I have four kids and my youngest is 9 months.( All were BF for different times and all were so different to each other.)  With him I got mastitis twice and thrush 3 times. My nipples bleed for 6 weeks and I was in soooo much pain I cried everytime it was feed time. He constantly had wind and would scream for hours and would take for ever to feed. NO matter how hard I tried he just wouldnt latch on right. 

I spent more time at the BF clinic than I did at home!!  I felt like a first time mother I was constantly TOLD "  not  to stop that it was best for bub, its free etc.etc.etc It was what everyone else wanted and I was beginning to hate them and bub.  After 4 months of hell I made the decision to stop. I  just couldnt take it any longer, and I didnt care what people said or thought. As soon as he went on the bottle he was a completely different bub. He was finally getting a decent feed!!  He slept and drank and  was happy. So was I!!!  This was the worst BF experience ever!!!    Dont feel bad at whatever choice you make after all your the MOTHER and you know whats best for your child and you. At the end of the day it has to be your desicion and no one elses.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to sit down with your partner and discuss the reasons why he wants you to BF and the reasons you don't want to. I understand that feeding a baby with a cleft pallate is extremely difficult but that doesn't mean that this experience will be the same.

Breastfeeding can be one of the most difficult but ultimately the most rewarding experience, it saves you money and it provides protection against illnesses and infections for you and your baby. Also women who have suppoertive partners are 10 times more likely 2 succeed so that is a huge bonus for you.

In the end you have to do what is best for you and your baby but perhaps give it a shot first before saying no way.

 I was unable to breastfeed my first two children, we were both left very stressed, tired ,unhappy and disappointed while trying to succeed at breastfeeding during the first few months. These first few months with your newborn are very precious and when I placed my next two babies straight onto formula we were both happier and healthier.                   Do whatever makes you the most confortable so you and your baby can enjoy your time together.

My 2 daughters never excepted breastfeeding so I bottle fed them and when I tried to breastfeed it hurt too much, but my 11 mth old son was easier and I successfully am breast feeding him, he seems happier than they did. Breastfeeding is better. When your child is born, try to breastfeed if you can and see how it goes.

I say do whats  right for you, your the one who will be doing it.

Breastfeeding is both the most rewarding and most difficult thing I have done, after getting (and staying) married and having my daughter in the first place. It is also harder if you don't have great support from your spouse.

Breastfeeding has the largest benefit in the six weeks after birth. You might consider trying in the hospital with the plan to stop after those six weeks are up, especially since doing so will help your body to recover from the pregnancy faster. You might also decide to give it a try just because it feels like the right decision at the time.

If you do get a few bottles just in case, I'd leave them in their original packing until you need to use them. If you get them planning to bottle feed, no big deal. In either case, I'd also start applying for whatever free samples of formula you can get... it really helped us when my daughter wasn't thriving (hadn't gained any weight for a month).

Hi Howdy, I'm breastfeeding 2 babies atm, 6mth old and 18mth old! For me, there was no question whether or not to breastfeed. But it was my own personal choice. Dont feel pressured to do it if you dont feel you can. If you do it to please your parnter, you might start to resent your bub and thats not good, for you and your baby. It is your decision in the end. Good luck and I hope the birth goes well.

Dear Howdy,

What do you want?  Did you have lots of milk when you had your daughter?  Do you think you would have breastfed if she didn't have problems?  Did you express and give her breast milk via the bottle?

I was happy when I had my first daughter that if it worked, then yes, breast was best.  However, if it didn't well I and nearly all of my generation survived on formula quite well!  (And in those dark ages, they didn't even suggest expressing). 

So go with what you deep down feel is right.  You don't have to decide before hand.  You may find your new baby likes to suckle and you strangely enjoy it.  I wa happy either way, and luckily for me it worked.  I was also extremely lucky that I was able to part breast feed and bottle during the day (when we were out) will no ill affects.  But, had it been formula from day 1 - for whatever reason - then modern technogoly has provided us with great formulas for our children.  We cannot empoy a wet nurse, like they would hav ei the old days.

i enjoyed breastfeeding, suprisingly. At the end of the day its up to you, as no one can make you. Give it a go, but just get bottles too incase your not up for it. It doesnt matter either way. If you look around you can you tell who was breastfeed or not? Good luck.

Nicky

Personally I would give it a go.

someone said that it isnt your hubbys decision to make about feeding well i think that is wrong as he is the childs father as should have a say in what happens.

If you can feed then feed. there is counsloring services to help you. I couldnt feed my first but i tryed hard and sucessed with my daughter.

if there is nothing stopping you give it a go. if you dont like it then stop.

Its not up to your husband whether or not you breastfeed, you have the milk not him. I your not compfortable doing it then dont. Its your choice. You could always try and see if you and bubs can breastfeed.Just take a tin of formula with you just incase breastfeeding doesnt work.

Ive bottle fed from the start, i never wanted to breastfeed and wouldnt have been able to anyway because my son was always hungry. We bond great, i dnt beleive you need to breastfeed to bond. my son hold on to my hans holding his bottle and i chat to him.

Hi Howdy, Get in touch with your local Nursing Mothers Association. They are not all breast feeding nazi's (lol). I joined as soon as I fell pregnant but I was not able to breast feed. They gave me wonderful help as I tried, but in the end I was able to hire an electric breast pump from them. All the while they gave me support and non-judgmental advise.  All the best with whatever your decision is,, after all , you know YOU best.

If you feel comfortable trying, give it a go. You can always stop if it doesn't work for you.

Personally I have found breastfeeding rewarding and a great bonding experience between myself and bub ( I will discontinue once I return to work) but I know it isn't the same for everyone.

Try it, you might love it. But if you don't, don't beat yourself up over it. Both bottle and breast fed babies thrive with love and caring from their parents and family.

Good luck!