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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 10 11

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Do you enjoy bottlefeeding? Am I alone?

273 replies

peaches27 · 18/04/2006 23:00

I have always felt a little put off by people who are so overenthusiastic about breastfeeding that I just cannot fathom them out. All I can remember are the cracked, sore nips, feeding for hours on end, leaking milk and generally feeling that my life was not my own. Where was the "almost orgasmic sensation at let down"? I dont think I even remember feeling a sensation, apart from dread at approaching the carrycot. When I tearfully gave up the struggle and gave DS a bottle it was love at first sight for both of us. Finally he was satisfied and full. Finally I was comfortable and got my life back. As I am typing this I can almost feel the righteous indignation of the breastfeeders.

Can you please accept that it is not the same wonderful experience for everyone and if we want to give up because we hate it we shouldnt be made to feel guilty as several generations have grown up perfectly healthily on formula. (Breastfeeders now search for statistics which prove that breastfed people are healthier).

I am writing this and viewing the subject with a very long perspective. I last breastfed in 1982. It was very fashionable then and I felt a failure when it didnt work and I didnt feel the same as the people in the pregnancy books or the NCT/LLL leaflet. (BTW in those days I didnt live in a posh enough part of the city to access NCT/LLL). This feeling of failure was compensated by the happy healthy infant who thrived on formula and also the extra free time I had even after preparing feeds!

I am raising my grandkids and obviously my DGD has formula just like her mummy did. I love giving her those bottles, especially the night ones when its just the two of us. She is happy too.

Anyone else share this experience?

OP posts:

Report

ShaysMummy · 18/04/2006 23:01

omg! this should be interesting!

peaches27 · 18/04/2006 23:02

Lights blue touch paper and retires!

OP posts:

ShaysMummy · 18/04/2006 23:06

i wanted to bf but son was too poorly and couldnt suckle very well.
i was upset because i wanted to but had to accept i couldnt and hit the bottle.
i have always enjoyed feeding him. especially as by the time i let the poor little bugger have a bottle he was so hungry he looked to be in absolute heaven with his first bottle!!
:)
i enjoyed bottlefeeding my son !

madrose · 18/04/2006 23:06

its the one part of the day when my DD stops running around and settles for a lovely cuddle on the sofa before bed. She just stares in my eyes and plays with my hair, nose or lips. But i also enjoyed BFing, and towards the end it was becoming hard and she started to slap my poor boob away. Basicually I enjoy any chance for a long cuddle with my very active daughter.

peaches27 · 18/04/2006 23:07

Thanks for "coming out" with me Shaysmummy.

OP posts:

JoolsToo · 18/04/2006 23:07

oh dear! you said the 'g' word - don't you know? no-one can make you feel 'g'!!!

As most people know on here I was a bottle feeder to all 3 of my kids from choice. Yes I loved giving them their bottle too. Holding them close and each of us gazing into each others eyes, it was wonderful.

Like you, I have also enjoyed feeding my dgs - brought back a lot of lovely memories.

Socci · 18/04/2006 23:07

I breastfed both my children for quite a long time (dd2 still bf aged 2.4) and you won't find any "righteous indignation" from me. I couldn't care less how other people choose to feed their children - it's none of my business.

However, I am posting because I just wanted to say that I, too remember the feeling of dread before a feed due to cracked/bleeding nipples and it did take a long time before I experienced the enjoyable let down feeling you describe.

desperateSCOUSEstrife · 18/04/2006 23:08

another one from the bottle brigade here
was brilliant

hockeymum · 19/04/2006 09:36

Just as I was about to petition MN to provide a separate thread area about bottle feeders from the breast feeders, someone comes along in support of bottlefeeding. Hooray for you!!

I actually breastfed my dd but am considering bottlefeeding ds due on friday because I want a quicker recovery from my section (and not spending every other hour sat on the sofa feeding will help that) as will being able to take stronger antibiotics for any wound infection I get if I' not breastfeeding). Everytime I ask for advice on this I get a lot of people telling me to keep at the breasfeeding and listing all the benefits. The midwives and HVs are worse so I'm glad to know if I decide to bottlefeed I've found a few of you for support and who wont make me feel like a bad mother! Thank you.

bitsamaloney · 19/04/2006 10:04

Eh?? Of course there's no reason you can't feel happy about bottle feeding and love doing it at all. Why should there be?

