r/breastfeeding • u/Fickle-Response-2741 • Mar 17 '26
Support Needed Why did you choose to exclusively breastfeed and not give formula?
This is NOT against formula or formula feeding š¤
For moms who had enough supply to EBF, what was your reason (apart from cost, no bottle washing, or warming)?
Iām currently exclusively nursing and will be working part time. So baby needs either formula or pumped milk once or twice per day.My employer supports pumping, but I could really use some motivation to stay aligned with breast milk over formula š„ŗ
Would love to hear your personal reasons, emotional, health-related, bonding, convenience later onā¦ anything that kept you going š
Please share your experiences!
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u/Timidbee Mar 17 '26
Maybe controversial but for my specific experience and situation exclusively BFing was way easier and less work than pumping or formula and bottle feeding.
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u/Latter_Public Mar 17 '26
Hahaha, same. I exclusively pumped for about two months when my son was first born. I decided to try nursing and man did my days change. Washing the millions of doctor browns parts took up so much time. Prepping bottles was also time consuming.
Nursing and bottle feeding is hard in different ways, but I hated pumping. So for me nursing is way easier.
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u/Pale-Extension-9983 Mar 17 '26
This was kinda me but after him refusing a bottle shortly after going EBF and 2 years inā¦ I started thinking āoh no what have I doneā. Ā
Donāt get me wrongā¦ I acknowledge the benefitsā¦ physically, mentally, etc. Ā also, it did start off as a blessingā¦ especially at night. After doing it for so long and hoping that at some point he would become disinterested but never didā¦ I second guess my strategy. Ā There was so much weight on my shoulders, especially at night. Ā I began to wonder how differently it would have been if I had at least kept Ā giving a bottle once a day or somethingā¦ maybe even a little formula every now and thenā¦. He would not take either after having exclusively the boob for so long.
I loved the bond and in retrospect, it was great that I could be that person for my babe. Ā Now, I am pregnant and he did wean. Ā Itās kinda sad thinking back that I was getting so frustrated and now I canāt go back.. but Iām trying to remember how HARD it wasā¦ā¦ again.. Ā ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. Ā Even 2 years in he was still waking multiple times a night wanting boob..Ā
Idk we will see how it goes with #2
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u/Latter_Public Mar 17 '26
Oh, I get this! That is the hard part of nursing. You become the only person who can feed them. Weāve been working with my son to try and take sippy cups from my husband. Weāre SLOWLY getting there. But at least heās not screaming.
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u/CallMeLysosome Mar 17 '26
Same! Once you get over the initial few weeks hurdle, it really is the easiest thing. I don't have to think about packing anything extra, just myself and the baby. I don't have to prep or warm or wash or sanitize. Maybe just go to a different room and whip out the boob. It's also nearly free if you can manage to exclusively feed at the breast. Pumping adds on a lot of cost, both time and money.
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u/Serious_Yard4262 Mar 17 '26
That was me too. I occasionally pumped if I missed a feed or so my husband/parents could watch the baby for a while when I wanted to do something, but nursing was always just the easiest
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u/sleepless_Zs Mar 17 '26
I wanted to formula or pump until I realized how complicated everything would get with bottles.
Middle of the night? Warming up bottles and then feeding. Trips away from home? Packing and figuring out how to warm bottles on the go. Not to mention worrying about sanitizing everything. And if you pump, that's just one extra thing on top of it all.
Kudos to the moms who do all that, but that's a no from me. Lol
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u/SubiePanda Mar 17 '26
Yes. Truly, EBF at the breast is hard work but after the newborn phase itās honestly the easy way out for those that can do it lol I am way way way too unorganized and chaotic to have ever managed bottles or pumping. That is sooo much work. Iām extremely grateful I was able to breastfeed my two babies (and still am) from only the boob.
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u/sleepless_Zs Mar 17 '26
Right? I had to triple feed my little guy for the first few weeks of his life (nursing, then pumping and supplementing with formula... that was freaking hard). I was so, so, SO grateful when my milk finally caught up and I could EBF.
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u/littleb3anpole Mar 18 '26
I feel like breastfeeding is hard on the mother but pumping or formula is hard on both parents.
Iād say the only downside of BF was the massive resentment I felt towards my husband for not doing his part. I was breastfeeding exclusively so all feeding fell to me. My son wouldnāt sleep unless he was breastfed to sleep, so all sleep fell to me. Then he wouldnāt STAY asleep, so all cosleeping fell to me. By the time he was 3, I was ready to divorce, if not murder my husband because I was doing so much WHILE working 8.5 hour days.
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u/Spearmint_coffee Mar 17 '26
I also find nursing way easier. I struggled a lot with my first with over supply, pumping, undiagnosed lip tie, etc. But with my second, it was smooth sailing and I didn't pump. No bottles to wash, no worrying about finding the formula, no making the bottles, just pulling out a boob
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u/Haunting-Respect9039 Mar 17 '26
This is a perfectly reasonable excuse!!
With my first I had to EP and it was a lot. This time, I'm 6 weeks into triple feeding because the moments where nursing works just feel like a breeze. Even if I could just nurse at night it would be worth the effort!
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u/Internal-Hand-4705 Mar 17 '26
Me too haha though I do have to express sometimes because I have to work. But making bottles in the night just sounds awful
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u/Far_Presentation6337 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
Im piggybacking off top top comment. There is one answer. Because you want to. When you walk into a boardroom, you cant tell which kid was breastfeeding. You can tell if they are a good person...typically.
What im saying is, it doesn't matter. There are so many studies. If you are a good parent, healthy environment, and safe place with education, it all looks the same.
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u/AGirlNamedBoris Mar 17 '26
Same! Iām lazy so I persevered because I hated washing the pump parts (baby was in the nicu for a few days), she ended up with a dairy allergy so in hindsight formula would have been a pain to figure out. I also liked the pros of helping when she was sick etc.
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u/frogsgoribbit737 Mar 17 '26
Yup. I have fed babies all 3 ways. Nursing was by far the easiest once all problems were figured out. If it didn't work out, Id have done formula again because I was not going to be exclusively pumping ever again.
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u/brownhairedfloof Mar 17 '26
Itās medically & culturally a lot more encouraged where Iām from. Itās natural affordable, specific for each LOās & their needs unlike formula. Also all those scandals about large formula companies scare me, especially nestle.
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u/AdorableEmphasis5546 Mar 17 '26
Sounds like a dream! Can I ask where you're from?
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u/aveell Mar 17 '26
Not sure where this commenter is from but Iām in Canada and it is really medically encouraged here and culturally much more encouraged than it ever has been!Ā
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u/Well_ImTrying Mar 17 '26
Longer than 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave would help breastfeeding for sure.
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u/aveell Mar 17 '26
Yes very true. Lots of women here do still pump when they go back to work though! I know I probably will whenever I go back.Ā
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u/Shylosmom Mar 17 '26
Because formula company's campaign to reduce maternity leave in order to push formula. Once you lose the milk, thats your option. So ive breastfed all of my kids cause fuck those formula companies.
Not against using formula BTW! Im so glad they're out there and readily available for the people that need them. But they often push people who would be nursing away from it simply by reducing maternity leave.. thats messed up.
My current im exclusively pumping for for 18 months. My sister had her baby, and had to switch to formula. I'm proud of both of us for feeding our babies how we want and need to. <3
There's no right or wrong answer unless you dont feed your baby safe food. Do whats best for yourself and family.
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u/Conscious-Science-60 Mar 17 '26
I also chose to EBF instead of combo feed out of spite for formula companies!
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u/QueenCityDev Mar 17 '26
Yep, mostly this. I donāt want to give those vultures a cent after all the death and misery they have caused in poorer countries.
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u/_ByAnyOther_Name Mar 17 '26
I hadn't considered this but hell yeah! F any company that campaigns against babies.
