This question is not just directed to moms but to anyone who has a personal view or experience. I know that formula feeding is becoming as common in Pakistan as it is here in the West. But I’m wondering what are the views on each method of feeding a baby? I have a 22mo daughter that I am still breastfeeding and will begin to wean when she is about 25 or so months old. My mil however was very against bf since she only formula fed her kids. I think there is some perception that in Pakistan only the poor bf their kids and to formula feed means you are more ‘modern’. I have heard this statement from several desi people. Is it true that our people are losing touch with the perfect food God has created for babies? Are muslim women embarassed to bf and then turn to the bottle? Hearing stories from our grandmothers i’m touched that they nourished their kids, sometimes past age 2,3,4 with breastmilk. Is this considered, old-fashioned, rural and outdated or does it still exist in Pakistan?
i think breastfeeding is best.
there are tons of nutrients and immunological benefits that formula cannot replicate. don't let fashion determine the health of your kids.
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*Originally posted by Sahar02: *
i think breastfeeding is best.
there are tons of nutrients and immunological benefits that formula cannot replicate. don't let fashion determine the health of your kids.
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BF is the best because their are many nutrients in a mothers milk, most my aunts starting weaning their kids at a very young age compared to you they did it when their babies were merely 6 months old.
The verse from El-Baqharah tells us:
MOTHERS SHALL SUCKLE THEIR CHILDREN FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS; (THAT IS) FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO COMPLETE THE SUCKLING. THE DUTY OF FEEDING AND CLOTHING NURSING MOTHERS IN A SEEMLY MANNER IS UPON THE FATHER OF THE CHILD.
The English of the Luqman verse is:
WE ENJOINED MAN TO SHOW KINDNESS TO HIS PARENTS, FOR WITH MUCH PAIN HIS MOTHER BEARS HIM AND HE IS NOT WEANED BEFORE HE IS TWO YEARS OF AGE.
I got these from a website on Islam and breastfeeding. The point is that despite our modern, scientific advances, nothing can compare to the complexity of mother's milk. God created such a perfect food for baby. There are over 100 properties in breastmilk that scientists can't explain yet. So I think a woman should try to pass on atleast the immunological benefits to her baby.
^
Well there is no doubt about the benefits of Breastfeeding, and i fully agree with point bieng made. But just out of curiosity, is it not difficult for mothers to breastfeed a child after he is one year old. As the child becomes more active, he plays, he runs, talks and he does not like to be tied down. It becomes very hard to feed him, rather then tie him down for breastfeeding, cuz he is hyper-active all the time unless he is sleeping 
May be i have seen only those kid who are more active, so can it be a reason for moms not breastfeeding their kids ?
All of the younger mothers I know here in WV in the states prefer breastfeeding. It is much more the norm - even a few of our female professors with young babies have "locked office time" in order to pump the breastmilk for the babies.
You are right about some of the older generation - here, too, they seem to think that breastfeeding is almost weird! But you see ladies in malls all the time breastfeeding. Though public breastfeeding makes me uncomfortable (seeing it, I mean) I still agree with it.
Another vote for breastfeeding. Even though it meant having to drive home from work three times a day or breastfeed in the parking lot I still believe that the health benefits far outweigh any inconvenience it caused me.
Not sure how I feel about woman who breastfeed toddlers though.
some of my colleagues were discussing and convincing one to leav the breast feed of the child then she wil conceive again.......
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*Originally posted by funy: *
some of my colleagues were discussing and convincing one to leav the breast feed of the child then she wil conceive again.......
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It's true breastfeeding is natural contraception for the first 6-9 months after that you have a chance to become pregnant. The suppression of ovulation and menses is due to high levels of prolactin in the mother's blood from frequent breastfeeding. If supplemental bottles are given then prolactin levels may fall.
Yes! It does become difficult. I initially tried to wean my daughter at one year old but she had a dairy allergy and wouldn’t take soy milk. So with my family’s and pediatricians support, I continued to bf her. I find though that despite all the kicking and moving around she does, she is very comforted and calmed with bf. At this age I never ask her if she wants some, rather she comes to me. Also at this age it’s not hunger or thirst that makes her bf, but comfort. It becomes a new relationship. As a child becomes more mobile and independent, they need that security of mom even more. But that’s just my personal experience.
i work in perinatal care and mother and infant health.
Breasfed is best... What society says or does doens't matter when science shows the way...
there was a shift about 20 years ago in the states/europe to formula feed but now they are realizing that breastfeeding is the best thing. if you can feed till about 2 years it's perfect. not only does breastmilk adjust and change to the nutrient needs of the baby at each stage and age of the baby (ie breast milk is different for the 2 month old and the 8 month old and 2 year old) IT ALSO reduces maternal risk for breast cancer. if a women breast feeds at least 2 years (for one child or combined over multipe childrent) her breast cancer risk reduces by 50%.
Further, studies have shown that adult illness/disease and obesity has some relation to children that were forumal fed only.
I think this is really cool to know when you also realize that islam recomends breastfeeding till 2 too!
Hope this helps.
you have to feed your child breastmilk.. not necessarily 'breastfeed'.. which means you can pump out milk and dispense through a bottle to kids over a year old.. also start weaning them at an early age.. like 6 to 8 months .. cheese, mashed bananas, kichRee, rice cereals etc should be good foods and would keep the baby full for longer than just breastfeeding them.
Expressing milk takes ages, I don't know how people manage to feed babies just with expressed milk unless they spend most of the day attached to the pump.