- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
February 2011 Moms
magdalina.h
member
I'm done (Bf-ing)
magdalina.h
member
Lucas and I have a love hate relationship with breastfeeding. We hate trying to get him to latch, but love the special bond. After many, many tears I've decided that I'm going to just pump and feed him from a bottle. I feel like I failed, but when I hated going to bed because that would mean that he would wake up hungry I decided it was time. We could always ( you know always in the past 2 weeks, lol) get good sessions during the day, but even those are becoming a battle.
I'm 95% okay with this decision because I really want to be able to enjoy him while he's itty bitty, but I think that 5% of hating it will always be there because I wanted so badly to be able nurse him.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I'm done (Bf-ing)
You need to do what is best for you!
I'm battling myself on the BFing issue right now. I love the bond and we're good at it but I am not sure I want to continue it when I go back to work. Some days I'll be set on my choice to FF when I go back, some days I think "maybe I'll give pumping a try" although I have a hard time finding time to pump now, let alone then.
BFing is good for your baby, no doubt about it, but if it isn't good for your emotional and mental health, compromises have to be made. Your boy will appreciate you for being a good mommy, no matter how you fed him as a newborn.
I felt the same way and ended up pumping and bottle feeding for awhile.
I would suggest to try and have him BF again later on if you really feel like that is something you want to do. DS suddenly seemed to pick up his latch when he was 3+ weeks old. No clue what changed because his latch was horrible and cause my nipples to tear and scab over but one day it was like the clouds opened up.
Even if you are bottle feeding him BM you can always try breastfeeding randomly again to see how it goes again as he gets older his latch may get better.
ETA: I should add that you have not failed. Your LO is still getting BM and even if you decided to switch to FF you are still not failing. Your child will get the nutrition he needs to grow big and strong. Also, remember that happy mom = happy baby.
This is a really good idea.
You could also bf during the day or when he has a good latch and bottle feed the BM at night to give you peace of mind. DS also never had nipple confusion and we are still BFing and bottle feeding(although he has formula now too). He even fixed his latch while bottle feeding and BFing back and forth. I should add that you will want to pump to keep up your supply though. I got tired of pumping so I slowed down on it and my supply tanked a little bit.
I too had a hard time losing that bonding feeling which is why I would go back and forth- just to get my fix I guess, lol.
But, just as PPs have said, bottle feeding can be emotionally connecting too!
I totally agree with everyone else -- you shouldn't feel like you've let yourself or DS down. Especially since he's still getting your breastmilk! It takes a happy mommy to have a happy baby and if breastfeeding was making you unhappy, then you did the right thing.
I had A LOT of nipple pain with my latch for 2.5 weeks (DD is now 3.5 weeks). I had an LC come 2x and got secondhand advice from another (better) LC through a mommy friend who had a baby the day before I did. It was actually the info I got from her that saved me in the end. If you're thinking of trying to keep up BF'ing as some PPs suggested and you want some help with your latch, send me a PM and I'm happy to pass on all the info she passed on to me. Within 48 hours my whole outlook on BFing changed!
ETA: Anyone is welcome to the tips I got from the LCs! Just didn't want to write everything out here as it's a lot of info...
I can understand how you feel. I have been battling with BFing since the beginning. When I wanted to stop, EPing didn't even cross my mind - I wanted to go right to formula. But fortunately I have stuck with BFing and it's finally getting easier. There are so many women who understand exactly what you're going through.
The best decision for you and your baby is whichever makes you both happy. If BFing isn't working out, so be it. You are a great mother no matter how you baby gets his nutrition. Go enjoy your baby!
this.
Ditto all PP but I just wanted to add that watching my H and LOs share the "gaze" as he bottle feeds them is more amazing to me than any bond or attachment I could have from breastfeeding. I love that my H can have the same experience as me. I hope you can feel better about your decision. Pumping is hard work though, I won't lie!