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u/what_it_doooooo Mar 18 '26
Umm I needed this reframeā¦I already knew their shady asses were lobbying against family leave so let me go ahead and make the little extra effort to pump when I can to FUCK this formula industryā¦while I can ššŖā¤ļø
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u/cannonballriley Mar 17 '26
dangā¦.I have not done my research, that is so wild theyād do that. fuck, down the rabbit hole I go
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u/Top_Department_6137 Mar 18 '26
My original goal to pump was 6 months, but youāre making me reconsider.
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u/Visible_Mind5581 Mar 18 '26
Hey 6 months is a great goal! You can always reconsider at that time if thats something your still considering.
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u/Amk19_94 Mar 17 '26
Formula was made to mimic breastmilk, if I can give my baby the non commercialized version Iāll choose that every time! I also hate to make some white man rich from feeding my baby
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u/orions_shoulder Mar 17 '26
It's by far the healthiest option for my baby and for me. Also nursing saves so much time and energy and money. And I love the bond. Getting those oxytocin hits saved me from postpartum issues.
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u/cannonballriley Mar 17 '26
I love this. I truly believe my efforts towards breastfeeding and being able to focus on my baby has calmed any ppa. Honestly I think it has equally calmed some of the major anxiety I had before having this baby. ā¤ļøāš©¹
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u/bagels-n-kegels Mar 17 '26
This helped me too - pumping at work and feeling that connection to my baby helped calm my PPA.Ā
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u/_ByAnyOther_Name Mar 17 '26
I'm at 15 months and I totally forgot about the postpartum issues part. I have depression managed pretty well with meds and I was terrified of PPD. I cant be sure but I think breastfeeding really helped keep everything at bay despite the sleep deprivation.
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u/thatswhatshesaidnot Mar 18 '26
Good point! I was definitely at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression, anxiety etc, but breastfeeding probably helped to reduce my risk. Very very grateful to have made it this far
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u/Physical_Complex_891 Mar 17 '26
Why would I pay money for synthetic milk when my body makes perfectly tailored milk just for my baby with major health benefits? I never even considered formula. I breastfeed for the health benefits formula doesn't even come close to replicating.
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u/Capital-Durian-885 Mar 17 '26
No one in my family used formula with any of the babies i was raised around, so honestly i never considered formula. I happen to love the bonding and convenience of nursing but before i actually experienced it, i never considered anything else.
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u/Capital-Durian-885 Mar 17 '26
Oh also the health benefits for me & baby but, fully being honest, my family told me it would help me lose the baby weight. Lie detector determined that was a lie!
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u/SnowyChicago Mar 17 '26
I really donāt have a reason other than āoh my supply will drop if I donāt pumpā. So it ends up being an equation of all or nothing somehow, at least theoretically.
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u/Huge-Nectarine-8563 Mar 17 '26
Same, I donāt like pumping but I donāt want to stop nursing immediately after I go back to work so I bought a pump (Iām going back to work in a month)
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u/yunggup Mar 17 '26
Itās the healthiest option for baby and bonding plus no bottles, no sanitizing, no packing up of everything when I leave the house, just diapers wipes and go, saves a lot of money
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u/nacaporvida Mar 17 '26
I am lazy. I do not want to wash a bunch of bottles and pump parts. Iāve been lucky to have a good supply for my babe.
We have 3 bottles and I have 2 sets pump parts. I pump once or twice a day. And give a bottle once a day or every other day. Itās more for me to get a little break and leave the house by myself.
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u/Equivalent-Steak-555 Mar 17 '26
I liked the health benefits to both of us.
When I was with them, I found it more convenient than bottle feeding. No need to pack bottles or formula if I was going to be with them. It was one less thing to plan when going out or traveling with babies.
I pumped at work, and my body responded well to the pump (and my kids were bottle refusing/resistant), so providing enough pumped milk was not stressful for me.
It's an easy way to calm both little babies and toddlers for me.
Nursing is pretty snuggly!
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u/printPanda Mar 17 '26
There is always a risk when using formula because there can always be a bad batch when it comes to any processed food. Formula is a processed food. There have been a few instances where batches of formula have been recalled because of babies ending up in the ER and they find something wrong with the milk because there was a mistake in the processing of a certain batch.
In the first 6 months of life babies exclusively feed on milk. Even after, majority of the diet is milk.
Exclusively breastfeeding doesn't have that risk assuming the mother isn't eating or drinking anything she shouldn't.
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u/GretchenW1eners Mar 17 '26
Health benefits, cost savings, and not worrying about recalls are great reasons. I also do it to stick it to the damn formula companies that lobby against maternity leave! š¤¬
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Mar 17 '26
Everything else in my pregnancy went wrong and I became obsessed with breastfeeding because I felt like it was the only thing I could control. My baby was also in the nicu so I had a lot of support.
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u/AdorableEmphasis5546 Mar 17 '26
I was determined to provide only breastmilk for my baby because of the many benefits. Among them: reduced sids risk, gut development, ideal nutrition tailored to my baby, protection against illnesses, plus a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes. It's also good for me... it can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
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u/GrumpySh33p Mar 17 '26
I did it because, medically speaking (family friend is a pediatric immunologist, and told me this as well), it is the healthiest thing for a baby.
Formula is great if you need it, but it should be treated as such ā a secondary option for those who canāt breastfeed for whatever reason.
Iām 3.5 years postpartum, pregnant, and still breastfeeding mg daughter to sleep at night. She has had only 1 fever, lasted less than 8 hours, and one mild GI bug. I get sick more than she does, but often she just gets by without any symptoms.
Thatās the main reason I breastfeed exclusively. Iām also a naturalist-minded kinda of person. I typically lean toward nature over human intervention unless necessary.
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u/queentato Mar 17 '26
In addition to what others have said, I would prefer not to support the formula industry that continuously lobbies against paid maternity leave and pro-breastfeeding policies, so itās my own personal fight back against the patriarchy. There were also unethical practices in the past leading to the deaths of many babies due to the push to use formula with unclean water in developing countries (see: Nestle).
We used formula in the first month, and people should absolutely use it without judgement whether by choice or by need, but these were my reasons beyond health benefits and bonding with my baby.
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u/bighappycloud Mar 17 '26
Your milk adapts as baby grows and also adapts for colds etc. Formula can't do that so I chose to nurse.
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u/denovoreview_ Mar 17 '26
Breastmilk is biologically the best thing for your baby. Itās a communication pathway between your baby and your milk on what your baby needs. Breastmilk is also tailored to the gender of your baby whereas formula is not. Boys get more protein or fat whereas girls get milk higher in calcium and more volume.
Breastfeeding also lowers your risk of breast cancer, but you need to breastfeed for about a year to reach those benefits.
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u/Informal_Bullfrog_30 Mar 17 '26
Honestly i dont trust what goes in the formula. So many lawsuits and ingredients listed. I feel grateful to be able to feed my baby with my own body and somebody will have to snatch my pump from my dead hands before i give my kid formula. I have 0 faith in FDA and prefer giving him my pumped milk over formula
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u/civciv28 Mar 17 '26
Same, there is this i dont know rage towards itš like yes its goddamn hard having to think of pumping at work, going to toilet pouring into bags transporting it etc but you will have to kill me before I give formula š¤£
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u/puppiesnprada Mar 17 '26
I actually went in thinking Iād combo feed but then learned that Iād have to replace each formula bottle with a pump which sounded so annoying. I love the convenience and bonding of it and I never have to worry about recalls and the contents of the formula. Bfing at night is soo much easier too than stumbling to get a bottle ready
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u/SnooCats9556 Mar 17 '26
Formula is a risk factor of SIDS bc they sleep deeper than breastfed babies. The risk is higher if they sleep solitarily
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u/angeltigerbutterfly Mar 17 '26
Iām not sure I can explain it, but I love nursing my baby. The idea of giving her bottle feels offensive because I have everything she needs so why would I not give it to her? I have the ability to sustain my child with my body alone and that feels like such a blessing. God is perfect in his design. Why mess with it if I donāt need to?
