Only one not expressing?

[AlwaysPraying]

I feel like I'm the only one formula feeding only. Bubs is 3 weeks old
And I bf for four days. Had a section and was really laid up. He fed for
Hours the first days and ruined my nipples. I couldn't feed him because
They were bloody and cracked and he wanted on for hours at a time.
I feel like I should have tried harder. A crazy part of me wants to try again
But I don't know if that's possible. I feel horrible as if I've done something
Wrong and didn't try hard enough and now he's paying the price for it. I'm not
Sure what to do or feel. I never thought I'd have a section or not breast feed
This whole thing is so much more different than I thought it would have been.

 

[OmarsMum]

Hi hun. I didnt express or BF. I didnt have any milk, not a single drop. Omar couldnt latch on, & I tried expressing at the hospital but didnt get a single drop. He developed jaundice as the MW starved him for 18 hrs to help him latch on, but it didnt work. A BFing consultant spent 2 hrs trying but with no success. I requested formula as he needed to be fed every 2 hrs. When we went back home after 3 days (had emergency CS), I tried & tried, but again no milk so I had to give him formula. He latched on after 2 wks but he used me as a pacifier for hrs before screaming for food. When he was 4 wks I gave up as there was no milk at all. I spend long time in guilt. My advise hun, move on & enjoy ur time with ur LO. Those 1st mnths r sooo precious & they never come back. I spent them in self misery & now I really regret it. xx

 

[AlwaysPraying]

I just feel like if something happens to him that it'll be my fault because I didn't bf.
I know it's a little irrational but I can't stop thinking that if he gets sick and I didn't bf
Then I'm at fault. I love him so much and feel like I gave up too soon even though I do
Know that I did what I could at the time.

 

[Hen]

I don't knownhow old your lo is, but you can go back to bf if younwant to. I'm doing it at the moment, but it is really hardbwork. Saying that in less than 2 weeks I've gone from havng no milk to producing 2.5 oz a day. I know that doesn't sound much but it's a huge improvement and makes younfeel really proud. My lo is on nutramigen the rest of the time.

Feel free to pm me if younwant some more info/advice.
X

 

[aimee-lou]

Hi hun,

I didn't BF, I FF from Birth as it was right for us. It sounds like you did everything you could at the time, and as Hen said, you can go back, but I just wanted to say that you shouldn't feel bad for not BFing. As long as your LO is happy, after all a happy Mummy makes a happy baby, so you need to do whatever is right for oyu as a family!

 

[Eala]

BF babies get ill too, so if you can, try and change that line of thought in your head My LO has had one tummy bug in nearly 12 months, and it was one that went around our baby group. Both BF and FF babies got it. Someone I know BF her LO for 13 months, and I lost count of how often she was at the out of hours doc etc.

The guilt didn't even *start* to go for me til my LO started smiling. Even then, it took a long time to fade (usually not helped by stupid people who tried to guilt trip me). It really helps if you can think that "happy Mum = happy baby". Breastmilk is the best milk for our babies, it's true, but breastFEEDING isn't necessarily the best thing for every Mum.

Big hugs for where you are at just now, I hope you find a solution for yourself soon

 

[aimee-lou]

I agree completely with Eala too...Earl's just had his first illness, a cold, at 11 months! His Dad had it too, and it was a doozy! lol

BFing doesn't stop them getting ill, in just the same way as you and I get ill......sometimes it's unavoidable.

to you - I know it's hard, but your LO will be fine.

 

[Neferet]

I never expressed either. Isaac has been formula fed from birth.