I will never forget when my sister had my niece 5 years ago, I was about 20 years old at the time and my sister asked for me to make her a bottle using formula. One of the nurses asked me what I was doing and tried to tell me I wasn’t allowed to make a bottle. She spoke to my sister like what she was doing was the worst thing in the world. I couldn’t believe it, I looked at my sister and I told her she needs to do what she feels is right for her baby because her baby wasn’t matching on to her nipple. Women who have just given birth do not need any added pressure or guilt put onto them…as long as the baby is being fed, what is the issue?

I went through a lot of the same, but thankfully we were also advised to supplement with formula while trying to increase supply. It’s scary that in this day and age people are still bullied to breastfeed even when they don’t have enough milk and made to feel second class when they bottle feed.

I had major issues with breastfeeding my first two kids but aced it with my third. I thought I was failing my first born as one of the health nurses that visted the house after birth lectures me on how I should be breastfeeding only. My son wasn’t putting back on his birth weight & I was made to feel I wasn’t a good enough mother. I rang my mum & she told me that I was doing my best & to go straight to the shops & get formula to help. He straight away put on weight with both breastfeeding & formula. I had another nurse the next time & I felt guilty telling her I was using formula for top ups & unexpectedly she appraised me.
Every mother & baby is different & I think we should stop putting pressure on mothers with how they ‘should’ feed their child.

I’m glad she ended up getting the advice and support she needed. Fed is definitely best.

Breast feeding is great if everything works. This wonderful lady deserves a gold medal especially if she had inverted or flat nipples. That makes feeding extremely difficult. So glad she got the right support in the nick of time. Every baby and every mum is different. WHAT IS NORMAL covers a wide spectrum and often what well advised people say is normal is not.

Thank goodness she got support and good advice. The poor Mumma.

I had to formula feed my daughter as well. There is nothing wrong with it. Some women have to do it. Babys health comes first.

• • 
  • • Mum2archer replied
    • 30 Dec 2018 , 1:15 pm

  ---

  I agree. So much pressure is put on new mums to breastfeed they are mad eto feel guilty for using formula if they have to. It needs to stop, because a healthy, happy FED baby is best!

Amen sister! I had pretty much exactly the same happen with my first and get so sick of mums shaming formula feeding or pushing the breastfeeding down your throat. It doesnt work for all mums and people need to accept that #fedisbest

From the time I was pregnant with my first all my friends told me that I should never feel pressure to breastfeed and not being able to doesn’t make you a failure. My husband also told me that even one breastfeeding session is better than none (this was when I found it painful and was umming and ahhing about whether to continue or not). I’m lucky I had supportive people around me. This mum is super lucky that her Bub is well now. It can be tricky to know if your baby is indeed getting as much as you think they are at each feed.

For some breast is not always best, a happy feed bub is.

I hope this little bub now continues to thrive.

How cute he looks now after gaining the weight

lucky he had such a caring good mum. Formula is right for this bubba that’s for sure.

We are so so lucky to live in a country with access to good quality formula and clean drinking water.

AFTER SEEING THE BABIES PHOTO AND NOT BEING HELPED BY DOCTORS OR FRIENDS i AM APPALLED BY THIS STORY AD CHILD COULD HAVE DIED! YEARS AGO MY FRIEND AND I HAD BABIES AROUND SAME TIME. wITH MY FIRST SON I TIED TO BREASTFEED HAD PUMPS PUT ON AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS BUT TO NO AVAIL. 0NE NIGHT i HAD NURSE I DID NOT KNOW SHE SAID I READ YOUR RECORDS AND MY ADVICE IS TO STOP TRYING AND TO TELL STAFF WANT TO BOTTLE FEED. THIS i DID AND MY STRESS AT NOT BEING ABLE TO BREAST FEED WENT AWAY. bOTH ME AND MY SON DID FINE. MY SECOND SON BORN AT SAME TIME
AND i SAID i WILL TRY AND BREAST FEED IF i FAIL WILL BOTTLE FEED. i COULD BREAST FEED AS MY NIPPLES WRE NO LONGER INTROVERTED. MY FRIEND TRIED TO BREAST FEED AND BABY ALWAYS CRYING AND NOT PUTTING WEIGHT ON. sHE WOULD RING ME IN TEARS TIRED AND STRESSED.. I SAID TELL DOCTOR HE SAID BABY WAS STARVING SHE STARTED WITHBOTTLE AND ALLWAS FINE. EACH MOTHER HAS DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE bUT BEING AROUND RIGHT PEOPLE IS A PLUS, HER MOTHER WAS RIGHT, NOW ALL IS WELL

I felt so guilty when I couldn’t feed my son. I’m a woman – that’s what I’m meant to do and it wasnt working. I tried everything to increase my supply before I had to put my son on formula. I felt like a failure but soon realized he was happier, I was happier and I wasn’t a failure. Fed is definitely best

I was similar with a premmie who was born 4p3oz. She wasn’t putting on weight and nurses recommended formula feeding as best for her.

Sweetie! I’m so glad that the lactation consultant helped this woman and in particular didn’t let her feel guilty for stopping breastfeeding. What a difference for the child. Everything is on the right track now.

Thank goodness mum put the little guy on formula. What a difference. We can’t all feed and those that can shouldn’t judge others.

Thankgod bub is ok