Hi all, first thread, not even sure if its in the right section. Anyway, here goes.
I'm 38+1 so D Day is looming, I've got all my bottles, steriliser and one tin of formula so far (incase it doesnt agree with her or whatever) so I am actively wanting to bottle feed. I have my reasons for this and while they are not reason enough for most, they're good enough for me. Mainly because I have DD and she will be 3 very soon, I am a SAHM and feel like this will limit all I am able to do with her aswell. I BF DD for a brief period, ended up with bleeding nipples and a blocked duct and I gave up. I stopped BFing with barely any perseverance. This I honestly regret, however, DD ended up being a very hungry baby, she was put onto extra hungry formula on recommendation of HV and if i'm honest, I had such a happy baby. Her feeds were clockwork, I knew how much she was drinking, when she would next wake etc it was a lot easier for us all. I was in an abusive relationship with DD dad also and I honestly feel like if it were not for DD I would not be still here, I was ground down so much, literally on the verge of a breakdown, I have my baby girl to thank for getting me through that, this reason is selfish but because of this I want to be able to spend as much quality time with her when the baby comes as possible, I dont want her to feel as left out as she may. I feel like if I can give My Mam or DH the bottle they can feed her while I spend a little time with DD.
Now for this baby, this baby is DH's first child (long story short, we worked together a few years ago, both in relationships, met back up with each other as friends when I split with DD dad and he had been split with long term ex for approx 8/9 months, we totally hit it off and now we're married :) lifes a funny old thing) anyway, as this is DH's first child, it is FIL's first biological grandchild, hes very paternal, when he and MIL divorced DH and his sister stayed with FIL etc. MIL is a cow tbf, but anyway i digress again, FIL is very defensive of the fact I should try to breastfeed, its BEST for his grandchild. Then you have the health visitors, who when I told them I wanted to bottle feed, looked so narked, like literally as though i'd pissed on her kids, then my MW is trying to push BFing aswell.
Why, oh why, can nobody accept the fact that I would really like to bottle feed, I knew exactly where I was when feeding DD, and it honestly worked for me, I don't feel like I bonded any less with her, she is a very happy 2 year old, tall, strong, active, absolutely beautiful and the HV tells me her speech rivals that of at least a 3 and a half y.o and while im not saying she wouldnt be the same if i did BF, i'm just saying formula feeding has done her no harm.
What I really want to know is are my reasons valid enough for not wanting to? Should i really even care what other people think?
More of a rant than anything but if you reply, Thankyou!
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Infant feeding
Feeling criminalised for not wanting to BF
47 replies
RavioliOnToast · 22/01/2015 08:26
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