Did You Breastfeed One Kid and Bottle Feed Another?

I breastfed my first 2 for about a year each. Breastfed my twins for 6 weeks and ended up bottle feeding because I had too much going on running a household with 4 children age 5 and under. Once the twins were on formula it allowed others to help more in their care. Overall my family seemed to work better in the long run.

The interesting thing was they always say that breastfed babies are much healthier. Both the older children had a lot of ear infections and colds. The twins didn't have any of that at all. They did get Fifth disease and chicken pox (thanks to the 5 yr old who brought them home from school) but nothing other than that.

Im not trying to make you feel bad here but have you looked at it from the benefits to your unborn child as opposed to how it will affect just you in a positive way? What about the health benefits to your baby? What about the bonding? The immune boosters in breastmilk? Why does this child not deserve what the other 5 have received from you? I only have 2 and only plan to have these 2 and I am currently breastfeeding my 3 1/2 month old just as I did my toddler and I would have never not tried to breastfeed with either of them. Thankfully and fortunately I was and am able to breastfeed them. What about the cost of formula vs the NO cost of breastmilk or how you dont have to fix a bottle in the middle of the night - breastmilk is just there and ready at any hour of the day. Theres no cleaning bottles or any of that jazz. It is definitely tough in the first few weeks but it is beyond worth it once you and baby get into a rhythm. None of my business but I couldnt see why you wouldnt breastfeed if you are capable of it
Congrats on the baby

yes but not in the order you are talking about. My first was bottle fed after 6 weeks and it was because bf was going very poorly for us. My second I also had trouble BF. But killed myself making it work because I simply never got over the guilt, and disappointment of not BF my first. That said, it was so challenging (slow eater needed 1 to 1.5 hours on the breast per feeding) that I didn't have the time or energy for my toddler. So if there were a third, I would defiantly TRY to BF, but if it was more than moderately challenging I would choose to formula feed. I know that i just don't have it in me to work that hard at making a difficult BF situation work. My formula fed baby turned out wonderful. I also learned from my pediatrician that all the benefits associated with breast milk are just as likely, if not more likely benefits of stay at home moms.

I was the opposite. I bottle fed my first two and breastfed my third. With my third I exclusively pump which with your older kids could get challenging especially if you have a bunch of boys. My oldest is a boy & usually try to pump when he's not around. I just tell him "Mama's making bottles". I have only pumped for 6 months, kinda thinking of switching to formula. Its gets to be a lot to stop everything & pump for 30 minutes. I do like the pumping or bottle feeding b/c then the feeding isn't all on me. You will have some helpers at home to help feed the baby thus allowing you to get something done. There are pros & cons to both. I can honestly say that I don't think my older suffered any from the formula. It made me a better mom and it worked for our family at the time. I was at home with my youngest so I had more of an opportunity to pump is why I decided to do it for my last one. Congrats on #6 mama! Hope you can rest!

Breastfeeding helps shrink your uterus back to normal size. I'm sure your uterus would shrink anyway, but probably not as fast. (I remember mine cramping up while bf'ing, but I thought it was more interesting than painful.) It may also help with stopping postpartum bleeding. Not sure about that. I suppose I could google it.

And for me, breastfeeding really really (really!) helped slough off the pregnancy weight. It burns tons of calories.

Finally, a major bonus for me was being able to grab the kiddo in the middle of the night (from a cosleeper) and feed her without having to wake up too much. I got much better sleep because I breastfed overnight instead of having to get up and make a bottle.

It costs way less to breastfeed than to use formula.

Four major bonuses for you, not including health benefits for baby.

I didn't supplement with formula until mine were a bit older (4 to 6 months), so I can't help you with the initial benefits to you of using formula. One benefit that does come to mind is that it lets your husband help with feedings. But, my husband does not function well on lack of sleep, so this would not have been a benefit to me.

Good luck!

I breast fed both of mine at first and then had to stop earlier with first than second. I honestly don't know what the difference would be if you pumped then breastfed. If you choose not to breast feed at all that's fine it's a choice but you wont really give any more time back to your family I wouldn't think because you would be pumping and to me you are move covered up and modest with a child on your breast than a pump. So if you are concerned about your time with your other children and your husband would say just give the baby formula.

Good luck and God Bless!!!

Yes - I tried so hard to BF my first born and he would not latch on. I pumped and bottle fed the first three months and when I went back to work (12 weeks) I switched him over to formula.
My daughter, however, was a nursing champ from the first time I tried so I nursed her for the first year.

I bottle fed the 1 st & BF'd 2nd two, for the 1st year. Physically, I think I felt better , when bottle feeding. I just don't like the feeling of full breasts . I don't feel I recovered more quickly, BFing. Emotionally, is kind of a toss up. I think it helped with possibly not getting PPD but then it seemed to hit me after weaning. BFing for me was stressful ( 1st time didn't know what the hell I was doing & 2nd, supply issues). Good Luck, you will figure out , what's right for you.

My first born I did not breastfeed at all. My breasts were horribly sore and painful while drying up but other than that I healed fine and was feeling fine within a couple weeks. I gained over 100lbs while pregnant with him so the weight of course did not drop off and I don't believe that breastfeeding would of helped with the weight loss.

My 2nd and final baby. I breastfeed for the 1st 3 months. The only difference I noticed was the soreness was much less when I quit feeding. I didnt gain as much weight with her so I cant really compare that.

I've pumped for one, bottle fed one, and nursed two. There was no difference in recovery time. And not that I'm promoting bottle feeding over nursing, but truth be told - my formula fed baby is my healthiest child.

I did both with different children and didn't notice any difference in any way for the kids or myself really except I did so enjoy the time breast feeding and think the babies enjoy the closeness but they survive either way and if you feel you are more comfortable not doing it then don't feel guilty about it. I do think breast feeding is better for the baby but with many children often one will not thrive as well so do what is best for the baby and yourself and don't feel badly about it. You will recover the same in my opinion.

I've breastfed both of my girls, and the second time was a nightmare but I stuck it out mostly because I'm stubborn. However, I've always believed that just like the goal of giving birth is to end up with a child whether you do it drug-free or through a c-section, the goal here is to feed your baby, however it is done. If bottle feeding will make you happy, it will mean your baby is happier too.