[poliscmjr]

I have been lurking around the bf site, and have beeen debating on bf (when I finally have my little one) or ff. I always said I would ff because of having to work, but the more I'm reading bm is truly better.

How did you ladies decide? Also I'm sure there has to be a working mom out there, how do you coop with bf and working?

[twinzplus3]

I never even considered formula. It's really not good for babies--(ducking now while someone throws stones at me.) Although the AAP clearly recommends bm, it's WHO's recommendations that I find truly compelling.

I was very fortunate in that when I did work, a condition on me being hired was that I got to take my babies with me so that I could bf. But I'll share a few thoughts. . .

First any amount of bm you give is beneficial--even if all you manage is 6 weeks. While I don't recommend pumping in the first 6 weeks bc it messes with your supply and can be really counterproductive. . .once you have a routine. . .it's not difficult.

My other thought is that if you don't bf your baby is statistically speaking, more likely to get sick and more likely to be more severely sick which is time off of work for you. It's a trade off I figure.

[MommaColleen]

With my first child I tried. But Jimmy wanted to eat allllll the time and I thought I was doing something wrong (long before i found this site). When DD#1 was born, DS was 2, hubby worked 12 hour days and I worked full-time. I didn't think I could handle BF.

Now, 10 years later and a lot wiser, formula was not really an option with DS#2. We decided from the get go that we were going to do it for all the wonderful benefits that BF vs FF gives the baby. Has it been hard...heck yeah! But I have gotten wonderful advise here and lots of support.

[MiaCamille]

In 1991 i got a breast reduction so i never thought i could bf so with my first ds i gave him formula, with my second dd i told myself that i wanted to try to bf so i tried and at around 10 days she's seems hungry and was crying and i had no one really to talk about it so i cave in and gave her a bottle, when i look back i think it was just a growth spurt. So with my last dd i wanted to bf cause i thought i had failed my second child, so i did and with help of some medication and fenugrec i was able to last for 6 months when my supply decreased after my breast pump broke and i was going out every thursday night and i couldn't pump when i got home and from then on i notice it decreasing. I wasn't working cause we're quite lucky here in canada we get a year of maternity leave. When i look at my children and see that my oldest who was on formula has allergies and often gets colds and when i look at my 2 girls who are so healthy and never sick thank god (even if one was just bf for 10 days) i feel that i made a difference for them by giving them breastmilk. If i had to do it again i would..

[butterflies77]

I will be having my first (a girl) in February. I never considered FF mostly because my mother BF all her babies for 2 1/2 years and to me it seemed like the natural thing to do. I know it helps so much to have a good support team for BF. My mom encouraged me to get invloved in my local Le Leche League as they can give you good advise and support. Even if you feel you are unable to BF for an extended time like one of the previos posters said - Any amount of BF is better than not at all. The benefits of BFing are numerous!

[Alejandros Mommy]

To be honest I really didn't want to BF Aiden when I found out I was PG. I remembered how hard it was with Alejandro...I was working and BF'ing. I felt tied down all the time....BUT when I had him I did BF hime. I found that I loved BF'ing and when he weaned himself at 11mnths I was sad.

I think it all depends on what you feel at the moment you have your baby. If you want to BF then go for it. Even if its just for a few months...it'll be worth it
As for the allergies....I found that after I stopped BF Alejandro he ended up getting things such as eczema and asthma. I think that BF him stalled these things for a while....I also remember Alejandro was never relly sick when I BF him....Aiden is hardly ever sick too.

What ever you decision I wish you luck, you will make the right one for you and you babe.

[purelegance]

like PP have said, i never considered FF. the pros seriously outweigh the cons. I only work 2 days a week, one day she comes with me, the other she stays home with DH with stored milk.

my sister is a high school teacher and breastfeeds. my neice gets bottles of breastmilk while at daycare, then when they get home she gets the breast. HTH

[pattiewrites]

I never considered formula either. Working and breastfeeding can work even if you aren't lucky enough to be able to take baby with you. When my first was born, I worked four hours a day. I fed her just before I went in and as soon as I got home. In the middle, she took one bottle of breastmilk that I pumped for her. Lots of moms work full time and breastfeed their babies. It can be done and is so worth it!

[angelic_ky]

for me, even as a little girl, it just seems that bf and babies go hand in hand i never even really considered FF (even tho my family has either FF from the start, supplimented or went to FF after 6 weeks to 3 months of BF)

[erinellakal]

I just always admired the breastfeeding moms at the day care I worked at before I had dd#1. So bf was what i wanted to try. With dd's #1 and #2 I only lasted for 6 weeks, i simply gave up. now with ds coming tomorrow I have a strong desire to try harder and go at least 6 months if not 12.