Ask:
I'm about to have baby 3. With my girls I tried to BF and had to supplement the whole time. I never produced enough milk. I tried pumping, to see what my output was, I was lucky to get an ounce.
My husband had to have goat's milk as an infant, I was on Isomil.
Both my girls wound up on Isomil, and my older DD cannot drink milk to this day.
I have been off medication I cannot take while pregnant or nursing, plus the problems I had before, and am thinking of going straight to the bottle with this baby.
When I had DD2 after delivery I wanted her bottle fed, and they pushed so much to nurse, I tried it again, but once she was home and more alert and wanting to eat I still didn't produce enough to keep her tummy full. I feel after this one is born they will push again. I rather make my decision and live with it, instead of being heartbroken when it doesn't work again.
I don't want to be criticized for not trying, but I've wound up with babies confused by breast and bottle, the need for them to be on soy formula, and for my own health, want to be able to take my meds (high cholesterol, and have heart disease in my family and my own tests have shown I am at risk) so I am here for my family.
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Breastfeeding wasn't even an option for me. I told the hospital and my Dr. right up front that I would not BF. I am not comfortable with it for myself.
Don't let them push into doing something you aren't comfortable with.
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I know plenty of people who choose not to breastfeed. My cousin didn't produce enough either and switched to formula. My SIL just went straight to bottle out of preference. I would save yourself the stress and just make it known you plan to bottlefeed with formula. When you are in the hospital, let your husband be your advocate and he can make sure all the nurses know you do not want to breastfeed and you do not want to see the lactation consultant. Also, it would probably be a good thing to tell the OB and pediatrician beforehand so they are aware and might not suggest it either.
Your baby's health and your health are both important. Also, so is your relationship with one another, and I wouldn't want you to feel sad after her birth with others trying to force you to breastfeed. You are doing what is right for both of you, and your other two children have turned out fine. Breastfeeding isn't always the best option for everyone.
Be strong in your decision and enjoy your growing family!
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Go with your gut on this, hun. It sounds like you want validation due to the "breast is best" movement going on. Sure, breast is best, but formula is not "worst", know what I mean? I was unable to breastfeed either of my children, but I pumped until I couldn't take the pain, E sized breasts, and mastitis anymore, which was about 2-3 weeks. My kids are healthy. Never had ear infections, rare trips to the doctor for sick visits. There are plenty of people who've had positive experiences with formula. Do not beat yourself up over this. This is one small decision in the long life of your child. Mine are 6 and 8, and it is of no importance to me anymore, and hasn't been something on my mind for years. Do what feels right to you, not what feels right for someone else.
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I didn't BF....I'm very happy with my decision. I tried to BF DD, but hated it, it was just very uncomfortable and the Dr's were fine with it. Both my kids were over 10lbs and ate like baby horses...can you imagine trying to BF? They'd have to be constantly latched. DH was fine with it, b/c he got to feed them, and for the record, they have never had an ear infection or been sick with more than the chicken pox. My feelings are as long as you're taking care of the baby and loving him/her....who cares how he gets fed...as long as he does!!
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I tried desperately to BF for a month after my son was born. I had never felt more quilty in all of my life as I did at that time. I was so depressed. I kept beating myself up, so to speak. I wish I would have had someone around me(other than my DH) at that time telling me that it's ok to formula feed. It was so difficult being around people(ie. doctor, nurses, mothers who BF) who expected me to BF. Thank goodness for my husband, I don't think I could have made it through without him. I eventually stopped BF after that month. Tristan has been a very healthy(minus a couple of colds) since. No ear infections either. Yes, I agree, breast milk is very good, but formula is most certainly not the worst.
If there was one thing I could change about that time, I would have gone easier on myself and felt less quilty. I enjoyed my son much more once I started the formula full time.
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I didn't choose to, but ended up having to. Anyway, I did know a wife of one of my dh's friends that was miserable bf her first and told everyone when she got pregnant again she was going to bottlefeed and NOT to try to tell her otherwise. She has a very strong personality, and no one messed with her the 2nd time around!!
Not that I'd be a b*tch about it, but if I were in this situation I would defitely tell everyone what was going to happen and not to try to stronghold you into anything else. I hate the bullying that sometimes goes with bf, fortunately I was not one of those that had it happen to. I did however have a LC tell me, "Well, YEAH, sometimes you are up 24/7 for days trying to make it work" Come to find out she was an insomniac and a nurse that worked swing shifts and being up for days at a time didn't *bother* her. How nice for the rest of us that just might need our sleep in order to function!!
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Thanks girls!
I will let my OB know, I see her next week.
My girlfriend is a L and D nurse so IF she is there, I know she'll be helpful if she is working too.
My girls haven't had more than 3 ear infections apiece, and have had their share of colds. My sis who is 12 years older had children within months of me, breastfed til they were 2 or older, and her boys have had just as many if not a few more ailments. Seems they always want to visit when her little guy gets a cold.
I am going to make it known, last time the LC was like, well, how about so baby at least gets colustrum? Then they send me home 16 hours after she was born, and she couldn't get the hang of a nipple, so I tried BF, like I was at the hospital, and it was a disaster.
This one will go to formula. Now to ask if we go straight to soy or not? My dad was our family docotr and he passed away 6 mos. ago, so this is a new ped. for us.
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I did not breast feed my 4th child and do not regret the decision. The first 3 I did breast feed but not the whole time we did switch to formula before they were 1. I had a bad experience with my 3rd and decided not to try my 4th child. They were also so close in age. You need to decide what is best for you and your child. Formula is not evil.
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I only Bf both for about the 1st month. I feel very comfortable about it and would probably go right to the bottle if we were to have #3! Don't let people talk you into something you don't want to do. I was soo tired from trying to feed that I don't remember much of their 1st months of life
Trust your instince. Mother's instincts are pretty strong and accurate!