However comments about people being "overenthusiastic about breastfeeding" or about "righteous indignation of the breastfeeders" are just plain stupid.

LilacBump · 19/04/2006 10:13

i loved bottlefeeding DD!

HellKat · 19/04/2006 10:14

hooray for this thread!!!!!!
I'm neither for nor against breast or bottle. As I'm concerned whatever's best for mum is best for baby, whatever makes them happy. I bottlefed ds1 (hated breastfeeding him, could'nt do it, felt awkward etc) and loved it! I breastfed ds2 for a few months and then went onto bottles. With him I was happy doing either but as my milk ran dry, bottles & formula were a must. Both boths are incredibly healthy & bright. I'm now 19wks with no.3 and plan on breastfeeding for a little but (mainly get the colostrum into it) and then back to bottles.
It's so refreshing seeing a thread like this. As far as I'm concerned, too much pressure is put upon new mothers these days about breast feeding. not everyone can do it (or even like it). Formula's being developed now are now as near to breastmilk as you can possibly get (as told to me by the nurses at the special care unit) so long live the right to feed your baby how you choose, without discrimination!!!

Wow sorry about the essay lol. This subject means alot to me

hunkermunker · 19/04/2006 10:15

Separate topics for bottlefeeders and breastfeeders? WTF? Why?!

Orgasmic sensation at letdown? Er...no!

I'm really sorry you didn't enjoy bfeeding - not everyone does, that's true - some people keep on because they think it's important to their baby, some people express and bottlefeed, some people mixed feed, some people move to formula, some people give the baby to the cat to feed - up to the individual, IMO.

hunkermunker · 19/04/2006 10:16

I have no problem with you being happy to bottlefeed at all - but why the fuck do you have to swipe at breastfeeders in saying that?

If I said I loved bfeeding, and people who bottlefeed are selfish fecks who don't care about what's best for their children...imagine the furore.

Why is it OK for you to say it the other way? Hmm?

DelGirl · 19/04/2006 10:17

I enjoyed breastfeeding but mixed fed until 10 months. (dd is now 1) I thought i'd miss breastfeeding but I don't at all. I enjoy giving dd her bottle and I can kiss and cuddle her more so I actually feel closer to her then which sounds odd.

Tinker · 19/04/2006 10:17

Why does it still bother you 24 years later?

lockets · 19/04/2006 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RosiePosie · 19/04/2006 10:23

stupid bloody thread

RosiePosie · 19/04/2006 10:23

or should that be bloody stupid thread?

lockets · 19/04/2006 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oops · 19/04/2006 10:25

knock knock

gomez · 19/04/2006 10:25

Why is it a stupid thread?

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Pruni · 19/04/2006 10:30

I just enjoyed feeding my baby. Feeding is an act of love.

I bottlefed because I believed I was crap at breastfeeding. I would try to avoid bottlefeeding next time. I agree that it's worth saying that it can be enjoyable, because so often it is presented (by myself, included) as the disappointing alternative. But I think this is everything to do with the fact that the baby is being fed, which is really satisfying, and little to do with the bottles. I also think the breastfeeders should take note of that too - but then I wouldn't really know how satisfying it is too breastfeed a baby.

teabags · 19/04/2006 10:30

I bf DS til 8 mths, and enjoyed it. However, bottle feeding him is also a lovely part of the day when we can snuggle up together and he sits still long enough for me to really enjoy a nice cuddle.

I think both ways can be great. Just enjoy whatever is right for you !

Jessajam · 19/04/2006 10:33

I second the hooray!
The guilt I felt when I stopped bf was awful, I delayed the decision for ages, beating myself up as a bad mother because surely I should be willing and able to go through this agony for the good of my little baby. Eventually, a modicum of sanity returned and I used a pump and the first bottle of expressed milk was the fist ever feed ds had without him crying and without me sobbing, in fact, I smiled! He had a mixture of expressed and formula for 4 months, and has been on formula alone since then.
Great to have a thread where we can be positive about bottlefeeding, rather than beating ourselves up in a corner for 'failing'.

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