What do you do if you're breastfeeding and your mother is pro-formula?

I am breastfeeding and my mother is a bit discouraging about it because she raised us three children in formula. She says there's nothing wrong with formula and it will be easier on me and the baby and will guarantee the baby will continually gain weight. I would like to breastfeed, even if it is difficult and at times I feel like giving up so how do I deal with the negative comments from my own mother?What do you do if you're breastfeeding and your mother is pro-formula?
Tell her that she got to decide that she wanted to use formula so let you decide that you want to breastfeed. You are the parent to the baby and you get to decide what is best for him. There may be nothing wrong with formula but breast milk is better. Research all of the things that are good about breast milk and if she brings it up again, Let her know all the benefits. It is your decision and don't let anyone, not even your mother take that decision away from you, especially since breastfeeding is such a great thing.





I am a mother of 3 (3 year old boy and 2 month old twins) check out my blog at http://mommyslifeunscripted.blogspot.com…What do you do if you're breastfeeding and your mother is pro-formula?
if you want to breastfeed your baby, then breastfeed your baby!!!! you are that baby's mother, not your mum





she's had her turn and now she has to step back... i cant believe a grown woman would tell you NOT to breastfeed even though you want to





try to tell her nicely that you know what is best for you child - dont get me wrong, formula is fine (my son is formula fed since he was six weeks) but if you want to breastfeed no one has the right to stop you
Try not to acknowledge her negative comments. It's your child, and you think breastfeeding is what's best for him/her. Your mother cannot tell you what to do. She's had her chance to feed her children, now it's your turn.





Next time she comments about it, tell her that breastfeeding is healthier for the mother and the baby. Tell her you know what's best for your child. Granted, formula feeding is also great and isn't harmful at all, it's just less healthier than breast feeding.





I think it's great that you want to continue with breastfeeding even though it's hard at times. Keep up with that strength and it will be all worth it in the end.





Good luck!
Tell her that it's important for you to do this, and you'd appreciate her not commenting any more on it unless it is supportive. Also remind her how much money you are saving by breast feeding, and how much weight you are losing by breast feeding. People will always have negative comments on how you raise your children. Just block out the ones you don't agree with.
Tell her it's your baby not hers and to mind her own business, if she keeps up the negative bullshite tell her you are bonding with your child, saving yourself a fortune and guess what, the baby will continually gain weight anyway. She sounds like a domineering old cow.
isnt breastfeeding all about mother - child bonding? you can use formula you can use breastfeeding. the key word in that is you, its your choice isnt it, your choice to have a child you choice on everything. grandparents are part of your childs life to teach them things you cant and offer guidance and support. your mum is obviously more experienced so it may be hard for her to not but in but i suggest to calmy say to her that you appreciate her support and you understand her point but your choice is to breastfeed, you want to breastfeed and it would be nice as your mother and the babys grandmother to support you
Ignore her comments and feed YOUR baby how you feel fit, if she does not stop giving you a hard time either don't talk to her for a while or set her straight on YOUR decision.
I had the opposite problem with my MIL. She breastfed all of her children with no problem. When I couldn't produce enough milk despite doing everything the doctor recommended, she criticized me for using formula.





I know that when it's your own mom it's harder to ignore what she is saying. I told my mom prior to my son being born that I would welcome all of her suggestions, but in the end, I would do what I felt was best for my son and family. So far, so good. She always gives me her advice, and I've taken some and some I didn't feel was right for me.





At the end of the day, you need to do what is right for you and your baby. I would have loved to breastfeed, but that wasn't what was best for us.
You continue breastfeeding and tell your mother it is your baby and your choice and leave it at that.
I would say: Oh and formula is easier.I would have to get out of bed go make sure the milk is the right temp lose sleep over feeding the baby.That is easier then flopping my breast out to a already correct temp of milk going back to sleep! I would say study study study and then you can back yourself up and back her in the corner.
You will get much well-meaning advice when raising you baby. It seems though that the worst and the best will come from your own mother. When my daughter (whose second birthday was the 17th of this month) was younger, my mother was supportive of my breastfeeding her. In December of last year, the week between Christmas and New Year's, my parents and I went to Texas to visit my brother and his family before he was shipped out to Afghanistan. (They drove from Indiana. I flew from Columbus, OH.) I commented that we were still breast feeding and my mother said that the trip would be a good time to stop. Ha. By the time I saw my husband and daugther at the airport and I went to the restroom and my husband changed her diaper, we were nursing. I got some smiles from women who were probably thinking that I had just come home and was reuniting with my daughter. She nursed for about 20 minutes and it was more of a ';I missed Mommy'; nursing. When we got home, she nursed for over an hour.





