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i think cost, the fact that my supply has been great and LO had a great latch from the beginning, along with the thought of mixing bottles, etc would be super annoying to me since there wouldn't be a need. i love breastfeeding and i'm happy that LO gets only breast milk, but in after actually breastfeeding (she's 16 weeks) if she needed some formula, it would be fine. i wouldn't want to supplement for no reason though and i'm hoping to make it to one year of EBF.
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@Cherrybee: everyone has covered the reasons I have as well! I wanted to also share what the LC I saw told me that really resonated - a baby can't starve in one night! The nights of crazed cluster feeding and crying can easily make you feel like you're not making enough milk, or doing something wrong, but her assurance that my LO was just signaling my body to make more milk and that it would catch up was comforting. (Of course, monitoring input/output signs like wet/dirty diapers along with this!)
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For me, it's much of what others have said:
-I physically can
-I love the bonding time
-It's free
-Supply & demand
-It's better for his body (I do know that formula won't kill him, but I also think that breastmilk is healthier)Now that our son is 7 months, my supply has dipped down. I'm barely making enough for his daily bottles. I've started eating more oatmeal and taking milk boosting supplements, because I want to keep going until a year. I realized I really really don't want him to take formula, which I hadn't realized before.
Also, in regards to having a "plan". I always told myself (and everyone else) I'll breastfeed until it doesn't make sense to do so anymore. It's working out so far
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@Cherrybee: of course! My plan was always to use formula simply because its easier for being out of the house & for sitters. I planned to BF at home, but use formula when out of the house (I can walk around Target and feed her at the same time), and when she was being watched by someone else. So basically, convenience. We couldn't BF due to Sadie'a anatomy though. She was born with a jaw abnormality, but she's slowly been growing out of it. I could've just pumped until she was able to latch, but I hated pumping. Formula hasn't killed my baby yet.
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@photojane: Thanks for sharing. It's really fortunate that you had already decided to use formula - imagine how upset you would have been if you had got your heart set on EBF and then Sadie couldn't. This is precisely why I'm formulating (pun intended!!) a plan B now!!
Thank you so much for all the info and advice, everyone. I'm not as stubborn as many of you and I certainly wont be forcing myself to suffer for any dream of perfection. That said, some of your comments - particularly the science behind this virgin gut thing - does make a lot of sense and it has definitely convinced me to draw the line much closer to EBF and therefore persevere more tenaciously when the time comes before considering formula, especially because I'm asthmatic myself.
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@photojane: Wow, it's good to hear a different perspective. I really thought that I would be sad when we went more towards formula at 8 months, but I'm not. The bottles are little more piddly, but I know he's getting enough nutrition especially after a tough weekend where he cried and cried because he was hungry. Having the bottles and formula packets were great for flying. As much as I fought going to formula, it's been a great thing for our family as a whole.
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I haven't read through other responses, but our biggest reason for EBF is because it worked for us. I had no supply issues, no latch issues and nursing (after the initial 6 weeks of difficulties) was MUCH easier than pumping, or mixing formula and cleaning bottles etc. I might have a different story if I hadn't had 52 weeks of maternity leave though.
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I never intended to EBF, I went into this thinking I'd do what is best for baby and best for me. If I had needed to supplement I would have, as well as using only formula. So far, I've had a good supply, baby has latched well, and he is healthy and gaining weight. I have been fortunate that EBF is all we need, so I haven't changed it.
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I was never interested in feeding my baby an artificial food when I could make it myself. If I'd had some medical reason to, I would have, and that would have been the end of it. But I'd rather do it on my own.
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For me:
1. I thought WHO, CDC ...etc. recommends exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months (another one recommends until 1 year). So it is a question to them why "exclusive" lol2. If you supplement, the baby drinks less from you, and your body will produce less. Eventually you'd accidentally wean yourself with all the supplements. Your body is supposed to be equipped to produce enough for your baby, so I guess that's why everyone wants to try to EBF. And when you can EBF, why formula?
3. Breastfeeding (if successful) is a very addictive experience. I was seriously hurt and traumatized when my baby decided to wean me.
4. It is very convenient if you don't mind breastfeeding in public. Whereas if you supplement, and if you go out and your baby is hungry, do you first breastfeed him until he feels it is not enough, then you pull out a bottle of formula, and how much formula do you make? The logic is more complicated. If you EBF, you can pretty much know for sure you make enough for your baby, and you don't need to bring and wash all those bottles.
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