Day 6 and switching to formula. Feel very sad.

[Ripley]

It's day 6. I had a cSection and it was very tough to BF while in my hospital bed we did it. With help he could latch. Then he'd sleep for 3 hrs or so. He got better with latching and we came home. Then it got tough. He'd feed, but not get full. 35 min later he'd want to feed again. In and out of bed or couch still hurt me. I got so frustrated yesterday afternoon I was BFing with tears streaming down my face. Ped Dr said yesterday my milk supply would come in with demand. By 7pm, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to go formula. He'd already been getting 1 suppliment a night since day2. He was ok with both it seemed. After all day BF for about 6 hours.. He drank 5 ounces of formula and fell asleep for the first time that day. I was relieved. I want him fed and content.

The night went great, 2 feeds of formula. 4 ounces each. 3 hour sleeps. Happy me and baby.

Now today, I feel such a huge sense of loss. I miss his little body curled around me while BFing. The lactation nurse i called this morning made the suggetion to do both. I hadn't thought of that and now am really struggling with yet another decision. I feel my time is going to run out to choose. But I can't choose. I feel guilt for not just jumping on it. i read online and it says "formula fed dont get the illness fighting nutrients" blah blah.. and i feel awful. I'm thinking it over, but part of me does not want to add another challenge when we are both now enjoying feeds. I'm happy now when I feed him. I did skin on skin today and it was great. i dont know why i think the image of him curled around me breast feeding is a loss. hes still the same cute little man. still stares up at me when i FF.

What should I do? I've been crying all day with the loss. Except when i feed and hold him now im happy. I am somehow still hesitant to do both. But then I think.. This could be a good answer. But I like my freedom with FF. he sleeps great now. I have personal freedoms back that we're restricted such as time cuz he sleeps, food and this skin medicine I need but couldn't use. I just don't know what to do and I've been trying to ignore my breasts because they make me cry. The loss feeling is huge. Now I have guilt about the new choice and I don't know what decision to make.

But our life has been so much more peaceful since.

Anyone else go thru this?

He's only 6 days old.

 

[aliss]

Big hugs! I think most of us felt this way but it fades over time. I look back now (3 years) and think hey, I did what I thought was right. Alright, let's watch Toy Story!!!!

 

[VmrsbabcockV]

I bfed for 3 weeks and 4 days...he was never full and my supply just could not keep up..I too feel an invredible loss but my lo is so much happier...I will ssy my supply did increase with frequent nursi mg and pumping in between...just not enough to satisfy his appetite...I can't tell you what the right decision is...but I know both our lo's will be happy, healthy, and love us either way

 

[Scout]

Just went thru this. LO is 3 weeks today and my milk supply was never enough for her. I started supplementing the day I left the hsp. My pediatrician suggested I bf on each side for 10 minutes then supplement with formula then pump. I did that for a while, but it was too much for me. I wanted one or the other. So I tried to go back to exclusively bf'ing but I just don't have the milk, even with her nursing every 2 hours and me pumping. So trying to get back to exclusively bf'ing, I let her nurse as long as she wanted and she bf for 45 minutes, but still was hungry so i did a bottle and she guzzled down 2 oz of formula. Obviously, I just don't have the milk. So just yesterday I decided to just do the formula. And yes, it is a loss. And I feel guilty too. But at least I have a happy, content baby.

 

[Dk1234]

Personally I would stick with it. If you ask any mom who had bf long term she will tell you it was the same for her in the beginning probably but it does get better I promise. By two weeks your supply starts regulating some. That being said, I had to start using formula becaus do was pregnant and my supply dried up and I don't feel a bit had about it. So whatever decision you make be happy about it and don't beat yourself up.

 

[Ripley]

I tried both tonight. I breast fed. It was easy and sweet. Lots of flow. Them he would not sleep after. So I decided to supplement on top with formula. He ate 4 ounces! Like I didn't even BF him. The whole ordeal took 2 hours from start to sleeping baby. I'm exhausted and trying to figure out what to do next. The pump is not my thing but I may try. I'm so tired.

 

[Dk1234]

It's part of the process to get milk to come in apparently, the baby has the need to suck a lot in order to establish a large supply. I avoided this for the most part because I pumped after every feed in the beginning. It gave me a great supply but it was very hard. I think you need to think about whether or not you really want to bf. if you will be sad that you didn't get to I'd stick with it for at least a couple weeks. It's def not gonna be easy but you'll get through it. Maybe try seeing a lactation consultant. I just kept telling myself when it was hard that almost everyone can bf and I was gonna push through. But if you really think you will be at peace with formula feeding, there is no shame in it. And you should never feel bad about making a decision that is best for you.

 

[Dk1234]

Also look into growth spurts the 1 week one can be rough and maybe that is what you're in.

 

[Nicola27]

i know how you feel - i switched at day 5 because he wouldn't latch on at all. every time he wanted a feed he would scream for ages when i tried to get him to latch and eventually when he did he would never be on properly and would end up hurting me. i know the experts say to take them off and try again but when you've spent half and hour trying to get them on in the first place it really doesn't feel like an option.

anyway, i did make the gut wrenching decision to switch to formula and i cried a lot - not as much as when i was trying and failing to bf, so in the end the decision was the best one for me and my LO.

Try reading this - it really helped me in the first few days of switching

https://www.babycenter.com/400_how-...itti_500346_0.bc?startIndex=30&sortFieldName=