Formula or breast

Best Answers

• tracij12 member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I haven't had to make that decision, but wanted to tell you that as long as you are feeding your baby, you are not a horrible mom!!
  
  If you do decide to keep at it, have you tried hands free pumping? The was a lifesaver once o was back to work with DD1 as I could pump and check email. Could save some time of you pump while feeding. Also, definitely need to find time to eat!!
  
  Regardless of what you decide, good luck!!

  Married DH 08.28.10

  Pregnancy #1: BFP 04.10.11 EDD 12.23.11 DD1 Born 12.4.11

   Pregnancy #2: BFP 5.12.14 MC 5.20.14 @ 5wk4d

  Pregnancy #3: BFP 11.1.14 EDD 7.5.15 MC 11.13.14 @ 6wk4d

  Pregnancy #4: BFP 1.31.15 EDD 10.5.15 DD2 Born 9.23.15
  

   

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• tianabrowner member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I was in the same situation the first 3 weeks and switched to formula feed only. It was rough and I felt guilty for a while after but I had so much support from my SO and my LO, 9 weeks, is healthy and she is happy. That's all that matters in the end. Being able to get some sleep and a little bit of rest was great too. I think that whatever you think is best for you and your LO Is what's important. Good luck!

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• nimmunogirl member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  A fed baby is best! Do what you think it is best for your and your little one. Sounds like your little one has one caring mom and that is what matters.

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• Bat_Ish_Crazy member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I exclusively pumped for DD1 for a year. It is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging things I've done. Im having the same latch issues with DD2, and am faced with possibly having to do it again. I don't know that I could make it work now like I did then. I've started putting DD2 back to the breast to keep trying for a good latch. We're having better luck now at 4 weeks than we did in the hospital.
  
  If you want to offer breast milk, but the pump is not practical for you long term, try offering the breast again once she is a little older / bigger. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with formula. Baby needs a sane mommy.

  

  
  

  Me: 28, DH: 33
  Conceived DD in <1yr w/o assistance
  TTC#2 since 11/2013
  DX: PCOS
  Benched pending conf of Rubella immunity
  Next Cycle: CLOMID round 1

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• babywuwuf member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  Breastfeeding is still the best. No doubt. It can really be challenging but the benefits the baby will get are all worth the troubles.
  Breastfeeding also helps you and baby get closer together...skin to skin contact helps you bond with baby.
  I have a 10day old boy. I had problems breastfeeding him during his first 5 days since my nippples go flat and wont go up during feeding time. I had to use a pump at first and feed him my milk using a bottle. But I still tried to offer my breast to my infant just to get him used to it. Now we have adjusted and we're no longer using bottles.
  You can find your way outta there. Just dont give up.

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• PrimRoseMama member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  babywuwuf said:

  Breastfeeding is still the best. No doubt. It can really be challenging but the benefits the baby will get are all worth the troubles. Breastfeeding also helps you and baby get closer together...skin to skin contact helps you bond with baby. I have a 10day old boy. I had problems breastfeeding him during his first 5 days since my nippples go flat and wont go up during feeding time. I had to use a pump at first and feed him my milk using a bottle. But I still tried to offer my breast to my infant just to get him used to it. Now we have adjusted and we're no longer using bottles. You can find your way outta there. Just dont give up.

  I respectfully disagree. BF does not work best for every single mother or family. I see no shame in trying to preserve sanity. Feed the kid. Just feed the kid and make it through the first year.
  

  
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• NurseRieger member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  PrimRoseMama said:

  babywuwuf : Your kid is 10 days old, hun. Please please please. You are just getting started.

  I made it to 6 weeks before I cracked and gave formula! Breastfeeding is HARD work even when baby has a good latch. At 10 days most babies haven't had a cluster feeding frenzy yet! I thought breast was best until LO wanted to nurse from 3am to 6am and I had to be up at 7 for my postnatal appointment and then he wanted to nurse at the doctors office and was getting mad. Then I decided it's overrated! Still pumping and doing the night and morning nursing but using formula for a break during the day. As far as I'm concerned all of us born in the 80s, had formula on top of cigarette smoke and hair spray fumes blown in out faces and we survived.