I've been gone several times since then. Most of them just two night weekend retreats. (Friday evening to Sunday noon.) And one two full day solo trip to NYC this summer. Every time we got back in the groove and my mom thinks she's too old. Nope.





On the flip side, my MIL wanted to breastfeed and didn't because she had to work and used formula. She has been more supportive. Go figure.





Actually, my parents have told me many things about raising my child with which I disagree. (i.e., crying it out). I smile and nod give my opinion and do what I want for my child. (Sometimes, though, at that moment, I wonder how much it is in my own defiance, as in ';I'm an adult with m own child so I will do what I want.'; Eh. Just something I thought of.)





There are good sites, like Kellymom and the La Leche League (both of which have ';support groups'; in local areas.) Also, they both have support forums on their sites. http://www.mothering.com/discussions has a great breastfeeding forum section, too. Do a search for ';breastfeeding advice';, ';breastfeeding support';, etc. as well. (I would search more, but I hear my daughter up and she will be wanting her morning milk soon.)





I don't know how formula would be easier. It's expensive (breastmilk is free), it's created in a lab (God makes my milk for me), it's artificial (my milk and my breasts arent), I don't have to lug around cans of powder and bottles around when we go out. I didn't have to waste time mixing bottles while my poor hungry daughter wailed for her food, etc. (Though there were times in which I had to lay her down to go to the bathroom first and to fill up my water jug when my husband wasn't home, though. That wasn't fun.)





Also, the Dr. Sears and Dr. Spock sites have great advice, too.
Everyone know breast milk is better then formula


You are bonding with your baby and your baby will have a better immune system with breast milk
My mom said to me, ';I had absolutely no desire to breast feed you.'; and ';I'd just give him the bottle and be done with it.'; and ';What don't you like about formula? You were both raised on it and turned out fine.';





Well, to me, I want to give my little one the absolute BEST that I can and that means breast milk. I cannot make a choice for him based on how easy or convenient it is for me. I'd feel like I was letting him down tremendously if I formula fed him. We actually have to supplement his breast milk with about 2 oz of formula a day because he is hungrier than what I produce and I don't even like doing that, but it's what's best for him so I do it.





When my mom asked why I don't like the formula, I told her ';Because it's not natural! It's powdered milk with vitamins added. What I make is best for him and made just for him and I'm not going to do something for him based on my own convenience!'; I've not heard anymore objections since then.
';It's cool. I'm good with breastfeeding.';





If you have troubles nursing, get qualified help and dont complain to your mother.





Really, nursing can get quite dificult in the early days. You have to have the mindset that you will do it or you won't stick it out. If you decide to use formula, it's almost certain that your baby will turn out fine, just like you, your siblings, and millions upon millions of ofther people from our generation. But let it be your choice.
sounds to me like your mother is taking your choice to breastfeed your child personally, as if you don't think she did a good job because she didn't breastfeed. try sitting her down and explaining to her that, no you don't think she is a bad mum for formula feeding. no, you don't think you are a better mom for breastfeeding. it's just that now we KNOW that breastfeeding is better for mom and for baby. what grandmother wouldn't want her daughter and grandchild to reap all the health benefits that we now know about? none, so give her something informative to read and make it clear that this is your choice, it is not up for discussion. also make it clear that her negativity is only making it more difficult than it should be. everyone has a bit of trouble adjusting to life as a nursing mother, it's a tough and demanding job but completely worth it. besides the health benefits and bonding perks, it saves you a TON of money and sleep (no sterilizing bottles at 3 am.)








if mom is worried about baby's weight gain you can show her the adjusted weight/height charts for BF babies on the kellymom.com site or bring her along to your next well baby visit. the pediatrician can reassure mom so she will have no worries about her grandchild's health in relation to his/her being thinner than the formula fed babies your mom (and everyone else) is used to seeing.





the oldest mommy cliche is ';if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'; lol. use it on mom. hopefully that should make life a little bit easier. plus remember, the cliche goes for you too. if you are having difficulty BFing, obviously your mother is not the person to confide in. either find a friend who can listen or join an online BFing message board (that helped me a lot-you can find them on yahoo groups)





i was lucky my mom was supportive BUT all of my friends and fellow mommies formula fed. but, as the 2nd oldest mommy cliche goes, ';if everyone else jumped off a clifF, that doesn't mean you would too, does it?'; GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS on doing the best for your baby (and your baby's mum- you!)
Just tell her ';you made your own decisions i make my own'; and don't tell me how to feed a child and with what. Make sure you give her your opinion.