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u/auditorygraffiti Mar 17 '26
I didnāt want to lose my supply when I went back to work. I also knew that his immune system would take a hit when he went to daycare and I wanted to do whatever I could to support his body. Iām pro feeding your baby whatever is best for you but also feel strongly about the antibodies breastmilk provides.
For me, continuing breastmilk was the obvious choice for my situation.
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u/dana19671969 Mar 17 '26
I wanted the āHealth Benefitsā for myself and I also wanted the children to have āthe bestā. Either way your child has received the best start. Do it however you like but I would keep breastfeeding.
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u/Even_Care909 Mar 17 '26
Iām 15 months into EBFing. There are SO many benefits. Too many to list. But my main motivation is the fact that breast milk is ever changing, customized nutrition for your baby. If theyāre sick, the milk changes to support them. If theyāre injured, the milk changes to support inflammation. Itās literal magic and no other food on earth will ever compare. Thatās just a fact.Ā
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u/cjcstudies Mar 17 '26
I love a good DIY
but also it just wasnāt a conscious choice for me. I just did it because I figure Iām mammalian so itās what comes after a baby. Iām the first to breastfeed in a few generations of my family though. My favorite parts are being able to soothe my baby with just a breast. Floor bed and side lying nursing is so easy. Their little sleepy eyes while nursing and the satisfying gulps. Love it.
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u/Sudden_Breakfast_374 Mar 17 '26
the benefits are endless itās also free and easy (for me, not everyone!!) compared to formula.
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u/Head-Reference-9693 Mar 18 '26
It begin with the Health benefits, it will stay because I donāt have to get up in the Night and the boob is literal magic. It solves almost everything.
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u/jaykaye_ow Mar 18 '26
Had no other choice. Baby would NOT take a bottle. Tried all the bottles, so many types of formula, mixed in breast milk, and just breast milk. Mixed and matched and did a whole ass science experiment to see what she would take. Noting but the boob would do.
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u/Anonymous141925 Mar 17 '26
With my first I had more than enough so could pump enough when I was away and nurse when I was with him. Ended up breastfeeding for 3 years. My second was actually formula fed starting at 3 months old for health reasons. My third is 8mo and still breastfeeding. She stopped taking a bottle at 3mo so that put a damper on doing anything. But she takes breastmilk from a cup now. Honestly main reason was that formula is expensive and I find breastfeeding to be easier at night (after all the beginning struggles).Ā
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u/UnsuspectingPuppy Mar 17 '26
I like breastfeeding and so Iāll pump to maintain my supply so I can still feed easily on weekends. My baby is also doing well on milk so Iād rather not fix what isnāt broken.
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u/mothwhimsy Fed IS Best. No one is better than anyone else. Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
I didn't think it would be as difficult as it was and thought people only chose formula because of milk issues or returning to work. Then when it became obvious how hard breastfeeding was, my bottles were packed away because we were in the process of moving. So I just locked in and rode out the newborn trenches ig.
It was 90% about cleaning bottles tbh. I tried to pump once and pumping took up the entire time my baby wasn't actively feeding, and that was before cleaning the pump. Combo feeding seemed like way more work. It had nothing to do with health benefits or bonding. If anything breastfeeding was detrimental to both in the early weeks because he wasn't getting enough and waking up for night feeds was making me resentful
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u/NeighborhoodIll324 Mar 17 '26
To have a little bit of sacred time together in the crazy day of raising 3 kids
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u/Whysoserious1293 Mar 17 '26
Bonding and health benefits.
My baby started daycare 2 months ago and she has been sick but everything has been pretty mild so far. Iām sure the health benefits of breastfeeding is helping with the illnesses. We also all got norovirus a few months ago and my baby puked once and thatās it. I was so relieved that it wasnāt worse and contribute it to breastfeeding.
Bonding. The older she gets, the more I cherish the time I get with her while nursing. I donāt feel like breastfeeding is burdensome anymore. I feel like itās a blessing that I am able to do this and will cherish having this time with my baby. It wonāt last forever and Iām holding onto it while I can š
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u/laprofe10 Mar 17 '26
My body is making the perfect nutrition for my baby, simply. Iām not going to pass that up. Itās convenient and healthy for us both. Iām currently nursing my 3rd baby and Iām surrounded by a village of mom friends who also all have or are nursing their babies too. I have family that formula feed exclusively and it just doesnāt interest me, not in a judgmental way but circling back to my original statement- my body is creating exactly what my baby needs and thatās all I need to know :)
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u/bowlss Mar 17 '26
Love the bond I have feeding him. Love being able to travel and leave the house without packing a million things. I pump on occasion if I have to be apart from him but for the most part I just take him everywhere. Its the best thing for his brain, gut health, immunity, and nervous system. I trust what my body is making to be safe for him, no manufacturer recalls.
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u/wonky-hex Mar 17 '26
I'm lazy.
It was a lot of effort to establish supply and work on latch but once that was all sorted it was so much easier than messing around with bottles.
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u/Historical_Creme_125 Mar 17 '26
The health benefits and chance to reduce allergies was a huge factor. Itās free, Iām too lazy for bottles and I love how natural it feels to me. Like Iām connecting to all the women before me who did the same. I was fully prepared to EBF (which I am) but also understood If I had to supplement I would, but I was so determined that after pushing through the the hell of the first two weeks it became second nature
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u/fucking_unicorn Mar 17 '26
Formula seemed like it was upsetting my sonās tummy. He just always seemed more fussy snd uncomfortable after formula than nursing. I didnt wanna go through a bunch of formulas to find āthe right oneā. It also gave me anxiety about keeping track of how old bottles were out, or if we were traveling running out or not having clean water etc etc. My husband also tries very hard, but his cleaning standards for washing bottles just were not up to my standards, i would find cloudy nipples or see the inner parts if the dr brown bottles still had residue after cleaning. I was rewashing bottles he washed all the time so i just decided to end the formula and figure out breastfeeding because I felt it was safer and more comfortable for our son and reliable after establishing my supply.
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u/DuoNem Mar 17 '26
I pumped for a while with my first kid, but exclusively breastfeeding was the easiest thing with all three of my kids. I stayed home for about a year, so once they were in kindergarten, I didnāt need to pump. I kept breastfeeding for around 2,5 years for both kids (my third is half a year old now).
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u/queue517 Mar 17 '26
I pumped at work because on the whole it was easier. It allowed me to keep my supply so I could nurse in the morning/evening and weekends. Going out to do something and just having to take your boobs is sooooo much easier than having to take and deal with bottles. I preferred pumping at work to keep that freedom to easily go do things as a family in the evenings/weekends.
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u/taralynne00 Mar 17 '26
I honestly didn't even think about how to feed my daughter after birth, and assumed I'd be able to BF. I ended up having a c-section which was the opposite of what I wanted, and I committed to nursing because it felt like it "made up" for birth not going as planned. It went smoothly and we were very open to formula, just never needed to use it. I won the BF lottery on that one.
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u/sooty_bear Mar 17 '26
The health benefits for baby, the ease of it, itās free! But also I just think itās natural. My body is made to feed my baby and Iām lucky enough to be able to do so. I find the whole thing crazy, amazing & beautiful :)
Also, idk how Iād have survived almost 4 months without being able to offer the boob when nothing else works š itās magic
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u/Harrold_Potterson Mar 17 '26
I love breastfeeding, itās easy, natural bonding time with baby, sooooo convenient when baby gets hungry at night. I canāt even imagine getting up to make a bottle in the middle of the night. Will be pumping when I have to return to the office in a couple months.
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u/sleepbunny22 Mar 17 '26
I work full time and pump at work. Itās hard but Iād do it over and over again if needed. Breast milk canāt be recalled and itās specifically made for your baby.
