I never used to feel guilty

[babydust1990]

But today I do. I'm so sad I couldn't breastfeed. I think it's because I've figured out I'm a completely different parent to what I thought I'd be. I thought I'd never co-sleep and FF from birth. In the end I tried to breastfeed but got very little support, I combi fed for a few weeks until my supply dried up and moved onto FF without a second thought. Now I've realised how much I would of enjoyed breastfeeding especially as I co-sleep too! It's so true, parenthood is nothing like you think and you don't know how you're going to be until it happens!

 

[Laucu]

I know what you mean. Before Jack was born I had in my head that I would BF until he self-weaned, that I would wear him in a carrier, that I would co-sleep as much as possible....but it has worked out so differently! I switched him to FF at 2 weeks, wore him in a carrier twice and put him in his own bed (in his own room) at about 8 weeks old!! I did not realise the impact that his arrival would have on my little girl so had to adjust to keep her happy.

At the end of the day, you adapt and do what works best. Don't be hard on yourself! If you really want to BF you could look in to relactation?

 

[ClairAye]

Don't let it get to you! I FF from birth due to a 4 day hospital stay on the mainland, then I expressed when I got home for about 2 weeks until my milk suddenly dried up, now I realise that my baby is still getting fed and he's very happy!

 

[eulmh82]

Before he was born i was breast feeding it was that simple I didn;t buy any bottles or steriliser or anything as I was breast feeding. Well he was born with a tongue tie and wouldn;t latch and I had no choice. i expressed for a while and then went to formula like you. I am so determined that I will BF next time. I have been scoffed at by my in laws for havingthat opinion because my MIL hating BF apparently but I feel cheated as I have never experienced it. If I experienced it and it worked and I chose to give it then it would be my decision but I feel like it was taken away from me. However all your baby wants is to be fed be warm and be loved - if you;re doing all theose things then you;re doing just great

 

[LaurenDC]

I completely understand! My baby was in the NICU during our hospital stay (3 days) and was automatically formula fed every three hours and was somewhat far from me the entire time so my milk didn't come in for five days. When it did it started kind of flowing then just stopped. I bought a Medela pump and everything and was using it but I just sort of dried up. My baby would nurse for over an hour and then scream bc he was still hungry. It made me so anxious and sooooooooo depressed so I finally decided to switch completely to formula instead of combi. My SIL chose to FF both her girls and is an amazing mother so she has been a huge support for me. I still feel guilty at times and feel really sad that I couldn't BF (had planned to EBF for six months) but I know this is best for us.