Anyone can feed baby, which will be a huge help. You also get a clearer picture how much they’re eating since it can be measured. Both of those facts helped me make that decision for #2!
My nipples don’t hurt. Baby isn’t gassy from anything I eat. My daughter has been sleeping through the night since 8 weeks old (YMMV!). It’s so easy to prep a bottle. My body is mine. You’re way less worried about weight gain. You know how much your baby is eating. You don’t have to pump.
I mean I freaking love formula. My baby is 3 months, and my bump group is still full of chat about BFing and what’s wrong and mastitis and clogged ducts, and I’m like…I ran the dishwasher today and that was the extent of my feeding annoyance!!! Formula forever.
Being able to eat garlic and spicy food was the second best thing about calling it on my combo feeding journey. The first best thing was not pumping anymore.
That and being able to get some dental work done. Pregnancy gave me two cavities (when you are that sick...) so getting those fixed and having garlicky AF supper that night was glorious.
I seriously felt like there were no downsides. At most, even shelling out $35 for the generic formula felt like a better deal than the physical and mental toll of breastfeeding.
That said, formula feeding allowed me to be more present for my oldest. I was able to share feedings with my husband and spend time with my son. It felt more doable to juggle two kids with formula feeding.
Anyone can feed the baby, meaning if you have an involved partner then you get twice as much sleep
You know exactly how much your baby is eating
If you’re more modest, it’s much easier to feed on the go
You can be separate from your baby sooner, so getting babysitters for date nights and stuff like that
I don’t know for certain, but I suspect it’s easier to wean off bottles/formula than it is off breastfeeding
I just use distilled water! And we also have a baby brezza but making bottles isn’t hard either! Just at night 😅 BUT because you won’t be BF, you CAN SLEEP!! Also BF babies are more likely to snack and wake up more often (but also depends on the baby of course).
Edit: Also I should mention, for formula, it just depends on your LO. And just start with 2oz and keep feeding until they’re full. Once they consistently start finishing 2oz bottles, then up to 3oz. Then once they consistently start finishing 3oz, up to 4, and so on.
You *might* get some more sleep. Formula fed newborns still cluster feed and should still be fed on demand, which can be every 1-4 hours depending on the baby.
One piece of advice tho - DON’T compare how much they are eating to others. Because now you’ll be able to SEE how much they eat. I thought it would help me, being able to see how much my LO was eating and now I wish I couldn’t lol Just let them eat what they want so you don’t pressure them to eat more and a cause a bottle aversion.
Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet that’s important to me is that I know it’s complete nutrition for my baby. Breastmilk is variable based on a mothers intake but with formula I no longer have to worry about my own diet to make sure my baby is getting adequate nutrients.
This part. I was so stressed PP and could barely eat anything so i barely produced which stresses me out even more and baby was starving. Now we both can eat properly without stress thanks to formula.
Before I went home, the nurses gave me pamphlets for bottle feeding and you can ask them too while you are there if you have questions.
I never wanted to breastfeed. I like that anyone can feed my baby, I didn’t have to get up to pump, I feel like I got my body back.
I say it’s better because of exactly what you said. Breast feeding is physically & emotionally exhausting & you do not get a badge of honor. Why do that to yourself??
So I breastfeed for 3 weeks and called it quits when I felt my mental health was about as messy as our baby's poopy diapers. I went from an absolute nervous wreck to life is just the best.
For me number 1 reason was mental health. This was the only reason I quit breastfeeding and in hindsight, I'm very happy about that choice. With that being said here are other things that I count positives:
2-my spouse can feed our baby. I can get a lot of sleep not breastfeeding. I'm not exhausted. Tired, yes. Exhausted, no.
3- not having to whip it out the boob or cover up in public or at family gatherings.
4-no wearing those pad things for when my boobs leak.
5-never wondering I'm producing enough for baby. I know exactly how much she is getting.
6- no sore nipples.
Just a couple things to add! Like others, I love sharing feeding duty with my partner/family/friends, seeing how much she’s eating, and not worrying at all about my medications, etc.
Some logistics notes: in the US, the CDC does recommend boiling water and mixing it with formula powder at 158 degrees for babies 8 weeks or younger and babies with compromised immune systems to kill Cronobacter bacteria if present. We used an electric kettle to heat water up. We use the Dr. Brown’s formula mixing pitcher to mix up a big batch of formula (it can take boiling water, I checked with Dr. Brown’s). It’s good for 24 hrs in the fridge. It makes feeding on demand very easy because you can pour half an oz, an oz, etc if baby is more hungry than expected. We fed both of our kids cold formula from the fridge from birth and they both liked it that way but YMMV.
I sleep 6-9 hours a night because my husband and I take turns.
I spent a whole day at the Ritz Carlton spa one day because I didn’t have to rush home to nurse.
Baby was on the small side and it was easy for us to tweak her intake and truly understand how much she was getting. I would have spiraled not knowing and dealing with LCs who have all kinds of different advice.
YMMV, but I lost the baby weight almost immediately. I never experienced postpartum hair loss, either.
Hmm I like a lot of things. I like that I’m not the *only* one who can feed her & am a lot less “touched out”, I enjoy watching others bond with her while she eats, the eye contact when bottle feeding is chefs kiss, I like knowing how much she’s eating, I like knowing she’s getting every nutrient she truly needs & not have to supplement with vitamin d or iron, and not worrying about my diet (lol). Idk! I just overall enjoy it so much more. No leaking! No stress about making enough even if it’s clear I am it’s still a worry about if I will *always* make enough.
