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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Is it okay to stop breastfeeding after only 2 weeks?
I really think that some people just weren't meant to breastfeed. Is there anyone else who feels this way?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Is it okay to stop breastfeeding after only 2 weeks?
I hate BF'ing. I still do it, but I have to take Reglan and 2 herbal supplements, and even then I only get 1.5 oz. every 3 hours.
There are many ways to be a good parent besides breastfeeding. If it will make you happier to not BF, then you should stop.
I am having a hard time getting my little one to latch so I pump and suppliment. I have 5 other friends that have had babies in the past two years. Out of the 5 friends only 2 have been able to breastfeed. Those that haven't were given guilty trips. I'm so tired of people making judgements against those who don't breastfeed. It is no ones business. Do what you feel is best for you and your little one.
Your baby will grow with or without breast milk. It is OK to stop whenever you choose to. But I will say that for me the first couple months with my twins were the hardest. I did not like BFing at all and wanted to quit many times. But after a couple months it got so much easier and I actually enjoyed it. It ended up being much easier than FF or EPing IMO and I'm glad I stuck it out. But yeah, I felt like I was all wrong at BFing for a while.
Don't feel bad..I feel the same way too. I really hate it. I love my baby boy, don't get me wrong, but I feel like I am tied to him! Not to mention that every grunt or whine he makes the first thing anyone in ear shot says is "HE'S HUNGRY!!!! FEED HIM!!!" It's really starting to piss me off! & since it's all up to me
it's even more stressful thinking I have to be there every 3 hours, & if he is still hungry it's my fault...ugh. Plus, I've had issues keeping him eating- he only takes each breast for about 5mins, so after 10mins it's impossible to get him to re-latch!! So I REALLY feel like he's not getting enough! I am really trying to stick with it because he is only 7wks & I have heard that it gets easier after about 2months...plus I know it's better for him, & good for me.
Whatever you chose, good luck!
Yes it is your body. Yes you can choose to BF or not to BF. Yes BF is hard. Yes, you can choose to stop at any time. But maybe there is a reason for the guilt trips. BF is the best thing for your baby. If you decide not to do it because it is inconvenient then so be it. But you are choosing something that is second best for your child for the sake of your convenience (or whatever other reason you have).
Okay is relative. Your baby will probably grow just fine on formula (although it may have more GI issues, colds, allergies, asthma, obesity etc.) Many very successful people have been formula fed. But is formula inferior to breast milk? Of course. Is that "okay?" It is up to you not a board of internet strangers.
https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/
Happy Mom = Happy Baby. Breast is best, but marginally so.
eta: And, choosing to breastfeed or formula feed is a fairly mild parenting choice in the grand scheme of parenting choices. Either way, no big deal.
Where do you get your sources for breast is marginally best?
Increased risk of obesity, asthma and diabetes constitutes a "mild parenting choice?" Sigh.
Ok this gets me upset! I have twins and my supply just never came in enough especially with the growing demand (my daughter got bm for 5 weeks exclusively). My son who was not an IUGR baby got mostly formula some bm but I cannot keep up with the supply. I've seen lactation consultants, done the tea, visualization (my breasts don't make enough , hmm could also be the radiation I had to my breast years ago for cancer tx). I would like to breast feed but it was burning me out because I have to pump to know how much my daughter would be getting because of her weight. Mom needs to be happy and at least half functioning!
Just an FYI - I was breast fed for about a year. I ALWAYS got sick as a child... I also almost died of non-hodgkin's lymphoma at 23 years old so no Breast Feeding does not save everyone from having health problems/issues.I'm also lactose intollerant since 21, have been dx with IBS, had my gallbladder out 3 years ago, and of course the cancer at 23 so um yeah breast milk did not do sh*t for me...
That being said my son does really well on formula, my daughter not so much and we are looking into donor milk. Everyone has to do what's best for them and if mom is getting physically and mentally sick doing it, it's not good for her or baby...
lol. eta: I'd also love to see your sources with controlled studies that show that the gap between breastmilk and formula is so great that it justifies guilting mothers into feeling inferior for their first parenting choices (not to mention that feeding formula isn't always a choice).
For what it's worth, I support breastfeeding. On the other hand, I support formula feeding. Actually, I support feeding baby with breastmilk and/or formula..... it's much more nutritious than sweet and condensed milk.
If it makes you feel better, start pumping a whole crap load so that you have a bit of a stash for whenever you quit. That's what I'm planning on doing. There's no way in hell I'm going to continue this for another 10 months. I'm planning on quitting when LO is about 4 months. So I'm going to go ahead and get an electric pump so I can start stackin up on a stash, so he can have that whenever I quit, until it runs out... Then onto formula I guess.
