Already anxious.......

[Rayven]

Ok, so my LO isn't here yet (seemingly still a long way to go) but i'm still not sure whether to go with breast or bottle.
I tried breast feeding with my first and to be honest the experience has rather put me off trying again. My milk didn't come in for absolutely ages, so she was constantly hungry and frustrated & my boobs ended up horribly sore & cracked. I asked advice from my midwife but she took one look at my boobs and said 'they're not that bad, i've seen worse' and that was pretty much that. I was quite depressed after the birth and what with trying and failing to breast feed, everytime my LO woke up and started to cry for a feed i'd start crying too because i just couldn't face feeding her! (that sounds awful i know) Eventually my OH said enough was enough and me continuing to try and breast feed and being constantly upset and anxious was doing neither me or bubs any good and we put her on the bottle. Thing is she hated the bottle after being BF and would constantly throw up most of each feed and therefore STILL be constantly hungry. Even though breast fed for the first few weeks she was the most sickly child you'd ever meet and still catches everything if theres so much of a sniffle going round. *sigh*
With my second i just couldn't face it again and so bottle fed her from day 1, she accepted the feeds and was a very content baby, and is and always has been as strong as an ox!!!
With this one, i'd really like to be able to successfully BF but am already sooooo anxious at the thought of even trying it again. I felt like a complete failure as a mother the first time round - afterall BF is supposed to be something every mother can do.
I don't know what to do. Would i be able to pump milk if i can't BF? Would it be better to put this one on bottles from day one as i did with my second?
I'm just sooooo confused. Any suggestions and/or opinions would be gratefully received.

 

[Tezzy]

i guess it depends on how you feel on the day your baby is born.. imo it is only then that you make the decision to BF or FF. and whichever you choose you will be a fab mum, not a failure. x

 

[marley2580]

If you want to try breast feeding I would suggest either going to some BF classes or speaking to a breast feeding supporter before your baby arrives. It sounds like you had a rough time of it the first time, so you should really try and learn the basics before trying again from a supportive source (not an insensitive midwife like the last time). Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[clairebear]

wait and see how u feel when bubs arrives. but defo try and get some advice from a lactition expert . good luck in which road u choose. and ur not faluire at all x

 

[Serene123]

Yeah, I agree. Wait untill the babies here.

 

[Shifter]

I agree about getting some sound advice and support. I think it's worthwhile giving the breast another try. It is a skill and if you don't get good support then it can be very hard to learn. It sounds like your midwife before was useless!

Remember that breast feeding doesn't stop kids getting colds! The flu pandemic that we're in the middle of is going to effect most people and because of how the virus works breastfeeding offers little or no immunity to it. But there are so many benefits to both mother and baby.

But if you don't take to it, even with good quality support, it doesn't make you a failure, you still do the best you can for your LO and that's what matters.