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January 2012 Moms
bottle feeding...
Is anyone else going to bottle feed. I just don't like the idea of breast feeding and it makes me uncomfortable. I know it's best for LO, so I'm going to try. But if not, it's bottle feeding for us.
Married 7/26/03,
TTC since 2/2/10,
M/C 11/2/10,
Surgery to remove cysts 1/7/11,
BFP 4/25/11!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: bottle feeding...
I struggle with this daily. I EBF DS#1 for over a year. DS1 is asthmatic and has allergy problems just like I do so my dream of EBF'ing and having a perfectly healthy LO was shattered. That being said, he hasn't been horribly sick and is now 5 so I do count my blessings.
I actually told my doctor the other day that I felt like I'd be crucified by every other mother out there but mentally and physically I don't feel like I can EBF this LO. She was extremely supportive and told me that the formulas now are great so to make my decision and stick with it! BF is really hard, time-consuming and yes, it does take a little bit to get used to on a comfort level - especially in public!! Even with reading everything I could get my hands on before, I wasn't prepared for it with DS1! I will be FF'ing from day one with this LO. Some days I feel kind of bad about it to be honest but I think I'll be a happier, healthier mommy if I'm not exhausted plus I'll be able to give DS1 more attention! It's a personal decision as to what is best for you and your family! I even debating on doing it for 2 weeks but decided it would harder on me to make the decision to stop then...so I'm not starting!
Good luck to you!
I'm going to try my best to breastfeed but if it doesn't work out, I'm not going to beat myself up over it.
A close friend of mine had a baby 5 months ago and wasn't able to breastfeed. The amount of backlash she received over it had her in tears almost daily. I think it's terrible to make women feel guilty for not being able to/not wanting to breastfeed.
Daughter #1 - February 12, 2010
natural m/c March 11, 2011 at 8 1/2 weeks
Daughter #2 - January 11, 2012
Ectopic pregnancy discovered November 6, 2012 at 6 weeks
Daughter #3 - January 19, 2014
Started our exploration into the world of international adoption June 2012. We have no idea what this is going to look like but we are excited to find out!
Since it didn't work out with my 1st born I am really nervous about this time around.
I am going to try my best to Breast Feed for atleast the 1st 6 weeks before I go back to work and then have her on formula while she is away from me and Breast Feed when we are home together until I dry up.
If anyone tries to make you feel bad about your decision, tell them to... Okay I will be nice... Your baby, your decision is all I am saying.
I FF my first daughter from day one and plan on doing the same this time around. I'm not interested in BF at all. I know that's not the "in" thing these days and moms are supposed to want to nurse, but I don't. My daughter is 100% healthy and bonded to me. I don't feel guilty or regret my decision and know that it's the best for me and my family. I liked knowing how much she was getting per feeding, liked that I could go out for a few hours alone and not worry about pumping or feeding my baby. I liked that she went 4 hours between feedings. I liked that DH could share the night feedings with me and I could sleep without needing to pump, etc. Plus it just made me uncomfortable. Many of my friends BF and I have no issue with it, but it's not for me.
Do what works for you, but like others said, don't let anyone make you feel badly about your decision.
You can always pump your milk so that at least your LO recieves the benefits of BM and you don't have to nurse. I'm guess it's the nursing that makes you uncomfortable?
EPing is hard - take it from me. But it's so worth it in the end if you want to provide BM but you are unable to nurse - or don't feel comfortable nursing.
We will formula feed from day and we did the same with our DD. I have always felt the same as you and knew that I would be happiest formula feeding. A happy mama = a happy baby. Luckily I didn't have any pressure to breastfeed from anyone (not even at the hospital) so I never felt guilty about doing what I felt was right for my family.
BTW, my DD was an extremely healthy baby. She never had one ear infection and didn't even have a minor sniffle until she was 15 months old and started daycare. Formula feeding did not affect her health in any way.
Amen.
It's so terrible how so many mothers judge eachother.
To OP: maybe try pumping for a little bit? I've heard & read many places that even a little breastmilk, even if it's just colostrum, is better than none at all.
Married April 1st 2017
DS #1: May 2009
DS #2: Jan 2012
Thank you everyone! This has helped so much! I'm sick of being made to feel like I should breast feed. I'm just not that comfortable with the concept. Yes I know it's supposed to be a natural thing however to me it feels unnatural. I've been looking forward to meeting my son and the same time dreading meeting him because that means i'll have to breast feed. I've just made my mind up to bottle feed and I feel like a new person. like a weight has been lifted off my chest (pun intended). lol
Thanks so much you've made me very happy. Now I can just look forward to meeting him without the guilt.
