The Pros and Cons of Formula Feeding

This post was originally written in 2016, prior to the current formula shortage facing the nation. As moms it is incredibly relatable to not want to be told “just breastfeed” when there are many reasons a mom my need to rely on formula. The formula shortage has taught us a lot about motherhood, including that we are better off as moms together, standing as one village without judgment or shame for how you feed your baby.

Pros and Cons of Formula Feeding

Pro: You can buy your supply

If your experience breastfeeding was similar to mine, you invested a lot of time and effort into building your supply: pumping for a half an hour after every feeding, waking up every three hours to pump even when your baby is sleeping in 6 hour stretches, taking Fenugreek, massaging your nipples, and so on. Wouldn’t it have been great to be able to purchase a natural breast milk supply? Oh, how many days did I wish there were a magic pill I could buy to increase my supply. The good thing about formula is that you can buy your supply.

Con: Your supply is expensive.

The bad thing about formula feeding is that you have to buy your supply. And it is expensive. If you are considering formula feeding, go ahead and tack on an additional $50+ (or more) to your weekly grocery bill.

Pro: You have your body back.

After carrying your baby for forty-ish weeks (and breastfeeding for however long you did, if at all) it is so nice to have your body back to yourself. Drink a bottle of wine while watching The Real Housewives and feeding your baby. Eat spicy Indian food without worrying if it will give your baby heartburn. Enjoy red beans and rice on Monday knowing that it won’t give your baby gas. Have milk in your coffee without considering your baby’s dairy intolerance.

Not only do you have your body back, you also have your style back. Sometimes it’s hard to find cute nursing shirts and you can start wearing fancy, supportive bras again (which you may need as your breasts are no longer nice and full from pregnancy/nursing).

Oh, I almost forgot! With formula feeding, you also don’t ever experience the pain and discomfort of thrush or mastitis.

Con: The judgment you receive

Sure you can drink as much alcohol as you want, but know that you may receive stares and judgment for chugging margaritas with an infant beside you. It happened to me. People asking you if you are breastfeeding and then commenting negatively when you say you aren’t is infuriating. And, my goodness, post that you formula feed on a parenting board and expect for sanctimommies to question your love your child. In fact, someone will read this article and judge me for giving up breastfeeding after three months.

Pro: You can share feeding responsibilities with your partner.

Although I wasn’t doing what some say was “best” for my babies in terms of feeding, I was doing what was best for them, personally, in terms of parenting. Once I allowed myself to exclusively formula feed, my husband was able to take over some of the feedings, so I was able to sleep for more than three hours at a time. Because I was better rested, I had more energy and patience with my kids throughout the day.

Con: You don’t burn calories feeding your baby.

Since, I was already overweight when I got pregnant, I made sure to only gain a handful of pounds during my last pregnancy. Two weeks after delivery, I had lost 14 lbs. I weighed 7 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight. Once I stopped breastfeeding (and started drinking those margaritas and eating those red beans and rice), I gained some of that weight back.

Pro: You don’t have engorged breasts.

Okay, so you don’t burn calories feeding your baby if you formula feed, but you can go to the gym to burn calories without worrying about uncomfortably engorged breasts.

Con: ALL the dishes

Sigh. A major reason I wish I had succeeded better at breastfeeding is all of the dishes. Rinsing, washing, sterilizing, and storing bottles is a pain in the behind (although admittedly it’s not as time-consuming as cleaning bottle parts AND pump parts). I would love to be able to just lie beside my baby to feed her when she wakes up in the morning, rather than having to go to the kitchen and dirty another bottle.

Pro: No leaky boobs.

Do you hear that baby crying in the grocery aisle next to you? Letdown strikes at any time. If you don’t have a fresh nursing pad on or your pad has shifted, you could soon be walking around with a damp shirt.

Con: Formula stinks.

Literally. It smells really bad. I never understand how my children can gulp it down like it is the sweetest nectar on the planet when the smell of it makes me gag. Breast milk smells and tastes (Yes, I tried it.) sweet.

Pro: Your schedule doesn’t revolve around feeding your baby.

