To feel relieved I have chosen to FF DC2..

[lollyloo88]

I had a difficult time BF first DC 3 years ago and we moved onto formula within days.
I fully understand the benefits of BF babies and this is not a post to ask people to persuade me to try again, I won't be doing it so please don't comment if that's your agenda.

I just wanted to say how much relief I feel in saying I will formula feed this time from the off and I just wanted to hear from other similar minded ladies or those who did just that and the benefits of doing so! Xxx

DT’s were on formula from Day 1 - don’t regret the decision. It made for an easy life - healthy babies and happy parents. Everyone helped giving bottles and grandparents loved flying over for a visit and being able to give their grandchildren their bottles - day and night.

I never even considered BF either of mine.
They are both healthy teens now and I never regretted it for a second. In fact when I hear about some of the difficulties in BF for some mums it makes me absolutely sure I did the right thing for all of us.

I did the same with DC2. I actually did one BF in the hospital but when I got home decided I wasn't going to continue. I did pump for a couple of weeks so she had the odd bit of colostrum but she was 99% FF. Best thing I ever did. I massively struggled when DS was born and really think a lot of it was down to the pressure to BF. I was so much more chilled out when DD came along.

It has to be the right choice for you and your situation. You've made an informed decision and that's just fine.

Thanks ladies. I feel so comfortable with it that I am almost perplexed why I let it bother me so much the first time!
I also know my first baby slept a lot better than my BF friend's babies, I was always smug about that ☺️
Can you tell me did the midwives question anything in the delivery room?

I bf for 8 months last time, didn’t stop DD catching every bug under the sun. Aiming for a few weeks this time just for the colostrum then will keep an open mind and see how I feel.

Not to rain on your parade or anything but my bf son slept through from 7 weeks, and always has done since. So the correlation between sleep and feeding is tenuous really. 🤷‍♀️

Doesn't rain on my parade at all, so glad you were a lucky one too :-)

I was the same, really tried with my first, had to give up after 2 months as I kept getting mastitis, and ended up on antibiotics in hospital, had all the guilt from family and HV pressure, but FF actually worked best for us, husband did all the night feeds which helped massively

felt such relief when second time around I knew going into hospital how I would feed and felt no guilt and was very straight forward with my wish to FF with midwives.

enjoy your baby OP.

Sorry forgot to say, midwives didn’t say anything. I think when you’re on your second, they know you have the experience and don’t try as hard to push. Or that was my experience this time in hospital and with HV.

Thanks all, I had my first midwife appointment the other day, I just said we're going to bottle feed this time and she said "ahh don't worry that's what I did" 😄

I didn't even think about bf ds1 qnd ds2 and 3 I only managed a few days. I did bf ds4 though for 3 years

I think you do what is right for you and your family. Women shouldn't feel so much pressure , bf doesn't work out for everyone and some times it can be just a case of really don't want to which is a valid choice too.

I never had a mw try to talk me into bf or try to make me continue trying when I'd decided I didn't want to

I fostered and so FF a few DC/babies. I was shocked how easily I got into the routine of it.

I BFd my own two, and found it very convenient and easy (for a basically disorganised woman). I expected FF to be much harder than it actually was!

I've had 3 - all fed on formula - tried BF for last one but despite having naturally really big boobs, had real issues getting much milk . Don't regret it at all

I struggled for 5 horrible weeks to bf Dc1, the relief when we switched to ff was incredible, I had an infection with Dc2 and had to stop at 5 days, it was a get out of jail free card to me. I hated bf, it was torture.

There’s really no need to feel smug about it. Relieved maybe, but not smug. It might have been a coincidence, or it might just be that babies generally digest breast milk quicker and more easily.

I would say about a third of the women I encountered in hospital were formula feeding, and I didn’t hear them persuaded to do otherwise by the midwives.

Agree with this! My son slept through the night since 11 weeks and he's breastfed. Not down to how they feed. It's dowm to the baby. Some love sleep. Some don't

My DC1 was 8 weeks prem and struggled to breast feed. I exclusively pumped for 4 gruelling months and it destroyed my mental health. I was exhausted from expressing every 2 hours and resentful.

With DC2 I knew from the off I just wanted to FF. I did have a slight wobble when my milk came in and thought....maybe I should just try. But then I remembered how dark of a place I was in after DC1 (not down to BF alone but it certainly contributed) I felt it might trigger me so decided to carry on.

Dc2 is now a happy, healthy, bouncy 6 month old who has tracked on the 90th centile consistently from birth. No regrets!

Yes I had issues with my my son when he was born 2 and a half years ago. He was premature and wasn't able to latch. I expressed for 2 months which was agony and exhausting. While I was pregnant I had no desire to breastfeed so not sure why I put myself through it. Currently pregnant and due in June. Will be formula feeding from the off as have absolutely no intention to breastfeed this time round also.

I bf for three months each time but there's no doubt they both slept better once on formula. I also felt less 'tied' physically and psychologically and enjoyed parenting much more. The faff of making up bottles was far far outweighed by how much more in control I felt.

I remember my mum phoned me on day 5 after I was struggling massively with flat nipples that were bleeding, and she said to me just don't do it, you don't need to do it, and that felt like my permission to go onto the bottle, it really was the biggest relief and from that point DH got really involved and I got a break.
My nips really are flat though, I remember the maternity nurse told me to make more of a nipple by squeezing my boob, so I did with both hands but then I didn't have a hand to hold my baby! Why didn't she say to me at the time I probably wouldn't be able to do it I will never know.

I really do respect women who do breast feed, especially those who don't find it pain free, those who do I'm sure it's a lovely and convenient way to feed your baby, and the ultimate cuddle! but those who persevere through the pain are made of different stuff to me..

Thanks so much for all the replies ladies, I feel in an even better place than before x

I formula fed my first after 5 weeks of desperately trying to get her to latch and pumping to maintain supply... was awful! Stupidly, I felt so much guilt. I managed to bf my second but I never had enough milk, he never settled (and I mean never!) and he fell right off the bottom growth curve. My ff daughter is perfectly healthy, after the struggles to bf my son he has allergies and asthma... in hindsight I let the guilt force me into the wrong choice for my baby and me. Congratulations on your baby and your confidence to do what is best for you let family xx