I completely agree with you. BF DS was a horrible experience. I know it was supposed to be the best for him but he was sick ALL year and developed a milk allergy at 4 months. I pumped a lot too and I just cannot do that again. BFing was literally making me depressed. I wanted to throw the pump out the window. I also have inverted nipples so it was a LOT of work to even get milk in him.
I talked with DH and we were going to BF for about 4-6 weeks but now have decided not to start BFing at all. we will do FF from day one and like you I feel like I have a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. I know BF is best but I will be much happier and comfortable. So you are not alone! (but I too feel like everyone is going to judge/guilt trip me for not BFing!)
I did not BF my first, so I want to try to BF this time. But I am having a lot of anxiety over it. I really dislike having my nipples touched and am hoping it is something I can get over. I barely like touching them myself. There has been a little bit of colustrum drying on them and when I try to pick it off it literally nauseates me. I have been having regular nightmares about it.
I am going to try however, but if it doesn't work out for me I will switch to the bottle with no guilt. I am also worried about PPD. I went off of antidepressants during my pregnancy, but if I feel the need to go back on them, I will have to decide if I want to expose the baby to them through my breastmilk.
Layla 01.08.12
Chloe and Vivian 07.23.13
My Gang. Halloween 2013
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
I felt EXACTLY like you with my first. I said "I will try it for ONE day. If it works, I'll try one more day...if it doesn't, that's it, I can say I tried!". Yeah, well, I loved it.
I was FLOORED that I loved it, but I loved it nonetheless and was truly sad when at three months I had to wave the white flag because she would only take to one side and I was so lopsided it was causing back pain and I couldn't produce enough and had to supplement...so I eventually quit at the three month mark.
Hoping my second takes to BFing as naturally as my daughter because I have my heart set on at least three months with this one too!
I felt the same way you did with my first one, but I was determined to do it for a bit longer. My goal was 6 months and we made it that far. I am not sure how far I am going to go with this one because I am going back to work for 6 weeks when he is 4.5 months.
I did not EBF, I mostly BF'd. For me, breast feeding was a cinch, pumping blew, and I never did it, so when I wasn't around or it just wasn't the optimal time, I gave him formula. I did like the fact that it was always ready when he needed it, it was always the perfect temperature, and it helped me to lose the 60 lbs I gained pretty quickly.
Just do what you are comfortable with and go with the flow. If you are completely miserable breastfeeding, don't do it. Just an FYI... the first 6 weeks totally suck. If you want to stick it out, set a goal of 8-10 weeks then reassess. I personally think everyone should give it a shot if they can... you don't really know if it is going to suck, or make you uncomfortable until you try it.
I'm late to the game with this one, but my daugher was bottle fed...I tried to BF her,, but she wanted nothing to do with the boob from the work go! She had a horrible latch and would hurt like hell - so I threw in the towel and don't get me wrong I felt like the biggest failure, but in the end it was the right decison for us.
With my second daughter she was a preemie - so I pumped for her and they suplimented with formula in the hospital if they ran out of my milk. I am still doing that today. I pump and produce what I can and if I don't have enough she gets formula. I am honestly thinking about stopping pumping because I have an older daughter that is only 17 months and needs my attention also. I don't want her to resent her sister. We will see what happens.
BF is not for everyone - people need to get off their soap box about it and not judge others for their decisions - we don't know anyone from Adam so you have no idea why that person chooses to BF or FF so there is no reason to judge anothers decisions. Oh and I will say that my older daughter is extremly healthy and a very happy little girl!
Yes, I (think I) am planning to formula feed exclusively. [I know I'm late to the party on this thread - I found it when I was searching for info. about BFing for the first few days so the baby can have the benefits of colostrum and then switching to formula after that.] I realized the other day that the PRIMARY reason I was planning to BF - and by primary I mean 80% of the reason, or more - is because I was worried I'd get slammed if I didn't. Hell, I even had a FB friend who I haven't seen in 15 years send me "The Womanly Art of BFing" after I announced I was expecting. And no, I never said I'd be BFing to anyone publicly.
I don't think I want to BF. I don't think it's gonna work for me. And just the idea that I might not have to has been such a relief! Thanks to all who posted here - it's so lovely to know that you're not alone.
Yes, I (think I) am planning to formula feed exclusively. [I know I'm late to the party on this thread - I found it when I was searching for info. about BFing for the first few days so the baby can have the benefits of colostrum and then switching to formula after that.] I realized the other day that the PRIMARY reason I was planning to BF - and by primary I mean 80% of the reason, or more - is because I was worried I'd get slammed if I didn't. Hell, I even had a FB friend who I haven't seen in 15 years send me "The Womanly Art of BFing" after I announced I was expecting. And no, I never said I'd be BFing to anyone publicly.
I don't think I want to BF. I don't think it's gonna work for me. And just the idea that I might not have to has been such a relief! Thanks to all who posted here - it's so lovely to know that you're not alone.