Breast or bottle 2nd time

[frogem366]

I expressed milk for the first 12 weeks of DD1's life, and moved to formula after ill health.

My memories of expressing although I know the benefits of breast milk are better memories are of it being tough, sore, and hard work, with little free time. I know breast feeding is easier but I have very very inverted nipples and latching was never happening with all the help in the world. It wasn't until I asked if I could express and feed did I no longer feel like a 16yr old and more like my mid 30's age.

Second time I recon the latch issue is going to be the same, so I wondered if anyone had decided from the start to bottle feed rather than battle from the off. I will have 2 under 17mths and feel that this time round I just won't have the same time to express for hours of a day and care for both children. I know there is a lot of people anti formula feeding and I am not choosing to give DD1 the best start over baby no2. I feel unable to take to health professionals as they are all pushing breast feeding, and not allowed to comment on formula feeding.

I tried to BF dd is the hospital and in the first week at home. I hates evry single second of it, and she was on formula milk by day eight.

I am pregnant with dc2 and even though I know I wilk end up FFing, I still feel like I should try BF.

Im going to take in a box of those ready milks and just take it a feed at a time. It feels natural to put a newborn to the breast and that is wyat I will probably do, but I wont let myself feel like a failure if I FF.

I know our local hospital will let you go ahead and FF if I say it from the off and proved the formula at the hospital, but I just can't face that battle again in the hospital and feeling so crappy and both baby and I getting in a state at feeding times because it just wasn't working.

Should I say I'm just going to FF in my notes and then try expressing it out at home, or just try BF/EXpressing from the start, assuming if baby is feeding then they will let me home quicker as last time I was in 5days.....I couldn't be without DD1 for 5 days!!

"let you go ahead and FF" sounds awful! They sound very very against it. Lots of people choose not to FF amd they should be left to it.

Hi,
I excusively expressed for DS (prem) and DD (full term) for 6-7 months each. It was easier with DS because he slept more and obviously I didn't have a toddler then. I had very much the same issue as you but surprisingly found that DD could latch on, but not feed effectively enough. I ended up directly breastfeeding for comfort or to sleep, but giving bottles of EBM and some formula when there was no EBM left. It worked ok but was tough going.
if I were you I would maybe syringe express and feed some colostrum in the first day or two, and if the baby isn't having any success at all with feeding then go from there. But it is valuable to even get those few syringes full of colostrum and will transfer antibodies to the baby that are beneficial even if you don't carry on feeding.

HTH

Thank you jellynel makes sense when you put it like that, labour, feeding was all awful I suppose I just trying to make no2 the easiest and less traumatic for everyone from the off!!

Your eyes are defiantly wide open 2nd time round, and doubt there will be a 3rd. Also don't want to feel I'm neglecting DD1 in the process as I'll be home alone most of the time as OH works long hours.

Thanks ladies :)

Have you seen the latch assist from Lansinoh? It may be of some help.

www.lansinoh.co.uk/products/latching-on/latch-assist

frogem I think you should do whatever you would like to do but I'm curious to know if a breast shield was suggested to you last time?

Made all the difference to me both times.