Abby, Emmy, & Micah (L to R)
These are my three babies.
Okay, so they are not babies anymore! Now they are 6, 4, and 2 1/2.
However, I remember being a new Mom. It was fun and exciting!
It was also overwhelming.
There were so many choices and decisions to make. And it didn’t end after the first child. There were even more with our second and third children as well!
Crib or pack ‘n play. Stroller with a matching car seat or an independent car seat. Neutral colors or gender specific colors. Pediatrician or family doctor. And the big one…to breastfeed or bottle feed.
This was by far the hardest choice I had to make. I had family members from both sides of the debate and my husband and I had been raised from opposite sides, as well. Finally, I decided to go with nursing my children. The benefits seemed wonderful…healthy children, weight loss for me, no cost….how could I resist?!
But just hours after giving birth to our firstborn, Abby, I was frustrated. Abby ended up being a lazy eater. The short story is that I ended up pumping for 8 months and bottle feeding it to her. By that time I got so tired of 4 hours of my day being consumed by pumping and feeding that I switched to formula. And believe me…I tried to get her to nurse!
Next up was Emily. I nursed her for 2 & 1/2 months before she became so fussy and I began to pump so I could see the exact amount she was getting. But with your second child pumping regularly is way too time consuming. By 4 months Emmy was on formula full-time, too.
Last but not least is Micah. He was formula fed from 3 days old on. I chose that for various reasons, but by then I actually really liked formula feeding my babies. And since my girls were healthy and hadn’t had any bad health problems like I was led to believe would happen…I confidently fed my little man formula.
Now, before all you breastfeeding Mamas get mad at me…let me explain… I TOTALLY AGREE that breastfeeding is the best option all around. But I also know from experience that some of us just can’t do the nursing thing for various reasons.
Maybe you just rather bottle feed. Maybe you work and can’t pump at work. Maybe you just need to supplement your own milk supply. Maybe you need another option for the baby to be fed when you’re out and the baby is with Dad or a babysitter.
Whatever your case is, I have great news for you! According to the 10th edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, store-brand formula is as nutritious for babies as nationally advertised brands. You can save up to 50% by buying store brands formula rather than the name brands. And I know this by experience, too! I used the Sam’s brand with Micah and saved a lot of money.
If you would like some coupons for formula I have a link for you. Click HERE to get some coupons for stores near you.
And now…I also have a giveaway for anyone. Maybe you are expecting your first or second…or maybe your 10th! I have a copy of the 10th edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products to give away to one lucky winner! It's 368 pages of help for you with a value of $16.95. This could be yours! Read below to see how!
To enter the drawing:
1) Leave a comment for one entry.
2) Follow me on Twitter (@TrenchMommy) for another entry. (Please leave a comment to say that you did this to get your entry.)
3) Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and link back here for 2 extra entries. (Please e-mail me or twitter me with the link to get your 2 extra entries.)
The winner will be drawn next Friday, November 13th.
Let the comments begin!!!
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(I would like to thank PBM for making this giveaway possible. For disclosure purposes, this is NOT a paid post. I benefit in no way.)
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6 COMMENT(S)!!!:
Like you, breastfeeding did not work for us. Andrew was early and hadn't developed his sucking reflex and I had very little milk to give. I agree that breastfeeding is best but I don't like when people put those of us who can't or choose not, to shame - like we are bad mothers. I pumped for a month but it just wasn't working so he went to the most expensive formula on the face of the planet (I think) due to reflux and cow's milk + soy protein allergies.
That book would be wonderful for my daughter-in-law expecting her first baby in March.
We're expecting our 2nd this February and I swear so much has changed in the 3 1/2 years since having our daughter.
I totally agree with you Kat! I was amazed what changed in the 2 years between each our kids.
I nursed my first for 4 weeks, the twins for 6 weeks and my fourth baby for 3 months. I never ever once had a momnet that was PURE joy when I was nursing them. It was hard so very very hard but easy in some ways to just "whip" it out...too bad I was so worried about the "whipping' part.
I formula fed most of my babies and have never felt bad about it. Great post.
Hi Mandy! Thanks for this post... it really is such a personal yet controversial topic. I know I've struggled with it a lot being pregnant now with my first - you always hear that breastfeeding is best and you want to do what is "best" for your baby, but the reality is a lot of moms, including myself, work full time and have to think about daycare etc - plus I want my husband to be able to be involved in the feedings also. It's truly such a hard choice, but I'm thankful for stories like yours - it's proof that formula fed babies really can be just as healthy and can thrive as much as breast fed babies. Thanks again!
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