anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

i am bottle feeding but im starting to feel like i should try bfing...can i do both...i feel guilty about not doing it...anyone else feel bad? I am about 5 days post baby so my milk should be coming in right...ive had a tiny bit of leakage but not much....what do u think

Message edited 12/30/2007 9:53:43 PM.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I think that it is a VERY personal decision....I had all intentions of 100% bf my dd for the first 3 months

when she was born, she was only latching onto one side and she was having some other issues. we decided that I would supplement her with formula

I BF her most of the time for the first 2 months but gave her formula about 1-2 times a day, then I totally weaned her off the boob at 13 weeks

you need to do what works for you

I enjoyed BF though and hope to 100% bf my next child for 3 months, we'll see what happens though

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I think it's completely a personal choice. I did not BF and didn't feel guilty about it for one second.

That's just me.

You have to do what YOU want!

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I did it for 2 weeks and was totally overwhelmed by it and all the changes having a baby brings. I feel guilty sometimes because it was going really well, but I was a formula fed baby and I turned out fine!! I give so much credit to all the BF mommies out there - I just couldnt hack it, but I am glad I tried.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I only breastfed for a little over 3 weeks. I was bottlefeeding as well, so it got hard to do both and I stopped BFing. I felt guilty at first but its my choice in the end. I say def try if you want to. Good luck!

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

i feel like i should try it, can u start and then just stop if you want, im not really sure how it works....nobody had made me feel bad, i just feel like hes not going to et the aniboodies etc...i was so set on bottlefeeding only untill now, not sure why....maybe cause hes just so adorable and keeps going for my boob!!!!

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I tried to BF but my supply was so low that I had to supplement with formula. After 4 weeks of trying to BF and then pumping with little luck, I called it quits and went with formula. I thought I would feel bad, but it actually worked out for us.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

well if you cant because of your body, you cant feel bad, that not your fault....so its ok if i just try it, do both for a few days and see what i think?

Message edited 12/30/2007 10:05:40 PM.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

i BF for 2 weeks then developed a breast infection and had to stop. I was so upset as i really enjoyed it. however, the bottle turned out to be great too, i was able to get out and go more places then when i was BF and my DH had the chance to start feed him too

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

its obvious that you really want to do this - i think you should try it out so at least you don't have that regret in the back of your mind. i'm bfing my son and am surprised that i've held up this long. it is really nice, though sometimes you feel as though you can't go anywhere w/out your child unless u have enough milk stored for dc - so that can be stressful, but otherwise - if you want to do it...go for it.

look at kellymom.com for great bf info! and good luck w/either choice

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

ok thanks...yea i have to decide for sure...i def want to do both, not just BF, i dont want to have to pump and all that, i woud want to feed bottles if i have to go out...i guess ill give i a try then....its funny cause i was def. only bottle feeding but now i am changing my mind...the think is im 5 d post baby and my boobs havent really grown or hurt... had some clear stuff leaking out but thats about all...

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I think that if you feel like you want to try it, you should give it a try. Whether or not you end up doing it, at least you won't have to feel guilty about not giving it a shot.

If you decide to give it a try, and need some specific articles, etc... FM and I'll pull some specific ones from kellymom.com to make it easier.

GL at whatever you decide to do

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

whether or not to breastfeed is a very personal decision - it it TOTALLY up to you and i would NOT let anyone make you feel bad if you decide not to do it.

having said that, if you want to try it, now is the time to do it. time is of the essence, because in these first few days your milk supply will either be encouraged to come in or not. i would put the baby to the boob immediately! try putting him to the breast every time he is hungry and see what happens.

i would go to www.kellymom.com for tips on how to have him latch on.

and i would also see/speak with a lactation consultant ASAP - like tomorrow - for help getting started. it can seem a little overwhelming at first, but don't be discouraged. there is help out there and it gets SO much easier with time.

