Breastfeeding

hep26000

I breastfed both my kiddos (one for 10 months and the other for 15 months) but I try really hard not to judge the mommas who didn't want to. I feel bad for the ones where it just didn't work out but I do find it slightly selfish to not even try. Why would you not want what is best for your baby? Even just doing it for a couple months would start them off better in life with certain antibodies they need.
Again- I try not to judge but it is sometimes hard. I do not think I am better than anyone else but I loved nursing so much that it is hard to believe some people don't even want to try. Not to mention the bonding that comes from it. Looking down at those big eyes. Their half smile when you make them laugh during nursing sessions. It is an amazing feeling that I wish everyone could experience. To each their own I guess.

FitMama2013

Breastfeeding is not only good for baby, but it lowers mom's risk of many diseases for each additional month she nurses. This may be part of why the UK is considering benefits for moms who nurse - they may end up paying for less treatment for baby AND mom later as a result.

JDubIsShrinking

There are just so many benefits to breastfeeding that formula doesn't have. All women should do it if they can. I breastfed 3 of my 4. I had my youngest at 14 and was to immature to be able to handle the breastfeeding idea.

THIS!
Check out kellymom.com. It is an absolute wealth of knowledge. Breast vs. formula feeding is a personal decision - obviously your child can and will be healthy and well cared for either way. However, your body produces milk for a reason - use it if you can!
Get support if you have trouble - the first month with my first son was ROUGH. (I'm absolutely willing to answer any questions or help in any way). I nursed both my kids to 12 months before they weaned - I'm also a working mom.

OllyReeves

Thanks everyone, very interesting reading.

Me and my brother and sister were all adopted, so obviously my mum had no choice but to bottle feed all of us.

None of us has ever had any problems, and I've always thought it was a bit of a red herring, I never saw it as a big deal. But obviously some people think more of it than others.

proudjmmom

I breastfed both my kiddos (one for 10 months and the other for 15 months) but I try really hard not to judge the mommas who didn't want to. I feel bad for the ones where it just didn't work out but I do find it slightly selfish to not even try. Why would you not want what is best for your baby? Even just doing it for a couple months would start them off better in life with certain antibodies they need.
Again- I try not to judge but it is sometimes hard. I do not think I am better than anyone else but I loved nursing so much that it is hard to believe some people don't even want to try. Not to mention the bonding that comes from it. Looking down at those big eyes. Their half smile when you make them laugh during nursing sessions. It is an amazing feeling that I wish everyone could experience. To each their own I guess.

This is me.

I breastfed both my babies. I was 19 when my son was born, I went into it thinking breastfeeding was the ONLY way to feed my baby, formula wasn't an option. But I was also aware that maybe I can't, maybe I will not be able to breastfeed him. After he was born, and latched, breast WAS the only way. He was nursed for 13 months. With my daughter I automatically knew I would breastfeed, I had been successful with my first, so I knew I would succeed with her. She was breastfed for 18 months.

Yes, breast is best, but formula is the next best option if breast doesn't work for you. Its better then the can carnation milk with sugar and water that was once 'formula'.

abeare

More and more people are realizing how much more beneficial breastfeeding is to both mom & baby, these benefits often attribute to exclusively breastfed babies being sick less often (this does not mean a BF baby won’t get sick, so please don’t jump all over that statement). This may be the reason for the government incentive, more BF babies the less of a strain on the medical system.
A momentary incentive is not the most effective in my opinion because mothers already have that incentive (breast milk is free, formula is not), most don’t breastfeed due to lack of support. Not realizing what a huge undertaking it is and assuming the baby isn’t getting enough milk because they`re feeding more than a formula feed baby would. Or how weight gain in BF babies different than a formula fed one. There`s also the issue of latch, and problems like mastitis. Too many mothers just don’t have the proper support to reach their breastfeeding goals.
With all this said, I’m not against formula. If after having all the information you choose to formula feed then by all means do what`s right for your family, as long as you know your options. And if you choose to breastfeed, please find a support system in your area, you’re bound to have some hiccups and the best way to ensure you surpass those is if you have the support and knowledge.
To all moms breastfeeding or formula feeding: YOU`RE DOING A GOOD JOB!!!

ldrosophila

Not sure what the NHS is doing incentive wise, but it could be as simple as having more lactation consultants available. It sounds like a wonderful program and I wish the US would do something like that women dont innately know how to breastfeed. We all need instructions on latching, the hold, and making sure the baby gets the essential hindmilk. Once upon a time breastfeeding was the only source of nutrition available and we watched out mother's feed who taught us. That no longer happens we have lost the teachings of our mothers.

I think this post can get a little heated because this is a very passionate subject to women.

Breastmilk is the model of infant nutrition. However, the most important thing is to feed the baby.

x311Tifa

And to the stigma comment, I'm a young mother and I felt the same way when I was pregnant. It all changes when your child is born, it no longer feels weird at all!

See, I heard that too. However, I am at such a far off point from children that I am not horribly worried about it. I just currently see breasts as purely visual assets, nothing more. So to see them as something "necessary" for anything otherwise is an odd view for me. Let you know is 10 years what my viewpoint is.

Mewlingstork

Breastfeeding is absolutely better than formula, no doubt about it. And formula is absolutely *not* the second nor even the third best option if breastfeeding isn't an option or chosen. There are donor banks or donor milk, there is pumping if milk is being produced, but baby won't latch, there is goat's milk which is closer to human milk than formula, and then after all of those is formula. Have you ever read about what's in formula and the low standards of quality with formula production?

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 14 month old because I think it's worth it for the benefits it provides both of us. I had to use a nipple shield for the first 16 weeks of my son's life because he wouldn't latch properly.

Either way, rewarding breastfeeding mothers can only be a good thing and there's no talk about this judging formula users, merely trying to encourage breastfeeding. I think a large part of our low breastfeeding numbers are because of lack of support and encouragement for breastfeeding mothers. Society needs to realize this is what breasts are for and we produce a perfect food for our children.

walleyclan1

Breastfeeding results in reduced illness, which results in lower medical costs and less work time missed. More women breastfeeding would decrease the need for government assistance for formula (that stuff is expensive). Breastfeeding also has long term benefits such as less allergies, asthma, obesity etc. Good in my opinion to use money to aid and support women to breastfeed.

purpleblaze

im pretty sure not feeding your baby at all is worse than giving it formula...breastmilk is best, but doesnt always work out for everyone each to their own..

LishLash79

I Breast fed all my my Kids till the age of 8months-13 months (differed for each child.) I have five kids. I would not have done it any other way.... BUT, I do understand that is not for everyone, and that not everyone is able to breastfeed At the end of the day whats most important is that you do what is best for your child.

On an end note: I AM SO FRIGGEN GLAD THAT STAGE OF MY LIFE IS DONE AND MY KIDS ARE MOSTLY SELF SUFFICIENT lol
(seriously,,, when you are in the sleepless nights fog you think it will never end.. IT DOES)