Thinking of switching to mixed feeding

[vvviola]

DD is nearly 9 months and EBF. She won't take a bottle at all, isn't a brilliant eater (although she is improving) and wakes every 2 hours at night.

I'm exhausted and run down & I start university in 2 months & I'll have to leave her in childcare from 9 til 3 three days a week.

It is my birthday today, and DH and I had a minor row last night because he is worried about me being so tired, had wanted to send me away overnight or to a day spa to relax (DD1 is pretty full-on too!), but couldn't because DD2 can't be away from me for more than a couple of hours.

Add this to the battering I get every time I feed DD (she pinches my breasts, wriggles, kicks, turns her head without letting go of my nipple) and I'm beginning to find bf really hard. I've got bruises all over my breasts from last night's pinching & thumping!

So I was thinking of trying to introduce a bottle/cup of formula occasionally (thinking that she may be more likely to take formula than bm from a bottle). But then I get a severe case of the guilts for even thinking about it. I'd planned to bf until at least 1 and then gradually wean onto cows milk.

I'm totally confused and exhausted and need someone to tell me what to do (or tell me to get a grip, one or the other!)

If you've managed to read through all the ramblings, thank you. And help!!

Oh and I forgot (how I don't know!) to mention the biting. Bedtime feeds are prime time to try a little bite instead of feeding

I think you need to look at the bigger picture - the health and happiness of your whole family, including yourself. You've done brilliantly to EBF for so long, and really, an occasional bottle of formula, especially at this age when she's weaned and you are planning to tail off BF soon anyway, isn't going to do any harm. If I were you I'd use the small ready-made cartons, which are 62p for 7oz, as they are so much easier and have less risk of contamination than the powder if you are only using occasionally. That's exactly what I do for my 6 month old DD and it hasn't impacted my ability to BF at all.

Oh, and happy birthday!!!

Happy birthday and sending you a big hug. You are doing a fantastic job bringing up your dc. There is nothing to feel guilty about when It comes to making a decision on how you will feed your baby. The main thing is she is fed, whether you decide to keep EBF or adding in some formula. I fed dd1 and dd2 on formula and am EBF dd3. At the time I felt incredible guilty when I was feeding them formula as I thought I was poisoning them!! Of course I wasn't poisoning them! They have turned out well and growing well!!

I agree with cuppateajanice and looking at the bigger picture and what will benifit you all!! Whatever decision you do make will be the right one as you know best. I'm she your dh will support you in whatever you decide!!

My dd is the same age. I am doing the same but having a bugger of a time getting her to take a cup (I don't want to start her on bottles at this late stage). I'm back to work in three weeks so she'll have to!

You know, you all make perfect sense - and I certainly don't think formula is poison DD1 had formula from 5 months.

I don't know, it kind of feels like cheating ... especially as I am one of the lucky ones and other than the current pinching, biting etc I haven't had any trouble with bf at all.

I think I just have to get my head around the idea of it being different to how I'd planned.

Please don't feel bad! Why not see it as one more food that you're introducing as part of her weaning? Also, maybe you could try to express first, she may not like the taste of formula...mine just chews teats and sippy cups and recoils from anything but my nipple so no luck there. But, if she will take your milk it may be an inbetween. Or you may find you can just give her expressed milk. Take care of yourself and happy birthday plus one! :0