Breast Feeding

C

Canucker

Registered User
Hi All,

I am pregnant with my first child and have already decided I don't want my child to be fed exclusively through breast feeding - I would like to try either 50/50 bottle and breast or even just 100% bottle.

I know this is a very personal subject and have already heard "stories from friends who did not breast feed 100% of the time and the harsh treatment they received from family/friends/strangers who didn't agree with their decision.

I was just wondering if the hospitals here in Hong Kong "push" a mother to breast feed even if she does not want too.

Best,
Canucker
 
I wouldn?t worry about being pushed into breastfeeding in Hong Kong. Almost everyone start supplementing in the first few weeks if not in hospital. The official exclusively breastfed for six month figures are zero! In fact, most hospitals make it really difficult to manage to fully breastfeed.

If you are worried about the pressure just tell everyone that you tried but didn?t have enough milk ? this seems to be the standard excuse for not breastfeeding.
 
Canucker - you'll be fine. It's the opposite. If you want to insist on exclusively bf, you'll likely be encouraged to supplement and 'get your rest', etc.
 
Yes, it's the opposite in Hong Kong to what you may experience in the West, where the pendulum has swung back to breastfeeding becoming more normal and encouraged.

In my experience, although the hospitals said they were pro-breastfeeding, nobody helped me or cared whether I breast/bottle fed. I happened to have outside help so I was ok.

Look, I'm sure you know breast is best as the publicity is very good, but if you have researched your decision and you've made it for the right reasons then try to be confident and just concentrate on loving and bonding with your baby, don't listen to people who try to stress you out!!
 
A friend of mine recently delivered at Matilda and she said that there is no pressure in the hospital you can do what you like. This is good news for me as I don't plan on breastfeeding at all.

I am sure breastfeeding is best, but I mix fed my first child until about 4 weeks and then switched to bottle feeding and out of all his friends he was the one who was the healthiest hardly ever getting sick.

Do what feels best to you.
 
I mix fed my son until 8 weeks, then exclusively fomula fed after that.
I had intention of exclusively breast feeding but it didn't work out.
My son is happy and healthy, and next time around I'll do it exactly the same way.

Do what feels right for you and your baby, and don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't want to.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies. I was so worried I would get a lot of negative replies to my question.

I currently work full-time and unlike in Canada where Mat Leave is a year, it is only 10 weeks in HK. While I hope to take a few extra weeks off, I do plan on going back to work and have been mortified at the thought of my child not wanting to take a bottle and screaming and refusing to eat until I came home.

The subject has not come up yet (only 9 weeks along) with friends/family/strangers, but from what I have heard from others it will. And you guys are right, it is a personal decision and I can't let anyone pressure me to do anything that isn't right for me or my child.

Best,
Canucker
 
I hope that you won?t take this as pressurizing you.

But please make an informed decision about breastfeeding.

Do find out about the huge number of benefits for both you and your baby. A good web site (which includes the medical references) is
101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child
http://www.promom.org/101/

I know that breastfeeding isn?t always easy, especially at the beginning. But most worthwhile things in life are difficult to master in the early days. I often liken breastfeeding to riding a bicycle. It takes time and effort to learn but once you know how to do it you find it easy and pleasurable. When learning to ride the bike it helps to have someone give you support by running along beside you and holding the saddle. Likewise when learning to breastfeed it is helpful to have experienced friends, midwives and lactation consultants beside you to give you the support you need.

Please remember that there are people in Hong Kong who are trained and happy to help give you this necessary support if you decide to try breastfeeding. (We even have ideas about how to introduce bottles to fully breastfeed babies so you don?t have to worry about them crying of hunger while you?re away!)

Best wishes,
SARAH

For help and information about Breastfeeding
SARAH 2548-7636
MAGGIE 2817-7475
ROCHELLE 2947-7147
MARGARITA 2257-6757
余婉玲 9048-1701
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.lllhk.org
 
hi sarah,

i read yr reply and very interested to know more about yr ideas on how to introduce bottles to fully breastfeed babies. my 9mos old refuse to take bottle right after her first month, despite trying various mtd like change bottle, put breastmilk only, get other to bottle feed her, etc.

thanks,
 
The thing that seems to work best for older babies is to try to make bottle feeding as different from breastfeeding as possible. So face the baby outwards instead of in a cradle position or maybe propped against your knees or a pillow or even in his high chair and encourage your little one to hold the bottle himself.

