Multiples
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To b/f or not to b/f...
Throughout my whole pregnancy I thought I wanted to try b/f but mostly pump so dh or others can help me feed the girls. I just dont want to be the only one who the girls get fed from, I think this will help with my stress level. Now for this past week or so I have been debating if I want to try b/f at all. I am worried with how difficult this might be after I go back to work or I might feel like I always have a baby or a pump latched onto me. I know this is a personal choice that I have to make. Tell me I am not going to be a bad mom if I choose not to b/f.
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Re: To b/f or not to b/f...
I am not a MoM yet but breastfeeding is a very personal choice and I think it's something that if you decide to do it, it takes a lot of commitment. I don't think anyone is a bad mom for not breastfeeding and anyone that trys to guilt you into breastfeeding should be ashamed of themselves. I have chosen to breastfeed purely for financial reasons. If formula did not cost an arm and a leg I would totally be going that direction.
Another idea is just to wait and see. You don't have to make a choice now, you could give it a shot and make a decision later.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
As the pp have stated, it is a personal decision. I chose not to BF or pump at all and I don't regret that choice a bit. I knew all along I would not be into it and I also knew I'd be going back to work FT 8 weeks after they were born. My twins were born 7 weeks early and I had a long discussion with the NICU dr. My twins would need have formula supplements regardless and he said that there are pros & cons to both FF & BF. My twins have been FF since day one and they are totally fine -- healthy & big (and you'd never know they were "preemies").
I took the path that my gut told me was best for us and it has worked well for us. I wish you the best of luck with your decision!
I am not a MoM yet, but I did b/f my son Anakin. Of course my circumstances are utterly different because Anakin was in the NICU 32 out of 34 days of his life, I chose to b/f because it was the one thing that I could do for my son that no one else could. He did not get formula too.
Also, I agree with others that maybe you should wait and decide after the babies are born. I didn't decide to pump for Anakin until he was 4 days old, but I pumped so much breastmilk. I feel that my body told me that I was meant to b/f. That may sound stupid, but even the lactation consultants were shocked by how much I could pump. I think my body really helped make that decision. And, it was easy for me to stop even though I was pumping so much (took me a week to stop).
So, it's up to you, but they say that a little breastmilk is better than none and maybe you'll just want to pump before you go back to work. Definitely don't feel bad though. Stressing about it just makes things worse than they have to be. As long as you're comfortable with your decision, that's what matters.