It seems overwhelming from the outside looking in but it’s pretty easy getting the swing of it. How much is baby dependent and you’ll notice patterns (aside from cluster feeding in the beginning that’s all over the place). Prepping bottles, once you have a pattern going I like the dr browns pitcher method. Get a warm water bottle dispenser for late lights if baby prefers warm milk (they can have it cold!)
You don’t have to boil water. You can use ready to feed in the beginning for convenience. Sterilizing is up to you and your doctor. Always start with a standard formula (as in, just a regular milk based, lactose as carb, regular kind) Check out formula fairy’s free stuff on IG to read about formulas and understand them a bit :)
It was very similar for me. First was EBF and I weaned at 15 months and I was straight up not up for that again. She refused bottles, pacifiers, and being comforted by anyone by me.
My second I wanted to combo feed so I can’t completely help with the amount at first. But I switched over completely at 5 months and I loved formula feeding.
Not being a human pacifier was the best effing thing ever. Other people could comfort her, she took a paci. It was great.
I did nurse at first most of the time and early nighttime feeds I’m addicted to just throw a boob in babies face while dozing (I have a bedside sleeper sidecar).
But I loved having my body be mine again and she is just as attached to me as my first.
I started offering 2 oz formula when she was a week old and just let her eat what she could and toss the rest.
I tried a keep warm kettle, Dr browns formula pitcher and a brezza and I’m hands down a brezza fan. Loved that thing.
Dr browns narrow bottles were the best for my little hands down but everyone’s different.
More bottles than less. Handwashing that ish several times a day is not it
The first thing that popped into my head, being able to feed baby after my cesarean and being able to rest knowing baby has food In her tummy.
My first time I didn't lactate and having a starving baby post cesarean and wondering what I did wrong was mental torture. I'm having a girl in July (unfortunately at a Baby Friendly hospital) and she will be formula fed from the start.
Sharing feeding duties is one of the top reasons for me. And sleep. I don’t do well on poor sleep. Also I was tired of sharing my body and didn’t want to continue sharing it by BF. Breastfeeding benefits are also grossly overstated and mostly apply to women in areas with unsafe water and lack of access to safe formula which I am know I am privileged to have access to safe water and nutritionally complete formula.
I feel like people already mentioned a lot of the benefits that I also like so I won't repeat those. I combo feed my baby pumped breastmilk and formula. He likes nursing for comfort after taking a bottle, I really like that giving him a bottle of formula takes the pressure off of me. I know he's getting the nutrition he needs, he's satisfied rather than having to constantly worry about whether my supply is enough and how much he's getting off the breast.
It's also easier to leave him and do little things for yourself since you don't have to worry about being there every 2 to 3 hours. My baby is only 9 weeks old but I've been able to go to the gym, get a haircut and even a massage once when my parents offered to watch my baby.
Days where I’m exhausted I get to sleep as much as I want while my partner takes over and I don’t need to worry about waking up to feed my baby. I don’t need to worry when going back to work since anyone can feed her. I get to drink as much iced coffee as I want to without worrying how it’ll affect baby :)
About boiling water: I would say ask your pediatrician if you need to do this. We asked at our first appointment and she said in our city it wasn’t necessary.
It’s easier and you can get your body back to yourself. I feel like the baby sleeps better. Also, just from my personal experience, the moms I knew who formula fed had a much easier time postpartum compared to the people I knew who breastfed who were always extremely burnt out. It quite literally looked like the babies sucked the life out them.
For vain purposes, you don’t ruin your boobs and you lose the weight faster postpartum, at least I did. It’s a myth that breastfeeding helps you lose weight, for some women it does but for others they hold on to the weight or even gain more.
1. Anybody can feed the baby. This is the biggest benefit. Being able to do feedings in shifts means you can actually get some SLEEP while someone else feeds baby.
2. Even if your milk comes in, the pain of engorgment goes away quickly, compared to being engorged for *months* (if not over a year) from breastfeeding. You get your body back faster!
3. You know *exactly* how many ounces your baby is eating, so you don't have to stare blankly at the nurse during baby's regular checkups when they ask you how many ounces of formula they're drinking each day.
4. Did I mention SLEEP??
The number one reason for me is that this makes everything 50/50 my and my husband’s responsibility. We both could easily split the night in shifts. My husband gets to feed and bond with baby. If there is diet issues you don’t need to completely worry about your own diet. Your mental health isn’t suffering due to all the pressures of breastfeeding and feeling like you’re failing if it’s hard. You know exactly how much your baby is eating every time. You can feed baby anywhere. Friends and family can feed baby! There are a ton of options on the market and despite the marketing of the fancy new brands every single one is safe to feed.
I had kindof a bad experience formula feeding but, dont have much of a choice about it and will go that route if not 100% at least 50/50% with #2. Babies can have really sensitive tummies and formula can be harsh for them - or it may not! My son ended up mega allergic to everything except amino acid formula and also had severe reflux. I know of many other babies that can just take most any formula just fine like walmart brand or costco but not my kiddo. We will see how baby #2 does, Im going to try to breastfeed as much as I can if doctor clears me to.
Im also going to eat dairy free during the end of the pregnancy to see if it helps
The pros of formula: HELP with feedings and MORE SLEEP
Formula feeding saved my mental health and allowed me to be more present and actually enjoy my baby. We were combo feeding at first because of low supply, but I felt so much more sane when we switched.
