Yes, we know breast is best. It’s been beaten into our heads since the day our children were conceived! But sometimes, even the most natural thing in the world can be a struggle. And it’s not something moms are ever permitted to own up to. Seems strange that the formula-loving mamas of the world don’t have t-shirts and rally signs like our breastfeeding counterparts, right? We would probably get pelted with organic, free-range rotten eggs if we flew our Formula-Feeders-4-Evah flags!
But it’s a choice we have the right to make as parents. Unlike the majority of our contributors, Lisa C and Vanessa made the conscious decision to not breastfeed their babes {gasp if you must} and are here to give you the rundown on their decision-making process and some reasons why formula feeding rocks!
Lisa: I tried breastfeeding and though I was a great producer, Lucy didn’t suck. At all. After a trip to the ER for dehydration when she was five days old, we were sent home with a case of formula and an RX to rent a hospital-grade pump. After seven weeks where I pumped while Todd fed Lucy, I gave up. I was missing out on the experience of feeding my baby and I was stressed constantly. Plus, my PPD had gotten out of control and I needed to get on some medication. Despite my mom’s suggestion that I get the same shots they gave out in the 70s for women who, “didn’t want to be tied-down breastfeeding,” {Mom, those shots caused seizures and strokes} I let myself dry up with the help of cabbage leaves and sage-steeped tea. I smelled like a Thanksgiving dinner being attended by a bunch of leprechauns. But it was a decision I had to make for the sake of my sanity. A happier mama makes for a happier baby. So we switched to formula and I have to say I have no regrets. Yes, there was guilt and mean stares and “your baby is going to be obese, have asthma and be sick all the time” lectures from the LCs at the new-mom group – which was completely unfounded. Lucy has had two fevers and one ear infection in three years. She’s always been in the 30th percentile. But the best part of formula-feeding, besides still able to chug-a-lug my wine slushies, was that Todd and I could switch off for over-night duty. Also, our Costco dividend check was HUGE that year so I could finally buy that 86-bottle wine chiller I’d been eyeing…
Vanessa: Like Lisa, I tried breastfeeding while in the hospital. It was really painful and I didn’t think she was getting enough so I think Day 1 I supplemented with formula. From then on I was kind-of whatever about the whole deal as long as my kid was being fed…which she was. When we got home, I tried pumping for a couple of weeks–literally, two weeks–and it was such a pain! Matt would get up to feed Caroline and I would pump and it was non-stop. I know having a baby is non-stop, but this was just downright annoying when I knew there was an alternative. I started to slip, skipping a pumping here and there and soon enough I would wake up covered in milk, but I didn’t care. Sleep was so precious to me and I had been going 110 miles a minute in those first few months during the day while dad was working, I had no qualms sleeping through a feeding and having to wash and rewash my sheets. It didn’t take me long to dry up and I’m happy to say that there have been no repercussions of my decision to provide Caroline with formula. A lot of people enjoy the breastfeeding experience because of the bonding that takes place, but I can tell you that Caroline and I experienced the same level of bonding and Matt was able to share in that experience, too. The other con to formula feeding is the cost, but in my book, my time was worth way more than the can of formula, so I didn’t mind that one bit. UGH! I just realized that I don’t have a SINGLE picture of Caroline eating from a bottle…hmph.
It’s difficult to formula-feed in today’s breast-is-best society. While the internet is brimming with answers to questions about thrush and mastitis, information about formula is harder to come by. A great resource is Fearless Formula Feeder, which was started by a woman in the same boat as Lisa and Vanessa.
You may seem like you’re all alone, mixing your powder in a bottle in a sea of happily-nursing newborns. But you’re not and your formula-fed baby is going to be just as happy and healthy as a breast-fed one.
Have you had trouble with nursing and switched or supplemented with formula? We want to hear your story! Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook page. Tag your post with #formulafeeder
Thank you for your honesty! I love this and I will not be ashamed
that I had to feed my son Enfamil. He is the smartest 2 year old in his class!
As a mom who completely subscribed to the “Breast is best and formula = the devil” belief before giving birth, I appreciate this post very much. Although I did everything I possibly could to EBF my son, after 10 days of stressful attempts accompanied by pain and discomfort like you wouldn’t believe, my son had lost a pound and 4 ounces and wasn’t showing any signs of gaining weight. I finally gave in to my doctor’s suggestion of supplementing. I was still determined to get back on track so the following weeks were full of 90 minute feeding sessions, marathon pumping and popping whatever pills I was told might give me a chance of increasing my supply (Blessed Thistle, Fenugreek and Domperidone). I was overwhelmed with advice to drink beer, make the latest lactation cookies and “just relax”. After visiting the LC twice, she determined that I most likely don’t have enough of the milk making tissue needed in my breasts to keep up with my son’s demand. I continued to pump up until 2.5 months so that my son could benefit from whatever antibodies my limited supply could pass on. The truth is, without formula. my baby could not be growing into the healthy, chubby boy that he is today (12 weeks and 14.5 pounds!). I can also now benefit from extra sleep since daddy gets to share some of the nighttime feedings. I do wish, however, that I didn’t have to feel judgment or shame from other moms who clearly believe that formula is the devil. Thanks for helping to spread that reality!
Thank you so much for this. I just had my third child. With my first two I breastfed each about six weeks and then stopped when I returned to work-I literally would have had difficulty pumping with my hours and travel schedule. I am now a SAHM and soon as I found out I was pregnant again I was determined to “successfully” breastfeed this one for the long haul. Everything went okay until about a week at home, as he started having difficulty latching and would nurse for an hour at a time. He was big when he was born but began to look thin, despite having an adequate diaper output. I began struggling with PPD and felt overwhelmed feeding him 7-8 hours a day while trying to care for my other kids. I finally decided to exclusively formula feed when he was 8 weeks old. Come to find out, that was the best decision we could have made. I found out later that week at the doctor that he had not gained any weight at all, and in fact was below his birth weight. I cried in the pediatrician’s office and felt so terrible that I had not made the switch sooner. He is now happy and thriving, and so am I 🙂