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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Exclusively formula feeding
Anyone eff? I had only been ebf until LO was 8 days old and then gave him 1 bottle that night and the next day he had 2 bottles, the next day 3 and today he has had 4 already. Now I am just thinking I was not meant to breastfeed at all. Does this make me a bad mom? I am still going to bf here and there but only when I am patient enough. I think I will be much happier and less stressed if I don't breastfeed. I'm still going to pump as much as I can for engorgement.
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Re: Exclusively formula feeding
Believe me i know how you feel. Ive been so emotional and overwhelmed with the whole breastfeeding/pumping issue that i now eff. I wasnt sure if my LO was getting enough and we had to supplement anyway. With eff i know how much hes getting and its such a relief but ive been thinking " am i a bad mom", "am i a failure or letting him down or giving up". Its been such a rollercoaster of emotions as a FTM. I did EBF for the first week so at least i know i tried.
Im grateful for the bump and the ladies bc they make it so your not alone. Your a great mom!
Due to medical conditions, I EFF. It breaks my heart, but I know that I'm doing what's best for both of us.
If you don't plan on BFing any more, I would stop the pumping. It helps relieve the engorgement temporarily, but keeps stimulating milk production. As long as you still have milk exiting your body, your body will make more. It'll be uncomfortable to stop, but the engorgement will go away and your boobs will stop hurting in a little while.
I kept going back and forth on the decision before LO was born. It was not until I was admitted to the hospital when I told them I would EFF. I chose this because I decided I did not feel I could handle all the stress that comes with breastfeeding. I new I would place unnecessary blame on myself if LO was not growing or if he spit up.
I think the best choice is what is not stressful for either you or your LO. There is enough other stress that will come that one less would be good.
I too knew I was going to EFF before I even was pregnant. It's a personal choice that you make and NO ONE should make you feel bad or guilty for which way YOU chose to feed your baby. I've had a few friends reduced to tears by nurses &others because they couldn't or did not want to BF. I don't think that's right. My DD is above average in height and weight and is doing wonderfully. I have no guilt or regrets about my choice!
You will be fine whichever way you choose! Don't stress and good luck
Your baby is getting love, warmth, happiness, bonding time, and food (good nutritious food)- whether comes from a boob or a bottle.
I EFF and have since day 1. My milk never came in, which was somewhat expected from some massive breast surgery I had at age 18. This ended up being a blessing in disguise because I got a very serious PP infection and had to go on some serious medication which you cannot breastfeed while on. I was also in isolation for 8 days at the hospital (due to the infection), and DD couldn't come see me - so DH with his trusty Dr. Brown bottles were there to feed her.
She will be 1 month old on Wednesday, and is doing great. She is growing, happy, and healthy. Things don't always go as planned. A happy, healthy baby needs a happy (and mentally healthy) mommy, if formula feels right for you and your baby - don't overthink things or stress.
I started EFF at 7 weeks. I feel that BFing was making me have some serious anxiety and my supply was low. The decision to FF was easy at first, but sometimes I feel bad about now giving my LO BM. However, I know that DD is much happier now that she getting the amount of food she needs and she now has a mom that is much happier. I was constantly worrying about if she was getting enough and having a baby scream out of frustration and hunger everytime I BF was making me have anxiety. If you are doing whats works best for you and your baby then don't worry.