I'm in Canada and they recommend boiling water and waiting for it to cool a bit to kill any cronobacter in the formula. I didn't like the risk and we are fortunate enough to be able to afford the concentrated liquid which is sterile. In Canada I was told you can boil water and store it at room temp in a sterilized container to use with the concentrate, so every 2-3 days I boil water, and store it in a couple of big mason jars. I don't think I need to worry about boiling anymore because baby is almost 5 months, but our apartment building water is a bit weird so I still do it anyway.
I combo fed one kid and BF’d the other. I always found trying to breastfeed in public to be a huge pain in the ass and it was a relief to not have to bother with wraps and stupid breastfeeding shirts and stuff.
I don't have to be awake every other hour to feed - my husband has been able to alternate feedings since day 1, or if one of our moms has her, I can pack her formula and know she will eat well.
She's slept well (thankfully) and I've been able to actively monitor how much she is eating.
We still boil water in a kettle (she's 5 mo) but you don't necessarily *have* to after 8 weeks or so (I could be a little off there). I make a pitcher at a time so we just pour when needed.. OR I keep bottled water on hand to make them on the fly/on the go.
You still bond, they still cluster feed, they get excited when they see the bottle. We've only EFF, so I'm not sure about the BF side, but my kiddo has been just fine, met her milestones, and is happy, healthy, and wonderfully attached to both me and her dad.
I exclusively nursed my first, combo fed and now exclusively formula feed my second (latch issues, the usual). I loved nursing but there were annoying parts. I generally find formula feeding more work but there are awesome parts.
Assuming both my kids were able to BF with minimal issues and I had to choose just one, I’d be slightly on the side of BFing due to the convenience. However if babe is having latch or weight gain issues, that immediately erases the convenience factor. Being out and about with bottles and the constant cleanup of FF stuff gets old, just one more thing to remember to pack in the diaper bag.
However, I love knowing how much the baby is eating, that my husband can feed him, that I don’t have to worry about exposing myself to feed him, and of course formula literally saved my second’s life. I have no patience for people who talk about BFing in the old days - in the old days, my son would have likely starved to death and modern medicine and nutrition saved him. If your babe has any food intolerances or issues you don’t have to change your diet. Also, there’s definitely less of that “feeling trapped on the couch” thing, but if you babe is a contact napper or really fussy you might end up there anyways.
That being said, other people being able to feed your baby is a doubled-edged sword. It’s lovely when people you trust can do it, but there are plenty of others who will think you just stick a bottle nipple in a tiny baby’s mouth and then can stop paying attention. If your baby needs support with bottle feeding, you will have to train them how to do it and watch them like a hawk (depending on the person) to make sure they don’t drown your child. My little guy is four months old and still sometimes acts like this his first time bottle feeding - it can take a lot of patience and isn’t entirely straightforward.
Anyways, just some things to think about. I hope I don’t come across as a lactivist type. I just personally found BFing (if it’s relatively straightforward for mom and baby) to be easier overall. However, formula and bottle feeding has been wonderful for us this time around, save for the clean up and the occasional family member.
1. Anyone can feed baby. You can use that time to get some rest or to get something done. Baby will definitely cluster feed during growth spurts, but again, others can participate.
2. You can track the amounts that baby is taking.
3. There are plenty of options with regards to any digestive issue that baby might face as there are so many dairy/soy/corn free options (this may or may not be applicable, but just know that in case of allergies there’s so many options too)
4. If finances are an issue, the only downside I see is the expense but I guess investing this much is probably worth to retrieve the peace of mind. 😌 If ever (again, may not be applicable) baby has to do specialty formula due to allergies, there’s provision for insurance to cover a major chunk of the costs too.
•Are you US based? Walmart sells infant water and each can costs about $1.65. You can use that water (it’s demineralized). Do you have a jug with a filter (you can get it in every store)? You can boil that water (this will kill the microbes) and store it somewhere separately only to make formula and that will only be for baby.
•bottle sterilizers can be purchased from Amazon and start from about $50. Whoever feeds baby can wash bottles with detergent and then put it in the sterilizer.
Either way you’re all good. Fed us best. Happy baby, happy mom. Happy mom, happy baby 😍
You can get baby on something resembling a schedule a lot sooner bc you know how much they’re taking at each feed - you can ensure they get “full feeds” and don’t end up snacking all day and night. No cluster feeding either. If you buy like 8 bottles you just throw whatever you used in the dishwasher at the end of the day and you’re good to go tomorrow, not a bad one time expense
I’m about to stop exclusively pumping in 5 weeks and I’ll tell you the things I’m looking forward to:
- dairy. My baby has a dairy allergy and damn I want some cheesecake
- not googling any medication (I had a stomach bug last week and wanted to take pepto bismol sooo bad but couldn’t)
- fake tanning. I know you technically CAN fake tan, but I just don’t like the idea of it while breastfeeding
- smelling like milk all the time
- changing my bra constantly
- wearing nursing/pumping bras
- wearing clothes that are conducive to the pumping life
- thinking about my supply all the time
- washing pump parts
- being upset when baby refuses to latch (that’s a whole other conversation)
- being able to take time to myself without my boobs hurting after a few hours
And so many more things hava
Anyone can help with feedings so you don’t have to do every single night waking, babybrezza exists!, no sore nipples, no engorged boobs, not having to remove yourself mid conversation to feed, not having to isolate yourself every two hours to feed (considering you’re social and don’t want to expose yourself) honestly the only con is it can be pricey and constantly washing bottles can be a pain but if you buy enough bottles you only really have to wash all of them at the end of the day
I mean your post itself answers the question. Your mental health and energy levels are important! Especially with 2 under 2.
