You just have to do what is right for you.

It is better for a Mum to supplement feed if she doesn’t have enough milk than to have a hungry baby. She continue to do that if it works for her. If she continuously doesn’t have enough milk and is starting to stress her baby is going to pick up on that. It’s probably best to wean and switch to formula.
Each Mum is different as is each baby. You have to do what is right for you or you won’t have a happy baby either.

I agree fully. Give it a go. And don’t feel guilty if it doesn’t work for you.

As mums, we want to be perfect at it all, but it’s not possible. I breast fed, had no major problems and enjoyed it. I don’t like the young girls who have babies and decide they don’t want to breastfeed, they prefer the bottle so it’s easier to find a baby sitter from an early age. That is wrong!

Good post. I have been lucky but had friends who had real trouble. The pressure lead to unnecessary stress and even depression for one of them.

Can’t believe a nurse would do that to the other mother.. If your baby is hungry, you need to give it food.. I had trouble with a tongue tied baby and my milk not coming in because of lack of stimulation.. Took a couple of days before I was able to express enough to feed properly… If I didn’t feed formula, was my baby expected to starve until my milk came in?

I struggled to feed my son the first time, and I allowed myself to feed so pressured to breastfeed that I caused myself some health issue. I ignored the advice of my GP who recommended that I stop as my breasts continually struggled with thrush (deep within the breast, not just the nipper) and continuous mastitis. I eventually fed my son until he was 15 months old and I am proud of my efforts, however, if I have such a difficult time next time, I will ensure I listen to my GP and not let the pressure from society and midwives get to me

I wish I read articles likes this before I had my baby and then during the hardest 4 months of my life! I wasnt able to get my little one to latch so I ended up exclusively pumping for 4 months. I could feel myself falling into a deep hole and I knew I was around the corner from PND. Moving to the bottle it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and my little one.

Definitely felt that pressure! I feel it should always be whatevers best on a case by case basis.

I wish people would read more of these articles, Who cares how a child is fed as long as the child is fed, not everyone can or wants to breast feed and many of these nurses have never breastfed in their lives, I had twins and ended up with bleeding nipples, and the most agony that could be imagined, swapping them to formula was the best thing for me, however I experienced so much opposition from people who really should not have concerned themselves with the issue, I also had a daughter 20 mnths later and breastfed her for 6 weeks at which time she still was not back to her birth weight, she was happy, feeding fine, and settling, she just did not put on weight, the nurse suggested formula feeding, which I did, she still did not get to birth weight til she was over 12 weeks old, she just did not put on weight. So everyone is different, do what is best for you, and what you want and ignore everyone else. don’t beat yourself up about whatever decision that you make. look after yourself and your baby.

You are true, If we can only we can .. other wise no..

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  • • mom94125 replied
    • 17 Oct 2015 , 11:21 pm

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  yeah don’t beat yourself up in any case.

So true, I am of the same belief breastfeed if you can and want to and don’t if you can’t or don’t want to. It doesn’t make you less of a mother
Everyone is different and do things differently, whatever works

Too much pressure is put on many new mum’s, the whole breastfeeding issue needs a good overhaul, me i couldn’t breastfeed any of my 3 kids, not through lack of trying i couldn’t produce enough for any of my bubs.

I love your statement “We should pat ourselves on the back each night – the kids have survived the day!” – That statement right there is definitely it!!
Formula is most certainly not poison – it is amazing stuff!! As much as I tried, I was not able to breast feed and I certainly did try with all 4 of my kids, not getting further than 6 weeks… Thankfully I had A LOT of support with having to go to formula and I am so grateful that we do have formula so that we can feed our babies. All 4 of my babies are thriving – the eldest 6 years and the youngest is about to turn 1 year old.

I remember when I had both my 2 and I felt like I had failed because I couldn’t breastfeed. It might be the best for our kids but if you can’t from the beginning everyone needs to help you instead of making it harder

Yes I hear people complaining all the time about bent judged for breastfeeding and I don’t know why, I was pressured to breastfeed, even though I wanted too anyway it was hard and I failed with all 4 of my children.

If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. You do what’s right for you and baby not what anyone else thinks or says.

Totally agree do whatever works for YOU

Bottle fed children normally have more relaxed mothers….ok the ones who tried and it didn’t work for. We ALL know breast is best if you can, but please give those that can’t a break and know formula is OK!

should be NO pressure and NO criticism.. what works and feels right for mum will be ok with bub.