Bottle feeding from the get go

[N&L Mum]

Hi

I am trying to decide if i should try breast feeding this time around. I tried BFing with my DS but was unable to. I am a go with the flow type of person if it happens it happens if it doesn't then it's ok. I am really undecided as to what to do this time do i bottle feed from the get go or do i try BFing again.

The one thing i worry about is if i am unable to BF again this time i will have to go through the pain of my milk drying up (i had alot of problems with it) how will i cope BFing while watching and looking after a toddler. If i am able to BF then i would only want to do it for 6-8wks.

I know bottle feeding will be easier as i can share the job with DH, my rule is we are the only ones to feed bubs for the first couple of months. My midwife thinks it's a waste of time trying to BF if i only want to do it for 6-8wks that i should make a decision before bubs is born and stick to it, if i do decide to bottle feed then i need to stick to my guns.

I'm really undecided and not sure what to do

[bada]

how will i cope BFing while watching and looking after a toddler.

Women have been doing it for quite some time

My midwife thinks it's a waste of time trying to BF if i only want to do it for 6-8wks that i should make a decision before bubs is born and stick to it, if i do decide to bottle feed then i need to stick to my guns.

Your midwife is wrong. If you and bub are healthy, some is always better than none (where possible). And if it's what you want to try then I don't think you'll feel satisfied unless you give it a go kwim?

Good luck with it.

[Wookie1]

Look, my bub got 3 weeks of BF as we weren't able to go any longer. I'm pleased he even got that much breast milk.

It might be easier in hospital to BF, so you don't have to take all the equipment with you.

Anyway, good luck I'm sure you will make the best choice for you and your new baby.

[Guest]

I guess it depends on what you're problems were last time, and what could of you done differently if anything and if you could get help sooner for those? Like for me, most of my problems could of been solved had I got the right advice earlier and everything I learnt I did wrong, was after the fact. So I now know not to do them again. Mine weren't so much medical either, like pain, mastistis and stuff so that's why it's easy for me to say that it might be easier next time.

I do kind of agree with the midwife actually, in my experience breastfeeding was so hard to establish it required that 100% commitment. So why give it up once you've gone through that heartache of establishing if that makes sense. And once established, you can express for dh or others to give those bottles rather than formula. A lady from my mothers group exclusively bfeeds, and she expresses for Fridays as she considers that her complete day off of feeding and her dh feeds their baby till Saturday midday. I thought that was a good idea.

I don't have a toddler, but when I have no.2 I think the feeding will be the same whether bottle or breast, so you'll still have to sit there and feed every so often day and night regardless. And if like ds, he still takes his good old time feeding on formula arggh... Either way, my point is it will be a new routine for you and you'll make it work no matter which way you go.
It's a hard one though, maybe just wait till bubs is born to make your decision. Good Luck

[Theophania]

I would always give BF a go. I actually think it is much easier having your milk mixed and pre warmed rather than having to worry about making formula up, heating it in the middle of the night, sterilizing bottles etc. So in that respect with having a toddler myself and expecting I think if I can BF this time it will be much more convenient. Either way you will have to feed bub and the toddler just needs to learn it has to be done

I definitely think that the midwife should not have given that advice as 6-8 weeks it better than not at all IMO

But with all that said, it is something that really is a personal choice. Do whatever you think will be best for your situation

And as for the milk drying up, maybe you could speak to someone in advance about avoiding this this time around, I never had to deal with that myself... it was like my milk just packed up and went away lol but I can imagine what pain some poor women have to go through with that (sometimes it seems so cruel being a woman lol).

Good luck having your new bub

[kel87]

why not give it a go? - u've got the right attitude that you won't get disheartened if it doesn't work out - 6 to 8 weeks is fantastic so I would ignore the middies advice in that sense.

im sure heaps of mums in the bf section can give you handy hints with bf bub and dealing with a toddler .. i'm sure they've got a few tricks up their sleeves

i would also just wait until bubs is born - u dont need to decide before then - and if after birth u decide not to bf before your milk comes in i think they can give you tablets to dry it up to help avoid some of the probs you had last time??

goodluck with your decision

[Cicho]

I FF my kids from birth.

I expressed but for relief only. With my DD2, I think it was only about a week and I was back to normal, or 'dried up' so to speak

Good luck with the FF from birth. I had a terrific experience and I hope you do too

[Nemmy]

I was much like you but in the end I decided to give BF a go with DD2. It didn't work out as I experienced much the same problems as with DD1, but the hospital were fully aware of my history so were quite supportive and helpful. In the end I was happy that my DD2 got whatever breastmilk I could give her in those first few weeks, and when the time came the decision to move on to formula was no where near as tough.

[zephani]

I had major problem BFing DD. In fact it only lasted a week. My problems are unfixable and I will now be FFing any future children from birth.

Good luck. I'm sure you will make the right decision for you and your LO. Remember that is the most important thing and other peoples opinions don't and shouldn't matter.

[3lilcutipies]

I had a lot of problems BF my first son and gave up after a couple of weeks of excruiciating pain. I assumed I would have to FF my second son but for some reason I never had any problems and fed him for 10 months. I am surprised about your midwifes advice. I know a lot of midwives (i'm a nurse so work with lots of them!) and I know they all say that any breastmilk is better than none. Especially the colostrom you produce in the 1st few days which provides bub with important antibodies.
Most important thing is to do what is right for YOU!! Good luck