max 3 times a year and they are all adviced in learning. I also have a strong bond with my kids. I honestly don't think it matters what or how you feed your child.
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