I agree with Chrissy. I never actually breastfeed because it was my choice and not something I was comfortable with. I did pump while they were in the NICU and stopped the day one baby was going home. Never had any regrets. Its a personal decision and people should be offered advice and encourage if that's what why want to do. But if they don't, they should know bottle feeding is okay too! Another mom of triplets whose babies were born at the same time as mine breastfeed. The nurses encouraged her and helped her. But they never made me feel as though I was doing something wrong. Just looked at it as a personal choice, the same way everyone should look at it!!!

Cath
Mom of 32 week BGB

Cathleen

I also agree with you chrissy. I tried to breasfeed, and with little help from the nurses it did not work for me. I think that if you are able to that is absolutely great, but dont feel ashamed or bad if you choose not to or are not able to. My trio turned 4 in december and have had no medical problems other than our middle daughter had an ear infection last winter and a mild cold this last fall.

mom to matt, 15, sydney, morgan and cade 4

Sandy

mom to 4 kids
oldest is 18, and trio age 7

Chrissy,

I have often seen these posts and thought the same thing as you. While breast feeding is wonderful and certainly has it's advantages, it may not be for everyone and it is a personal choice. When I was pregnant, I weighed all sides of the issues and finally decided I would formula feed my babies. Based on the fact we had a 6 yr old and a 12 yr old boy at home, as well as my father who was staying with us for 6 weeks to help out - and my family wanted to be able to help out with feedings, coupled with a c-section recovery and the fact I was an unexperienced mom with 3 babies - I felt this option was best for us and I never regreted my decision. The only thought I did have was IF my babies were born before 30 weeks and/or very sickly, then I would pump - but this was my train of thought on the matter. Lots of babies do very well on formula, and my children did very well on Similac as well - and Isomil for my dd as she did have some slight reflux problems and this seemed to do the trick for her.

When in the hospital, I was asked once before the babies were born, and right after they were born, did I plan to formula or breast feed, and that was all that was ever said. I am assuming they would have sent a lactation consultant had I said yes. I was never made to feel guilty or questioned on my decision. I might add, my children did quite well, a few asthma issues on one of my sons during his first year, but overall I feel we did as well as any breastfed babies. My children are now bright, healthy and happy Kindergarteners - all on or above target academically, emotionally, and socially.

I certainly admire the sacrifice breast feeding moms make, but felt this was the right decision for us.

Thanks for posting another side to this issue.


Jan
Mom to 5 blessings
Ricky 17, Matthew 11, Jared, Brandon & Lisa, age 5 (33.1 wks)

JW
b 20 b 14 b/b/g 8

"I am too blessed to be stressed"

Chrissy, I also agree with you. I truly admire the women who choose to breastfeed triplets but I made a personal choice to use formula and never looked back. My husband loves to feed our trio as well as Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends, Great Grandmother etc... The list goes on and on. I know that friends and family also have the opportunity to feed when pumping comes into place but I simply love the flexibility formula give ME.

My trio very well could have been breastfed because they were only in the NICU for one/two days and I actually had every intention of nursing but once things got rolling - the bottle worked better for me.

Thanks for putting this subject out there because although I wrote I never looked back, I have to admit that it tugs at my heart every now and then - but then I look at my husband and I see the bond he is creating with them and how much he enjoys getting so involved and that feeling goes away.

Bea and Mike
Parents to BBG (3 years)

LOVE is a wonderful thing!

Chrissy et al,
As a breastfeeding AND formula feeding mom, I applaud you for this post. I will always be a b/f advocate, but only if it is the right choice for the entire family, mom included. If it isn't something the mom wants to do, then that's her decision. Having had a great experience with it (overall), part of me feels sad for the loss of experience, but I can say the same thing for anyone who didn't have the experience of living abroad for a year. We each have experiences in our lives that we would love for others to share because it has meant a great deal to us.

I know that many formula feeding moms feel guilt for not b/f, for whatever reason. I just wanted to pop in as a mom who did both, and tell you that I think you are all great moms, and you all deserve kudos for doing what is right for your family!