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• NurseRieger member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  And BTW I feel no more bonding with breastfeeding than I do with giving a bottle. To me it's just a means of feeding baby. You can still have plenty of close snuggle time with baby even if you FF and you will enjoy it more if you have had rest and a little time to yourself.

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• massey25 member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  Wanting time to eat and take care of yourself is not selfish. You do whatever works best for you and don't let anyone make you feel guilty for it. Your baby is fed well. End of story. Method or source is not important.
  
  My LO is 12 weeks today. I exclusively pump and it seems harder by the day. The struggle is real. You have my sympathy.

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• colford18 member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I exclusively pumped for my premature daughter. Exclusively pumping is exhausting, and my LO was a painfully slow eater in the beginning. She would take 45 minutes to eat,15-20 to change/get her back to sleep, then pumping would be another 45 minutes with setup, pumping, storing and cleaning. By the time I was able to fall back to sleep I'd have maybe 45 minutes before the next feeding. My husband would help with night feedings but since he was working I felt bad making him get up at every feeding to help feed her while I pumped.
  
  I had a few judgemental comments from In-laws and cousins, who are hardcore breastfeeders (my cousin's little boy is almost 3 years old and not weaned). These comments made me feel guilty even about pumping and prevented me from trying to suplement with formula earlier.
  
  When she was about a month old I realized if I could pump and feed her at the same time I'd double my sleep time and keep my pumping schedule. I have a hands-free pumping bra but overtime I figured out how to use my regular nursing bar and a cami to hold the flanges in place. I usually cradled my baby in my lap to feed her or sometimes I would lay her on the boppy pillow in front of me if she decided to be grabby and try to pull on my pump tubing. It worked surprisingly well for me, but was still a lot of work.
  
  LO is now almost 6 months old and we've been supplementing with formula for 2 months. My supply took a hit when I returned to work and she started sleeping long stretches at night. you have to do what works for your situation, but if I would have know she would do so well on formula (we use Honest Co. Formula) I would have started combo feeding earlier to build a freezer stock. We'll likely transition to all formula over the next couple months. I've decided to just own it; and brush off what my in-laws/cousins think.
  
  Please don't feel guilty for making the best decision for you and your family!!
  

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• FinePlacentaPie member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I'll make everyone here feel better. I gave up breastfeeding two days after I left the hospital. My breasts were cracked and bleeding, which I know is common. I have GAD, and it took my anxiety to a level where I wasn't eating, sleeping, or making much effort to do anything other than hover over my newborn son and cry. I felt like a failure and convinced myself that I was doing the worst by my child by giving him formula. 

  
  

  Guess what? DS is a healthy and awesome 14 month old. I got on board with formula feeding and realized I was feeding my son. We bonded because I still got to hold him and cuddle him while I fed him and burped him. He was happier because he was eating and I wasn't as tense and unhappy all the time. I feel like our relationship was better because I chose the option that allowed both of us to relax. A lot of moms would say that was selfish. I'm satisfied with my decision. You do what's best for you and remember a fed baby is all that matters. 

  
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• rue:D member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  You are not selfish or a horrible mom. You want to feed your baby and you're making sure it gets done. It doesn't matter how you feed him as long as he is fed! I have been FF from the beginning and I don't feel bad about it at all. LO is fed and happy and I haven't had to deal with the potential problems and pain from BF while trying to recover from my c-section and dealing with a newborn.

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• nininou19 member

  October 2015 Answer ✓

  I gave up breast feeding on day 4.because I had a spinal headache due to my failed epidural. I was so very sad but the doctors and my family made me understand that me getting better was more important to my baby than the way I was feeding him. Now he is healthy and happy.

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