Nine month olds are interested in the world around them and eager to learn new things. Make the bottle just another skill that he is learning rather than a replacement for the breast. It may still be easier to get someone else to do it.

And remember that babies as young as four months old can master using a cup if in the extreme they won?t take a bottle.

Some tips that can be used if a younger baby is reluctant to take the bottle:

  • Try offering the bottle before the baby is likely to be too hungry,
  • Wrap the baby in a piece of the mother?s clothing (blouse or nightgown, for example) while offering the bottle,
  • Instead of pushing the bottle nipple into the baby?s mouth, try laying it near his mouth and allowing him to pull it in himself,
  • Try running warm water over the bottle nipple to bring it up to body temperature,
  • Try different types of bottle nipples to find a shape, a substance (rubber or silicone), and a hole size the baby will accept,
  • Try different feeding positions. Some babies like to sit propped against the caregiver?s raised legs; others prefer not to look at the caregiver and will take a bottle better if they are held facing out, with their back against the caregiver?s chest,
  • Try to feed the baby while moving rhythmically ? rocking, walking or swaying from side to side ? because this may be calming to him,
  • Insert the bottle nipple into the baby?s mouth when he?s sleeping,
  • Keep trying, but remember that the baby can be fed the mother?s milk with a cup, spoon or eyedropper if the baby continues to refuse the bottle. Medela even sell a special soft cup feeder which I find very easy to use when supplementing babies.

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
I looked at the link Sarah posted of breastfeeding benefits ? what a lot ? I knew breast was best but not to that extent. I was wondering what was everyone?s favourite benefit?
 
I love all the benefits, that's why I breastfeed. Although I'm obviously very keen on the ones that have benefitted my children I also selfishly really like the ones that benefit me.

Reduced risk of breast cancer, reduced risk of ovarian cancer, reduced risk of enometrial cancer, reduced risk of osteoporosis, helps prevent post partum hemorrhage, protection against anemia. What a list. The formula companies try to tell us that their milks mimic breastmilk very closely (not that I believe this as they use cows' milk as a basis and that is best for baby cows), when will they be able to provide the mothers with a supplement to provide us with all the advantages for ourselves that we lose if we decide to formula feed.
 
Hi Sarah,

Thanks for including the link in your post. And no, no pressure. I look forward to checking your site out and have written down the contact numbers if I have any questions. In the end it really will be up to my baby.

Best,
Canucker
 
chinchilla, i started bfing thinking of the all the health benefits that will bring my child. living in hk with such terrible airpollution, i'd want my child's respiratory system to be stronger. when she's sick, i purposely get her sickness, so that she recovers sooner.

then came the bonding. once i've mastered bfing, it became such a wonderful feeling for both of us, and the comfort that it can bring my child. being a 1st time mom, there're so many things i dunno what to do & what she wants, but bfing is a sure way to comfort her whenever, wherever & instantly gives me a lot of confidence. when i started planning to wean her, one thing that worried me the most is what to do when she's hurt herself or is scared or crying for no reason after i stopped bfing.
 
I had lots of trouble breastfeeding my first and now pregnant with my second I'll know better this time to relax and let what happens happen. Back in Australia there is A LOT of pressure to breastfeed and I believe it can traumatise the woman! I ended up getting mastitis, unbelievably cracked nipples that they still forced me to offer my baby despite me crying (ok screaming!) in pain and ultimately, because I was so worn down I got a very serious eye infection which could have resulted in loss of eye sight if it had been any closer to my cornea. As it was I couldn't tolerate even lamp light close to my face (and certainly couldn't go outside for 4 weeks) and I still battle with the infection. Anytime I am tired or stressed it flares up and needs treatment. I will fight it forever.

Do whatever is best for you. From day one my baby has been extremely happy and literally smiles at everyone he sees, particularly me so I guess bonding wasn't an issue despite the fact he only got a bit of breast! for 6 weeks.This will annoy Sarah (not my intention as I still intend to try to breastfeed my next one due in a few months for at least a couple of months) but there is always a study to backup what we say. I recently heard of a study that said that babies that were exclusively breastfed beyond 3 or 6 months (sorry, can't remember the details) have more allergies, are more prone to getting asthma and falling sick than babies that are not exclusively breastfed. The reasoning is that they are not being exposed to outside antibodies and so their immunity is not developed as much as it could be. Sounds logical to me.

