https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:20:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666859 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:30:35 +0000 skipper2010 1666859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww don't let it stress you out already. I went back and forth for a while and ultimately I decided to try, but it didn't work out for me. I remember how stressed I was and how I felt like a failure, but looking back I wish I hadn't put so much pressure on myself. The important thing is that your baby is being fed and getting the nutrients he/she needs. If you're open to trying to BF then you have nothing to lose, but FF doesn't mean you're a bad mom. Someone had posted a link recently with new research being done on siblings where one was FF and the other BF and there were no significant differences long term. Do what feels right for you and your baby will be perfect either way. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666813 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:23:43 +0000 birdofafeather 1666813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for me personally, BFing was much easier and less stress than making a bottle. in fact, in those beginning months, i was so in awe of women (and men) that woke up every 2 hours in the middle of the night and had to prep bottles with a crying baby! DD and i had to learn how to BF, but it was pretty easy in the grand scheme of things.</p> <p>so i agree with PPs. see how it goes! give yourself grace to try, make small goals, and be okay with supplementing as needed or stopping if it's too much because you have a LO already that was FF and you know how awesome they are! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666793 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:19:58 +0000 Applesandbananas 1666793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think going in with an open mind is a wonderful strategy. I regret putting so much pressure on myself. I think just trying it out is a totally fine strategy. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666748 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:10:04 +0000 Trailmix 1666748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mkp17: honestly, the thing that kept me BF-ing vs FF is that it's free. And I'm cheap. Not sure if that's a motivator or not but it helped me :grin:<br /> I agree with others, why don't you try it and see how it goes? I think it's actually really good to go in with the mindset of try and see and if it doesn't work, switch to formula and that's that. That's what I did bc I was having twins and wasn't sure if I'd be able to but I was! I think a lot of angst about BF-ing comes when moms are dead-set on BF-ing and then have issues, for whatever reason.<br /> If you go into it without the pressure of really wanting it to work, you might be pleasantly surprised! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666737 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:07:35 +0000 ShootingStar 1666737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too was convinced that breastfeeding was going to be horrible and I warned DH that if I was miserable and wanted to quit, he needed to support me. </p> <p>At the beginning we did have some struggles. DS's latch was good (so not muc pain, no bloody nipples like I feared) but we did have thrush for a while. When he was cluster feeding and my boobs couldn't take it, we formula fed. </p> <p>For a few months we were EBF and that was awesome. But my job is very busy and stressful and I can't keep up with pumping. So now at 6 months we're transitioning to part time formula and I'm actually dreading drying up completely! My supply had gone down some and I now have an awful cold and need to take decongestants or I'm really miserable. I hope the decongestants don't dry me up too much because I dread having to make bottles in the middle of the night, I dread having to get up earlier to prepare a bottle in the morning. </p> <p>Anyways, that's been my experience. I'd suggest that if you're open to it you try it and if it doesn't work it doesn't work. I thought I'd hate it, but in the hospital I loved it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666719 Thu, 29 May 2014 19:04:52 +0000 septca 1666719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: exactly this. Everything you said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666668 Thu, 29 May 2014 18:54:25 +0000 lawbee11 1666668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @Arden: I was convinced I wasn't going to be able to BF successfully because of all the horror stories I read on here. But BFing has been really, really easy for us. LO is almost 10 months old and we're still going strong. People aren't going to come on here and start threads about how easy BFing is....the people that start the threads are usually the ones having problems. So if it appeals to you, give it a shot and you might find that you worried for nothing! And if it's too difficult/ you don't enjoy it and you choose to switch to formula that's ok, too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666638 Thu, 29 May 2014 18:47:16 +0000 Mamasig 1666638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I attempted to breastfeed DS1. I only lasted about 2-3 weeks. He didn't have a good latch and I just felt he wasn't getting enough from me. Honestly, a bottle was so much easier. I felt guilt in the beginning about quitting, but I know he didn't care how he was getting milk. And he is a healthy and happy baby! I know he is healthier than some exclusively breastfed babies.</p> <p>I recently gave birth to DS2. I breastfed him for less than 2 weeks. To be totally honest, I don't like breastfeeding. For me it was painful and not something I looked forward to. I see how others struggle through the pain and make it work. But that's just not me. I did not feel any additional bond with my son when I breastfed him. I felt exactly the same as when I would give him a bottle. Actually, I felt more at ease because I wasn't in pain. I had told myself that I would try with him and hope it would work. Well I tried, but I'm good with formula. And I really didn't feel bad about it this time. My boys need a happy mama - breastfeeding just gave me extra stress.</p> <p>And if I have a third, I don't know if I'll even try next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666609 Thu, 29 May 2014 18:40:29 +0000 hellobeeboston 1666609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @Arden: give it a try and see if it works for you and your baby - if not, move on! Do whatever works best and feels most comfortable for you and your newborn!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666579 Thu, 29 May 2014 18:35:57 +0000 Arden 1666579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I would try and see how it goes. It might come really easily for you (it's the easiest thing in the world for some people, including me) and actually be LESS stressful. It doesn't hurt to try right?</p> <p>I think you hear about all of the trials and struggles a lot here because the people who are having an easy and enjoyable time if it don't need to post! There ARE people who find it relaxing and easy. Maybe you'll be one of them! :)<br /> Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666502 Thu, 29 May 2014 18:11:35 +0000 Charm54 1666502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried to BF lo1 but we had some supply issues so we EPed and formula fed. To be honest, I didn't enjoy BFing and I personally think the long term benefits are largely overstated so for me it wasn't worth the anxiety and stress. I'm a huge advocate for giving women the support and resources they need to feed their babies how they want/need to... whether that be BFing, FFing, EPing, combo feeding, donor milk etc. I'm also in the camp that a mother does not need a reason to FF that society deems "valid". </p> <p>I know for future LOs I will either EP or FF from the start ... A lot of people look at me with 10 heads when I say I won't even try BFing again but I see how healthy, happy and bonded my 8 month old is and I am happy with my decision to bottle feed. Fearless Formula Feeder website has been a WONDERFUL resource for me in terms of providing information and looking at the research through a critical eye.</p> <p>Good luck! Id say try BFing if you want to, but don't stress about it if it doesn't work out or you don't enjoy it. There are lots of great supports out here for whatever way you end up feeding your baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-the-choice-to-breastfeed-or-not#post-1666475 Thu, 29 May 2014 17:59:17 +0000 mkp17 1666475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this topic can get a little tense, but I do need to put it out there to see if anyone else is having/has had these feelings. I'm due in 3 weeks and my plan is to breastfeed at least for a couple of months until I go back to work. That being said, it's the one thing that is causing me a ton of anxiety and that I can't get comfortable with. </p> <p>I have a very healthy, happy daughter at home that was exclusively formula fed (she is adopted) so the "unknown" of trying to deal with a 15 month old and the trials of breastfeeding is really stressing me out. </p> <p>Has anyone out there made the decision to not breastfeed (without a medical reason)? Any advice that can calm my fears? </p>