Hi all, first thread, not even sure if its in the right section. Anyway, here goes.
I'm 38+1 so D Day is looming, I've got all my bottles, steriliser and one tin of formula so far (incase it doesnt agree with her or whatever) so I am actively wanting to bottle feed. I have my reasons for this and while they are not reason enough for most, they're good enough for me. Mainly because I have DD and she will be 3 very soon, I am a SAHM and feel like this will limit all I am able to do with her aswell. I BF DD for a brief period, ended up with bleeding nipples and a blocked duct and I gave up. I stopped BFing with barely any perseverance. This I honestly regret, however, DD ended up being a very hungry baby, she was put onto extra hungry formula on recommendation of HV and if i'm honest, I had such a happy baby. Her feeds were clockwork, I knew how much she was drinking, when she would next wake etc it was a lot easier for us all. I was in an abusive relationship with DD dad also and I honestly feel like if it were not for DD I would not be still here, I was ground down so much, literally on the verge of a breakdown, I have my baby girl to thank for getting me through that, this reason is selfish but because of this I want to be able to spend as much quality time with her when the baby comes as possible, I dont want her to feel as left out as she may. I feel like if I can give My Mam or DH the bottle they can feed her while I spend a little time with DD.
Now for this baby, this baby is DH's first child (long story short, we worked together a few years ago, both in relationships, met back up with each other as friends when I split with DD dad and he had been split with long term ex for approx 8/9 months, we totally hit it off and now we're married :) lifes a funny old thing) anyway, as this is DH's first child, it is FIL's first biological grandchild, hes very paternal, when he and MIL divorced DH and his sister stayed with FIL etc. MIL is a cow tbf, but anyway i digress again, FIL is very defensive of the fact I should try to breastfeed, its BEST for his grandchild. Then you have the health visitors, who when I told them I wanted to bottle feed, looked so narked, like literally as though i'd pissed on her kids, then my MW is trying to push BFing aswell.
Why, oh why, can nobody accept the fact that I would really like to bottle feed, I knew exactly where I was when feeding DD, and it honestly worked for me, I don't feel like I bonded any less with her, she is a very happy 2 year old, tall, strong, active, absolutely beautiful and the HV tells me her speech rivals that of at least a 3 and a half y.o and while im not saying she wouldnt be the same if i did BF, i'm just saying formula feeding has done her no harm.
What I really want to know is are my reasons valid enough for not wanting to? Should i really even care what other people think?
More of a rant than anything but if you reply, Thankyou!
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Infant feeding
Feeling criminalised for not wanting to BF
RavioliOnToast · 22/01/2015 08:26
TOTALLY your decision and FWIW I completely see where you're coming from. And that's not me as a FF mum, BF worked for us but I just don't get the big knicker twist thing with people being so nosey and judgmental. There is nothing wrong with formula and in the grand scheme of all the massive things you do to parent a child, how you feed them initially is not that big a deal. They are being fed - that's the main thing.
I wrote this if it's any help - I hope it made a small difference to judgey judge peeps, though who knows? sometimes people are determined to be right, regardless of other people's situations and feelings. It's your body 
bigtroubleinlittlenappies.com/2014/06/15/feed-and-let-feed/
I'm the poster getting the negative comments from friends re breastfeeding.
Just wanted to add that midwives and health visitors put a lot of emphasis on breastfeeding before my baby was born and in the hospital. However at weigh in when my DS hadn't put on much weight at about 18 weeks (despite being in the 90 something centile for height and 70 something centile for weight) I was advised to give him baby rice and formula. No matter that he couldn't sit up, just pop him in his car seat she said! I was also advised to express some milk and give it in a bottle although I still don't know how this was supposed to help.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, sven if you think you're doing everything as they advise they can be quick to move the goalposts rather than support you. Do what you think is best for you, baby and your family.
People will have an opinion no matter what you do and you may need to develop a thicker skin. And if you work out how to do that please let me know! 
I didn't even attempt BF-ing and I have a perfectly healthy and happy 23 week old gorgeous son
Do I feel guilty? No 
Congratulations! And remember to take some of the pre made bottles with teats to the hospital with you. If you choose to bottle feed, some hospitals won't (mine didn't) provide milk
YY Ishallcallyousquishy ... a loved, fed, clean, cared for baby (as most are) is what matters.
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