Hellobee Boards

I BF my first for 12 weeks and switching to formula was definitely the right thing for our family at the time. I hope that I will be able to BF future LOs for a longer period of time, but not at the expense of a happy, functioning family. I was only able to really bond with M once I let go of the immense pressure of trying to nurse her and we have both thrived with her on formula.

My SIL used formula for her first two and happily BF her third for a year. Different circumstances, different babies, different choice of what was best for mom & baby.

@septemberlove: I think we just put so much pressure on ourselves to try to breastfeed that we don't realize how much happier we are when we stop the added stress. A happy mama makes for a better experience for baby!

@2PeasinaPod: I know I tried my hardest and honestly, I'm feeling okay with where we are. I hated DH for pushing me to supplement, but I think our current feeding plan is something we can all live with and it's a relief.

@Sweet T: Right on, mama!

Like Honeybee, I have no desire to try BFing with #2. Right now, I'm honestly considered adopting #2 anyway. If we do decide to have a second bio child, though, I will very happily FF that little nugget. I know that it works for us. It won't be an intervention, it will be a thought-out and perfectly acceptable choice.

I would pump like crazy and build a stash and see how long that takes me. Actually, physically breast feeding, just thinking about it, makes me want to vomit. It was that difficult for me. I would try for the first few weeks, but I'd mainly focus on pumping since it's less excruciating. I know my supply probably won't last long that way, but from experience, it's better than fumbling for weeks and beating myself up while bleeding the whole time. I'd likely supplement with formula from the get-go too. That way it's not so much crazy pressure.

I'm still very much working through my guilt and disappointment at not being able to EBF my twins or be able to give them any amount of BM for longer than 3 months, even though they are thriving on formula. I will absolutely try again if we have another. I want so much to be able to succeed at that. I wish I could be like so many of you that say you'll give it a try but not feel guilty and torture yourself the second time around; I'm afraid that will still be a struggle for me.

Awww, thanks you guys, for being supportive. As I wrote, I had a difficult time finding the correct words to explain my thoughts. I look at it like this, a person can use whatever words they would like to describe things, that's not what I take issue with. The world isn't black and white and the danger lies with labels.

In any event, we are one and done, but if we ever had a second child, I would do more work up front to try to get things to work, but if they don't, they don't. My undoing was the hospital grade pump and the ridiculous self imposed pump schedule I put myself on.

I will admit...I didn't even try. She was in the nicu and I was already pretty undecided and that made it even harder. At 3 weeks old now I am happy we went with formula. Seems so much easier for us both. No pain for me, and she sleeps 2.5-4 hr stretches....I won't be having more kids but if I did we would go with formula. I promise it isn't evil.