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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".

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.