Then of course there's always the fact that in my opinon anyway, life is so much easier feeding a baby with a bottle. My husband shared night feeds and over time when the number of feeds dropped we began doing it together. It became a special moment for us to share and if our one year old every wakes up in the night now wanting a feed (this is rare) we do it together for old time sake. It was our time together to marvel at the little creation we had made. As for being out and about, I'm just not ever going to be comfortable whipping my breast out in public!

Sorry about the long post but this is a subject dear to my heart. I'm glad no one seems to be having a go at you for not wanting to breastfeed. In Australia it would be a different matter! We literally call the nurses in hospital the breastfeeding nazis....
 
I don't think that anyone should be forced to breastfeed against their will- an unhappy mummy= an unhappy baby; but I do think it is something everyone should be open minded towards.

I've been very fortunate and have had nothing but a great experience with breastfeeding my son- I had a lot of help in hospital when he was born with breastfeeding and lots of support from family and my husband (which has been the most important). I originally intended to give it a go until my son was six months, and then see if I wanted to keep on breastfeeding him, but once he got to a month I decided the benefits for both him and me were so great that I am determined to breastfeed him until he is at least a year ( assuming he is willing!)

My husband still gets a chance to feed our son- a couple of times I express and my husband then feeds him, something my husband enjoys very much and also something I hope my son does too!

I personally couldn't imagine feeding my son any other way- it just feels so right! But I understand that for some people bottle feeding feels so right! Just wanted to share my very positive experience with breastfeeding. As for feeding in public, it's possible to be very discreet and something I became comfortable with very quickly- I don't think it can be any other way when you have a screaming, hungry baby!

Plus I couldn't imagine the work involved in cleaning and sterilising bottles etc. We recently travelled away with our four month old for two weeks, we had so much stuff as it was I couldn't imagine having to take bottles, sterilisers etc. and having to spend time sterilising and cleaning them everyday!

For me and my baby breastfeeding has always been best and I think breastfeeding should always be encouraged first- but not forced on anyone.
 
There is something I have noticed in HK however. Mum, helper and baby out together (nothing strange about that)but more often than not I have watched the helper feed the baby it's bottle while Mum sits there! Of course the helper needs to feed the baby when Mum is at work etc, but when Mum is there? Am I alone in thinking this is strange? Is there maybe a perfectly good reason for this that I am missing?
 
bekyboo44 said:
There is something I have noticed in HK however. Mum, helper and baby out together (nothing strange about that)but more often than not I have watched the helper feed the baby it's bottle while Mum sits there!
Click to expand...

Assuming it's not a one off for the mums you saw, I think that's just plain bad no matter what anyone says. I love bottle time for the lovely cuddles and eye contact you get.
 
when i was bfing my baby, we brought expressed milk for going out. i was having a very difficult time nursing my baby, so when we go out, i let the nanny or daddy feed my baby. one more thing, my baby never let me bottle fed her, she'd scream & tug at my shirt, pushing away the bttle. so if you would have seen us, it would've been nanny/daddy (if daddy is present) bottle feeding the baby.
 
Aussiegal, I'm really sorry to hear that you had such an awful start to your breastfeeding relationship with your baby. I also had sore nipples with my first, though managed to avoid cracked nipples. The nurses supporting you sound like they had the best intentions, but maybe weren't as well trained in breastfeeding, as their enthusiasm for this method of feeding would suggest.

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. There maybe some initial tenderness as the nipples and areolas get used to being taken into the baby's mouth, but beyond this it should not hurt. As I'm sure you know now sore, cracked nipples are the result of the baby not latching onto the breast properly. I know that doesn't help now, as you've already been through the pain, but at least for your second baby you'll know what to do in terms of getting them latched on effectively from the start. If it's any help, as I said I had sore nipples with my first child, but with this experience didn't have them for my second and third. I notice from another of your posts that you are interested in the Matilda. You may not know this already but they have a dedicated lactation consultant should you have any difficulties, so hopefully you can get off to a better start than you had before. If you do get some soreness I found putting on Lansinoh cream after each feed really helped.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.
 
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