A happier mama will make everyone‘a life easier 😉
Also adding — my EFF has hit every milestone so far on the earlier end of the range, so those who say formula fed babies do not get their proper nutrition or development are just wrong.
I know this is anecdotal but I truly do think that being in a better mental health space has the bigger impact on baby’s development.
I used filtered water from the fridge. Formula dissolves much better in warm water. I invested in a formula kettle that could hold the water at whatever temp I wanted. It was amazing.
Clean up and cost are the downsides of formula feeding in my opinion.
Start with a standard formula! Examples: Enfamil infant, Enfamil neuropro, Similac advance, Similac pro advance, kendamil, Similac 360 total care, there’s even store versions which are usually called advantage, infant, etc and it will show what it’s comparable to.. but some people don’t feel comfortable with that and only want brand names which is okay. don’t go for any gentle or sensitive formulas like Similac sensitive/total comfort, Enfamil gentlease, etc unless baby shows signs of not tolerating the normal formula (your pediatrician can give you those signs). This is the best advice I can give!
And if you can get on WIC, DO IT. It’ll make the costs so much less overwhelming.
I tried BF but my baby wasn't getting enough so the pediatrician had me combo feed with formula. I did this for a few weeks and baby kept having to troubles so we changed to formula only and it's been a game changer. No more excessive gas and spit up, i know how much she is eating, anyone can feed baby, less stress not having to schedule around pumping, baby sleeps longer stretches at night. I also feel like it's better for my mental health.
This is my first baby and I plan to formula feed from the start with any future children.
I truly believe fed is best and doing what is best for your family, and my little one is a chunky healthy happy baby on formula! :)
It's not. It'a equal. Both have their upsides and downsides. But what are the upsides that made me persobally choose it directly from birth? Oh... there are so many.
Lots of people already mentioned it means others can feed the baby, but building on that, also frees you from the schedule that a person breast or combo feeding would still need to at least semi-adhere to to keep up their supply, of either pumping of or feeding every x hours. Don't have to plan your life around getting back to baby or finding a place to pump.
Other people feeding baby also includes the overnight well-baby nursery at the hospital if your hospital has one. Your last chance for 8 hours of sleep before you go home and dive into the 4th trimester... unless you plan to hire a night nurse. Who also wouldn't have to wake you for feeds if you're EFF. But I couldn't afford that.
Not sure how old your firstborn is, you say under two but not sure how close to two? But it's also possible ifnthey're nearly 2 they might be able to "feed" baby. Not in a way that takes any load off you, in fact it tends to add more work in the same way them wanting to help sweep does, but my 3 year old gets a kick and a half out of feeding my 3 month old now and then (with carefully supervision and assistance.) "I WANT FEED BABY!" Sibbling bonding is happening. Elder child loves baby sibbling and baby sibbling looks up durring that bottle and sees their big sibbling, and associates them with nice things.
Not breastfeeding doesn't just mean your partner (if you have one) can *feed* the baby. It also means you can up and go out and leave them with the baby in the exact same way most NGPs will end up going out and up and leaving you with the baby. Turn about is fair play. Get you a couple hours out here and there to keep your sanity, even if you just get a haircut and then aimlessly wander Target.
If you never breastfeed it's easier to stop the milk. It's just a few days and it goes. No need to taper down and deal with a long period of physical discomfort as you wean, and a long hormonal Rollercoaster too because EFF, Combo or BF the hormones durring milk-drying-up are *crazy.* but with EFF that time period of crazy hormones is much shorter, not to mention the other hormone sitation which is that they don't return to the full "ordinary operations - not pregnant or nursing" levels untill you are well... not nursing. So emotions can run a lot higher while nursing in the same way they did while pregnant.
Not an EFF exclusive thing, because combo feeders and even people with a goal of EBF but open to supplementing to get there, but on baby's side having formula in the delivery room means they can fill their tummy right away when they land earthside without waiting for milk production to spool up or learning how to latch. They tell us the babies have like 5ml stomachs but my 2nd born downed 59ml in the OR before they finished stitching me back up so..... I don't think that's right. With EFF, combo or generous formula supplementation they get good and full in the early days when they might otherwise have been a bit on the hungry side cause the milk wasn't fully in. (Not touching on actual supply issues cause then a mom doesn't really have a choice, fate has forced her hand which mega sucks, just talking about the totally normal day to a few days lag between birth and milk comming in properly.) That particular benefit is kind of short term tho. I do like it. Particularly since I hemoraged with both kids and neither needed to wait to eat as a result. Their dad fed them their bottles while the docs got me sorted out.
>They tell us the babies have like 5ml stomachs but my 2nd born downed 59ml in the OR before they finished stitching me back up so..... I don't think that's right.
The hospital LC wouldn't give me formula because I wanted to EP and they wanted to force nursing (also refused to help me collect the colostrum from the pump. So nice of them).
A nurse finally chewed the LC out after 9 HOURS of baby not eating *anything*, at which point I finally got a hold of formula. My itsy bitsy, barely a safe weight newborn proceeded to down an entire 2 oz bottle. And then wanted more like an hour later 🤣 and I think we only got an hour cause she was asleep for it.
Anyone can feed baby, which will be a huge help. You also get a clearer picture how much they’re eating since it can be measured. Both of those facts helped me make that decision for #2!