i can't say that i don't sometimes wish i had formula fed my baby. in many respects it would definitely have been easier and maybe a better choice for me. but at the end of the day i am glad and proud that i am doing this for my son and i think it was the best choice for me. i would encourage you to make the choice that's right for YOU - you can't go wrong if you follow your instincts.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

You have to do what makes you feel most comfortable. I never bf with any of my children nor did I ever have any interest in doing so. It's something I'm not comfortable doing.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I think you should definitely try it BUT it's a very personal decision and alot of work! I've had numerous problems from the beginning and I still continue to EBF my DD and I'm glad I have kept doing it! You could always stop if it didn't work for you! Your DC is still going to grow and be healthy and adorable!! GL!

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I tried pumping but was only getting 1 oz in 40 minutes Too time consuming.

My milk never really came in per say. I had said I was going to try but I wasn't going to beat myself up if it didn't work. It didn't and honestly I don't feel guilty. I gave it a shot and it didn't work and I'm fine with that. Kudos to the moms who EBF...it's alot of work and I give you guys credit.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

If you feel you want to give it a go, yes, by all means go ahead and do it. If he keeps going for your boob, offer it to him and see what he does. If its not right for you once you start, do what you think is the right thing for you. You can bf and supplement with formula.

Message edited 12/31/2007 4:47:32 AM.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

It can't hurt to give it a shot! The worst that can happen is that it isn't for you and you go to strictly formula. This would be the time to give it a go!

It's tough in the beginning...we all have plans and they don't always work. I planned to BF and supplement with formula..however bf'ing felt very odd to me and i was in a lot of pain doing it. I hated it, but wished i didn't!

With that being said looking back i realize i shouldn't have beat myself up..he did so great on formula and was a very healthy baby.

Good luck with whatever you do!!

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I think you should try, that way you can never have any regrets. For me, BF'ing didn't work out, but pumping has worked out beautifully. It doesn't sound like you want to go that route, but it is something you may want to consider.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

Heres the thing though- and I guess I may sound militant here....

If you TRULY want to succeed at BFing- STOP the bottle. Just for now. Your milk supply is based SOLELY by the amount of time your baby spends at your breast. No pump can truly mimic what your baby does when suckling.

I waited til 3 weeks to start pumping milk and giving BM in a bottle, BUT when she got the bottle, I was pumping to replace that bottle fed feeding so my supply wouldn't change. Those first few weeks I basically walked around wearing nothing but PJ bottoms and an easy-access nursing bra.

BFing IS hard work and very demanding in the beginning. I can understand why many women quit. BUT, it is also the most rewarding experience once you're out of the weeds. By the time DD was 3 months old, we were total pros and I am SO GLAD we stuck through it.

Try to remember- you are BOTH new to this, so you will both be learning together. I HIGHLY recommend getting a lactation consultant as that was the way DD and I learned about proper latching. My LC was amazing and was always available to give me a "pep talk" when I was getting frustrated. Best of all, insurance covered my visits!!!

Good luck to you- I hope you stick with it. If you don't, it's TOTALLY OK, at least you tried.......

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I BF for the 1st week then DS got Jaundec (spelling??) so I started to pump he was on BM for 2 months with one bottle of formula during 1month I said I was going to keep going to 3 months but didnt make it I give alot of credit to the woman who BF till 1 years old Its hard work BUT it is your option

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

Posted by bayla

i BF for 2 weeks then developed a breast infection and had to stop. I was so upset as i really enjoyed it. however, the bottle turned out to be great too, i was able to get out and go more places then when i was BF and my DH had the chance to start feed him too

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

If you are leaking clear - sounds like it's colostrum and that your milk may still come in - so I think you could try.

Re: anyone not BFing??? I feel guilty

I bottle fed but felt bad about a week after I had the baby. I went so far as to call my dr and they said to try pumping. I even was able to have the baby latch but in the end I decided it wasn't for me. My baby is growing fine, and he hasn't been sick. I think the guilty feeling is part of the baby blues. Now 4 months later I don't regret mydecision at all.