Did you breast of formula feed?

[isitThursday]

I'm not looking for a debate just wondering. Did you breast, formula or mix feed?

DS1 breastfed for 5 days and then formula fed. Later diagnosed with severe tongue tie, lactose intolerance, and severe silent reflux.

DS2 EBF, he latched and fed easily and is still feeding now at nearly 2.

Two very different babies and feeding experiences.

Combi fed my twins for 6 months then went to formula. No regrets I did exactly as much as I could without breaking myself!

Pregnant again and will combi feed again

I BF two out if the three of mine for the guest 6 months then went into solids and formula. My DS 2 had a nasal gastric tube and fortified, high calorie formula for the first 5 months as he had such low muscle tone that he couldn't manage breast or bottle.
There's all sorts of reasons that the opportunity to BF might not be there and it really isn't the end of the world. Having said that, I found BF my babies one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

Formula fed first child, breastfed second child for a month before moving onto formula as she wasn't gaining weight like she should've been. Now formula feeding second child and she's thriving. Planning a 3rd baby in the not too distant future and will be keeping an open mind with the hope to combi feed 😊

Bf 4 children no regrets, had no issues either despite one with tongue tie and 2 emcs, fed all to at least 2.

I needed this thread today. Four day induction to end up with a section with no visiting due to COVID plus trying to bf was/ is brutal. All midwives missed tongue tie so for almost a week she's not been getting nearly enough and I've been none the wiser until her weigh ins and I feel awful. and guilty.

Waiting for tongue tie referral and having to top up in the meantime with formula/ expressed milk - which is also difficult due to not great supply due to not latching correctly for days.

I don't know what I'll end up doing but hearing it's okay to go formula if needed has really helped. Thank you everyone

@ThelastRolo20

I'm so sorry. You sound like you're having such a tough time. Have you thought about going private for the tongue tie? I had heard that appointments are taking a while at the moment (although I suppose it does depend on your trust). You can definitely get your supply back up, maybe consider speaking to a IBCLC certified lactation consultant?

There are a few online people I follow, Lucy Ruddle and Lucy Webber are both on fb and insta, you could message them for a video consultation for advice?

Also, I used the Facebook page Breastfeeding and Lactation Support U.K. which was so helpful

I really hope things get easier for you

1st formula as I was very young and baby had additional needs requiring high calorie specialist formula
2nd EBF
3rd EBF

Ds1 was combi fed via ng tube for 3 weeks then formula fed after that as my milk dried up.
Ds2 was formula fed from birth as I never produced a drop of milk for him.
Honestly I'm glad they were formula fed as they were both incredibly ill at birth. Dc1 spent 5 weeks in the nicu and then came home with complex feeding needs but was able to bottle feed. Formula meant that I could rest and recover from nearly dying.
For ds2 he didn't have the energy to feed when born and would vomit up everything he consumed and scream for more. We spent a month in hospital on our own (thanks covid) as he needed surgery to fix his stomach before he starved to death. Formula meant that we could monitor his consumption and nurses could help feed him as I crumbled into a mental breakdown.

Oops that was long. In short, do I feel guilty. Not at all my boys are happy, healthy and alive.
I couldn't ask for more especially after losing 3 other babies

Formula- produced no milk for 4 days. I didn’t really fancy bf anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Started off BF but as I was so ill after the birth I stopped producing milk. I tried pumping but just couldn't get enough so I formula fed my first.
Second is due soon and I'll try to BF again and have bought a proper pump. If it doesn't work out I won't be beating myself up about formula feeding again.

I breastfed both to about 7 months. After that knew they were getting nutrients from food (they both ate well from 6 months) so I felt OK about switching to formula at this point. I enjoyed breast feeding but also wanted my body back. For me it was a good compromise.

FF - DS is doing well!

Me and DS had medical issues but think women should do what is best for them. If I had another (not a chance now) I think would FF straight away as trying and 'failing' at BF contributed to my PND/PNA

BF for 9 months. Always felt guilty as he had reflux and doctor wouldn't prescribe anything because apparently it had to be taken in a bottle. I decided to stop after getting mastitis, it definitely has downsides.

Breastfed and found it so easy

Dc1 bad lip tie so wouldn't latch, I was overwhelmed and FF but later felt hugely guilty that I hadn't tried hard enough which contributed to my PND.
Dc2 latched but I found incredibly painful even after 3 weeks and loads of help so ended up exclusively pumping but as I'd lost a lot of blood and was severely anaemic I didn't produce much milk and ended up mix feeding. Kept pumping until age 1 but even then milk supply didn't increase.
Dc3 another painful latch plus he was just bloody impatient so after a few bottles of formula to top up in early days I'm exclusively pumping again but this time I have an oversupply even though I'm pumping less often then last time..I'm keeping it up until 3 months then on a month by month basis until I want to stop..I will not be feeling guilty this time however as I've learnt that as long as baby is fed and growing then I'm doing my job right!
Exclusively pumping is a killer, you have to pump every 3 to 4 hours as well as washing and sterilising bottles etc but as my dp is working from home I'm finding it easier, I definitely wouldn't do it for long if I didn't have help.

First mix fed the first 8 weeks
Second EBF the first week then formula

BF was a bit much for me, mentally. I suffer the baby blues really bad and trying to establish BF on top was breaking me. FF does relieve a lot of the mental pressure in the early days, or it did for me anyway. When I gave myself permission to FF both times it was a weight off my shoulders.

@nuggetschicken, your Dr is an idiot. All reflux meds can be given separately from a bottle. Both gaviscon and omeprazole are dissolved in a little water and given on a spoon or syringe either before or during a breastfeed.
A bottle is less faff as you just mix it into the formula but infant gaviscon even has the breastfeeding instructions on the back right next to the formula instructions.
I know it doesn't help now but it might help others or for future reference

Breastfed, wouldn't change it for the world!

Once we got it established, it was the easiest thing in the world, and such a helpful parenting tool, a boob is the solution to so many things, BFing's not just food! If my DC were not sleeping / ill / too hot / too cold / cranky / needed distraction while having a jab, BFing would usually be the answer.

I was so grateful to be able to BF when my DS got so sick as a toddler he wouldn't even take water, but he would BF. If I'd not been able to feed him I'd have gone spare with worry.

It's reassuring to know BFing supports the immune system.

Sterilising bottles & making up formula looks like such a faff, glad I didn't have to do it.

Plus, BFing is free.

Bf for 6 months then switched to formula. Started some new meds ‘thought’ to be safe for bfing but not certain; so I decided formula would be a better choice.

I didn’t really enjoy bfing - DD was a very efficient feeder but it meant I got engorged & painful very quickly, leaked every night, everything smelled of stale milk. Felt quite awkward in public & wearing clothes suitable for bfing was a faff.

Formula fed my DS and really pleased I did, you hear so much about breastfeeding being the right way to go but I think formula feeding has many benefits!!

Bear in mind bfing isn’t a complete food - it’s a poor source of vitamin D so you have to supplement that.

Thank you, I have actually booked a lactation consultant for Wednesday. She can do the procedure on the day and I hope we can go back to just breast feeding. If it doesn't work out at least I'll know that I've done everything.

Thank you for your suggestions :) @RedRobyn2021