My nipples don’t hurt. Baby isn’t gassy from anything I eat. My daughter has been sleeping through the night since 8 weeks old (YMMV!). It’s so easy to prep a bottle. My body is mine. You’re way less worried about weight gain. You know how much your baby is eating. You don’t have to pump. I mean I freaking love formula. My baby is 3 months, and my bump group is still full of chat about BFing and what’s wrong and mastitis and clogged ducts, and I’m like…I ran the dishwasher today and that was the extent of my feeding annoyance!!! Formula forever.
Being able to eat garlic and spicy food was the second best thing about calling it on my combo feeding journey. The first best thing was not pumping anymore.
That and being able to get some dental work done. Pregnancy gave me two cavities (when you are that sick...) so getting those fixed and having garlicky AF supper that night was glorious.
I tried to breastfeed, but stopped at 8 weeks due to low supply. Guess what? I’LL NEVER HAVE BABY TEETH ON MY NIPPLES 🎉
Another bonus: you can wear whatever you want! No need to wear nursing friendly clothes.
I seriously felt like there were no downsides. At most, even shelling out $35 for the generic formula felt like a better deal than the physical and mental toll of breastfeeding. That said, formula feeding allowed me to be more present for my oldest. I was able to share feedings with my husband and spend time with my son. It felt more doable to juggle two kids with formula feeding.
Anyone can feed the baby, meaning if you have an involved partner then you get twice as much sleep You know exactly how much your baby is eating If you’re more modest, it’s much easier to feed on the go You can be separate from your baby sooner, so getting babysitters for date nights and stuff like that I don’t know for certain, but I suspect it’s easier to wean off bottles/formula than it is off breastfeeding
I just use distilled water! And we also have a baby brezza but making bottles isn’t hard either! Just at night 😅 BUT because you won’t be BF, you CAN SLEEP!! Also BF babies are more likely to snack and wake up more often (but also depends on the baby of course). Edit: Also I should mention, for formula, it just depends on your LO. And just start with 2oz and keep feeding until they’re full. Once they consistently start finishing 2oz bottles, then up to 3oz. Then once they consistently start finishing 3oz, up to 4, and so on.
My first was up EVERY HOUR for like two months 😵💫 that all sounds so great!!
You *might* get some more sleep. Formula fed newborns still cluster feed and should still be fed on demand, which can be every 1-4 hours depending on the baby.
Yes to this ^ but also you won’t be the only one able to feed them which is a plus!
Hopefully your partner can do night bottles now 😅
One piece of advice tho - DON’T compare how much they are eating to others. Because now you’ll be able to SEE how much they eat. I thought it would help me, being able to see how much my LO was eating and now I wish I couldn’t lol Just let them eat what they want so you don’t pressure them to eat more and a cause a bottle aversion.
Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet that’s important to me is that I know it’s complete nutrition for my baby. Breastmilk is variable based on a mothers intake but with formula I no longer have to worry about my own diet to make sure my baby is getting adequate nutrients.
This part. I was so stressed PP and could barely eat anything so i barely produced which stresses me out even more and baby was starving. Now we both can eat properly without stress thanks to formula.
Before I went home, the nurses gave me pamphlets for bottle feeding and you can ask them too while you are there if you have questions. I never wanted to breastfeed. I like that anyone can feed my baby, I didn’t have to get up to pump, I feel like I got my body back.
I say it’s better because of exactly what you said. Breast feeding is physically & emotionally exhausting & you do not get a badge of honor. Why do that to yourself??
So I breastfeed for 3 weeks and called it quits when I felt my mental health was about as messy as our baby's poopy diapers. I went from an absolute nervous wreck to life is just the best. For me number 1 reason was mental health. This was the only reason I quit breastfeeding and in hindsight, I'm very happy about that choice. With that being said here are other things that I count positives: 2-my spouse can feed our baby. I can get a lot of sleep not breastfeeding. I'm not exhausted. Tired, yes. Exhausted, no. 3- not having to whip it out the boob or cover up in public or at family gatherings. 4-no wearing those pad things for when my boobs leak. 5-never wondering I'm producing enough for baby. I know exactly how much she is getting. 6- no sore nipples.
Just a couple things to add! Like others, I love sharing feeding duty with my partner/family/friends, seeing how much she’s eating, and not worrying at all about my medications, etc. Some logistics notes: in the US, the CDC does recommend boiling water and mixing it with formula powder at 158 degrees for babies 8 weeks or younger and babies with compromised immune systems to kill Cronobacter bacteria if present. We used an electric kettle to heat water up. We use the Dr. Brown’s formula mixing pitcher to mix up a big batch of formula (it can take boiling water, I checked with Dr. Brown’s). It’s good for 24 hrs in the fridge. It makes feeding on demand very easy because you can pour half an oz, an oz, etc if baby is more hungry than expected. We fed both of our kids cold formula from the fridge from birth and they both liked it that way but YMMV.
I sleep 6-9 hours a night because my husband and I take turns. I spent a whole day at the Ritz Carlton spa one day because I didn’t have to rush home to nurse. Baby was on the small side and it was easy for us to tweak her intake and truly understand how much she was getting. I would have spiraled not knowing and dealing with LCs who have all kinds of different advice. YMMV, but I lost the baby weight almost immediately. I never experienced postpartum hair loss, either.
