I have got an 8 week old and while I’m loving being a mum my mental health has been a bit shit historically and I’ve struggled to cope with the lack of sleep and how this has impacted my anxiety.
DD has been a good sleeper at the start but recently has had whole nights where she’s been awake the entire time - impressive! DH helps where possible but does have a demanding job and I willingly take on the middle of the night alone.
We used to use formula top ups after each feed as midwife advised this (I don’t think they were needed but whatever). Since then I’ve worked tirelessly to get her EBF because it meant a lot to me to be able to breast feed. We managed to get there about a week ago and I felt a great sense of achievement!
Thing is though, having a bottle with night feeds makes her go to sleep. I know some people say this is a myth but in my experience it sends her right off and she will sleep for 3-4 hours solid as opposed to keeping me up all night. I did this last night because my mental health is so poor at the moment.
I do want to BF the rest of the time but WIBU to just give her a bloody top up bottle in the middle of the night so I can get some sleep?
If I commit to giving the bottle for the duration, do I need to worry about supply? Happy to accept she gets this night time bottle until she starts solids, and beyond. Presumably I might stop producing as much milk to make up for top up but can still breastfeed at the times when she doesn’t have the bottle? I will still BF her in the middle of the night but just add the bottle afterwards - 40ml or so to help her drift off.
Please try not to judge me too harshly 😬😬 I want the best for my baby, but a mentally unwell mum is not the best.