Brisbane Bottlefeeding Supprt Group

[Bottlebubs Mum]

Sometimes when mums have to bottle feed we experience a feeling of disappointment, failure and even guilt. :(

If you are a bottle-feeding mum and you need support or just a chat over morning tea,
please contact Tamara
to find out about our monthly get-togethers.

They are held at
10am
at the Pine Rivers Community Health Centre
568 Gympie Road Strathpine
on
10th August (Guest Speaker from Birth Trauma Support Group)
14th September
12th October
9th November
14th December
Please contact

bottlebubs@lycos.com
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/bottlebubs :D

[Gemma]

It is about time the "bottle mum's" have a support group. I don't think midwives and CH-nurses really understand how dreadful you feel when you have to make the choice to bottlefeed when you just expected you would be able to breastfeed.

Due to lots of problems with attachment and express pumps in hospital I had to make the decision to change to bottles (on my third day - "the cry all day" day). All I wanted was a nurse to tell me "if you continue with your current express, feed, top up with formula routine- you will go insane so just change to bottles and be happy!"

I am a nurse myself, so you would think that I could rationally decide `well many bubs survive just fine on bottles', but no I was an emotional wreck!

So I am thrilled we "bottle mum's" can now be united in saying "honey, could you feed our bub her next bottle" - because we, unlike breastfeeding mum's, have our boobs to ourselves!!

[lukanmollysmum]

:p Hey Gemma,

Couldn't agree with you more!!!!! With my first son, I perserved for 10wks breastfeeding, due to a lot of pressure from my mum. She kept telling how good it was for him, and how my sister fed her daughter for 12mths, I felt like a failure that it wasnt working for me. Eventually I went to my GP, who took one look at how exhausted emotionally and physically, (my supply was not up or keeping him satisfied, feeding ALL the time) and told me to go and get the formula there and then. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I am forever grateful to her for that. With my daughter, my milk just didn't come through and she was constantly hungry and I just didn't want to endure that exhaustion again both my OBGYN and midwife said go the bottle, which I did before I came home.
Both my children happy n healthy, and now I don't feel guilty for bottle feeding them, at the time I cried nearly everyday. My GP has a great motto happy mum gives a happy baby, and that is all that matters.

Unfortunately society n hospitals are all hellbent on saying breast is best, which it probably is, but if you cant do what nature intended, you should not feel like a failure. You have created a beautiful healthy baby, and for that you are not a failure.

Stay bottle feeding and be proud to do so .......I AM

Kel

[jakobsmum]

I fully breastfed Jakob till he was about 6 1/2 months. Then I went back to work and was expressing as much as I could. I found it very tiring and it affected my let downs. Jakob wasn't thriving and he started to lose weight. :(

I went to the CHN and had to make an appointment for the following week, the same with my GP. I took matters into my own hands and put him on formula feeds whilst he was away from me. When he was home with me I still breastfed. He soon lost interest in my "boobie juice" and was put fully on the bottle. I was disappointed at the lack of support I received, though my family were great. I miss feeding him at times but those 4 chompers he has now don't make me regret a thing. :D

I was always going to breastfeed but if it didn't happen I wasn't going to worry. It was hard to start with and persevered through cracked nipples and blocked ducts.

[Lachlan's Mum]

I was thinking of going to the meeting this week 14/9 at Strathpine...anyone else thinking of doing the same? :confused: