Second Child - Breastfeed Or Bottle?

[herbeeisabella05]

We Have A Beautiful, Healthy Daugther Who Just Turned 3 But Going On 30!! I Recently Found Out I Am Pregnant Again, We Are Very Excited, But I Am Torn Between Breastfeeding Or Bottle Feeding. With Our First Baby I Breastfed And She Did Not Take To A Bottle Or Binky! We Tried And Tried , She Only Wanted Breast Milk. I Did Everything Possible , Changed Nipples On Bottle , Pumped, Which Was Horrible, I Would Only Get 2 Oz. After 3 Hours Of Pumping! I Even Tried The Fake Out With Bottle And Breast(i Would Hold Up The Bottle To My Breast And Tried The Old Switcharoo) Did Not Work. So Needless To Say It Was Very, Very Demanding. I Cannot Tell You How Many Times I Had To Pull Over In My Truck And Park Near A Shaded Area And Jump In The Back And Breastfeed Our Daugther (thank God For Tinted Windows In The Back Seats!!) It Was Very Difficult. So Now I Am Faced With, Will This Happen With Our Second Child? Should I Dare To Find Out? Or Just Never Know And Bottle Feed? My Husband And I Both Agree He Did Miss Out On Feedings(which Is The Best Bonding Moment You Can Ever Get.) Help!!

[myboysmom]

Your second could be totally different (i.e., easier!) than your first, and maybe you would enjoy it more. You can always try it, and if it doesn't work out, switch to formula. I bf my 1st, but not my 2nd, and even though he's 2 1/2 yrs, I still regret not doing it! But I'm due with my 3rd in August, and I'm definitely going to give it an honest effort. I want to so badly, hopefully it will be something I can handle even with the older ones running around. It's just so time-consuming, you don't think you can. I'll let you know how it works out with us later this summer. ;) Good luck to both of us, huh?

[russelkegan]

Breastfeed. BreastFeed. BREASTFEED!!! Nothing can replace the nutrient that are received from breastfeeding you baby. Minimum 1 year will result in healthier, smarter, and more immune child. Don't let anyone tell you that formula is an equal.

[LimeTwists]

It really boils down to what you feel comfortable doing. If breastfeeding is what you're dedicated to doing.. then by all means - do it. But if it's not what you feel in your heart is the right decision for your family, then do what you feel IS the best decision for you. Nobody has the right to pressure you into doing what makes you uncomfortable with your baby and your body.

[twiceblessed]

Don't let anyone tell you that if you don't breastfeed your child won't be smart, or won't get as sick, or whatever. Both of my daughters were bottlefed and guess what? They are extremely intelligent, advanced, well adjusted children who hardly ever get sick. I get tired of people looking down on bottle feeding mom's and acting like we have done something wrong because we don't/didn't breast feed. Do what YOU feel is best. If you don't feel like breastfeeding then don't. LimeTwists is 125% right, no one has the right to pressure you into doing something that you don't feel is what is best for you and your family.

[Jordyn]

You do what you feel is best. If you really had that bad of a time breast feeding then maybe you can try it and if it doesn't work out switch to bottle. I'm with twiceblessed. Don't let anyone tell you you are a bad mom for not breast feeding. I myself have to bottle feed and my baby is perfectly healthy and growing stronger everyday. You need to do what is best for you and what works. Don't feel guilty if you feel breast is too demanding and you have to switch to bottle. The important thing is your child is getting love and and any kind of food you can offer him or her. Do whatever you want it's your choice! :)

[herbeeisabella05]

Just wanted to thank you for your advice. It is the best yet!!

[Mamaof1]

Don't let anyone tell you that if you don't breastfeed your child won't be smart, or won't get as sick, or whatever. Both of my daughters were bottlefed and guess what? They are extremely intelligent, advanced, well adjusted children who hardly ever get sick. I get tired of people looking down on bottle feeding mom's and acting like we have done something wrong because we don't/didn't breast feed. Do what YOU feel is best. If you don't feel like breastfeeding then don't. LimeTwists is 125% right, no one has the right to pressure you into doing something that you don't feel is what is best for you and your family.

Thank you. I chose to not breastfeed my daughter and I feel that people act like I did her a huge disservice. I have no problem with moms who choose to breasfeed but they seem to have issues with moms that don't! She has no allergies, gets sick rarely, and is very intelligent (of course I could be slightly bias! Hahaha). I just did not have a desire to breastfeed but I was bombarded throughout my pregnancy from pretty much everyone basically telling me I was a bad mother for making the decision to not do so. I have no regrets and do not plan on breastfeeding if I have another child.

[1st Time Mom - Again]

I wasn't able to breastfeed my first due to medical error. This time I am and I love it! Of course, I have no problems with pumping and my son is equally happy with a bottle as long as he's getting breastmilk. Does that mean that you should? Absolutely not! Do what's right for you.

Just a thought - your pump may have been at fault if you had problems with pumping. Different pumps pump differently. If you decide to try again, I'd suggest going to a meeting of your local La Leche League to get some help and advice beforehand. It made all the difference for me.

[luckymama2]

I breastfed my first baby for a total of 3 months...at birth she refused to latch on...I pumped for 2 months and then she finally decided she'd latch on...but needless to say it was working out for us very well...I was 20 years old and felt very awkward bf in public and just had a all around hard time with it, had no mommy friends to talk to, etc. And my husband was a marine so we were stationed far away from any family support. So, she was bottlefed from 3 months up and I was proud I at least gave her that nutrition when she was newborn and realize now that she is a perfectly healthy 3 yr old. But back then I felt guilty for switching.

Then with baby #2 I felt I maybe should just forgo all the guilt of switching to formula and just give him formula right from the start. But then my husband said he wanted me to at least try and give him the 3 months his sis got! Especially since newborns have low immunity. So, I tried and am so HAPPY I did! He latched on 5 minutes after birth no problem.....so much easier than his sister was.....with her I felt like my baby was rejecting me, very difficult for first time mommy to deal with. Anyways, if I pumped he would occasionally take a bottle but rarely from ME....he took a bottle at 1 week of age from my hubby once and the next feeding went to the breast no problem. And when we had friends visiting when he was about a month old and I pumped and he drank a bottle just fine from my husband and like I said after that day went to the breast perfectly. So, you never know you may get a totally different baby this time around! I ended up bf him until 7 months of age and am so glad I was able to experience a positive bf experience with at least one of my children! Its something I wouldn't want to miss out on. He is now 10 months and getting formula from 7 months on definitely has done no harm to him..he is a very smart, healthy, growing boy. He just was starting to lose interest as he rather watch his sister running around then nurse so it was getting frustrating...the bottle became easier for us. So, at different times different things are what is right for you and baby......just go with the flow and do what you feel is best. But in my experience I would say at least try breastfeeding.......I KNOW I would have regreted not at least giving it a go.

[herbeeisabella05]

You Are Right. I Will Give It A Try And Hope For The Best. Thanks For All Your Feedback, It Really Helps And It Is Really Good To Know That We All Have Our Own Story. It's Great To Read Them And To Know You Are Not Alone! Thanks.