Paula

Paula P-F

Thanks Chrissy! There is more than one way to feed a baby!

Nancy

While I have great admiration for mom's who breastfeed, I am happy to say that my 27 month olds have always been heathly and are thriving. I completely agree that you have to make the decision to breastfeed based on what is best for your family. I don't have any regrets that breastfeeding didn't work.

It is great to know that there are advocates on this board for those who choose to formula feed, breastfeed, or do a combo.


Lisa
Mom to Aidan, Christian, and Rachel (10.03.01 @ 36wks)

Lisa
Mom to Aidan, Christian, and Rachel (10.03.01 @ 36wks)

Chrissy,

WELL SAID!!!! I completely agree with you. I think it is great that some women like to breastfeed, but for me it was different. I chose to not breastfeed and I do not regret it one bit. I knew I would never breast feed even if I had one baby, no thank you. I was not breast feed, my DH was not, my sis was not, her kids were not, and so on. I do remember the way the neonatologists made me feel for not breastfeeding, like a bad mommy. They can kiss my a**!!! First of all, I had mastitis (sp?) with a fever and a lot of pain & swelling. They told me that my babies would be sick, not healthy, and I would never bond. My girls have only been to the dr once for a sick call at 19 months, have never had ear infections, and are doing amazing. I took care of them all by myself from the time I brought them home and I honestly don't think I would have bonded with them at all if I breastfeed because I would of learned to hate it because of exhaustion (my DH works all nights). I was tired bottlefeeding, I couldn't imagine breastfeeding. I think it is a wonderful sacrifice to make for your babies and I completely support women who chose to do so. It was just not for me and thank goodness my DH supported me 100%. Good luck to everyone, whichever way they chose to feed their precious babies.

Khrissys3girls

Mommy to Lindsey, Kaylee, & Carly born 8/30/01 at 31 weeks
AND John Thomas born 1/17/06 at 39w3d

http://lilypie.com>

http://lilypie.com>[/i

Hey! Thank you to all of the writers in this thread. I agree that while breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience and is great for babies, sometimes feeding with formula is best for the family. I actually breastfed/pumped for my triplets, but I never could get my daughter to breastfeed at all so I had to pump for her (she was a terrible bottle-feeder, too!). I often see lines like "you can breastfeed 3 babies!" on the triplet connection, and I wonder if these words hurt the feelings of others as they hurt my feelings....There are many reasons (medical, personal, family, etc.) why a mother of triplets cannot or doesn't feel able to breastfeed their triplets. I think we should applaud all moms of young triplets because it's a heck of a job no matter how we do it!

Jenny, Mom to:
Jodilyn, Benjamin, Christian (6/6/01) @ 32 weeks -- our first miracles
Nathan (9/8/05) -- another miracle

I agree with all the above posters. Also, I just wanted to mention that there are also times when medical complications do not permit a new mother to breastfeed (at least they didn't allow me to!). You need to do what works for you.

Laura M. - Chicagoland
mommy to miracles
Hannah, Sarah and Emma
4/21/00 --- 28w5d
see us online at www.markunfamily.com

"Many children, many cares; no children, no felicity." -Christian Nevell
Bovee

Laura M. - Chicagoland
mommy to miracles
Hannah, Sarah and Emma
4/21/00 --- 28w5d
http://thetripletmom.blogspot.com/

"Many children, many cares; no children, no felicity." -Christian Nevell
Bovee

Bravo to you, my friend!
I am a b/feeder, however only did the trips for 6 months.(At which point I wanted to fling my boobs in the cribs with them!)So, I sometimes feel like I didn't do it long enough. I am one who agrees that you do what YOU can and not what other people say you should. One very interesting study within the last couple of months sampled breast milk from a group of women and found all sorts of toxins in it! YIKES! Freaked me out totally! Just another reason we should take care of our water planet Earth! Keep warm!

Karolina
Mom to b10/11/91 & bbb 6/14/00

Amen to that!

