Feel a bit of a failure.....

[marshmallow2468]

I'm being ridiculous, somebody please slap me!

4mo DS has been breastfed since birth, aside from a couple of days in hospital where he had formula top-ups due to quite bad weight loss. I've mostly found it quite easy, although I've never really enjoyed it. It's been going very well mostly, but DS has become very difficult lately, particularly at night, so we've made the decision to try a bottle of formula at bedtime. The main reason for this is so I can go to bed earlier as I'm severely sleep deprived - DS has gone from waking once a night to waking to feed five times a night. I'd say it was a growth spurt and put up with it, but it's been two weeks now.

I was just so determined to do 6 months fully breastfeeding, that I feel a bit of a failure by actually wanting to introduce formula. I never intended to breastfeed beyond six months, and I'm still of the same opinion, but I'd not wanted to change over at all just yet. It's so stupid, I know that formula isn't poison and I've never judged anyone who chooses not to breastfeed, but it's a bit of a personal failure that I've not reached a milestone I set myself. A milestone that so many other people seem to reach easily.

Somebody please slap some sense into me! And any stories of successfully adding in formula while still continuing to breastfeed are welcome too. I just have a fear I've set myself on a slope towards bottle feeding, and I'll probably get there quicker than I wanted.

You are not on a slope to anywhere!
My DD has had one bottle a night since birth for exactly the reasons you give. It has not affected breast feeding at all.
I have found mixed feeding to be a very positive thing.
This may actually help you to continue feeding for LONGER as you will be less tired and that little break makes a huge difference.
Have you actually given him a bottle yet?
You have done a great job, this does not change that. Just enjoy the extra sleep!

Thanks smartiepants! Good to hear you've done this and it's worked out OK. He took bottles of formula in hospital, and has regularly (every week or so) had a bottle of expressed milk when DH has had him on his own, or it's been a special occasion and I've wanted a couple of drinks. Hopefully he'll go for the formula, although no guarantees there of course.

marshmellow DD2 is nearly 5 weeks old and has had one sometimes two FF bottlesbetween 7 and 10pm. Breastfeeding is going fine x

Absolutely not a failure. I mixed fed from 2 weeks as I was so tired I felt like I wasn't making enough milk in the evenings.

I understand how you are feeling massively. I Ebf DS1 until 4 months then a gradual mix of breast and formula until finally stopping bf at 13 months which i was thrilled to do. This time round, although we got off to a great start, DS2 who is only 7wks old is being very contrary as to when he will feed from me and it has become a big struggle. This week I made the emotional decision to start switching over to formula, combined with some expressed milk (he loves the bottle!!?) from me. Basically where we are similar is that our expectations are different from the reality and that can be hard to accept! But you are adjusting things to suit the real life situation you are faced with and tbh, you have done amazingly well - embrace that bit if freedom you are going to be gaining and know how well you have done this far and rather than beating yourself up, give yourself a huge pat on the back!