Went to Anti Natal class yesterday was quite looking forward to it as we were going to be discussing feeding & baby care (bathing/cleaning etc).

OH has been coming with me everyweek but I thought it was really important that he came yesterday as the one thing he is worried about is the feeding & changing!

So we get there yesterday at 1.30 and one of the other PG ladies is stood in the waiting room and she said to me 'phew, I'm glad you've turned up as there is nobody else here yet!'

We're sat there and a few other people turn up (not expecting everyone as a lot of people were due!).......Still no midwife!!

15 mins later a midwife we didn't know (we're ment to have the same one ev week) & student turns up and apoligies for being late and say that she'll be taking the class! Fair enough!!

We get in to the room and she askes us what she should be talking about?? So we tell her feeding & baby care?! (who's teaching who!)
She then pulls a few things out of her bag.....doll, terry nappy a tin of mustard (for the poo talk)!

The first thing she say's is 'who's going to breastfeed then?' and went around the circle to ask....I'm the only one that says I'm going to bottle feed!
So off she goes talking about the best ways to breast feed.....sore nipples etc, then asks us to split in to 2 groups to discuss the pro's & DIFFICULTIES (not con's) our difficulties list was bigger than the cons!

So after an hour of explaining breast feeding I thought great she's going to talk about Bottle feeding, how to make up feeds etc (I know how to do it but wanted Chris to be told by an expert!) she just looks at me and goes 'if your bottle feeding you do blah, blah, blah!' and that was it.....less than a minuite!

She then went on to talk about bathing & cleaning which ok was interesting but she just seemed to bluff the whole class and kept saying to the student 'is there anything else I've forgotten?'

At the end she was handing out leaflets on breast feeding and walked past me and just went 'oh, you don't want one!' Which made me feel like I was doing something wrong for not wanting to breast feed!

The thing is my own midwife has just given up on the Breast feeding talk with me, I had someone come to the house a few months ago to talk about it (or to try & make me change my mind & breast feed!) Then I had this midwife yesterday make me feel like a bad person because I'd rather bottle feed!

What would happen if I didn't have a clue about babies & feeding......what would I do then!? Its a bloody good job I do as I'm able to show Chis but we'd be F*cked if I knew nothing as midwifes will only talk about breast feeding!

I did consider Breast Feeding at first & read in to it so its not like I'm just saying NO!
I've been made to feel like a bad person because I'd prefer to Bottle feed!

Does this mean I'm going to get "attacked" in the Hospital when I ask for a bottle to feed my baby!?

Grrrr!

At my hospital there was a lot of pressure by the MW's but stick to your guns, you're doing whats right for you, and it is your choice.

That is such a terrible attitude to have (the MW who done ur class)u must of felt bad, but don't, as they say formula isn't poison!

xx

BFing isn't for everyone hun, and it is entirely your choice. I bf Kayleigh for 6 weeks and she was an awful baby as I just wasn't producing enough. As soon as I put her on the bottle, she was a changed baby. So I chose not to even try with Charlie.

Formula milk these days is so close to breastmilk that it really is almost as good. Breast is not necessarily the best for both mother and baby. If you don't want to try it, then don't get pressured into it as you will get stressed and then bubba will get upset too.

My mw was really good, and when I told her that I wanted to bottle feed, she said to me "don't let them bully you to trying bfing in the hospital", and I didn't. Once you get that initial first bottle feed out the way, it's easier. The way our hospital worked was that the mw station kept all the bottles, and you had to go and ask for them one at a time. So DH went and got the first one because I was bed-bound after the section, then I used to keep hold of the used bottle and when I wanted a new one, I would take that down to them, hand it over and ask for a new one. Not one person even tried to make me try bfing.

It's your choice and you are intitled to make it.

Ignore them

I always get that reaction when I say I didn't breastfeed (im slightly different to you, I wanted to originally but Bethanie was in special care over christmas, I was feeling quite sensitive and upset anyway and them telling me to bring my expressed milk and using a syringe to feed her didn't exactly encourage me. I tried to express but it wasn't working, so I gave up). For my next baby, im not 100% if I will breastfeed or not.. I might try for a while but im not going to beat myself up if I can't manage it again.

These midwives and health visitors think they have all the answers (with a few exceptions) yet more often that not, they talk a load of crap. It's your baby, do what you want and don't let anyone make you feel bad. No doubt in hospital they will encourage you, but really put your foot down if you don't want to. Who knows, you might even consider it when the time comes.

Hope you're alright.

Thanks Girlies,

Its good to know that it not just me!

I was just a bit upset yesterday being made to feel like a 'freak' & out of place because I've decided to bottle feed!

I've just had a call from the Health Visitor, she wants to come round and introduce herself so I'm sure she'll be banging on about it too!

xx

Just say, "look love.. my baby, my choice". And god, those health visitors know how to talk, for hours when you've just had a baby and can't keep your eyes open grr.

I had something simular yesterday. A girl I knew asked me if I was going to Breast Feed, I said no because I dont feel comfortable with that and I would much prefer to bottle feed. Fair enough, I have never done either of them, but hey, like the girls said, it's our choice, right? She then went on to say that breast feeding is alot better for both myself and baby, and that I dont wanna be up in the middle of the night making bottles- well, YES, I clearly do, because otherwise I wouldnt choose to bottle feed my child would I? Then she started going on about how Im going to do it, and how would I make up a feed etc:- I told her i'd make up a few bottles for the night feeds, put some in the fridge, and when nicky wanted them I would do that whole "put bottle in hot water" deal, to warm the milk up. She looked at me like I was a bad mother or something, I mean gimmie a freaking break, this is my first kid, and I may be a tad clueless at the moment, but im sure someone will help me out...
I had a feeling that they'd be alot of pressure from MW's at the hospital when it comes to breast feeding, but the way I see it, who's the mother here? we are- and whilst bottle feeding may not be the better option of the two, many women do it, so I dont see much of an issue.
Besides, NOBODY in my family breast fed their babies- we all have small boobs, and some didnt produce enough milk, it may change after I have given birth but even then, I dont think i'd wanna do it.

Sorry to highjack your thread Sam, but Im having the same issues.

Yes I admit, I dont know what Im doing , so if some of you read my reply and thought "you dont make up a feed in that way", then im sorry Im kinda clueless at the moment.

We always used to make up Bethanies milk feeds (24 hours worth - 6 bottles) and keep them in the fridge obviously, then heat as needed.. but we got the whole "oh milk breeds bacteria, you must use boiled water". but it's just fuss over nothing! thats how I had my milk as a baby and loads of other babies I know and they are perfectly well. Bottles are so simple to make after a while anyway, I remember at first we were a bit unsure with the steriliser, but after running it a few times you become an expert.

I dnt know if its the same for ev one else but I've been advised (by the MW who done home visit a while ago....after the breast feeding lecture) to feed like this:

Fill kettle & boil
Leave to stand for 30 mins
Pour how ever many ounc of water in to btls & screw on lids
Leave bottles at room temp or somewhere cool (but not in fridge)
Add powder/milk to water when btl needed and give at room temp

Therefore no heating & no fridging. This is all to do with bacteria etc too! She said if you do want to give a warm bottle say in the winter you'd have to use boiling water and then leave to cool to a suitable temp before giving to baby!

Two of my friends were also advised by their MWs to feed that way. After looking after their LO's I do agree its a lot more convenient esp when out for the day or shopping!

I'm not 100% sure how long the water is ok for - I forgot!! (I'm assuming 24 hours) thats something I'll check with Health Vis on Tuesday!
If anyone knows pls let me know!