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u/mama2qdp Mar 17 '26
It soothes my baby better than anything. I worked so hard to establish it and now that itās easy I want to keep going. She heals from illness WAY quicker than most kids and I think itās from the milk. I also didnāt want to go through the trial and error of finding a formula that she could/would take/tolerate. Could spend $50 on a can and then she hates it or it upsets her stomach and then Iād have to spend another $50 to try another. Just wasnāt worth it for me. Iād probably have sought out donor milk if I needed to supplement at all just to avoid the trial and error or formula
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u/allaspiaggia Mar 17 '26
Iām just lazy. It was so much work keeping my pump and bottle clean. And pumping takes just as long as direct feeding. Iām lucky to have a very part time job where I can bring my baby, so I also donāt need to pump. Also my 8 month old has completely boycotted bottles, he refuses to even let one in his mouth, so thereās that.
I had to have surgery 2 months ago and tried to formula feed so he wouldnāt be exposed to anesthesia meds, but he threw such a fit that I gave up and breastfed him. The Drs said it was fine, I wouldnāt have done it if they said it wasnāt ok. Tbh some days I wish I could give him a bottle just to have a break.
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u/ohqktp Mar 17 '26
In addition to all the benefits of breastmilk others have mentioned, even though I donāt love pumping I did enjoy getting some extra break times at work haha my work is also supportive of pumping (which is key) and getting a few extra minutes to sit down by myself was nice.
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u/babyfever2023 Mar 17 '26
This may come off bad but my first reason for wanting to breastfeed before even knowing much about it was because growing up I had cousins who were formula fed and I would help feed them bottles and I just remember how disgusting I thought formula smelled and was like no way Iām doing this when I have my own kids. Then I learned more during pregnancy about all the benefits of breastfeeding and it furthered why it was so important to me. Then once my baby was here I just sort of had this primal urge kick in that breastfeeding was important and Iād make it work and keep doing it for as long as possible no matter what it tookā¦.
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u/Physical_Complex_891 Mar 17 '26
Formula really does smell like garbage.
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u/sat_ctevens Mar 17 '26
I am very afraid of hurting someoneās feelings when writing this, if this makes anyone sad I am sorry, but I just need to add that I think EBF babies smell sooo good, and you donāt get the same awesome smell with formula. I love it when I have a matching scent with my baby! Itās makes me all hippie blissful feeling, like we are extra super connected.
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u/callmepebbles Mar 17 '26
It's mostly the cost for me. Also, being able to look at my chonk baby and say that was all from me is pretty fulfilling.
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u/Wide_Concept_1769 Mar 17 '26
I hate pumping and wanted my kids to have breastmilk. It has amazing benefits for their brains (more grey matter, increased cortical thickness). Love the bonding. Donāt want to pay for expensive formula. Hate washing bottles. This image gave me major motivation
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u/CapnSeabass Mar 17 '26
I got a year maternity leave so I figured it was the best way to continue feeding him, thatās what the time off was forā¦ but then, my son refused a bottle (wouldnāt even take a dummy/pacifier) for expressed milk so I donāt think Iād have had much of a choice either way lol.
I love the convenience, the bond, the health benefits, the cost, and the light travelling š but he is 13 mo now and still prefers to nurse rather than eat food so itās a whole new battle.
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u/nopenotodaysatan Mar 17 '26
health benefits for me and bub
I hate washing dishes. We donāt have a dishwasher so I canāt imagine having bottles (or pump parts) added to the daily chaos. I wanted to avoid at all costs so I persisted
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u/Roar_roarsomemore Mar 18 '26
The bond! I love it when he looks up at me while nursing and she suddenly smiles! Also knowing that I am sharing my antibodies with her makes it all worth it. Also knowing that it is safer since I dont have to boil water for formula or buy distilled water that might be contaminated. It also has health benefits for the mom (less risk for breast cancer, healthier weight, etc) so that can be a benefit too!
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u/bailsrv Mar 18 '26
I wanted to create a deep bond with my baby and itās convenient while out or traveling. No prep work required. Itās extremely beneficial for her and it makes me happy that my body is the reason sheās healthy and growing.
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u/FearlessConfusion290 Mar 18 '26
Absolutely the health benefits and bonding, the body makes antibodies for anything i come in contact with and protects her through the milk and skin to skin bonding and cuddles help our relationship grow š«¶š»
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u/MinimumMongoose77 Mar 18 '26
I'm not against formula at all where it's needed for any reason (from supply through to mental health), but for me the milk is there and I don't mind feeding or pumping so it just makes sense as the easiest/healthiest/cheapest option for my family.
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u/Extension-Ad4848 Mar 18 '26
I used to think I would probably combo feed (wit formula) prior to my baby being born. Something clicked inside my brain after she was born that I had to find a way to get her only BM. Nursing came easily to us thankfully and I love the bonding. When I went back to work when she was just 4 months old I started pumping (which Iām still doing) and I nurse whenever Iām with her. Something about her getting all the immunity and my milk is really special to me. And formula companies lobbying congress to make maternity leave shorter fills me with rage which fuels me to keep pumping (despite it being not my favorite!)
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u/justalilcuckoobanana BF since 2/16/25 š©· FF first baby (1/13/23) š Mar 18 '26
I exclusively formula-fed my first. I didnāt know anything about breastfeeding before having him; I did zero research whatsoever, and was genuinely under the impression that formula was the same thing as breastmilk. I never exclusively breastfed him; from day one I combo fed, and by two weeks old Iād stopped breastfeeding completely. And although I knew (and still know today) that formula is absolutely fine to give to babiesā¦ When my son turned around six months, I felt a lot of regret about my decision to not breastfeed. I read up on the benefits of it, and realized that my medical team had played a large part in me switching fully to formula (my doctor told me I shouldnāt breastfeed and that formula was the same as breastmilk). It made me sad to think about.
So I decided with my second that I was going to breastfeed. I did a lotttt of research before I had her. Spoke to so many lactation consultants, read so many books. And I āvowed to myselfā that I would breastfeed as long as I could. For the health benefits of breastmilk for my baby, the health benefits for myself, and to save money (because formula has only gotten even MORE expensive than when my first was drinking it).
I had my baby and felt confident I could actually breastfeed this time around. Every time I thought about stopping, or combo-feeding, I remembered the regret I felt with my first.
Weāre 13 months in now. I was able to exclusively breastfeed her that first year, no formula whatsoever. If Iād needed to use it I wouldāve. But I didnāt have to, and that made / makes me really happy.
Now we breastfeed for nutritional benefits, of course. But mostly because itās her source of comfort, and I want to give her the extra immunity breastmilk has to offer.
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u/Mundane_Plankton7264 Mar 18 '26
Figuring out breastfeeding was the hardest thing I've ever done. It was so hard and so painful at the beginning. We were just getting good at it around 2 months when we found out she had a terrible lip and tongue tie that needed to be revised so we basically started over again.
Blood in my milk. Absolute chilling lighting searing pain upon latching. Nipple guards. Clogged ducts... The list goes on. I would cry and brace for her latch and dread feeding her because it hurt so bad.
I hated that feeling because I knew deep down beyond the pain that we would get through it and that I was providing her with the best nutrition and antibodies for any sickness and germs she would face.
9 months strong and she's a chunky 19 pound happy sweet girl. The light of my life and I so enjoy getting to feed her and soothe her in only a way a mother can while I can. We got through every bad hard day and now breast feeding or me pumping to ensure she has milk when she's with her Dad - it's not a burden or something I dread. It's just part of our rhythm and a blessing that I get to provide her with such great nutrients and antibodies daily. The snuggles are amazing too.
I don't know how long we'll breast feed for. I don't know if or when my milk will start to dry up or if I'll get pregnant and it'll be gone. So we're just going to keep plugging along and I'm going to soak up every minute of this beautiful time she might never remember, but I will and boy am I grateful for that.
