bottle feeding

When i had my 2 babies years ago I b/f for as long as I could as well. The first child was a piggy and I couldnt keep up. I tried as well to get help and didnt get anywhere and being a young mum I did whatthe nurse told me to do adn put him on bottle. Then the 2nd child came and I b/f him as long as I could with him as well (10wks) In this time I developed severe PND, Cooper didnt know how to attach and one partcular nurse was screaming at me to keep trying. He wouldnt settle and ended up in a place called TRESSILLION to teach him to sleep and to teach him b/f after we came home the doc realised he had colic and had to go onto a bottle that had a special thicking agent in it so it would stay in his belly. It is horrid and you do feel guilty but now i am stuff it I will do what is best for me!

I had all the information and all the help in the world but still was unable to breastfeed my baby.  I was told I had flat nipples which caused so much pain I still shiver when I even think about it.  I persevered in hospital, with all the midwives and the lactation consultant assisting me but had to accept defeat as my little one was in need of a proper feed.  I will never get over the guilt of not being able to breastfeed my baby, something which I assumed would simply take some practice.  I know I tried everything I could even expressing the tiny amounts of milk I had for my baby for five weeks,but I will always feel this way.  Funny that I don't judge other mothers for not being able to breastfeed as I now know how tough it can be, but can't forgive myself.  It seems so unfair that some women are able to breastfeed with ease or with  only a little early trouble.  I can't help but feel extremely jealous of them.  My baby had a bottle for 11 months but now she drinks from a straw cup.  For those first 11 months I felt so self-concious about bottle feeding my baby in public, and felt like people were quietly thinking to themselves that I was a bad mother.  I also regret persuing for so long ,as bottle feeding and expressing, as well as going back to the lactation consultant appointments took so much time away from getting to spend quality time with my daughter and sleeping that I feel I was robbed of those first five weeks.  I wish one of the midwives or the lactation consultant had suggested that breastfeeding was not going to work out, as it was pretty clear this was the case, and saved me on missing so much time with my darling new baby.  I think breast is best where possible, but sometimes we are pushed too hard to do it even when it clearly is not going to be successful.  Sometimes I think we are the ones that push our selves the most. 

I think for moms like me who are advocates of breastfeeding, I find the fact that you were not able to find help and info to help you through your breastfeeding journey a bit sad. Clearly you wanted to do it, but you just didn't get support. You wanted to do it so much, you tried again and again with your other children.

I think I am speaking for a lot of moms that are advocates of breastfeeding when I say that what we want is to be able to help women who chooses to breastfeed by giving support and correct and accurate information. In supporting those who chose to/trying to breastfeed, I am in no way, directly or indirectly,  putting down those who do not.

You're right. You shouldn't feel guilty.

great advice stacey

i have bottled feed both mine i didnt have a choose with caitlin my oldest i nearlly died having her and when she was born i was rushed to icu and didnt get a hold till the next day  as i lost 3 litres of blood . and my last i bottle feed as i had the risk again for  lossing the blood again

bel

Great advice Stacey

I think both are best for baby. As I have 4 children, bottle fed the 1st two, and breastfed the last two. I think it's a personal choice of the mother! Whichever way she chooses to feed is entirely up to her, and no one should comment or degrade a mother for that choice! We should support every mother out there, whether they are a sister/friend/online friend or whoever on which way they choose to feed.

 Shelley

Great story Stacey......it's about finding out what is best for you and your baby and about supporting other Mum's in whatever they choose to do.

Amanda xxxxx

great article

cheers xxxx

thanks stacey for sharing your story with us,

hugs and kisses