Honestly, sometimes I don't mind it.
Then other times I freakin hate it. I hate that I am always like on the clock when I'm gone. Keep checkin the time Oh no it's been four hours since my boobs were last emptied... hope my supply is doing okay... blahblahblah..... pain in my butt.
hellobatshitcrazy. Nice guilt trip, psycho. My 5 year old, who was bf briefly, has zero "GI issues, colds, allergies, asthma, obesity, etc." I was not bf'd and have none of the above (well, until I became a mom and my butt got fatter).
STOP asking people.
Get off your high horse.
I tried BFing, but had a low supply. DS lost almost a whole lb in his first week, and still hadn't regained his birthweight by 2 weeks. First our lactation consultant told us to supplement. Then when we did for a few days and he gained a few ounces, she had us stop. I cried at DS 2 week appointment, when he was still underweight. On our pedi's advice, I started FFing, and he immediately thrived. By his one month appointment and only 2 weeks of FFing, he'd gone from the 4th percentile for weight to the 50th. More importantly, he was immediately a happier baby, because he wasn't starving.
Both pedi's we've seen (one was filling in) have assured me that formula is a fantastic alternative, and that FF babies grow up healthy and just fine.
Not to mention, practically our entire generation was FF, including me. I was never a sickly or overweight child. I am in great health, and turned out to be an attorney. Not to shabby for someone raised on an "inferior food source." Plus, I can confidently say I'm a more empathetic human being than you, since I don't judge a mom for her feeding choices by undermining and invalidating her struggles. Kudos to moms who BF, but you shouldn't judge someone you don't even know for her choices. It's women like you who are responsible for propagating the unfounded FF guilt, making women feel like FF should be some dirty little secret. Shame on you.
Yes, of course it's okay
However, I will tell you that the first 6 weeks are the hardest. After that it becomes much, much easier (at least that was my experience both times). If you would like your LO to have BM, it may be worth pushing through the next few weeks.
To all of those who tried and tried and have seen LCs had supply issues etc. I have no intention of saying you are doing anything wrong by FF. I have had issues with BFing myself and know how hard it is. I respect you for all the effort you have put in and have no judgement if you choose formula.
For those who just don't want to BF and chose to FF, I have no intention of saying you are doing anything wrong by FF. I am just saying that breast IS best and the fact that as a society we think anyone who argues that it is best is crazy and on her high horse is sad. You have the right to feed your kid what you want. Your kid will grow up if you never give it any vegetables and feed it only sugary cereals etc. But I don't think anyone would argue that that is not the best diet for your child. I am not saying formula is equal to sugar cereals but it is not AS good of a source of nutrition as breast milk. I don't see why I can't make the statement that BM is better to someone who is asking if it is okay to stop BFing. Someone shouldn't ask on a board if it is okay to stop BFing unless she's willing to hear from that one "crazy" person who actually says it matters what you feed your kid.
Let me start a thread on the toddler board about feeding your kid juice and see how many people get on their high horse.
I will now bow out of the post and watch from the sidelines while people call me names for actually giving an honest opinion.
I just want to butt in and say that I agree with you! Even the formula companies say "Breast is best!" Formula is meant as a supplement, or for when someone physically can't breastfeed! I bf my first 2 and am bf'ing my 1 month old right now. It's tough in the beginning, but gets easier! for the OP, you have to do what is right for you and your family. It's a personal decision. You will get all kinds of different responses here!
6 posts, huh? I call troll.
If someone feels guilt on a subject, it's because they know they are wrong. Breasfeeding is a simple subject..it's better for your child. It's not aboout what you like anymore, it's about someone else and giving them the best start in life. If you are still most concerned with what you feel like doing after having a child, you need a therapist. Grow up.
I hope you know YOU are the reason why so many women don't want to breast feed. Because they feel so overwhelmed by all the crazies that make them feel like crap.
Breast is NOT always best. Is it best for the baby to have a mom that is stressed out, over tired and absolutely hating breast feeding? Then STFU.
For what it is work, me and my four siblings were strictly formula fed and we are all very bright and healthy. And a whole lot less rude than you are.
I agree 100%!!!
I had to give LO formula the first day of her life due to low blood sugar issues and I felt it better to give her formula than have her need an IV. Then due to low supply and bad latch issues, I had to supplement for the first month of her life. Believe me, I hated BF'ing. It was painful, time consuming and I felt defeated that I couldn't provide everything she needed when that is what my body was meant to do. However, I took domperidone, fenugreek, saw many LC's and stuck with it and now at almost 15 weeks, we r doing great. She only gets bottles of pumped BM when I wanna go out and leave her with my dad. And being an NICU nurse, I know the benefits of BM firsthand.