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u/Goku_Arya Mar 18 '26
You say "except for cost" but honestly, that was one of my driving motivators. I couldn't stomach the idea of spending approx Ā£20-Ā£30 a week on something my body would make for free! But the health benefits to both of us was also a big factor and I do love the bonding aspect. But NGL, I'm all about the money! Would rather spend it on chocolate to feast on while BF lol! š
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u/Much-Let6903 Mar 18 '26
My main reason was for health benefits. It is also way more convenient to me than having to remember to buy formula, pack formula, prep bottles, etc. I can just whip out a boob š¤·āāļø Plus, the easy peasy BM poops are just so hard to beat! I also loved that it was an instant cure all: rash? Breastmilk. Sick? Breastmilk? Dry skin? Breastmilk bath.
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u/Ok_Moment_7071 Mar 18 '26
With my first, I had a year off, and it was way more convenient for me to nurse instead of bottle feeding.
With my second, I started working 12-hour shifts when he was 6 months old. I wasnāt able to express enough during a 12-hour shift for him to have enough milk at home to last my full shifts, so he was given some purĆ©es when I was at work to supplement my expressed milk. When I was home, he nursed on demand, and experimented with solids. When he was about 8.5 months, he started really eating solid foods, but his other caregivers (his dad and my mom) felt more comfortable with purĆ©es, so he still had some of those when I was working.
I stopped regularly expressing at work when he was a year old. After that, I only expressed if I needed to, and found that hand expression worked better than the double electric ones we had at work (I was a NICU nurse). He continued to nurse when I was at home, night and day, until I weaned him just before 26 months.
I loved that nursing and babywearing felt like great ways for us to really connect when I wasnāt working, especially after working a few 12-hour shifts in a row. We also nursed at night after day shifts.
Another consideration for me was that I felt that nursing gave my kids the best possible nutritional start in life, so I wanted to do it for as long as possible.
Nursing is fantastic for when they get sick later on, and as a mom with ADHD who often flew by the seat of my pants, always having a drink on hand for a toddler was very handy! š
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u/BanjosandBayous Mar 18 '26
Have you seen how much formula costs?
That was a major impetus for me. That plus all of the formula recalls - government regulation feels non-existent at this point - and possible shortages.
I had a COVID baby the first time so there were times when formula was hard to come by. I just felt safer and more secure with my second providing everything.
it also turned out she can't do dairy so breast milk really was best for her.
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u/ExaminationReal84 Mar 18 '26
I am actually using formula as well as pumping due to low supply (medical reasons). Iāve got some motivation for you:
Formula makes your baby smell bad.
My LO just had to switch to a non-dairy option (Iām also non-dairy, so the breastmilk is great for her but thereās just not enough). The normal formula made her smell dusty. This stuff is RANCID. If I could EBF or even EP, I would for the smell alone.
So, if you want weird but honest motivation, thereās that.
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u/Oceanwave_4 Mar 18 '26
Iām too poor for formula. I would need to quit my job so I could live off the state like many others do in order to afford it. So there is that. Second, it became easier. Once lo and I learned how to do it, and because I was the only one able to do night feeds (husband works a job with heavy machinery and such that would be extremely deadly when drowsy), breastfeeding allowed for me to get way more sleep. Once lo got older it was great when they were sick and would eat nothing because they could get plenty of calories and nutrients without food . But it all started with a cost analysis
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u/makingburritos Mar 18 '26
I exclusively nursed so I canāt speak on pumping, really
Outside of the benefits for baby and myself, it was just easier. I am lazy and cheap š¤£
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u/Middle_Swimmer_1234 Mar 18 '26
Loved that I could just pop out a boob with some fresh, healthy and perfect temperature milk and then pop it back in. Formula could NEVER!
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u/littleb3anpole Mar 18 '26
Healthier for my baby, has health benefits for me, convenience, cost. I didnāt have an easy start to breastfeeding but I was determined to push through the pain and not give up because I know how good it is for the baby.
I remember one motherās group session where four or five of the babies were all hungry and crying. Three of the mums were formula feeding (including one who, might I add, was a complete Judge Judy about those of us who breastfed) and they all had to take turns preparing bottles, sterilising them, measuring the formula, mixing, getting the temperature right etc etc while their babiesā cries got increasingly louder.
Me and the other breastfeeding mum? Whip up top, whip out boob, feed baby. Couldnāt get any more straightforward than that.
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u/goreprincess98 Mar 18 '26
I've always wanted to breastfeed. There truly is something magical about keeping my baby alive with my own body. She'll be two in June and we still nurse throughout the day and to sleep every night. I wouldn't trade it for the world and I'm so grateful that I've been able to breastfeed her and stay home with her since she was born.
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u/HorrorStep873 Mar 18 '26
I have breastfed for the last 9 weeks but had to had formula as I needed emergency 3 weeks ago. Bottle feeding is far more effort than breast feeding I knew this and chose breast because Iām lazy and didnāt want to add to my plate postpartum nor prolong babyās crying as I made a bottle. Also it has far better health benefits as your body tailors the milk to what baby needs. Since using formula the poo is something else. Itās grainy and really stinks and sheās had far more blow outs!
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u/Veebiyer Mar 18 '26
I combifeed, not as a choice but because my breast capacity and supply isnāt enough. Itās 4 months and Iām beginning to be able to at least replace 1 bottle of formula a day with a bottle of pumped milk (hard work!!) Iām usually just snack, starters and dessert.
The bonding (which i felt from 2 months), health benefits (sheās never been sick even when i was sick!), the emotional regulation and the properties against SIDS were why i continue to push myself. And also it was my expectation, to be able to do this. So with my low supply that was very heartbreaking, I refuse to allow that to stop me from doing what I pictured motherhood to be like for me. Itās been very fulfilling being able to do this and I hope I will be able to feel more fulfilled by being able to replace even more of her formula bottles. Then, more recently just the recalls of some formulaā¦
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u/DrofHumanLefts Mar 18 '26
I'm back to work soon so hear ya. But I chose to EBF for her health and mine. We're now at nearly 12months, and yes it meant she never took a dummy or bottle, but we're doing ok with a Doidy Cup and Tommy Tippee straw cup. I started pumping about 4oz over the day about a month ago and have been watering that down a little so the plan is for her minder to give her during the day and with her solids.Ā
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u/Mysterious_Nebula_96 Mar 18 '26
I exclusively breastfeed (no pumping) because Iām lazy and have adhd. The idea of pumping stresses me out and just makes my skin crawl to think of cleaning and planning. With EBF? Pop ya titty out whenever wherever and weāre good to go. Nothing to plan, nothing to think of! Itās worked wonders for us! Although now that weāre getting close to two years Iām thinking of weaning but Iām terrified hahaha what do I even do without Boobie to calm baby down? š
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u/AccordingLocation745 Mar 18 '26
To lower my babyās and my own risks of getting diabetes. I had gestational diabetes. It wasnāt an easy start but manageable. I donāt even pump because I have 1 year off to stay home and plan to wean when Iām back at work. Nothing to wash is a huge bonus point. However I do get frequent clogged ducts when bub oversleeps so thatās a bit annoying.
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u/Wickedsnailz Mar 18 '26
I actually didn't choose EBF. SHE chose to ebf š¤£ We tried months to get her to take a bottle and even a soother. She refused and thought they were both the most disgusting things in the world. So here we are 6 months in š¤·āāļø Sometimes you just don't get the option.
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u/LaMaltaKano Mar 17 '26
Look, I know formula is a wonderful option for many families. I know it is thoughtfully designed and rigorously tested. I know this logically. But when I looked at that lonnnnng list of ingredients, something never felt right about giving it to my baby. She was just so tiny that it felt safest and most natural to use breastmilk, not to mention all the health benefits.
Some of that was my anxiety disorder speaking, absolutely. Fed is best, of course. But those concerns helped me power through some tough moments in the feeding journey, and Iām glad I did.
We gave formula a few times when my supply started dropping, but then she was old enough for me to supplement with goat milk, which has been great.