I agree with Chrissy, that there's more than one way to skin a cat, and with Paula in that we DO want others to share in experiences that we've had that we thought were great, but not everyone would enjoy the same experiences that we do.

I Breastfed my trio for almost three months. I wish I could have done it forever, but it was not feasible. I do NOT regret that they got formula, as they got it from day 1.

As a mom that did both, I am a STRONG supporter of healthy babies. how you get there is up to you.

Linka, Mommy to Nathaniel, Zachary and Madison (born at 34w1d on 10 Oct 02)

Linka, Mommy to Nathaniel, Zachary and Madison (born at 34w1d on 10 Oct 02)

i b-fed my trio until about 5 months. i REALLY believe that having a support system and encouragement to b-feed (should that be what a mom chooses) is very important. HOWEVER, i ALSO believe that if the mom chooses NOT to b-feed support and encouragement are VERY important too.

After 5 months of taking care of the babies basically alone (my husband worked 2 jobs, in school, we had no help) I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I was pumping every few hours and we had a 7x7 cubic foot freezer FULL of breast milk!!

I was so tired and needed the night time sleep and during the day when i was alone with the kids it was very difficult to not have someone caring for the kids while i hooked up to the pump.

my husband kept telling me (even before i had them) that i didn't HAVE to breastfeed. then when i went to the pediatricians office one day with my chronic wheezing baby, i was in tears and run down and i told our ped i just couldn't do it any more. he said at this point the babies needed a sane and well rested mother much more than they needed breastmilk.

i just have to say it felt SO good to hear from a)my husband/family and b) my pediatrician that it was OK to stop b-feeding!! i was NOT a bad mom, and my kids thrived on the formula.
thats a long way of saying that moms need to know it is ok to do either. the most important is that babies be fed and loved.

Meg

Thank you for this post. I shared my story on the other post but in a nut shell I felt I personally could be a better parent if I gave up bf'ing at four months. I think the misconception is that mothers are guilted into NOT breast feeding. I felt a twinge of guilt reading that other post. Though if I had continued I would have felt more resentment of the pump. I dreamed of throwing it from a moving vehicle, off a 20 story building, etc...

I do agree that breast feeding is the best nourishment for a baby. I wish I had been able to share that bond with my children but it just did not work out that way for me. Yes, I feel guilty that I stopped when I did, that I could not make it over that hump, and that I gave it up but I also know that it was the best choice I made for my babies and me! I became such a better, happier mommy.

I applaude all of the support that is offered and pray that it helps other moms to get over that hump but please remember if you decide to stop you should not feel guilt or failure.

Kim, Mom to
Logan Kenneth "I wish I were an only child"
Erin Louise "I love my brothers!"
Connor Andrew "I've gotta keep moving"
12/12/02 33w5d

Kim, Mom to
Logan Kenneth - Our future bull rider
Erin Louise -Our future ballerina/cowgirl
Connor Andrew - Our future artist

Chrissy,
Thanks for giving us non-b/f moms a place to say our peace. I b/f for 6 days. My babies did not go to the NICU - on day 4 we ALL were home. I went from no babies and bedrest to 3 babies, recovery, housekeeping, etc all at once. I planned to b/f but that wasn't what was best for MY family.
I wish that b/f moms wouldn't act like their way is the ONLY way or the only right way. B/F babies aren't any smarter, healthier, happier or bigger than formula fed babies. It's just a matter of what is right for that family.
I did not want to sacrifice my sanity, my relationship w/ my husband, and other things in order to b/f and that's what it would have taken for ME. B/F triplets is extrememly time consuming (I know that much from 6 days of it). It's great for those who can, but it's also just as great for those of us that use formula.
BTW - my 5 month old babies are bigger than any of the other children in the nursery at church - and one of them is 3 months older! They are healthier & happier than most of them too.
Each person has to do what works for their family.

luvmytrio
Gavin, Garret & Claire
born 8/7/03 at 36w4d

luvmytrio
Gavin, Garret & Claire
born 8/7/03 at 36w4d

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