When you formula feed, you are not tethered to your child’s feeding schedule. You can leave the baby with a sitter without having to pump beforehand. Speaking of pumping, you don’t need to schedule work meetings around your pumping schedule or take a pump with you when you have to be away from your baby for more than a few hours.

Con: You always have to plan ahead.

Every time you leave the house you have to make sure to have enough formula, clean bottles, and water for your entire day. Is there a flood, hurricane, or tornado warning? You’d better make sure you are stocked up on cans of formula and bottled water. Traveling while formula feeding is a pain. I am always nervous about being stuck on the runway for hours before takeoff so I have to pack way more bottles and formula than I would likely use just in case we need it. With breastfeeding, the only thing you need to pack is your nursing cover (and even that isn’t a necessity).

Pro: No Breast Pumps!

I have a love/hate relationship with the breast pump. I love that it extracted my milk when my children refused to, but I hate everything else about it. I hate the sound of the pump. I hate the gross farting noise it makes if you detach too soon. I hate all.the.parts. I hate having to lug it around with me.

Con: You don’t have the sense of pride and satisfaction that comes from breastfeeding/pumping.

It is heartwarming seeing your babies fall asleep into a milk coma with your breast milk dribbling down their chins. You don’t get that with formula feeding. And I always took pride in putting the milk I pumped into the refrigerator (although I also felt a little frustration at how little I had pumped…).

Pro: The most important one: your baby is nourished.

And that is all that really matters.

Marie
Marie is the owner of Little Hometown, a company specializing in locally themed baby swaddles and apparel. Prior to opening her business, Marie was a professional event planner turned stay-at-home mom. She spent nearly a decade living in New York City, where she met her husband, Jeff (a New England native). Early in their relationship, Marie told Jeff that New Orleans is the only place where she would want to raise her children. As soon as she got pregnant, they started shopping for houses. They moved back in December of 2012, welcomed their son in 2013 and their daughter in 2015. Marie now spends her days entertaining her kids with silly songs, desperately attempting to stay organized, and balance her life as a work-at-home mom.

12 COMMENTS

  1. Breast is best, God knew how to design the body so life can from forth from it and to sustain it. I was bottle fed and by the grace of God I was able to nurse all 4 of my sons. They never had formula. Praise God. It was a cheap, easy, accessible and above all, it was the healthiest thing I could ever do for my children and was truly a gift!!!!!

    • Hello Monica; Breast feeding is a gift, if the mother has chosen to do so. Yes, God created our bodies to be able to do this, but some mothers simply do not have the option; ie former breast cancer patients, mothers who have illnesses, mothers on medications, and so on. Breast feeding and formula feeding both have one thing in common: Mothers feeding their babies, and doing what works best for their families. Praise God, and have a good day :))

      • This article isn’t about that small percentage of women that are unable to breastfeed because of health issues, she specifically talks about how cool it is to be able to drink and eat spicy foods again. And how you can avoid all kinds of other “inconveniences” that come from doing what mammals have been doing to at least 65 million years. Amazing how suddenly, selfish American women have seen the light and thrown off the shackles of lactation.

      • you are completely right. i have a illness that completely prevents me from being able to breastfeed and it worries me that i’ll get judgement when i don’t do it when my baby is born when i physically can’t or i would. In the end, like the article said, my baby will be nourished n that’s the most important.

    • God had nothing to do with it, mostly because there is no such thing as some Cosmic Dude watching everything we say and do. Nature is god. Nature created us. And it created us so women could breastfeed their children. Unfortunately that also means forgoing margaritas for a while, but hey, motherhood is a big sacrifice. I think I’m a better person because I was raised by someone that cared more about my long term health than she did about being able to drink again.

  2. I’d like to mention that I am a 19 year old female, formula fed since birth. I am completely healthy, I maintained a 3.8-4.0 GPA in my schooling. Polarizing this issue as binary, as best and worst, as right and wrong only serves to mark the boundaries between us as mothers and deepen a chasm of conflict. It pushes us into guilt and makes us feel insecure affecting our well being and mental health!! We can offer a more balanced and compassionate standpoint and assume all mothers do what is best for them and baby, or at least the vast majority. It feels like there are enough things in the world right now that are highly politicised and divisive, let’s not make how we feed our kids one of them, let mothers unite and put this thing called stigma to bed.

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