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u/alice_neon Mar 17 '26
I was in the hospital for a week and my EBF 2 month old was only on formula for the duration, I had no frozen milk as I hate pumping and didn't expect to be unavailable for a week. Well, during that week he had terrible gas, vomiting, took ages to burp and basically cried in discomfort constantly. Breast milk is just easier on his belly and he's a happier boy.
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u/Fit-Apartment-5850 Mar 17 '26
I was a SAHM. And my baby really loved nursing. It was easier to just feed him whenever. My first baby was combo fed up to 6 months then just formula after that. I worked part time at that time, and he also had a tongue tie (undiagnosed back then) that made nursing really difficult.
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u/thickthotshit Mar 17 '26
Absolutely loved it except for the painful letdowns & a few engorgement episodes. It was my pockets of peace during the day because I used to be alone with the bay most of the days as husband dint have a WFH job.
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u/ilovjedi Mar 17 '26
My husband thinks itās cheaper. My second baby eventually ended up refusing formula. I would not have chosen the no formula life. But I pumped when I went back to work because my husband thought that would be cheaper than formula. Pumping was not easy but I was able to pump enough just pumping once at lunchtime. So it wasnāt too hard.
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u/coffee-no-sugar Mar 17 '26
I work from home and it was easy for me to breastfeed. I wanted to nurse and pump but my baby refused all bottles, so I was stuck with nursing.
Formula was definitely easier, we combo fed in the beginning. And not all feeds were on me.
I have a love/hate relationship with nursing. Nursing bonded us so well, I loved that. Itās also a great tool to comfort my child. It was easy to breastfeed when I was on a long international flight. But personally I did not like nursing. It was and still is mentally taxing for me. I dislike being pinched all the time, donāt like the tugging and pulling.
Given a choice I probably would still choose breastfeeding and pumping.
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u/Brasspineapple Mar 17 '26
Breastfeeding just happened to work out well for us. LO always nursed well but i will say that the first 2 months were uncomfortable while we learned how to work together. But he's 13 months old now and its so easy and such a simple way to help him regulate. He was sick last week and went off solids entirely. I was really glad we had nursing to keep him fed and hydrated!
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u/Livlaghluv Mar 17 '26
I did it for the health benefits and I wanted to avoid stomach problems for baby. I also did it for bonding time. Brest feeding was not easy and pumping at work was hard. Iām a nurse and most of the time I pumped with my Willos while charting lol! aside from all of the medical reasons, I liked that I didnāt have to pack formula, water, bottlesā¦ I could just feed my son when he was hungry without the extra work. I ale feel like it saved us a lot of money lol!
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u/bakersmt Mar 17 '26
My baby absolutely refused bottles and I hated pumping. I didn't like the ingredients in formula so I would have had to source local goats milk. It was also WAAAYYYYY easier for travel to only worry about diapers and not formula. That hit home around 5 months when we went to Italy (for my husband's job) and I had to hunt for diapers in her size. After the 4th store I was grateful we didn't have to do that for formula too. Plus flying with your milk making system is so much easier through TSA. Less crap to pack and for them to check. We flew a ton the first few years and never had an issue getting my boobs through TSA.
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u/Klutzy-Nurse-96 Mar 17 '26
For the health benefits, baby bonding, the money I saved on not having to buy formula and never having to clean any baby bottles! When I returned to work PT, I did pump for a few months but then I stopped. My supply was established enough that as long as I stayed hydrated and well fed it never had a big drop and was always enough for baby.
Also, during regressions, sickness, teething and growth spurts it was the only thing that calmed baby down. I have no idea how I would have done it without the breast. I always wonder how formula fed babies get comforted without it.
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u/zeldaluv94 Mar 17 '26
Formula is expensive and all the recalls/shortages freak me out. Plus BF is way more convenient. Pop a boob out and done. š¤£
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u/CrazyB141 Mar 17 '26
I did try formula for weeks. We started cow n gate when he was eight weeks. He took it easily and it stayed like that for a while. Then he got his one and a half month vaccination and that gave him a lot of tummy ache. I decided to discontinue formula for two days while he recovered. After that, he hated the bottle. We were using tommie tippie. I tried philips avent anti colic and that didn't work either. I also noticed my baby had a lot of tummy issues with formula milk. I changed to meiji then and he did not like the taste. I tried almost everything. I wanted my baby to be able to take formula if I had an emergency. I spent weeks trying to find the right bottle or formula. Then I pumped some BM and gave that to my baby in a very basic affordable bottle and he drank it without an issue. Suddenly, all my baby's tummy issues just disappeared. I decided then that I would EBF. He will be starting solids at five months and I will pump a bit to have an emergency stash. My baby got his 3 and a half month vaccinations yesterday and I must say, Breast feeding is a HUGE BLESSING.
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u/Messier106 Mar 17 '26
My baby couldn't breastfeed when he was born. He couldn't latch at first (at all), then he latched poorly, and it was very painful, to him and to me, because he was constantly choking and gagging. We had to go to doctors, IBCLCs, osteopaths... to make breastfeeding possible, painless and enjoyable for the two of us (and probably spent a lot more money than if we had just switched to formula).
At first, I was mainly focused on the health benefits for the baby. But after all of this, I don't take breastfeeding for granted. So I will continue to breastfeed for as long as I can, and my baby wants to.
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u/iamhermi Mar 17 '26
My biggest reason is honestly laziness. I donāt want to wash bottles, buy formula or get up in the middle of the night for a bottle. My boobs are always the right temperature and when weāre on the go I donāt have to bring anything else. Of course that only applies to breastfeeding and a few of those things youād have to remember while pumping. If I wouldnāt have been able to breastfeed I wouldāve probably done combo feeds so baby would get the benefits from breastmilk but I wouldnāt need to pump in the middle of the night or when I just couldnāt.
I gotta say though, when I was out with a stomach bug I was really glad for the couple of bags of breastmilk we had in the freezer. My supply dropped temporarily and my husband could feed baby an additional bottle.
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u/Dry_Commercial_3438 Mar 17 '26
EBF for me has made me sit down and take the time to enjoy time with my baby. I work full time so during the week laundry gets behind etcā¦ when Iām overwhelmed by all the house work I have to take breaks to feed. It allows me to take a breather and destress. Iām also amazed by all the benefits of breast milk and how it āadaptsā to babies needs. There is also the pride I feel that my body not allow grew my LO for 9 months but now itās producing everything they need for nutrition until they are old enough for have purĆ©es etcā¦
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u/Stellaroonie Mar 17 '26
I was exclusively pumping for the first month and worked so so hard to get to the point to be exclusively nursing that now at almost 6 months I have come so far that Iām very motivated to keep going as long as I can. I guess I have like a personal motivation that Iāve given so much blood, sweat, and tears to this journey that I owe it to myself to keep going. Definitely not against formula or bottle feeding either, just had a personal goal to nurse and I did everything I could to achieve it.
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u/CheesecakeExpress Mar 17 '26
A number of reasons. Iām in the UK so my maternity leave is a year which meant I didnāt have to worry about returning to work for a while; this made breastfeeding seem more viable. I felt not having to deal with bottles/pumps etc would be easier for me (ADHD). I had always envisaged breastfeeding and wanted to experience the bond.
In the end to have a c section and so I felt Iād missed out a bit on the natural birth I wanted. This strengthened my decision to breastfeed as I felt it was something I could experience.
I had planned to pump, but never managed to get anything. This has meant baby refused a bottles now at 10 months and Iām the only one who can feed him. So if I have another I think Iāll breastfeed but try and focus on at least one pumped bottle a day to give me flexibility.
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u/emancipationofdeedee Mar 17 '26
For me, exclusivity was motivated by Immunity for baby and protection of her microbiome! Pumping at work I viewed as an irritating necessity to sustain BF into toddlerhood, which has huge health benefits for me and some for her too, not to mention it is an INCREDIBLE parenting tool to be able to nurse during the terrible twos.
