- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
First time venting on the board- breastfeeding
I HATE breastfeeding and want to switch to formula but everyone is making me feel so guilty....
This discussion has been closed.
Re: First time venting on the board- breastfeeding
I found that supplementing with a bit of formula works for us. My LO is 9 wks and I haven't had any issues doing this. It has also been a life saver for me because I have a full time job, going back next week, I'll be pumping, but also have a part time job waitressing, and cannot pump there. So far it hasn't hurt my supply for the 4 hrs I'm gone 2days a week and the 1 bottle she gets in that time.
Always worth a try, if you do dry up, you were going to switch anyway, then people can't really be upset if you tried. Just a thought. It doesn't always have to be one or the other either.
Try not to let other people sway you, ultimately it is your decision.
Also, I'm in the same boat, but on the other side. Everyone thinks my life would be easier if I just gave a bottle. This is just one of those topics that everyone has a strong opinion about. When I say I'm doing both, most people kinda look at me funny.
in the hospital I had trouble with LO latching on, plus my milk didn't even come in for a week! I tried to BF, and I tried to pump. I pretty much gave up when we got home from the hospital but DH REALLY wanted me to BF. He was basically like you BF or our kid wouldn't eat. I hated it, and MIL was telling me how she loved BF and how relaxing it it. We were formula feeding with a bottle of BM a day. well I finally gave up and said screw it. at 2 months I wish I would have tried a bit harder, but honestly its not for everyone.
If your not happy then you need to make the decision to be happy, whatever that is.
My mantra is "NO MOMMY GUILT!" Breast-feeding is SO hard! I told my DH, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I didn't have bleeding, but I had major cracks that still haven't healed and LO is almost 12 weeks. That being said, I'm trying to make it through Christmas (about 6 months) and I'm starting to heal and starting to like it more. You shouldn't feel any guilt for switching to formula, but if you want to keep at it, just know that relief will come eventually!
Good luck!
I EBF and like it that way but what I hate is when someone feels they have to justify their reasons for feeding a certain way. I find it sad that anyone would make you feel bad about your decision or try to convince you out of that decision.
Don't feel guilty, nothing wrong with FF.
Both my sister and I were FF and turned out great. My sister never got sick as a child either, just chicken pox.
dont let them, a well fed baby is a happy baby! I wanted to EBF but my little guy is so hungry I had to supplement, sometimes it doesnt go as planned. If you really want to breastfeed you can always BF and FF... it took me almost 8 weeks to get the hang of it and not be in pain. Do whatever works for you and baby and ignore the rest. If you havent already look up kellymom.com there is great information on there. I believe that Dr. Sears has some good info on FFing and BFing
GOOD LUCK!
how old is your LO?
I hated it the 1st 2 weeks...a lot
~after 34 cycles we finally got our 2nd little bundle of joy~
My IF blog
Like someone else said above, I actually get more pressure to switch to formula feeding. I EBF and no, it Is not easy. I'm hoping to get to 3 months but I already feel guilty about switching over. But seriously, everyone looks at me funny for breastfeeding! I see all the women in this board and the breastfeeding board, but I do not see any breastfeeding mamas in real life. Never! Makes me feel like the odd one out. All but two people in my family keep telling me to supplement, to give the baby a bottle, and are acting like I'm doing something unnatural.
I really wish it was easier to ignore people's "advice." Doing what works best for you is honestly really hard.
The hard thing about BFing is that once you decide to stop, you can't really start it up again, kwim? And it can definitely suck for the first month.
And it can be totally stressful too. So maybe set a goal to make it until X weeks and then see how things go? Or if you're really miserable, stop. But honestly it's hard to know whether things are really that bad, or maybe you have a bad latch or maybe your exhaustion, etc is all coming out hating BFing. That's the *only* reason, I'd suggest you try to get help and wait a few more weeks.
With #1, it sucked huge balls for the first 6 weeks but then we went onto nurse until DS was 20 months and it was awesome. And this time around, I learned even more by seeing a LC (DD is 3 days old) yesterday and have an even better latch - it really is pain-free now. And who knows, it might start sucking again, but I know how great it will be once we get over the newborn hump.
I cried to my pedi when I decided to stop bf ds1. He was very understanding and a good support for me.
People can only make you feel guilty if you let them. Why are you giving other people that power? Don't. I've FFd all three of our babies from birth and they're healthy as can be, and perfectly bonded to their mama. I've never once felt guilty about my choice.
If you want to continue BFing because YOU want that, great! Keep going! But if you're only doing it to avoid this "guilt", let it go.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
What is the problem? Are you in pain? Not producing enough milk? I would suggest going to a lactation consultant before you decide to quit. Mine really helped me out.
That being said, do what is best for you and your family, regardless of what other's say.. God bless
Don't feel bad about it. We had a bad BF experience from day 1. My DD had a shallow latch and by the time we left the hospital, I had deep gouges on my nipples. It didn't get any better. I saw a LC 3x after the hospital and nothing helped. Being stressed will not help you or the baby.
As long as your baby is healthy and is growing, it doesn't matter if you BF or FF.
Nancy James 9.1.12
Calvin Donald 8.27.14
I would think about why you started BF in the first place. Have those reasons disappeared? Because how you feel about BF now might change if the reasons you hate it can be improved upon.
BF is incredible difficult, but there are resources out there for you. Call your hospital, or look online, to find out where there are BF support groups in your area. I was never one to go to a support group but it has been an amazing source of support, not only for BF for other new mom issues as well.
I just want to throw in 2 cents as a second-time mom - once I got past the initial 2 months or so, it got easier and seemed SO much easier than having to mix formula in the middle of the night or carry formula with me when I went out, etc. That said, I didn't have the problems that some people have with nursing. So, if it's awful for you, don't feel guilty doing what you need to do. If it's more about how often you are stuck sitting around feeding baby (which is MADDENING in the early weeks, no matter how well things are going), swap a couple feedings a day to formula or pumped milk so you can have a break. That may make all the difference you need.
I say this, not as a sanctimonious "breastmilk is the only way to go" guilt-inducer, but as a mom who is grateful she didn't give up on breastfeeding because it is so convenient and CHEAP (only you get past the initial difficult period). By the way, I supplemented my first on occasion with formula from maybe 4 weeks, and was able to continue breastfeeding till 15 months. A little formula won't hurt no matter which way you decide to go.