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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
pumpers and formula feeds come on in!
I just want to see if anyone else is in my boat. I had started off wanting to breastfeed, but due to frustration on my part and LO I decided to pump and formula feed. He is getting mostly breastmilk and occasionally he gets formula. DH and I are happy with our decision and our LO is very content.
However it seems like everyone else around us is very opinionated about our choice. When we were in the hospital and just asked about the option the nurses acted like it was the most terrible thing in the world and only pused exclusive breastfeeding. Even some of our family members are acting like its terrible that I am not putting him directly on my breast. I feel like I am doing a good thing by feeding him breastmilk. I still spend plently of time bonding with him, skin to skin and lots of contact when feeding. People are just making me feel like a horrible mother, luckily I have complete support from DH.
Anyone else in this situation, and how do you defend yourself to those who are so opinionated? I know I am doing what is best, just wish others would see it that way 
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Re: pumpers and formula feeds come on in!
I nursed exclusively for about 2 weeks and then the pain was still so terrible that I couldn't handle it. Plus I would nurse for about an hour or more and DS was still fussy and hungry. The first time we fed him a formula bottle he was much happier. I pumped and he was getting about one breastmilk bottle a day and then after that he got formula. We are not exclusively on formula and he is growing good and very content.
At first I was a little embarassed to tell people that I wasn't nursing but now I don't care. He is my son and I know he is happy and healthy. You are the mom and you are going to always make sure your LO is taken care of. I know it isn't easy- but don't let everyone's opinion bother you.
I'm in the same boat. I wanted to BF but LO was formula fed at the hospital because i was in recovery for 4 hours and unable to come in contact with him. I tried BF the whole time we were at the hospital but he wouldn't latch, he would just kick and scream, it was horrible. I kept trying but eventually switched to EP. I now had to stop pumpimg because I was drawing blood instead of milk.
Most people are extremely opinionated and make me feel like the worst mother in the world because i stopped giving breastmilk. We still have a supply in the freezer that'll last a couple weeks but its obviously not long enough to reach the 3 month goal.
we are doing the exact same thing and i have felt the same way. they acted like i was a horrible person at the hospital because i didn't want to try anymore with him directly on my breast. it was painful, my blood pressure was off the charts from stressing about him not getting what he needed, and we just decided this was best for my health and for his as well. i'm over it now, but i did feel bad and cry a lot about it. don't let anyone make you feel bad about your choice. some breast milk is better than none!
Don't let other people get you down about your decision. As long as you and your LO are happy, that's all that matters.
I've struggled with this a bit myself - but supplementing BM with formula is working out for the best for us. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what you're doing.
It really is better to EBF, and why not make the best choice for your child? Remember, formula is made to try to imitate breastmilk. https://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,3wz0,00.html
https://www.associatedcontent.com/article/56744/what_everyone_should_know_about_the_pg3.html
https://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/infant-formula.html
I have tried to EBF but my supply is too low too. I am trying to increase my supply - but I'm not going to starve my LO either.
Are you really gonna go there? Because this is not a bf vs. ff debate.
She said she is occasionally giving formula. She could switch back to ebf, its not too late. I was giving some information, because she does not seem entirely confident in her decision.
There are 3 sayings I've been living by, and I think they all apply here:
From my sister: "Happy Mom...Happy Baby."
From my lactation consultant: "Enjoy the baby. Feed the baby."
From my therapist: "Be a good-enough mom."
If you're happy, your baby will be happy. Enjoying the baby comes before feeding the baby. And you don't have to be perfect...just good enough!
Tell all those opinionated folks to shove it.
Really?. in a thread from a mom trying to do what's best for her child and upset with judgment?
Also, your own link to kellymom says this:
"any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial to both mom and baby."
A supplemental bottle or two from an EPing mom is not going to harm the baby. The all or nothing attitude from militant breastfeeders is why many moms give up if supply dips or they need to give formula once a day.
OP, keep up the good work. I'm an EPer too and I know how hard it is. I also know how hard it is to deal with the judgment from others.
I agree. That is not the type of advice or info OP asked about. That being said, the second article was just as bad as any random person giving you advice on BF or FF. There were no actual sources or links for the statistics given that I could find.
OP, I am EBF DD, but I have to go back to work and we have to begin transitioning to formula a little bit at a time. It's not going well at the moment, she doesn't like the taste! You shouldn't feel bad for your decision, you are doing everything you need to do for your baby.
It does say any amount of bfing is good, but it also goes on to state the risks of formula. I was just giving info. If one feels emotion from the judgment of other, one is not secure in ones decisions.
You do realize that this post is about judgmental jerks like you, right?
Amen!
Dont call me names, Ill report you.
Before I had DS, I was all about being judgmental of formula feeders. I could not understand why people would ever choose not to EBF. After having a newborn scream at my breasts for our entire 5 day hospital stay, I gained a new perspective. Breastfeeding is not exactly easy like you would think it should be. I EP. Its not because I woke up one day and decided, "Gee, Im going to put twice the amount of work and effort into feeding my child by pumping." DS decided it for me. He has never had a successful nursing session. When he turned a month old, we just plain stopped trying. People seem shocked that we no longer try to feed off the breast. Why would we try? all he does is scream. I choose to do what my child liked best. He has preferred the bottle and there is nothing that I wish to do about it. He drinks my breast milk and thats all there is to it. It does not matter how it gets into his body.
OP- Pumping is very, very hard work. Probably the hardest experience of my life and I didn't even have issues like low supply.The first three weeks was pure hell, then it got better. Good luck to you in whatever you wish to do: formula, breastfeeding, pumping..whatever.
grow a pair.
did you seriously expect no backlash from posting that unwanted sh!t in this post?
OP: I am totally with you. I, too, decided to pump. Breastfeeding was a horrible experience for both me and my LO ( who was born with hypoglycemia and needed to be supplemented in the hospital with formula.)
Every time I put her to the breast, she would scream, push away, latch poorly...when she did latch, it was like someone was sticking a hot poker through my nipple. Torture.
I was lucky enough to have tremendous support from my family AND my DD's pediatrician regarding my decision to pump, and then transition to formula when her needs exceed my supply. She is happy and healthy. I am happy and healthy. I am 100% sure that I have made the right decision for my family.
As for you, Eamyg7 - take your preaching elsewhere. The OP stated that she was very comfortable with her decision, but wanted to know if anyone was in her boat and how they dealt with the criticism. This was not something open for debate, and quite honestly, your post reeks of the douchiness that the OP originally described.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a monsterous pile of disposable diapers to contentedly stand next to (yeah, don't think people forgot about that little gem.)