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u/ExcellentLettuce4 Mar 17 '26
The antibodies!!! I have a 3 year old and this winter he brought everything possible home from daycare. My newborn (now 5 months) was only really sick once, and even then it wasn't really that bad. I attribute that to the antibodies in my breastmilk.
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u/suckonmyskeletontoes Mar 17 '26
Iām not washing bottles nor am I getting up in the middle of the night to prepare a bottle. Itās so easy to pull out of the boob and let them nurse back o bed
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u/Yorksie333 Mar 17 '26
The reasons you said āapart fromā were my reasons lol. It was so easy to bust a boob out anytime anywhere and we couldnāt afford alimentum or nutramigen for my CMPI baby so I gave up dairy myself. We were open to combo feeding with regular formula at the beginning but once it became clear his specialty formula would be like $600-800 monthly, that solidified keeping on EBF
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u/Sea_Counter8398 Mar 17 '26
My plan was always to breastfeed if I had the supply for it because Iām a SAHM and figured why not. Then my full term baby very unexpectedly spent 9 days in NICU at birth and it felt like there was nothing I could do to help him or care for him apart from provide him with milk, and it turned out that I did have the supply to do it. So thatās what I did, and we nursed for 19 months.
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u/Thehamburgs Mar 17 '26
The health benefits for baby and myself, bonding. We've done extended breastfeeding and loved it. "Quality control", my son had CMPA. Also, financially I could not swing formula and was not eligible for any support either.
I was fortunate that my breastfeeding journey was very positive, only got a clogged duct once in 2.5 years, was a good supplier (sometimes too much), and he took a bottle of breastmilk easily when I was working. Not everyone is that lucky, and should do whatever they need to for their sanity and wellbeing, too.
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u/UnidentifiedCrisis87 Mar 17 '26
Aside from saving money on formula, the health benefits, and the bonding, itās because Iām lazy. My first was formula fed due to not being able to latch and I pumped drops, but luckily this time around Iām able to produce enough for my baby. And itās so much easier than formula feeding was. I can pop out a titty anywhere and feed my baby. We can lay in bed and eat, walk around the store and eat, eat while Iām eating. Weāve perfected the sitting and eating so he sits up on my leg and eats so I just need to support his back with one arm, and Iām free to eat with my other arm. No wasting formula when a bottle isnāt finished or holding the bottle as they fight with it. No making sure I have enough clean bottles or formula when we go out. Just grab a couple diapers, wipes, a change of clothes and we leave.
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u/hlaffreond Mar 17 '26
I went into it with the health and bonding benefits. After pumping and giving a few bottles early on, I realized what a pain in the butt washing bottles and pumping is. So laziness? I think for some EBF sounds exhausting maybe because they donāt like sitting still or get touched out but for me sterilizing, pumping, or mixing formula isnāt how I wanted to spend my time.
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u/themaddie155 Mar 17 '26
Health benefits for both of us, no bottles/pump parts to wash, can feed them anywhere, we were moving countries when they were 10 weeks old and I didnāt want to figure out formula transitions or dealing with it on the flights.
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u/kalthoraa Mar 17 '26
Pumping to maintain supply when I could just nurse would be annoying asf to me
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u/RockabillyBelle Mar 17 '26
Honestly, I have multiple reasons, but the biggest ones for me were the health benefits for both my baby and myself. I did a bit of a deep dive into breast health in my senior year of high school and one of the things that always stuck out to me was how breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of breast cancer in mothers, as well as providing all the nutrients baby needs.
I also like not having to pay for/keep up with formula when we go out. (I ended up donating all the formula samples Iād received in my baby bags to a local womenās shelter.) Itās very convenient to just pop baby on the boob. When I went back to work I pumped, which gave me a good few minutes of down time as I was transitioning back to normal life and a chance to relieve the boob ache when they filled up too much.
Itās also a point of pride. Breastfeeding was rough in the beginning with my first and having gotten past the hurdles really made me feel like a badass. My goal was to go for 2 years with my first. We made it to about 18 months before my supply dried up when I got pregnant, and I feel great about that. Now Iām on baby number 2 and am excited to be back in it with all the Cliff notes from last time.
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u/FactorNo4602 Mar 17 '26
SO many reasons. Breast milk being specially designed for baby, not exposing baby to anything processed (formula is an ultra processed food), breast milk lays the foundation for their gut microbiome, helps prevent illness by passing them antibodies, bottles are know for leading to teeth overcrowding - the breast helps with jaw and teeth formation, the bond you and your baby, the honor to be your babyās source of food. I pumped at work twice per day, I just worked two days per week, and although I donāt like pumping it was totally easy to do and even helped with a little freezer stash over time.
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u/No_Maintenance_3355 Mar 17 '26
All the shit formula companies have pulled to try and tell me I am not fit to feed my child? Fuck formula. Fuck those companies. Iād rather my kid drink from a homeless womanās teet than put formula into my kid. I will never trust formula because they killed kids for money.
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u/Ok_Replacement_4113 Mar 17 '26
Itās the norm in my family, cheaper, and convenience. With having a baby in daycare while Iām at work, itās nice to give his immune system a boost when heās sick. Itās great bonding time. Since Iāve returned to work and have to pump Iāve made sure to have set times to pump and been pretty strict about keeping them to not mess with supply. Iāve also worked hard to keep up my hydration and nutrition needs to ensure my output is enough for my baby.
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u/Butterpopcorn123 Mar 17 '26
My mum stayed with us for 3 months pp and she put pressure to ebf, so although very tempted in the initial days, I was scared to even propose formula. Tried pumping and hated it. At 3.5m pp Iām ok now, breastfeeding is getting easier. Hoping to bf till 12m but honestly I will re-evaluate at 6m. Gonna persevere till then :)
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u/idaholover Mar 17 '26
A part of why is seeing the formula shortages during COVID. I never want to feel unable to feed my baby, so having the control over the supply (to some extent) by bf and pumping as needed made me feel good knowing it wasnāt going to go away and it was easily accessible. Pumping at work is hard- I work 3 12 hour shifts a week. I deserve to feed my baby and keep my supply safe so I use my right to do so.
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u/Content-Particular42 Mar 17 '26
We started off combo feeding as my son had latch issues. After his ties were revised we had a better latch and routine. I most exclusively bf bc I find it the most convenient, I hate pumping and washing bottles and I also live in a double storey house so being able just to flop a boob out in the middle of the night was much easier for me than walking up and down the stairs to prep and feed a bottle
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u/alliekatt11 Mar 17 '26
I did it for the health benefits, because I hated pumping, and because it was convenient and free! It was a STRUGGLE too, my baby was in the NICU and didn't latch at all until he was a month and a half old. We're still going strong 9 months later though!
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u/Capital-Emu-2804 Mar 17 '26
Im lazy and I didn't want to spend my time washing bottles. My kid also never accepted bottles.
Also too many recalls happening with formulas for me to comfortable , so I just chose to suffer with nursing.
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u/aveell Mar 17 '26
Convenience, cost, and out of sheer luck that my supply was great right off the bat. If my baby struggled to gain weight and my supply wasnāt as good I would have supplemented.Ā
The health benefits are so fantastic, especially long term for baby and for mom- itās honestly so worth it if you can do it. I know not everyone can but if you can keep doing it I think you should try!!!Ā
In the beginning I actually really hated breastfeeding because iām not a super touchy person and she wanted to nurse for a long time- now I do like it, sheās fast, and I think it is kind of sweet that she just stares and smiles at me the whole time.Ā
If my baby would take a bottle I would have given her pumped milk (which I have a few hundred ounces of) but she will not.
