I formula fed both my children only since I was unable to self feed. I wanted to share some interesting things that some new parents may not be aware of.

Breastfeeding: The Advantages
Infection-fighting
FREE
Ease of digestion
Convenience
"Skin-to-skin" contact (I still did this, even though I formula fed)

Breastfeeding: The Challenges
Personal comfort
Time and frequency
Limiting *insert here* (caffeine, junk food, etc.)


Formula Feeding: The Advantages
Convenience
Flexibility
Diet


The reason that most formula fed baby's stay "full" longer is b/c it is harder to digest. I found that with my daughter, we had to switch her to formula that was made especially for babies that have issues with gas/etc. Other than that, I think if I had it to do over again I would do the same. :)

This is a very informative thread. I breastfed my son, and oh yes the frequency sometimes murdered me. But it's healthier for him all the way around. I wouldn't have done it any other way.

This is a very informative thread.

Thank you! And I would if I were able to, unsure why, pretty sure no more, but who knows right? :) We can always change our minds, and we might end up doing that! :)

we will be breastfeeding to. For us it really wasn't anything to compare, from the beginning we ruled out formula. I guess if something happens to Stacy that would affect her breast milk then we'd have to factor in dry formula but till then its not even an option to us.

My daughter has breastfed since my grandson was born in late May, and just recently has now switched over to pump only and using a bottle. This helps her to have sometime to recover better, as she had surgery right after my grandson was born, and also to help have others be able to feed him when she need afew minutes of shuteye. :) I breastfed with all three of mine. I once remember feeding my son (the youngest) back at my mothers house and it freaked my step-father out to the point he had to ask her to have me finish feeding in the other room. I guess some men have issues with breastfeeding at the dinner table! :D Mom didn't and my little sister thought it was "cool".

I wasn't able to breastfeed for more than a day because my son spiked a temp in the hospital and they had an iv in him, so his lil arm was in a splint and he never could get comfortable. :(

But i did pump for about 3 mos. So all he got for about 2.5 mos was breast milk. We had to start supplementing because he was just more hungry than i could pump. I felt awful about it too. And then it got to the point where he liked the formula better. :( That made me feel even worse. We soon discovered though that he has lactose issues and even though i had cut dairy from MY diet even before he was born, he still has having issues with my breast milk. So when they made me switch formulas to one designed for him, I felt much better knowing he was getting food that wasn't upsetting his system.

I think breast is always best, if you can. But not everyone can or wants to.

There is this research that I have read that Breast Milk babies are healthier than Formula fed babies. The reason is that the milk of a mother has some chemicals that helps the baby immune to some diseases. Formula milks have also disadvantage because there are chemicals in cow's milk that are not healthy for the baby.

But on the other hand, there is another research conducted in China that formula milk will help babies to be taller and have sturdier bones than with the breast-fed babies.


Anyway, it all depends on the parents of the baby what is best for them.

How about breastfeeding a baby but not from the mother? This is a practice in the middle ages when queens, and princesses as well, don't want to have a disfigured shape because of breastfeeding and they will hire a lady that will breastfeed the royal baby. Can we still do this at this period of time?

My husband just mentioned that I'd better never offer to be a wet nurse for my best friend last night. I'm not sure how common it is in this day and age with people, but its still a fairly common practice with young mammals.

I myself was breast fed, and my sister breastfeed all three of her her kids, but I've definitely known families that have done both. I babysat for one little boy who had allergies to just about everything so he couldn't breastfeed unless his mom wanted to eat vegetables and not much else. he got so much better once they realized that and found an appropriate formula. Before that we called him the "outbreak baby" because you knew you were catching something holding him. A cold, the flu or something. I think timing and the need to get back to work for most moms impacts the choice to breastfeed or not. I think breastfeeding would be best, but I'm prepared to do whatever is best for my child should we have kids some day.