Not wanting to breastfeed

[Cocklodger]

99.9 percent sure I'm going to be causing a bun fight, really hoping that doesn't happen.
My LG is a few days old. I don't want to breastfeed.
I just,don't want to. Its difficult, It feels unpleasant (I have tried) I really don't like it, Its much easier for me to FF and I know FF is almost as good.
When I told my MW I didn't want to I felt forced to try, still don't like it now.
But I've had a couple of (negative) comments already about it, I don't feel like elaborating hugely so just say ''I just don't want to'', soon to be ex h has had massive a strop about it, My sister and mother have commented also.
Is it U for these comments to be made?
Surely its my right to choose how my baby gets fed without judgement.

I breastfed first baby, due to me being a new mum who felt pressured/bullied into BF, even though I had a big baby which meant I basically was sat with her on my breast for the best part of the day and night to meet demand. But I persevered and BF for 12 months. Had second baby and felt more confident in what I wanted to do, and FF from the word go. Both adults now, Neither had problems health wise, both equally clever growing up. So absolutely no difference whatsoever. Just do what feels right for you OP, and ignore the BF mafia.

Just to say I 100% agree with you. I read certain comments and thought they were not helpful at all.
As long as you feel you did what was best for you and your baby, no one can argue with that.
As I said, I chose not to even attempt breastfeeding or expressing and I stand by that decision. As did my mum 3 times. And I know plenty of people who didn't bf for several reasons. I hate people who judge. I'd never judge a person on how they feed their baby.

You do what feels right for you OP. I felt the same and my son has always been healthy and strong as an ox. He's now a 30 year old rugby player

Do what's best for you op. Ff or bf, whatever best. Ignore or challenge the comments and enjoy your cake.

"So absolutely no difference whatsoever. Just do what feels right for you OP, and ignore the BF mafia."

I don't see a lot of posts on this thread telling the OP what to do.

There is no 'breastfeeding mafia'.

There's a body of evidence supporting the view that breastfeeding is the healthiest and safest way to feed babies, and a few people here defending that evidence against a larger number of posters offering up the perfect health and development of their own ff children as anecdotal 'proof' that this is the case.

FWIW - my sister in law smoked all the way through her pregnancies and her dc are all tall, clever and gorgeous. Her son has just gone off to university to train to be a doctor and none of her kids succumbed to SIDS or weighed under 8lbs at birth. It proves fuck all about smoking in pregnancy, just as people's random anecdotes about their children's health prove fuck all about the benefits (or lack of them) of breastfeeding.

All I would say is, it does get easier. The first few weeks are the hardest. So if there's any part of you that wants to, do it. But if there isn't, don't! It was easy for me (and I was too tight to buy formula when my milk was free) so I fed both of mine, but my daughter literally just stopped dead one day, that was it, didn't want to feed. I bought formula that night and she's been on it every day since. Whatever works for you and your baby, it's your choice. x

It can really, really hurt and be uncomfortable at the beginning. I just bear with it for the good of my children. After about a month at the most it doesn't hurt any more and becomes easy. I guess most who give up don't know that after a while it becomes easier. Its just at the beginning that it can be horrible.

Do what is best for you and your baby. I felt extreme pressure with my first baby to breast feed and really got stressed and upset when my milk didn't come in and I had to supplement with formula. I really beat myself up about it because it was really pushed on first time mums. This time round I decided if I could I would breast feed but if not I would formula feed. So far - four weeks in - we have been supplementing again and I am way more relaxed this time. The baby is more content as she is getting enough to eat and I am getting more sleep and not feeling like I constantly have a baby attached to me. Win win in my book. Do what is best for you and ignore the negative comments. Your baby, your body, your choice.

I never even bothered trying. I had no desire to even try. Formula fed from first feed.

My midwife told me ' I would rather have a happy bottle feeding mother than an unhappy breast feeding one'
I had no intention of BF. I just couldn't do it. The thought of it just made me cringe. A shame really because I think it's a great think to do, it's free, the right temp etc. It's the actual act that puts me off.
They're your knockers OP.. Tell them to butt out

"FF is nearly as good" well it completely isn't - its a world apart so maybe you should reaserch the differences first but your baby your decision

Yanbu, I tried for a week didn't produce milk and then my ds got sick for a bit. During that time I just didn't have the time or energy to sit for hours pumping and trying all these diets and meds to stimulate milk supply. So we just switched to formula. No regrets. Night wakings could be split with dh which was a massive help. D's is healthy and thriving. So don't feel pressured. I personally feel that formula does the same thing, my consultant actually advised me to switch and told me at the end of it fed NOT breast is best.

Zombie baby is about 2.5 by now!

I haven't read all replies but if are still following Op I would like to say

GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY FOR MAKING THE BEST CHOICE, TOO MANY MOTHERS BEAT THEMSELVES UP ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT BREASTFEEDING IS IF ONLY MORE WERE ABLE TO BE AS CONFIDENT AS EARLY ON

As your baby is only a few days old I'm guessing the people making these comments are midwives and family members. Most people aren't going to care how you feed your baby, when you're ready to get out and about I bet you meet a lot of supportive mums.

I gave my eldest 2 bottles at start. Didn't even try to breastfeed. No regrets.