I would just go with the flow - you wont know how you really feel about it until baby is here and you try it!

i wasn't fussed either way with first wuite liked thought of doing first day or so just to experience it - but it wasnt meant to be after long labour baby was tired and didnt feed then the whole night and day i tried and he had nothing - it turns out my nipples went flat ?! very strange but apprently commom when have big boobies and also was hot and bothered and the more i tried the more it so wasnt happening so as so long had gone by and baby hadnt fed anything i got a bottle and that was it!

x

I have no idea what i'm going to do, not even sure if i can as have had boob job. I want to give it a try but have heard so many stories about it am not sure. And I would like my hubs to have as much contact as possible so am leaning towards bottle.

sarah
21+3

Its so great to see everybody on here respect each others opinions and choices, I have seen some women on another website rip women apart for wanting to bottle feed.
For those who are planning to bottle feed I have heard of a formula that midwives recommend apparently its a great subsititute for breast milk, you can get it from boots its called Aptimel.

24+2

summer76 reusable nappies are ok. Only thing is they are really bulky and therefore don't look good with all the cute clothes. My sad reason for not using them all the time. Plus doesn't work out cheaper or better for environement when you factor in washing etc. I did use them now and then and they were handy when you were in the house and didn't have to go anywhere. I got a pack of free samples of different kinds from my council so you might be able to. Some of the designs are really cute!. x

Hey girls,

Rosapenny your right, I feel so much better knowing that all you girls would respect a descision to bottle feed.

Lentil thank you for that advice - my mum did say that to me although also said that your body would stop producting milk during the night when baby starts sleeping through, so may work,. Its hit and miss I guess but interesting to think about.

You girls have been brilliant and I really feel much better about standing up to not doing it if I dont feel comfortable. I did try and raise the subject with my OH yesterday too, who wasnt very impressed and really wants me to exclusivley breast feed no matter what. It makes me a bit upset to think that he doesnt understand that it might not even work... but thats men for u I guess!! xx

Last time I didn't breast feed at all. I actually feared it through pregnancy. I always felt uncomfortable when people asked me to my face whether I would breast feed. I found it very odd people were suddenly talking about my tits! I see them as purely sexual things and just couldn't get my head round the idea of doing it or people wanting to know about it. I also saw my friends boobs and what they looked like during breastfeeding and it was horrific! (sorry) they were chewed up and scabby. There is no way on earth I want that. You can't see how much they are having and I dont fancy having a baby sucking on me for an hour through the night, whereas with a bottle its a 5-10 min job and back to bed!!!

A breast fed baby poos more frequently each day as well, she had to change the nappy 5 times a day because of poos! and he had a sore bum for all the wiping, my little boy did one poo a day. He was never ill, had no problems with growth, teething, colic etc and he slept though from 8 weeks.

I doubt I'll be THAT lucky again lol! but the thought of breast feeding is just weird. I'm gutted as I feel like I will be missing out a bit. but I know the formula does the trick and makes for a happy baby! and a happy mummy which is the most important thing if you are both happy.
Emma xxxxxx
22 weeks today!

They might poo more but the poo doesn't smell bad. They are only getting what they need and no more therefore aren't as fat. Just to make up for the amount of poo which can be v runny and yellow and everywhere. My first lo only got constipated once on solids and was fine on breast. No sore bums either. I don't think you can blame bf for that, just depends on the baby. Just a plus for bf over bottle to balance things :) x altho you're right bout the sleeping throught the night, must confess I loved the extra time my baby was with me tho keeping me awake x

I'm sure my friend said her baby, who's 3 now, hardly pooed because he was breastfed, so he took pretty much everything he needed from the milk and so needed to pass less out of his system? I may be making that up though, perhaps it varies from baby to baby?
I think anyone who gets overly mad a a woman wanting to bottlefeed is way out of line. That said, I do wonder why we, in this country, don't breastfeed as much as other countries. I also think more women should be encouraged to try it, though no one should be forced or made to feel negative about their own choices. We're a bit of a strange society in this country sometimes!

I'm going for breast and maybe a top up bottle at night.
but who nows when it come round to little one being born

xx

Hi replying to your dilemma, i am now expecting my third child, i bottle fed both my previous babies with no problems at the end of the day it is what suits you and your baby and don't let anyone else force you into something you feel uncomfortable with, hope this helps.

It has been really interesting read these posts. I breastfed both my dd (now 9) and ds (now 5) both were bad sleepers and Dylan also got chickpox at 7 weeks, has excema too therefore not sure that breatfeeding did actually help with HIS immunity, However maybe he would have been even worse off if I bottle fed.

Both my sis in laws bottle fed and had fab babies that slept so well, and slept all night from about 5 weeks. I had to wait till two years with Chloe!!

Anyway husband wants me to bottle feed this time for those reasons and I am struggling with the guilt thing as my other two are the most affectionate, cuddly kids ever and wonder if this is due to all those bedtime snuggles and frendy frenzies!

So really unsure what to do.

Em x

I think its really hard to say at this point for me. As its my first i just don't know if i even can breastfeed. My SIL couldn't and a few other friends just couldn't, because of various factors.
I think its important that we all do what WE feel comfortable and happy with and that suits our baby.
Natasha...men just don't understand, my hubby thinks its all about choice only and doesn't realise all the other factors involved. He actually thought we could choose when to conceive so as to make most of maternity leave. Ha!

MJ x
23+3

I breast fed for 4 and half months with Olly and was gutted to stop as I was going back to work. I tried to breast feed at night once I went back, but it didn't really work, as was up 2-3 times a night and when working full time was very tiring! There were times during the 4 months that I wanted to give up, but persisted and actually enjoyed doing it in the end. I did express once a day though so my OH didn't feel left out. I also, found breast feeding easier as making up bottles got a bit monotomous (sorry, spelling!).
I intend to do the same this time, but up until 6 months. I do agree with everyone else though, its your choice and if breast feeding doesn't work this time, bottles are fine too. I hate feeling pressured into anything, my mum just kept going on about how she breast fed all of us up until a year, so made me feel bad when I wanted to give up.

Jules x