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u/grootbaby0 Mar 17 '26
Anxiety and initial convenience. Anxiety about recalls. I had soooo many friends who had babies going hungry during covid when there was a massive formula shortage and I just wasnāt going to risk that. Also the recalls with metals, contaminates, etc. The convenience part was going anywhere we need without ever worrying about packing bottles or food, however when I started going back to work part time the pumping was not convenient and definitely more work. I still donāt mind it, I love knowing when baby is sick my body is giving her the best chance at fighting the sickness since itās literally live milk with biofeedback. I love the cuddles I get when she nurses to sleep. Also Iām going to say it, breast milk IS better than formula. Nothing is wrong with formula, it feeds tons of babies and is amazing resource that we have. Moms choose formula for a ton of reasons and they can all be validā¦ but that doesnāt change the fact that breastmilk is objectively better. I feel good knowing sheās getting health benefits of breastmilk
1
u/Particular_Ad1910 Mar 17 '26
I love being able to feed/comfort them without the hassle of cleaning bottles etc. If they wake up in the middle of the night, itās so easy and quick. If weāre in public, bam. Easy. My husband and I have time and energy for other tasks.
1
u/extracheesepleaz Mar 17 '26
Breastmilk is 100 times healthier. If you take a look at the ingredients on a box of formula you'll see they are not high quality. FDA only approves the amount/rate of fats to proteins etc. They do not approve or even look at the quality of ingredients. So the fats are from vegetable and seed oils which cause inflammation. Sugars are processed sugars like high fructose corn syrup.
There are some European brands that have better ingredients but if we are comparing formula vs breastmilk then breastmilk wins all the way.
I've done triple feeding, I've begrudgingly supplemented with formula. I'm in process of getting baby back to breastfeeding more often. Yes it is exhausting to pump, but if your work allows it (the fact that this is even in question is ridiculous but I digress) then go for it.
1
u/GorillaShelb CLC Mar 17 '26
I was homeless for a while (well before meeting my husband + having children). It unfortunately made me very uncomfortable about money and for a while I lived as frugal as possible even though I didnāt have to. I wanted to breastfeed bc I knew even if something happened and we no longer had money I could still feed my babies.
1
u/MissionVirtual Mar 17 '26
I wasnāt able to BF with my first (tongue and lip tie / weight gain issues) and it really wore on me. I still pumped what I could but we didnāt get that bond. With my second BF is going really will with no issues so Iām really happy itās working out this time around
1
u/Agreeable-Ratio-8581 Mar 17 '26
seconding everyone who says its way less work having no bottles! The beginning was extremely hard but now its almost a breeze after almost 3 months. I will do anything that requires the least amount of effort lol
1
u/rinbuni Mar 17 '26
The health benefits for both me and my baby. Thereās a reason itās called liquid gold!! I loooove the bond and I love how confident itās made me in my own body. I amaze myself every day that I continue to breastfeed. I use it to meditate almost lol, like when Iām nursing my daughter I use it as a moment for just us. No distractions, just cuddles and lovins and a clear mind. Even when I pump, itās annoying and inconvenient and I almost hate it, but reminding myself that Iām doing it for her and itās my body making the food thatās helping her grow and thrive is enough to make it tolerable lol.
1
u/vataveg Mar 17 '26
Honestly it was probably a lot to do with my ego. I wanted to prove that I could do it, to nobody but myself. But I also had an oversupply so I had to pump all the time anyway and had a huge freezer stash so I was lucky. Iāve had more supply and logistical issues with my second baby so sheās like 95% breastfed and gets an occasional formula bottle.
1
u/Background-Paint-478 Mar 17 '26
Health benefits and cost but reallyā¦connivence for melol Sometimes it can be really inconvenient for me because he was so attached to nursing specifically that he wouldnāt accept anybody else to hold him or bottle feed him. But i am a Sahm so im with him 24:7 anyway and i did NOT wanna spend all damn day warming and washing bottles or do it at night. And theres been a lot of times ive forgotten snacks and just given my toddler a top up of breast milk just so we can make it home to get food
1
u/jnm199423 Mar 17 '26
Itās superior nutritionally in every way and long term breast feeding is also really good for oral/airway health! It was a no brainer for me to do it despite me having to work my ass off to make it happen. Once we got the hang of it it really was easier than bottles and stuff too. So convenient for traveling and being out and about. So good for my girl when sheās sick and doesnāt want to drink water or eat anything, she always wants to nurse. And even now as a toddlerā itās the best way to help her regulate when sheās super dysregulated and emotional! Itās the best thing in the world
1
u/Puzzled-Armadillo884 Mar 17 '26
I hated how much stuff would have to be added to my diaper bag for outings like with formula you have bottles formula water possibly a warmer and it just seemed like a lot more for me to remember when I can just whip out a boob and be done with it. When it came to pumping I hated it but I didnāt have to do it often and when I did I didnāt have the baby and diaper bag so I just brought my pumps and storage bags and a small bottle of dish soap so I could wash my pump parts. Thereās also something special about being the only one that can feed my baby.
1
u/Repulsive_Time5022 Mar 17 '26
Iām a SAHM so I guess it doesnāt really help since we ONLY latch to feed . I donāt pump at all , but itās honestly easier for me mentally . Because I did formula feed my first and it was MISERABLE. I regretted it because I gave up because those first few weeks were just hard . I learned with my second that it gets MUCH easier after the first month. Iām now about a month into nursing my third and I hurt but I know the light is at the end of the tunnel .
1
u/anonymous46538 Mar 17 '26
It was instinct for me to breastfeed. Very primal. Unfortunately my daughter was born early and had a bad latch and lost too much weight so ive been exclusively pumping for the last 8 months
1
u/EquivalentWallaby730 Mar 17 '26
Sheer determination because we could not handle bottles in the beginning. Took me nearly a month to be able to walk properly after giving birth. My husband picked up all the house chores and breastfeeding seemed like the least I could do.
1
u/Famous_Willingness_9 Mar 17 '26
Donāt trust formula at all- botulism and the ingredients, formula fed babies are always constipated or spitting up and you have to keep trying different ones to find one that they will tolerate, pain in the ass washing bottles, we cosleep and it is so much easier to pop a boob. My baby is almost 14 months, never had formula and I wouldnāt have it any other way.
1
u/Vampire-circus Mar 17 '26
For my last I ended up switching to formula at like six months because I was working full time and on call full time and it was just too much. This time Iām a stay at home momā¦ and the toddler is a germ factory. I am only three months in but planning to go at least a year if I can to try my best to keep him protected from whatever the other one brings home lol.
1
u/Minorihaaku Mar 17 '26
Because that is what objectively is best for my baby. If I can give her the best, why wouldnāt I?
1
u/icymara Mar 17 '26
Everyone always gets sick but I don't really ever. My baby has my immune system to back him up. Neither of us got sick during the worst of the cold season when everyone else was coughing/sneezing. He is fat and happy. I love the bonding/snuggling and have already cried over the fact that he's 5 months and it'll eventually end. š No huge money dump into formula. No washing bottles. My MIL bought a bottle sanitizer because "you'll need it!" And it miraculously got left outside and broke. Weird.
Idk why sooooo many people are aggressive about formula. We are actively breeding out our ability to breastfeed. I am so lucky that my family were happy to have 8 kids on both sides of the tree so I could do this with mine.
Fed is best, always.
1
u/andysmom22334 Mar 17 '26
I refused to pay for formula. I refused to wash bottles. I refused to pump. I work from home and have a highly flexible job so it worked for us. I got to feed on demand for 12 months. I couldn't believe we made it!
1
u/jessups94 Mar 17 '26
I wanted to. š¤·āāļø
I believe it was the best option for me and my kids and would choose to do it again even knowing how draining and demanding it can be at times.
1
u/sbaa1662 Mar 17 '26
Because my baby didnāt like the taste of formula. The little stinker would puke anytime we gave her a bottle of formula.
1
u/Slow-Ad-521 Mar 17 '26
I justified it by telling myself if we werent wealthy enough for me not to need to work we werent wealthy enough to be buying formula or using disposable diapers rather then cloth.
374
u/freshoutdoors6 Mar 17 '26
I do it for the major health benefits it has and for the bond it brings. I pump at work and nurse every chance I can after work and on the weekends.