Pressuring to feed

DEBBIE33CASEY

Did you feel pressured into whatever feeding option you chose for LO?

My mom BF and I knew she would be disapointed if I didn't BF too.  LO had latching issues and I would up EPing.  I hear about a lot of new moms whose mom's have strong opinions on how their grandbabies are fed. What's your situation?

Beccaboo0713

I felt pressure to bottle feed. My mom wanted to feed the baby too. Grrrr. I love her but that is a silly reason to choose bottle feeding. I ended up have to EP. 

meganandgabe

My mom FF me from the get go.  MIL BF for a couple weeks and then went back to work and stopped.  Before I got pregnant, I always said I would FF.  However, DH mentioned that he wanted me to at least look into BF.  I did while pregnant and now that is what I do.  Well, I mainly pump and just nurse a little.  I didn't really feel pressured into anything and I am surprised at how supportive my mom is and how unsupportive MIL is. 

MrsBeckO

My mom was totally supportive of whatever route we decided to take.. she supported me when I felt the need to rent a hospital grade pump to help my milk come in, but also talked to me about not feeling guilty if it didn't work out. 

She BF me and my 3 siblings, but totally respected each of our parenting choices.. including cloth diapering and cosleeping, which she insists she doesn't understand.

ChelleM

My mom FF and I BF.  My mom did try to convince me to stop when I'd complain about how stressful it was.  I didn't listen to her.

KitKat307

I was formula fed and I had latching issues with LO from day 1.  We struggled through for the first week and I would up crying hysterically every time I tried to BF her.  I ended up EPing until my milk dried up when LO was 4 weeks.  My mom was at our house almost every night during the first week while my MIL was not.  She saw the trouble I was having and told me that if I decided to FF I was not a bad mom.  She was so supportive and I ultimately ended making the decision with DH.  DH was awesome as well.  He saw how much of a struggle it was for me to BF and then how much work I put into pumping.  I would only get about 1/2-1oz per pump total.  My MIL was insistent on BFing and was upset when she found out we were FF but DH had a little chat with her and now everything is OK!

penguingrrl

I hadn't been around many babies, but every one I was around was BFed (all my aunts, cousins, my SIL, my mom etc. BFed) so before DD1 was born I didn't even realize there was another option.  I literally had never met anyone who FFed, but again had been around very few babies.

thequeeenbee

I wanted to BF, but if I hadn't I felt a lot of pressure from everyone around me. I feel like a lot of people (especially in the medical field) treat formula like poison.

Midwest_Girl

I felt pressure to not breastfeed. My mom formula fed, but she wasn't real vocal about caring which way I went, but my MIL was terrible. She did not understand breastfeeding and made rude comments all the time about how much I was feeding my baby, etc. For some reason, the people in my life that FF were always trying to get me to FF instead of BF... I BF my first for 8 months and I'm still BF my second for now... I usually pump. I have nothing against formula and might try it for my babies gas soon, but I feel a lot of pressure from people to FF for some weird reason... It's usually the other way around I think...

TheresaAug.07

My mom FF me and my brothers so I had never really thought about BF but my husband really wanted me to try BF so I did and I love it.  But my mom  and MIL on the other had does not like it because they want to feed her.  My mom feels like I am denying my husband by BF.  I enjoy being the only one that can feed her because it means that I dont have to let her go because she is eating so often.  I love BF and am glad I tried it.