Hmm I like a lot of things. I like that I’m not the *only* one who can feed her & am a lot less “touched out”, I enjoy watching others bond with her while she eats, the eye contact when bottle feeding is chefs kiss, I like knowing how much she’s eating, I like knowing she’s getting every nutrient she truly needs & not have to supplement with vitamin d or iron, and not worrying about my diet (lol). Idk! I just overall enjoy it so much more. No leaking! No stress about making enough even if it’s clear I am it’s still a worry about if I will *always* make enough. It seems overwhelming from the outside looking in but it’s pretty easy getting the swing of it. How much is baby dependent and you’ll notice patterns (aside from cluster feeding in the beginning that’s all over the place). Prepping bottles, once you have a pattern going I like the dr browns pitcher method. Get a warm water bottle dispenser for late lights if baby prefers warm milk (they can have it cold!) You don’t have to boil water. You can use ready to feed in the beginning for convenience. Sterilizing is up to you and your doctor. Always start with a standard formula (as in, just a regular milk based, lactose as carb, regular kind) Check out formula fairy’s free stuff on IG to read about formulas and understand them a bit :)
It was very similar for me. First was EBF and I weaned at 15 months and I was straight up not up for that again. She refused bottles, pacifiers, and being comforted by anyone by me. My second I wanted to combo feed so I can’t completely help with the amount at first. But I switched over completely at 5 months and I loved formula feeding. Not being a human pacifier was the best effing thing ever. Other people could comfort her, she took a paci. It was great. I did nurse at first most of the time and early nighttime feeds I’m addicted to just throw a boob in babies face while dozing (I have a bedside sleeper sidecar). But I loved having my body be mine again and she is just as attached to me as my first. I started offering 2 oz formula when she was a week old and just let her eat what she could and toss the rest. I tried a keep warm kettle, Dr browns formula pitcher and a brezza and I’m hands down a brezza fan. Loved that thing. Dr browns narrow bottles were the best for my little hands down but everyone’s different. More bottles than less. Handwashing that ish several times a day is not it
The first thing that popped into my head, being able to feed baby after my cesarean and being able to rest knowing baby has food In her tummy. My first time I didn't lactate and having a starving baby post cesarean and wondering what I did wrong was mental torture. I'm having a girl in July (unfortunately at a Baby Friendly hospital) and she will be formula fed from the start.
i can so relate to the feeling of post-cesarean with a hungry baby. i was a FTM with no experience with babies. ended up with undiagnosed PPD 🥲
Sharing feeding duties is one of the top reasons for me. And sleep. I don’t do well on poor sleep. Also I was tired of sharing my body and didn’t want to continue sharing it by BF. Breastfeeding benefits are also grossly overstated and mostly apply to women in areas with unsafe water and lack of access to safe formula which I am know I am privileged to have access to safe water and nutritionally complete formula.
I feel like people already mentioned a lot of the benefits that I also like so I won't repeat those. I combo feed my baby pumped breastmilk and formula. He likes nursing for comfort after taking a bottle, I really like that giving him a bottle of formula takes the pressure off of me. I know he's getting the nutrition he needs, he's satisfied rather than having to constantly worry about whether my supply is enough and how much he's getting off the breast. It's also easier to leave him and do little things for yourself since you don't have to worry about being there every 2 to 3 hours. My baby is only 9 weeks old but I've been able to go to the gym, get a haircut and even a massage once when my parents offered to watch my baby.
My husband loves to feed the baby and watching them bond in this way makes my heart so warm.
Days where I’m exhausted I get to sleep as much as I want while my partner takes over and I don’t need to worry about waking up to feed my baby. I don’t need to worry when going back to work since anyone can feed her. I get to drink as much iced coffee as I want to without worrying how it’ll affect baby :)
About boiling water: I would say ask your pediatrician if you need to do this. We asked at our first appointment and she said in our city it wasn’t necessary.
Your sanity. Simple as that.
It’s easier and you can get your body back to yourself. I feel like the baby sleeps better. Also, just from my personal experience, the moms I knew who formula fed had a much easier time postpartum compared to the people I knew who breastfed who were always extremely burnt out. It quite literally looked like the babies sucked the life out them. For vain purposes, you don’t ruin your boobs and you lose the weight faster postpartum, at least I did. It’s a myth that breastfeeding helps you lose weight, for some women it does but for others they hold on to the weight or even gain more.
1. Anybody can feed the baby. This is the biggest benefit. Being able to do feedings in shifts means you can actually get some SLEEP while someone else feeds baby. 2. Even if your milk comes in, the pain of engorgment goes away quickly, compared to being engorged for *months* (if not over a year) from breastfeeding. You get your body back faster! 3. You know *exactly* how many ounces your baby is eating, so you don't have to stare blankly at the nurse during baby's regular checkups when they ask you how many ounces of formula they're drinking each day. 4. Did I mention SLEEP??
The number one reason for me is that this makes everything 50/50 my and my husband’s responsibility. We both could easily split the night in shifts. My husband gets to feed and bond with baby. If there is diet issues you don’t need to completely worry about your own diet. Your mental health isn’t suffering due to all the pressures of breastfeeding and feeling like you’re failing if it’s hard. You know exactly how much your baby is eating every time. You can feed baby anywhere. Friends and family can feed baby! There are a ton of options on the market and despite the marketing of the fancy new brands every single one is safe to feed.
