Did you ever regret formula feeding from birth?

[Needsomeguidance103]

I say from birth but I’m considering ff as soon as we get home from the hospital after giving baby colostrum in the hospital.

With DS I tried, and tried, and tried to get him to latch but due to a rough start in nicu and latching issues we stopped at 9 weeks and I went onto formula. I think I have a bit of trauma from it all… I’m thinking will it be easier, especially with a toddler at home to do bottles/formula from day one?

Did you ever regret not trying breast feeding or are you happy with your choice?

please no arguments or nastiness in the comments, happy for discussions and opinions though

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Fed is best!!!

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

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

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.

My DD was also NICU and tube fed for 12 days - too late to properly establish BF and she was only 2.2 kg at birth and my boobs are (were) quite large. I did express as long as I could but ony lasted about a month. MY DD is 16 this year and a very healthy girl who rarely gets sick and already towers over me.....

Nope.

Nope. My last pregnancy was twins and I gave it a go but wasn't for me. I couldn't produce enough milk and I was constantly drained so switched to formula so their dad could help out with feeding too

Nope. I had a hard enough time without added pressure of breastfeeding. Surviving not Thriving. I know myself as I’m sure you do, that it may be in the child’s physical interest to be breastfed (fact, breast milk is the pinnacle of nutrition for children), it’s not in their or your mental interest. We are so lucky to have safe access to an alternate nutrition source for our children which also helps mothers mental health. I was a much better mum as a result of formula feeding and I refuse to have my choice being used as a weapon against me.

(I also had a planned C section so I guess I’m probably an easy target for all the earth mothers in my baby groups LOL)

I only regret not sticking to what I wanted and only starting ff at 4days old, I will NOT be guilted into bf if I have another and ff from birth x

No way at all

No never regretted it for a single moment. Although having recently looked after my baby nephew I do regret not getting a perfect prep machine or whatever they are called.

Nope, both mine were formula fed in hospital.