Did you ever regret formula feeding from birth?

I kept an open mind and tried bf with my first.

Did it for 10 days and was so exhausted I had to lie on the floor at baby clinic, I nearly passed out.
My mum said just give him a bottle!
Couldn't believe it, he slept for 3 hours with a full tummy, it transformed the whole experience for me.
Second baby I never even contemplated bf.

I know a lot of mothers who bottle fed their first but were successful and enjoyed breastfeeding their subsequent babies

Fed is best!!!

I combi fed for 10 weeks and then both me and DD said no.

I tried breastfeeding my first for six weeks and waw miserable with mastitis, boobs like bowling balls, breast pads, leaking, sleeping in a bra etc etc. I longed to ‘get my body back’ after nine months of pregnancy. Switched to formula and turned a corner. Life was SO much more manageable.

With my second I planned to breast feed for a week so that she had the colostrum and then switch to formula.

I wish I had persevered with breast feeding for longer with my second. Maybe - as an experienced mother - I’d have got on better with it? But we shall never know.

I mix-fed, but I never regretted a bottle.

But I did find breastfeeding much much easier. No need to have to prep anything!

I EBF both of mine but just posting for OP - my first wouldn't latch, she was prem and had a feeding tube in the end as she wouldn't even latch onto a bottle either... I did manage to EBF after she was about 5 days old (mixed fed before that via her tube) . I could only latch her using nipple shields for about 8 weeks and then just regular BFing thereafter. I post as our stories are similar- my second was so much easier to BF. She just went straight on the second she came out of me 😂 OP, you should absolutely do what is best for you and your mental health, fed is best, but if you wanted to try and BF your second you may find its easier. If you want to try, I'd also research the pros and cons of nipple shields. They aren't for everyone but they can occasionally be very useful, I categorically wouldn't have been able to BF DD1 at all without them

The pressure on women around feeding is awful. I’m sorry for everyone who has had bad experiences on this thread. 💐

If I was in your position, I would buy what you need to formula feed from birth, then see how you feel once your baby is born. You are in control and can stick with formula or switch to breast as you feel.

Write in your birth plan that you must not be pressured regarding feeding and must be free to feed your baby as you choose. And tell your birth partner so they can advocate for you as well.

No, best decision I ever made. Have a very healthy active 9 year old now. Honestly you do what goes you through those early days, weeks months..I promise you no one knows the difference when they are school who was ff, bf, the, who talked or walked first. You do what works for you. Some of my mum friends bf and some like me choose to ff. We just supported each other now matter what.

Not quite what you asked but I think regret breastfeeding and wish I had formula fed from birth. Breastfeeding nearly tipped me over the edge and honestly, looking back, ruined the first few weeks with my baby.

I bottlefed all 3 of mine. It was what I wanted to do and not something I have ever regretted. In fact it’s just as well that I did because I ended up in hospital for a month when DC3 was just 4 weeks old. My DH and baby managed fine without me.

One of my favourite photos is of my father in law giving a bottle to new born DS.

I don’t regret formula feeding but I think I regret breastfeeding. My youngest was breastfed whereas her siblings were formula fed. If I ever have another baby I will formula feed.

I did successfully bf my first but i deeply regret not ff from birth with my second. Long hospital stay and i was desperate to give him formula for a break, got pushed to keep bf and pumping. He was tiny, struggled to gain any weight. The pressure i was under with the feeding team was insane. It was just a doom loop of failed feeds and screaming for hours. One week on bottles he jumped a centile, pressure disappeared. Drown out the noise and do what’s right for you xx

Not regret… but I was - and still am - hugely disappointed and upset that breastfeeding didn’t work out for me. I so badly wanted to do it but totally failed both times.

Sorry you had such a hard time with your first. Could you set yourself a time limit? Try for a week and if this bubba doesn’t latch, just switch to formula.

I only regretted the formula I chose. It had loads of really unnecessary additives in it. I wish I had compared all the ones on the market and looked at what was in each of them. That was my only regret.

I'm guessing that's supposed to be Carnation Evalorated Milk? Apparently that's what I was fed on a long time ago too and I still love the stuff!!

As for my DC - he wouldn't latch, I wasnt producing so formula it was. I don't regret because it was what was necessary, but some sadness because I didn't get to experience BF.

Nah mine is 3, FF from birth and I never think about it. She eats a varied diet now, loves fruit and veg and is rarely sick. Once I'd made the decision I didn't give it a second thought.

I always wanted to BF but after a really difficult pregnancy,very prem birth and c section I decided not to but was really pushed into it by the SCBU nurses. I wish I'd had the strength to say no because I really believe it was the final straw and a huge contributing reason to my breakdown. Fed is best and by the time they are teens the only thing you're worried about is if they're necking energy drinks on the way to school!

I struggled hugely with my first and switched to FF after 2 weeks. I beat myself up but why? He’s now in his 20’s, barely had a day sick in his life, about to run the London marathon and in an incredible job. I haven’t a clue how a single one of his friends were fed. It just doesn’t matter at all

Nope and I will be formula feeding my second due in May.

I really tried to BF but couldn't get a latch and no-one offered any help. Apart from dsis who breastfed her 3. To be fair, her manhandling my boobs was the final straw and I gave up after that. Dd is nearly 22, has rarely been ill and I never gave the whole thing any headspace. Fed is best.

I breast fed all of mine but with my last one she did have latching issues early on and I think I would have moved to FF if I hadn’t had the experience to know what it should be like when it is working well.

Ultimately, parents need to make the best choice for them and their baby and wider family and it’s unlikely you’ll give it much thought five or ten years from now.

No not at all. DC1 was FF from birth (not even colostrum), he’s fine, fit and healthy. We had a good routine and he slept fairly well.

DC2 was a premmie and we were in the hospital longer, I attempted feeding her mainly so they would keep us together. We added one FF per day even in hospital at their advice and by 8 weeks she was full time formula as she wasn’t gaining weight.

Nope. Horrendous pregnancy and birth. I needed my body back or i would have sunk into depression. Didn't stop MIL from accusing me of poisoning her 'poor precious baby' though. Nearly divorced DH over it when DD was 10 days old.