Made the decision to stop nursing

Melanie.Brown · November 2009

We have been trying so hard at nursing, but it's just never worked well for us. I have a low supply so LO always needs formula after every feeding, I tried herbs, and pumping after feeding to get my supply up and they helped some, but I still am not making enough for her. Also, LO has only latched on once without a nipple shield which has become very frustrating for me because when the milk wasn't coming fast enough for her she would get frustrated and pull off and flail her arms and knock the shield off. And I could never NIP because trying to get the shield on and keep LO from knocking it off was impossible to do covered up. So I was miserable and she seemed to be as well. So this weekend I just stopped. I'm still pumping because I think the antibodies and nutrients she can only get from BM are very important, but in an entire day I only get enough to make one bottle (5-6oz) and she gets formula the rest of the time, but at least she's getting some BM. She's actually napping better during the day now, and we are both much happier! I just wanted to post this so if anyone else is struggling like I was know that you aren't alone, and you aren't a horrible mom if you decide to stop nursing. A happy mom = a happy baby!!

MelD16 · November 2009

At least you tried. Thats all that counts.

realisticdreams · November 2009

I did the same thing. I pumped until I eventually had nothing left to pump and gave her a bottle of BM daily until I ran out.

It was a hard decision especially with horomones. We are both happier now though. She also would only eat with a nipple shield which took so much away from the experience and the convience of it all.

With my low supply I dried up pretty quick.

Rachel2315 · November 2009

You have to do what's right for you. My son seems to be doing just great on formula. He's happier and full and I'm not crying b/c nursing is not working.

Melanie.Brown · November 2009

realisticdreams:
I did the same thing. I pumped until I eventually had nothing left to pump and gave her a bottle of BM daily until I ran out.

It was a hard decision especially with horomones. We are both happier now though. She also would only eat with a nipple shield which took so much away from the experience and the convience of it all.

With my low supply I dried up pretty quick.

I'm hoping that as I continue to pump, my supply will at least maintain and I won't dry up until I stop. I feel pretty good that I made it to 8 weeks because I wanted to give up at 4 weeks and I'm glad I stuck it out this long. But I am SO much happier, especially because DH can feed her more and I can sleep longer stretches!!

thetwistedwillow · November 2009

Hey that is how it was with my firstborn! I hated that stupid shield. You did what you could and honestly once we made the switch to bottles and we were all happier... it was just so much better! I really started to bond with her over feedings instead of feeling like I was fighting her to eat.

This is our third baby and I have nursing success with her (no shield, no supply issues, etc.). so perhaps you WILL have a baby in the future you can nurse if that is what you want.

Good luck sweetie!

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · November 2009

MelD16:
At least you tried. Thats all that counts.

this, and you gave it all of your effort, at that.

Melanie.Brown · November 2009

njeosys:
Hey that is how it was with my firstborn! I hated that stupid shield. You did what you could and honestly once we made the switch to bottles and we were all happier... it was just so much better! I really started to bond with her over feedings instead of feeling like I was fighting her to eat.
This is our third baby and I have nursing success with her (no shield, no supply issues, etc.). so perhaps you WILL have a baby in the future you can nurse if that is what you want.
Good luck sweetie!

This is exactly how I felt! I felt like every time I nursed it was a fight to keep her latched on and sucking, and she was never satisfied afterwards, even if she nursed for an hour!

We definitely plan on having more children so your experience gives me hope! Thank you!!

mommy~to~mj · November 2009

Thank you so much for posting this and all of the replies. I don't know if you saw my post earlier but I am really struggling with breastfeeding and I think about switching to formula several times a day and I know we will all be happier (me because I won"t hurt, Madi because something is bothering her from my milk and I can't figure out what and DH so he doesn't have to deal with my breakdowns every other day!) These messages give me hope that if I do make the switch then everything will be ok. Plenty of people were raised on formula (including me!) and were fine.

mommy~to~mj · November 2009

njeosys:

Hey that is how it was with my firstborn! I hated that stupid shield. You did what you could and honestly once we made the switch to bottles and we were all happier... it was just so much better! I really started to bond with her over feedings instead of feeling like I was fighting her to eat.

This is our third baby and I have nursing success with her (no shield, no supply issues, etc.). so perhaps you WILL have a baby in the future you can nurse if that is what you want.

Good luck sweetie!

Also I find that when I do give her a bottle of pumped milk (once per day) we actually bond more - she actually looks at me with beautiful bright eyes! Her eyes are either closed or looking away when she nurses. Sad

tanya8 · November 2009

we had to stop nursing at all but the early morning feeding. every other time, dd fights the boob, so now i pump to give her about 1/3 or so of her daily intake (I try to mix 1/2 formula and 1/2 bm). Just know that you did all you could and your baby definitely got to reap some of the benefits of breastfeeding while it lasted.

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