I bf lo1 for over a year including pumping at work until she was a year. Idk if I can do it again 
did anyone choose to use formula with lo2? Or switch to formula when you went back to work?
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Me. I breastfed my daughter for about 7 months then switched to formula after going back to work bc I wasn't pumping enough for her. I never really liked BFing and it added to my PPD. So when DS was born I was pretty sure I wanted to FF. I nursed for 5 days before switching to formula completely. I felt super guilty for a few weeks but it's really what's best for our family. DH can help w feedings which I think has helped me w the PPD this time. He is a happy healthy 6 month old boy and I have no regrets.
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I am BFing LO2 but I did not want any part of it at all when I was pregnant. I had a rough time with #1 and a long list of things I did not intend to deal with a second time around. So far things are working (I haven't gone back to work yet) but I've made no goals this time around. Good luck with your decision.
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I am pregnant with lo2 and dreading breastfeeding. I had a really tough time with lo1, but the fact that I had a great supply and managed to do it for 7 months last time makes me feel like I have to give it my best shot! I won't completely sacrifice my own wellbeing like I did last time though, especially with lo1 to take care of I need to be in a good place mentally.
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I only have one LO, but I just wanted to say that choosing to FF from the beginning is a PERFECTLY acceptable choice. You don't have to try BFing if you don't want to. After her inability to BF, I FF my first and loved it, so I will be EFFing the rest of my babies from the start!
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With the prevalence of food allergies (and sensitivities) these days, I'd be nervous to make this choice, because I know how hard it can be to find a formula that works for your baby. If baby has sensitivities, the proper formula can be really, really expensive.
FWIW, I BFed and formula fed LO1 ... While I hated pumping, and seriously struggled the entire time, I found dealing with formula/bottles/washing/stomach issues/etc. exhausting.
I did switch to formula at 9 months old, because the combo was too hard. We were both very happy after that. (I would have been happy if BFing just worked out from the beginning, too.)
Whatever choice you make, know that it's the right one for you & your baby!!! Be gentle with yourself. If you choose to FF, you might want to research herbs and techniques for drying your milk up. It'll help you to avoid clogged ducts and engorgement.
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I did! Killed myself EPing for LO1. Had blisters, etc., for the whole year. When it looked like LO2 couldn't latch and the consultant recommended pumping or formula, I chose formula. I was seriously so traumatized from my experience with my first son that I couldn't do nursing/pumping again. I have been so happy with my choice! Seriously zero regrets. My baby is happy, healthy, and actually more developmently on track than my breastfed baby was. I am a huge advocate for formula, especially if breastfeeding makes you crazy. Good luck to you, mama!
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I am a big fan of whatever works for mama and baby, and I know this isn't what you asked, but FWIW I had a hard time nursing the first time and an easy time the second. So it might not be as hard if you do go that route. And if you don't, I hope you get some cute pics of LO1 helping FF LO2
ETA: pumping is different for me this time too. 2/3 the time and twice the output.
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I also bf and EP'ed for LO1 for over a year but questioning what I'm gonna do when lo2 gets here. I just don't know where I would find the time and energy to entertain and care for both of them, work, and pump around the clock. Work is already crazy as is with not enough time to even so sit and eat as is. I'll probabably do what i can and supplement but we'll see when the time comes.
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@MrsSRS: Same here.
I would never make a choice beforehand because each child is SO different. My first caused me all kinds of pain and I had clogs and bleeding and it never worked out well. I got pregnant at 4 months PP so he began formula feeding around then.
My second was a breeze. No pain, quick nursing, quick pumping. Totally different story.
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@iluvboba637: that's how I feel too
@Corduroy: I also have a long list lol I'm glad things are going well for you!Thanks for the advice everyone - I agree I won't know until lo is here, it just always seems hard in my head!
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I tried breastfeeding DS1 and DS2 and only lasted a few weeks. I'll be honest. I don't like breastfeeding and didn't enjoy it at all. I'm pregnant with #3 and will likely just go straight to formula. Just gotta do what works best for your family!