I am not saying formula is evil or that by feeding your child with it that you are doing them harm, but the fact is that breastmilk is best. It has antibodies and provides passive immunity that formula will never be able to do, no matter how close they claim it is to breastmilk.
I agree with what the PP i quoted says completely. Obviously if your child is starving because you don't have enough milk to provide the nutrition he or she needs, then by all means give formula. Your baby needs to eat. However, if it is a matter of convenience, I urge you to keep trying. Babies become much more efficient feeders as time progresses and you will feel less tied down soon enough. I wanted to quit so many times but I am so glad I didn't. In the grand scheme of their lifetime, this is only a small fraction. It doesn't seem like it now, but it will pass quickly. I really hope it all works out for you.
It's ok to stop. Even 2 weeks of BFing gives your baby some of the benefits of breastmilk. Formula has the nutrients your baby needs to thrive; it's just going to be lacking certain benefits for LO's immune system.
I remember the first month of BFing being so hard. I will say that it gets easier with time as LO figures out their latch and as your supply comes in fully. I kept with it because we didn't want to spend money on a bunch of formula, and I love that I don't have to mix bottles to go out. Then again, it does get cumbersome to feed in public, plus DS hates being under a blanket to feed. BFing works for our family, but I can easily see how it wouldn't work for others.
Whatever you end up doing, I wish you best of luck with your LO.
Aecandid - others said the similar things to you but only you are a jerk. Contemplate that. And really --- aecandid is your name? How about aecoward?
Wet nurses were typically reserved for the very very wealthy. (Think royalty.) They weren't something that was available to the average woman. If a woman really couldn't breastfeed, her child usually tended to be very sickly, or another woman in her life might have stepped in to supplement. (Like a sister.) Every woman's body was designed to be able to feed her baby, just like every other mammal on the planet. Does biology sometimes go wrong? Yes, of course. But generally speaking, all women who have given birth were "meant" to breastfeed.
To the OP: The first several weeks are definitely overwhelming. There are very few people who just latch their baby on and never see a problem. So first, just know that what your experience is so normal and not out of the ordinary. The first few weeks of having a baby are just exhausting. Your body is currently in the process of adjusting to a major change and is recovering from giving birth. That's a tall order!
There are two possibilities that I see right now. One is that you're really just done and in your heart you really don't want to do this. If that's where you're at, formula is not evil. There are risks to using it - people have listed those in previous posts. (And to people who give a variety of anecdotal evidence either way I roll my eyes. Your experience obviously out weighs the CDC, WHO, and AAP on this topic. Thanks for your input!) But if you really feel that breastfeeding has been so detrimental to your mental health that you cannot be an effective parent and breastfeed, then formula is your best option! A healthy baby needs a healthy mom!
The other option is that you are on the fence. You need support and options. AmyG listed several. My DH and I introduced a bottle of pumped milk at 2 weeks old because it was critical to my mental health that I get some sleep. I also stopped doing ANYTHING but resting, and nursing, and the very basic care that my DS and I needed. (I got myself a sandwich. I changed diapers if there was no one around to do it for me, some days I showered...) I realized that my expectations of what I was going to be able to do in the days following delivery were just too high and I needed to adjust them. Once I adjusted expectation, things got a lot easier and we were a lot more successful.
Being tired is a part of being a new parent. You're going to be exhausted, but I PROMISE your body will adjust to it. When it first happens you feel completely out of control and frustrated, but those feelings do go away as your hormones adjust and your body learns to function with less. Hugs and I hope you feel better very soon.
Of course it's okay to stop. Don't listen to these bullies who push BFing on everyone. I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish, other than making themselves feel superior by tearing others down.
As long as your baby is fed and loved, you're fine.
Gosh darn it. If only we could figure out what those darn breast feeders want. If only there were some sort of clue. If only there were clear cut evidence about the benefits of one or the other for mom and baby. It MUST be superiority that they're after. No other option that I can see. Oh... wait...
Fyi, I am a breastfeeder. Im a second time mom who has BF both children. I just support a mom's right to choose what's best for her family without being guilted into one way or another. And all that evidence of health benefits never rang true in my house. My first child had seven ear infections and double pneumonia by the time he was a year old. I chose to nurse my second child as well, but it's a personal decision and I would never try to make another mother feel bad because she made a different choice.