To have breastfed one but not do with the other?

[Wellthisunexpected]

I breastfed DS for 2 years. I had not physical issues with feeding, it came easily to me. But he would not, under any circumstances take a bottle and my milk was high lipase so didn't last well when expressed.

But despite this, I hated every second of feeding. I was touched out, never got a break (he was only ever consoled by the boob and fed every 45-90 minutes for 4 months, then every 90 until 8 months) and had nursing aversion. I think this and the lack of sleep really caused my PND.

I am expecting number 2 and have no intention of bfing this one. I may do the first few days until my milk comes in but that's it. I just don't want a situation where this one won't take a bottle. But I just feel so guilty! Seems like I'm favouring one over the other! But I know deep down that if DS had taken a bottle I'd have switched anyway. Urgh. WWYD?

I fed my first til maybe a year and we tried a bottle probably 100 times in that time. Wouldn’t take it and like you I felt touched out and in my experience the hormones made me more anxious and verging on Pnd. Baby was Velcro baby too. Second time I started bf, but it was harder to establish (or maybe my heart wasn’t in it so much) I got ill and gave up at 2/3 weeks and ff. In my case it contributed to the whole happy Mum happy baby thing. Baby has always been super happy, I got to share nights so didn’t end up run down and exhausted as before, and most importantly for me, I didn’t spend so much time feeding and could spend better time with my older one.

This was the best solution for us, and that’s what matters. Your choice, your family, your way. No one else has a say. They can have an opinion but that’s all.

Personally I think 6+ weeks is too late to introduce a bottle but that’s my opinion and it will affect supply for bf at any stage.