https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:13:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2159531 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 11:27:33 +0000 sweetooth 2159531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely let yourself feel ALL of the emotions tied to this experience. But know that how and what your baby is fed will not impact them later in life. And there are so many good things to come as you transition to formula. There will still be plenty of ways to bond with your baby - bottle-feeding can still be a very intimate time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2159467 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 10:52:01 +0000 MRSJX3 2159467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just want to say that you're not alone. I have IGT/hypoplastic breasts and it is so hard to move forward!! Make a list of all the ways you're an amazing mom. Remember that list daily! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2159463 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 10:50:27 +0000 SunshineMcC 2159463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@clumsyatheart: thanks for posting! I'm dealing with this same thing right now. My LO is two weeks old today and we've been having a challenging time with breast-feeding. I'm only able to produce about half of what he needs at this point and have been breast-feeding and supplementing with a bottle and then pumping. After conversations with the lactation consultant and his pediatrician I'm really leaning heavily towards moving to pumping and supplementwith formula. However I'm feeling so many emotions guilt sadness anger frustration all of the above. I think once I make a decision and just go with it it will really really help me but in the meantime I'm so torn up about it. I've read so many blogs and posts and articles about how much more I could do to try and get my supply to come in everything from prescriptions to eating oatmeal to herbs but at this point my gut is saying to just pump and bottlefeed. Know that I'm thinking about you as well and that we'll both get through this together! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2151069 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:17:11 +0000 artsyfartsy 2151069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs! It's such a raw spot for a lot of moms. I made it til 9 months before I had to start supplementing because of poor weight gain. After he had formula he started rejecting the breast and we quickly turned to exclusive FF. It hurt for a while, but time does make it better. </p> <p>Be easy on yourself! I know it stings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2151010 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:45:10 +0000 Tanjowen 2151010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Time. In the middle of it I felt the same - guilt, sadness, anger. Then when we started solids, it eased. Then as he started truly eating at around 10 months, it eased some more. And now, at 16 months, gone. </p> <p>The best advice I received was it was okay to have all those emotions, because denying them or trying to act ok will make you crazy. And I promise one day you will wake up and realize you haven't dwelt on it because your kid is awesome and it just doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150988 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:23:06 +0000 Mae 2150988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry. My LO was combo fed (BF, pumped milk, and formula) for 2 months and then just I had to stop BF at 2 mo (just pumped milk and formula) for another 2 mo after before I stopped pumping and switched her fully to formula. </p> <p>Now at almost a year old.... I don't regret quitting because it was the right decision for her and for me... but honestly it still sucks. I feel bad about myself for not being able to just nurse her. Not like I should have tried harder, because I think I tried as hard as I could. Just like... I'm broken because I couldn't produce enough for her and make it work. And my feelings are complicated because its not that I think she'd be doing better on milk or anything... she's just fine on formula. But I am still just extremely jealous of anyone who can just breastfeed their babies without drama. I would have thought I'd be over it by now... but I"m not. I do think its getting a bit better though? Its more like a dull ache rather than the initial crying associated with my giving it up initially. And I think once she is off bottles it will improve significantly. At that point we'll be right where we would've been before so it won't be a constant reminder several times every day that I'm not feeding her how I wanted to. </p> <p>Hang in there. &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150938 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:49:29 +0000 snowjewelz 2150938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am soooo sorry :( I know you need time to mourn it, but I do hope you know that you are still the best mom in the world to your LO and she loves her mama!! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150822 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 07:17:33 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2150822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@clumsyatheart: I'm like a broken record on these boards with the number of times I've linked to this article about weaning-related depression, but it was SO helpful and reassuring to me when I was feeling down after weaning, so I thought I would share it with you in case it's helpful to you as well: <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/02/motherhood-depression-and-weaning.html" rel="nofollow">http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/02/motherhood-depression-and-weaning.