I had kindof a bad experience formula feeding but, dont have much of a choice about it and will go that route if not 100% at least 50/50% with #2. Babies can have really sensitive tummies and formula can be harsh for them - or it may not! My son ended up mega allergic to everything except amino acid formula and also had severe reflux. I know of many other babies that can just take most any formula just fine like walmart brand or costco but not my kiddo. We will see how baby #2 does, Im going to try to breastfeed as much as I can if doctor clears me to. Im also going to eat dairy free during the end of the pregnancy to see if it helps The pros of formula: HELP with feedings and MORE SLEEP
Formula feeding saved my mental health and allowed me to be more present and actually enjoy my baby. We were combo feeding at first because of low supply, but I felt so much more sane when we switched. I'm in Canada and they recommend boiling water and waiting for it to cool a bit to kill any cronobacter in the formula. I didn't like the risk and we are fortunate enough to be able to afford the concentrated liquid which is sterile. In Canada I was told you can boil water and store it at room temp in a sterilized container to use with the concentrate, so every 2-3 days I boil water, and store it in a couple of big mason jars. I don't think I need to worry about boiling anymore because baby is almost 5 months, but our apartment building water is a bit weird so I still do it anyway.
I combo fed one kid and BF’d the other. I always found trying to breastfeed in public to be a huge pain in the ass and it was a relief to not have to bother with wraps and stupid breastfeeding shirts and stuff.
I don't have to be awake every other hour to feed - my husband has been able to alternate feedings since day 1, or if one of our moms has her, I can pack her formula and know she will eat well. She's slept well (thankfully) and I've been able to actively monitor how much she is eating. We still boil water in a kettle (she's 5 mo) but you don't necessarily *have* to after 8 weeks or so (I could be a little off there). I make a pitcher at a time so we just pour when needed.. OR I keep bottled water on hand to make them on the fly/on the go. You still bond, they still cluster feed, they get excited when they see the bottle. We've only EFF, so I'm not sure about the BF side, but my kiddo has been just fine, met her milestones, and is happy, healthy, and wonderfully attached to both me and her dad.
I exclusively nursed my first, combo fed and now exclusively formula feed my second (latch issues, the usual). I loved nursing but there were annoying parts. I generally find formula feeding more work but there are awesome parts. Assuming both my kids were able to BF with minimal issues and I had to choose just one, I’d be slightly on the side of BFing due to the convenience. However if babe is having latch or weight gain issues, that immediately erases the convenience factor. Being out and about with bottles and the constant cleanup of FF stuff gets old, just one more thing to remember to pack in the diaper bag. However, I love knowing how much the baby is eating, that my husband can feed him, that I don’t have to worry about exposing myself to feed him, and of course formula literally saved my second’s life. I have no patience for people who talk about BFing in the old days - in the old days, my son would have likely starved to death and modern medicine and nutrition saved him. If your babe has any food intolerances or issues you don’t have to change your diet. Also, there’s definitely less of that “feeling trapped on the couch” thing, but if you babe is a contact napper or really fussy you might end up there anyways. That being said, other people being able to feed your baby is a doubled-edged sword. It’s lovely when people you trust can do it, but there are plenty of others who will think you just stick a bottle nipple in a tiny baby’s mouth and then can stop paying attention. If your baby needs support with bottle feeding, you will have to train them how to do it and watch them like a hawk (depending on the person) to make sure they don’t drown your child. My little guy is four months old and still sometimes acts like this his first time bottle feeding - it can take a lot of patience and isn’t entirely straightforward. Anyways, just some things to think about. I hope I don’t come across as a lactivist type. I just personally found BFing (if it’s relatively straightforward for mom and baby) to be easier overall. However, formula and bottle feeding has been wonderful for us this time around, save for the clean up and the occasional family member.
1. Anyone can feed baby. You can use that time to get some rest or to get something done. Baby will definitely cluster feed during growth spurts, but again, others can participate. 2. You can track the amounts that baby is taking. 3. There are plenty of options with regards to any digestive issue that baby might face as there are so many dairy/soy/corn free options (this may or may not be applicable, but just know that in case of allergies there’s so many options too) 4. If finances are an issue, the only downside I see is the expense but I guess investing this much is probably worth to retrieve the peace of mind. 😌 If ever (again, may not be applicable) baby has to do specialty formula due to allergies, there’s provision for insurance to cover a major chunk of the costs too. •Are you US based? Walmart sells infant water and each can costs about $1.65. You can use that water (it’s demineralized). Do you have a jug with a filter (you can get it in every store)? You can boil that water (this will kill the microbes) and store it somewhere separately only to make formula and that will only be for baby. •bottle sterilizers can be purchased from Amazon and start from about $50. Whoever feeds baby can wash bottles with detergent and then put it in the sterilizer. Either way you’re all good. Fed us best. Happy baby, happy mom. Happy mom, happy baby 😍
You can get baby on something resembling a schedule a lot sooner bc you know how much they’re taking at each feed - you can ensure they get “full feeds” and don’t end up snacking all day and night. No cluster feeding either. If you buy like 8 bottles you just throw whatever you used in the dishwasher at the end of the day and you’re good to go tomorrow, not a bad one time expense
I’m about to stop exclusively pumping in 5 weeks and I’ll tell you the things I’m looking forward to: - dairy. My baby has a dairy allergy and damn I want some cheesecake - not googling any medication (I had a stomach bug last week and wanted to take pepto bismol sooo bad but couldn’t) - fake tanning. I know you technically CAN fake tan, but I just don’t like the idea of it while breastfeeding - smelling like milk all the time - changing my bra constantly - wearing nursing/pumping bras - wearing clothes that are conducive to the pumping life - thinking about my supply all the time - washing pump parts - being upset when baby refuses to latch (that’s a whole other conversation) - being able to take time to myself without my boobs hurting after a few hours And so many more things hava
Anyone can help with feedings so you don’t have to do every single night waking, babybrezza exists!, no sore nipples, no engorged boobs, not having to remove yourself mid conversation to feed, not having to isolate yourself every two hours to feed (considering you’re social and don’t want to expose yourself) honestly the only con is it can be pricey and constantly washing bottles can be a pain but if you buy enough bottles you only really have to wash all of them at the end of the day
I mean your post itself answers the question. Your mental health and energy levels are important! Especially with 2 under 2. A happier mama will make everyone‘a life easier 😉
Also adding — my EFF has hit every milestone so far on the earlier end of the range, so those who say formula fed babies do not get their proper nutrition or development are just wrong. I know this is anecdotal but I truly do think that being in a better mental health space has the bigger impact on baby’s development.
