How Do You Choose Which Is Right For You, Breastfeeding or Formula-Feeding?

How Do You Choose Which Is Right For You, Breastfeeding or Formula-Feeding?

I used formula as a supplement just in case for my third child. All my children had eaten more in the hospital when they were first born, so even though I may have latched them right away, they were still hungry.

I understood the formula shortage, but I was sitting in a hospital bed feeling helpless with my crying baby after trying to latch her over and over, hoping she would pull a little more milk out of my boobs. I asked a few times to be able to have some formula for her, but I just kept getting told that I should keep trying while simultaneously letting them know that I know my children and they eat more than I am producing; they all have. It’s like they didn’t want to listen or believe me.

What If You Just Can’t Breastfeed?

There’s no shame in supplementing breast milk with formula if you’re having trouble nursing your baby. According to research, the use of formula is associated with feelings of guilt and social stigma for women unable to breastfeed. It’s vital to remember that there’s no one right way to handle a baby, and that formula might be a perfectly acceptable substitute for or even a preferred feeding method.

Common Concerns

Is the baby getting enough milk? Breastfeeding can take time to get used to, and the amount of milk produced is related to the amount the baby drinks. With formula, it’s easy to measure precisely how much milk is used for each feeding.

Working mothers often have difficulty breastfeeding, so the formula can be supplemental and help alleviate the stress of working and being a parent. With formula, anyone can feed the baby, giving the mother more flexibility. Workplace resources may not be available to support pumping or breastfeeding.

Mothers may have issues while breastfeeding, like nipple pain or inverted nipples. Formula helps ensure the baby is fed and the mother is taken care of as well.

Some women need to use formula due to medical reasons. HIV/AIDS-positive mothers risk passing the virus through their breastmilk, and certain medications can harm the baby through breastmilk too. Formula then becomes the safest option for feeding.

What If Your Plans Never Included Breastfeeding?

Nearly 20% of new U.S. moms don’t breastfeed and don’t always get help. If you’re not nursing, you need helpful, nonjudgmental answers to your concerns too. After giving birth, if you do not breastfeed or express milk, your milk will dry up on its own, usually within 7-10 days.

Lifestyle Choices

• It’s Not Emotionally Possible. Some women who’ve undergone trauma can’t nurse comfortably.

• Medications. No mother’s health or well-being should depend on nursing.

• It’s Not “You”. Breastfeeding is tremendously time-consuming. If you tried, it might be a relief to stop.

• You Don’t Have The Right Support System. You have support, but not enough for nursing.

• It’s Your Decision, No One Else’s. You don’t need a cause not to breastfeed.

Fed Is Best!

The mother’s decision about breastfeeding vs supplementation with formula is the most important factor to take into account. Experts agree that breast milk is ideal, but they also point out that any amount is beneficial. Talking with your physician is the most effective way to get information on how to provide care for a baby in a way that is not only risk-free but also beneficial to the child’s health.

September 5, 2022 by Dominique Lambright