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150775 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 06:19:45 +0000 blackbird 2150775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry-E was primarily formula fed, and exclusively so after a few months. I had a lot of clarity after a couple months, and I hope you get there. There are so many benefits and perks to formula feeding, I always focused on those. Particularly my husband feeding her so much. And I also felt like this was just one of those parental lessons. We can plan and try all we want, but sometimes things-even important things-don't go as planned. And in the end? Everybody is doing great and fine and healthy </p> <p>I can tell you this, though-that she's now 2 years old and how I fed her is the farthest thing from my mind. Nobody asks, nobody cares, they just notice the wonderful, thriving, healthy little girl beaming up at them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150758 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 05:03:39 +0000 Charm54 2150758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you are feeling this way :( I was right there a little over a year ago with my DD and it does get better. I EPed for 6 months but always had to supplement - at 6 months I was so exhausted I switched to just formula. I was pretty much okay with it, but there was some sadness and guilt. </p> <p>The things that helped me were to focus on the positives (other people can feed her! She can go longer between feedings! It's easy to be out and about!) and realize that feeding her a bottle can also be a great bonding experience. I loved watching my husband give her her 5pm bottle every night after he got home from work.</p> <p>Beyond that, it helped to see her grow into a beautiful, healthy, and completely bonded little girl and realize that it didn't matter what she was fed - she was thriving. Now that she's 1.5 I honestly don't even think about it anymore. </p> <p>The Fearless Formula Feeder website was also a great resource.</p> <p>Good luck :heart: :goodluck: You're a great mom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150729 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:16:51 +0000 Trufflehunter 2150729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to say you're a great mum simply for the fact that you care so much. Your baby needs you as much as any baby needs her mummy. You'll feel better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150724 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:08:10 +0000 sapphire 2150724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All I can give is support and tell you that you will feel better in time, but it is something you do have to go through and grieve. Allow yourself that but don't let that turn into beating yourself up. It's not your fault, it's not LO's fault - it just is. And it'll be just fine in time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150712 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 22:19:21 +0000 jhd 2150712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Big hugs! It does get easier with time. :heart: You have done an awesome job to provide breast milk for your baby for all those months!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150688 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:12:14 +0000 meesker 2150688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Read the book Bottled Up. It really helped me come to terms with switching to formula. Also, I found that I was so hormonal when breastfeeding and weaning, that all my grief was intensified. By a few months out, it was a lot less painful and I was able to feel ok about the switch. I still get jealous and nostalgic when I see other mamas nursing, but I am mostly at peace now (almost 6 months after the switch). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150677 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:02:23 +0000 reverie 2150677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My breast feeding journey didn't go as planned either. I was definitely sad about stopping at 16 weeks and really time was what made it better. It doesn't help that phasing it out you're full of hormones and still have a new baby and probably don't sleep as much as you want to etc etc... It really does get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150675 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:01:08 +0000 Maysprout 2150675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry you're having a tough time. I was a sobbing mess when I weaned too, even though I was fine with weaning, some of its the hormones. I ended up going slower, which ended up being better for me but it might be better to just rip the bandaid off. Feeding is an important bonding time now but there's plenty of ways to bottle feed and bond and those babies adore kisses and cuddles and so many other things to share with mama. And it gets easier as they get older and doing so many cute fun things to do together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150673 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:59:19 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2150673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry.</p> <p>I didn't have quite that many problems but did have terrible PPD and it was related to (not) breastfeeding, one fed the other. </p> <p>All I can say is that my kiddo is a couple years older than yours and it's really not a big deal at all anymore. If you have more babies you can always try again. I know it's hard to deal with at the time.</p> <p>Can't recommend fearless formula feeder's website enough. There are so many stories of moms just like you. You're not alone.</p> <p>And you're a good mom- don't beat yourself up! It's ok to formula feed and have a good time enjoying your baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/formula-feeding-depression#post-2150666 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:52:21 +0000 clumsyatheart 2150666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey everyone. My baby is 5 months now and formula fed. I started off exclusively pumping because of past issues and tried to nurse her a bit at a time with no success. After trying everything from an sns to a nipple shield, facing a blow in supply due to mastitis and no longer responding to the pump, I quit trying at 4 months. I found out my daughter has a tongue and lip tie, plus a high palate. My bfing pediatrician told me to stop and that an ENT wouldn't be necessary, so I stopped.</p> <p>I can't even express how sad I am. I love feeding my daughter, but any mention of nursing or seeing a mom nurse in public makes me cry. I still try to hand express with dismal results, which makes drying up impossible.</p> <p>Does anyone have advice for getting over this? Does it ever get any easier? I just sat in the bathtub sobbing because I'll never nurse her. It's horrible. </p>