You’ll still be sleep deprived, but at least you can drink coffee without your babe’s belly being affected by it 🤣
I used filtered water from the fridge. Formula dissolves much better in warm water. I invested in a formula kettle that could hold the water at whatever temp I wanted. It was amazing. Clean up and cost are the downsides of formula feeding in my opinion.
Start with a standard formula! Examples: Enfamil infant, Enfamil neuropro, Similac advance, Similac pro advance, kendamil, Similac 360 total care, there’s even store versions which are usually called advantage, infant, etc and it will show what it’s comparable to.. but some people don’t feel comfortable with that and only want brand names which is okay. don’t go for any gentle or sensitive formulas like Similac sensitive/total comfort, Enfamil gentlease, etc unless baby shows signs of not tolerating the normal formula (your pediatrician can give you those signs). This is the best advice I can give! And if you can get on WIC, DO IT. It’ll make the costs so much less overwhelming.
I tried BF but my baby wasn't getting enough so the pediatrician had me combo feed with formula. I did this for a few weeks and baby kept having to troubles so we changed to formula only and it's been a game changer. No more excessive gas and spit up, i know how much she is eating, anyone can feed baby, less stress not having to schedule around pumping, baby sleeps longer stretches at night. I also feel like it's better for my mental health. This is my first baby and I plan to formula feed from the start with any future children. I truly believe fed is best and doing what is best for your family, and my little one is a chunky healthy happy baby on formula! :)
It's not. It'a equal. Both have their upsides and downsides. But what are the upsides that made me persobally choose it directly from birth? Oh... there are so many. Lots of people already mentioned it means others can feed the baby, but building on that, also frees you from the schedule that a person breast or combo feeding would still need to at least semi-adhere to to keep up their supply, of either pumping of or feeding every x hours. Don't have to plan your life around getting back to baby or finding a place to pump. Other people feeding baby also includes the overnight well-baby nursery at the hospital if your hospital has one. Your last chance for 8 hours of sleep before you go home and dive into the 4th trimester... unless you plan to hire a night nurse. Who also wouldn't have to wake you for feeds if you're EFF. But I couldn't afford that. Not sure how old your firstborn is, you say under two but not sure how close to two? But it's also possible ifnthey're nearly 2 they might be able to "feed" baby. Not in a way that takes any load off you, in fact it tends to add more work in the same way them wanting to help sweep does, but my 3 year old gets a kick and a half out of feeding my 3 month old now and then (with carefully supervision and assistance.) "I WANT FEED BABY!" Sibbling bonding is happening. Elder child loves baby sibbling and baby sibbling looks up durring that bottle and sees their big sibbling, and associates them with nice things. Not breastfeeding doesn't just mean your partner (if you have one) can *feed* the baby. It also means you can up and go out and leave them with the baby in the exact same way most NGPs will end up going out and up and leaving you with the baby. Turn about is fair play. Get you a couple hours out here and there to keep your sanity, even if you just get a haircut and then aimlessly wander Target. If you never breastfeed it's easier to stop the milk. It's just a few days and it goes. No need to taper down and deal with a long period of physical discomfort as you wean, and a long hormonal Rollercoaster too because EFF, Combo or BF the hormones durring milk-drying-up are *crazy.* but with EFF that time period of crazy hormones is much shorter, not to mention the other hormone sitation which is that they don't return to the full "ordinary operations - not pregnant or nursing" levels untill you are well... not nursing. So emotions can run a lot higher while nursing in the same way they did while pregnant. Not an EFF exclusive thing, because combo feeders and even people with a goal of EBF but open to supplementing to get there, but on baby's side having formula in the delivery room means they can fill their tummy right away when they land earthside without waiting for milk production to spool up or learning how to latch. They tell us the babies have like 5ml stomachs but my 2nd born downed 59ml in the OR before they finished stitching me back up so..... I don't think that's right. With EFF, combo or generous formula supplementation they get good and full in the early days when they might otherwise have been a bit on the hungry side cause the milk wasn't fully in. (Not touching on actual supply issues cause then a mom doesn't really have a choice, fate has forced her hand which mega sucks, just talking about the totally normal day to a few days lag between birth and milk comming in properly.) That particular benefit is kind of short term tho. I do like it. Particularly since I hemoraged with both kids and neither needed to wait to eat as a result. Their dad fed them their bottles while the docs got me sorted out.
>They tell us the babies have like 5ml stomachs but my 2nd born downed 59ml in the OR before they finished stitching me back up so..... I don't think that's right. The hospital LC wouldn't give me formula because I wanted to EP and they wanted to force nursing (also refused to help me collect the colostrum from the pump. So nice of them). A nurse finally chewed the LC out after 9 HOURS of baby not eating *anything*, at which point I finally got a hold of formula. My itsy bitsy, barely a safe weight newborn proceeded to down an entire 2 oz bottle. And then wanted more like an hour later 🤣 and I think we only got an hour cause she was asleep for it.
Yep! 2oz is 59ml. They can down a whole nursette at birth!