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Before having a baby I’ve always thought that bottle feeding wasn’t going to be an option.
Everyone used to tell me that breastfeeding was better, healthier and cheaper and honestly, it looks so good and easy in the movies.
Well, after having my little one I tried pretty hard. No one told me that it could be a point were your nipples could even bleed. And in my case, they did.
I tried very hard for a few weeks but it wasn’t happening. The baby wasn’t getting enough milk so he was crying like crazy during the nights and waking up too often during the day.
After those weeks were I was crying every time that the feeding time approached, my husband and I decided to buy a pump (because formula wasn’t an option… how was I going to give my baby formula having milk inside me that was much better – how bad mom was I going to be?)
So I got a pump. At the beginning, I was feeding my kid every 2 hours, what means that I had to pump the milk for around 30 minutes, feed the baby for another 30 minutes, then change his nappy and get him to sleep. Overall, it used to take me 2 hours to do all that.
You do the maths… he was eating every 2 hours and it was taking me 2 hours. That’s basically too full on. Not time for me to eat, not time for me to have a shower, clean, etc.
At the beginning it was manageable because my husband and mum were at home, but after a few weeks when my husband was going back to work and my mom back to Spain, was something unthinkable of.
All the midwifes that came home to check up on the baby and me, used to ask me if I was going to go back to breastfeed, but that wasn’t an option.
After visiting a doctor, he recommended me to take a pill that will cut off the milk. I got it but I said to myself “I’ll wait as much as I can before giving up on breastfeeding”
Well, after sleeping on the pillow that same night, I woke up and took the pill and gave my kid formula for the first time. The feeling was horrible, I thought I was the worst mom on hearth as I felt I wasn’t doing enough for my newborn. Next day I still felt bad, but a bit better, and everyday was a bit easier till a point that formula was better than I thought it was going to be.
I’m not saying any of the options is the right thing to do, what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t matter what the other moms are doing, you have and must do whatever works better for you.
Then I started asking other people, other mums. Some of them breastfeed for 6 months, other for 12 and others not even for 1 day, and I realized that I was the best mom I could be. I was giving my child the best option for both of us. The best option for him, because he had enough milk every time he needed it, the best option for me, because in my case, breastfeeding was killing me and making me unhappy, so formula was the best way to be mentally healthy and be able to enjoy my little boy.
That’s is why I wanted to write this post, because I would like to tell all the future moms not to worry. You’ll do it great and you’ll find the right way for you. Just not forget about this, every baby is different and so is every mom.
Mommy4real 
Hi, my baby was in ICU for the first 2 and a half weeks after his birth and I was breastfeeding every 2 hours whilst in hospital, however I had to go home without him after a week (worst feeling ever) and I couldn’t express milk and get back and from the hospital in time to breast feed. I ended up combination feeding, some breast feeding, some breast milk, some formula and some half and half. He was settled and it worked well. When I got him home it was great as my husband could do some feeds too. Although at 3 months my son weened himself off the breast and preferred the bottle, I admit I felt bad that I hadn’t managed longer on the breast but I gave it a good go. Combination feeding helped him be strong and healthy and helped me from getting to stressed when I couldn’t get to the hospital in time for a feed. It allowed my husband to be part of the early stages too and ultimately my boy was happy and healthy. I personally don’t feel that anyone who cannot or chooses not to breast feed is a bad mum, it’s about getting through one of the thoughest times in your life as a happy and healthy family unit. Don’t beat yourself up about it. If you’re giving your baby all the love, hugs and tears you have in you, then your doing a great job. Xx
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Sarah, thank you very much for sharing your experience. I love how you point out the matter that “if you’re giving your baby all the love, hugs and tears you have in you, then you are doing a great job” I just think that’s so true and real.
And I also agree that not breastfeeding doesn’t make anyone a bad mom.
I can’t start saying how thankful I am reading your comment and I’m super sure this will help many women out there.
Thank you again! Xxx
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I felt the same way, thanks for your story
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Laura, I was like you. I thought that I would breastfeed for ages and that formula would not be an option until my baby was much older. It all started off ok and my baby was enjoying being breastfed however it got to a point where she needed more than what I was producing. I bought a pump too but that didn’t help that much. I also ended up doing a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding and in the end she preferred bottles. She was getting the amount that she needed and it also gave me a break! I must admit I felt guilty, I had always said that I would breastfeed for ages but you just don’t know. You don’t know how much your body will produce, you don’t know how much your baby will (or won’t) enjoy it, it’s all a learning curve. You do what works best for you, as long as you’re giving your baby what he or she needs that is all that matters. Happy baby, happy mum! 😊 xxx
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Hi CB, I don´t know how, but knew that was you 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing your story. I´m happy having other moms participating with their experiences as it give more scenarios that just mine.
I´m sure many moms are in the same situation as you were, and this will make them feel better. Because we are not talking about what right or wrong, but what it works better for mom and bub. Sometimes is breasfeeding, sometimes is formula, pumping or mix of everything.
And as you clearly said, as long as you´re giving your baby what she/he needs, that´s what really matters. Because it´s so true…. happy baby, happy mum!
Thank you heaps!
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Oh, it’s CB by the way 😘
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