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We're not planning on having a second child, but if I did, I would formula feed from the start. I really disliked breastfeeding, it stressed me out, I had low supply, daughter was an easily distracted nurser, and it was the hardest part of being a new mom for me--definitely contributed to PPD/A. Once I started formula feeding I felt SO much better and felt like I could be a much better mother!
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Thank you for this question and comments. I'm going back to week around 6.5 months and i feel tremendous guilt because I will be doing a combo of breast milk and formula till my freezer stash runs out then all formula. We had a ton of issues from tongue and lip tie to nipple confusion and nursing was so stressful to me. I've been EPing since 2 months but will slow down at 6 months to be done by the time I go to work. I can't imagine EPing w a second LO w a toddler and work but I'm hoping the second baby will be easier. I love hearing of mamas and babies doing well on formula. Thank you!
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@gotkimchi: for sure! I remember thinking that we didn't need much for LO2 because we still had all of LO'S stuff, but I didn't feel relaxed and ready until I had diapers and a package of ready to feed nursettes just in case!
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My first was EBF. We went for 13 months, but working and pumping was so hard. It was such a huge commitment. LO2 is 3 months and we are EBFing but I don't know if I can make it a year- I feel like the only reason I'm trying is because it doesn't seem "fair" to #2 since #1 never got formula. Is that irrational?
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@gotkimchi: I'm not sure why anyone would say differently, but formula feeding is not hard. It certainly was not exhausting for me. In fact, since she didn't feed on demand like a lot of BF babies, we got lots of sleep! Put powder and water in a bottle, shake, done. When the baby's done, put the bottle in the dishwasher, done. I liked the ease of being able to feed her anywhere anytime--like walking around the grocery store--and not having to find a place to sit or put on a cover, etc. I think it will make life with two so much easier! Of course, if you choose to BF, that's awesome. But I want you to know that formula is an awesome choice too... it's really not complicated at all!
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@TiredmommaMD: I totally feel the same way you do that it's not fair that LO1 got breastmilk exclusively for 1year+ so I should do the same with LO2.
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@tiredmommy and @ILUVBOBA637 I totally understand that feeling. I definitely initially felt guilty for not trying as hard to make bfing work for LO2 as I did for LO1. However, bfing LO1 made me really anxious, stressed and unhappy for a year and I just wasn't up for doing it again. As it turns out, my ff LO had fewer illnesses in his first 6 months and is much more verbal at 8 months than his bf LO, so I feel pretty comfortable that using formula hasn't had any negative impacts on his health or development. And bonus, since I wasn't so anxious about nursing and pumping, I feel like I've gotten to bond with and enjoy my baby much sooner this time. Just putting that out therefor anyone who is agonizing about formula. I know it can be a really tough decision!
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@iluvboba637: @TiredmommaMD: this is how I feel too! Like I don't want to but maybe I should
@photojane: my first bf ALL. THE. TIME. So selfishly if formula helped this one sleep I would be very happy -
We are in the opposite boat (E was bottle fed and T is not), but BFing is a pain in the assssssss now that I've returned to work. The whole pumping business? Ugh, Eff that noise. Formula had its frustrations with E, but it is by far easier once you return to work!!!
Do what works for you, mama. Babies are stressful enough without having to worry about feeding them!
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I at least tried to do the pumping thing when bf wasn't happening with lo1. This time I could probably bf but for various reasons am part time pumping part time formula and thinking I'll just dry up anyway. And I don't really feel upset about it either... In fact I kind of wish I had just went to the hospital mind made up to ff.
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I only have one child and we won't be having a second, but I do think that you have to look at feeding your kids as completely independent things. I am not saying you have guilt, but I could totally understand feeling that you have to do at least the same for your second as you do for your first.
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@looch: agreed, this applies to a lot of things. It's hard to not compare but they can never truly have everything equal. Yeah lo1 may end up having had more breast milk but there are a lot of ways I'm better at this than last time, so lo2 has that.
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I combo fed my first for a year. My second I combo fed for 6 months and then switched to formula. We were all much happier.
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