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Should I feel guilty?

18 replies

Newmummy1234 · 25/03/2015 09:52

Sorry for the long post but you are all so lovely I thought I would write this here.

I'm a first time mum and dd is 12 days old.
To cut a very long story short the labour went horribly wrong and ended up with her life in danger. Had an emergency c section in the end under general anaesthetic. When I came round from the general there was too much morphine in my system that they had given me in theatre so they gave me formula to feed her. Unfortunately this meant that after when I tried to breastfeed her latch was wrong and she couldn't seem to do it despite lots of help from midwives and breastfeeding support. Because of this I got cracked cut and bleeding nipples. Eventually got latch sorted but then dd started throwing up blood. In hospital they did lots of tests that were fine so they said it was coming from my nipples. I was told to express only to get my nipples better. I've been expressing but not always getting enough milk and so have been topping up with formula.

I feel really guilty. Feel like I'm not feeding her properly as im not properly breastfeeding and not properly formula feeding either. I just wanted to know if anyone else is in a similar situation? I feel really alone!

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Seeline · 25/03/2015 10:00

Congratulations on your new baby!!
Don't be hard on yourself - you've had a pretty rough time and are doing your best Smile
My Ds was born after a rough labour and ended up in special care being tube fed.
I was in a pretty poor state needing blood transfusions etc and found that I was getting virtually nothing at all when I expressed (they fed it down the tube).
After a few days they took him off the tube and I could begin bfing, but he was hungry and I was knackered so I always topped up with formula.
We carried on with mixed feeding until he was 6 months and it worked brilliantly for both of us.
the guilt is horrendous - worsened by exhaustion and hormones. But you are doing your best and your DD is being fed so that she is happy and satisfied. She is not going hungry. Give yourself a break and follow the advice you've been given.
In the same way that we don't get an instruction manual when the baby's arrive, they don't have a set of instructions either - we all just have to muddle through to make the best of what we're given Grin

Nolim · 25/03/2015 10:02

Op dont feel guilty for doing the best for you baby.

I had to mixed feed since i had some trouble breastfeeding. I was formula feeding mostly. As long as your baby is thriving who cares if you bf or ff?

Mimsey · 25/03/2015 11:07

It takes a lot of mothers, even without your difficulties, a long time to get the hang of breastfeeding and for the supply of milk to properly get established. I also had to supplement with a special formula. It took me around 3 months to feel comfortable breastfeeding. A little breast milk is better than none at all, it's fine to mix with formula. With time you will get to know when your baby is hungry and if he is eating enough, he will find a way to let you know what he wants. Don't forget the baby needs to learn to latch on too, it takes time. My baby was born early and I felt that she was having a lot of trouble latching on, her mouth wasn't big enough. Stay strong and don't feel guilty.

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Mouseymum · 25/03/2015 11:48

Baby might have tongue tie - this caused me mega problems with latching at the beginning. Try and make an appt with a b/f specialist, who can hopefully diagnose (you need a specialist - GPs and HVs often miss it). Don't feel guilty, you're doing what your child needs to thrive.

KatyN · 25/03/2015 13:37

CongrAtulations.. I don't think you should feel guilty but it is really hard.
My boy was delivered in an emergency and spent 2 weeks in intensive care. I totally failed to breastfeed. Tried really hard and cried so much about it.

From hindsight gained by him being 3.5 now, I totally did the right thing and next time won't try to breastfeed because the whole experience was so traumatic.

Some people ask why you aren't breastfeeding.. That was hard because I could tell them the whole story and cry or a short version and feel I as doing myself a disservice. Lots of people don't bat an eyelid.

Take care f yourself, you've just had a full on experience and you hormones are as crazy as they can be.
Kxxxx

namechangeafternamechange · 25/03/2015 13:51

Congratulations on your new baby Flowers Grin

Please stop feeling guilty, you and DD have been through so much in her very short life already without the added guilt of being unable to BF 'properly'.

I managed a whole 12 hours of BF before having to give up (I was physically unable to hold my DS in place during a feed, those 12 hours were with MCA's holding him in place!) but I didn't feel guilty, far from it. I was just happy that there was another option that meant I didn't starve him.

I absolutely take my hat off to you for trying to continue, despite having what sounds like excruciating nipples, but I do wonder why you have kept going? Do you feel under pressure to do so?

The fact you have put yourself through so much pain to BF your DD, I am in no doubt you are going to be one hell of a mummy!

Midorichan · 25/03/2015 13:56

I was exactly the same. Horrendous 36 hour reverse labour, horrendous emergency c-section under general anaesthetic, terribly shocked by it all and neither baby nor I could seem to learn to breastfeed properly (tried for about a month before giving in to pumping full time). I sometimes had to give him formula when I couldn't express enough but then ended up expressing whenever I could with additional time even after milk had stopped flowing in order to get my supply really going. My son was a VORACIOUS eater so I had to pump sooo often to keep him fed lol (he would also feed every hour to two hours every night until he was about 7.5 months old). I'd pump every two hours from 5.30 am up until about 10pm, in order to make enough0, then once in the night. I switched him to formula though at about 7 months when my frozen stash of breast milk ran out and I could no longer keep up with him.

I pump full time now too for my second and it's not even close to being as arduous though still every 2 hours during the day. She's had formula too a couple times when milk wasn't much in the start but again just pumped until empty and then some frequently and made sure to drink a ton if fluid right after each pump and now we're good :) I ignored anyone that tried to lecture with the whole formula thing - their opinions meant diddly squat, so I just did what made me and baby happiest, formula supplement or no.

Do not feel guilty. You are doing your best - you do what's right for you, formula, breastmilk or a mix that's YOUR decision, as long as little one is loved and warm and safe and fed xx

ginmakesitallok · 25/03/2015 13:59

Congratulations on your new arrival. And welcome to the guilt that is motherhood! You are doing what is best for your baby.

In the years to come there will be lots and lots of other things to fell guilty about, and you probably shouldn't feel guilty then either.

Midorichan · 25/03/2015 14:00

I should add though that all that pumping for him made me feel very low and down all the time - in hindsight, I wish I'd been more relaxed about the pumping thing and done half and half with formula - I would've been able then to have enjoyed him more and not be so worried and stressed about producing enough for him all the time. I wasted those precious months with him due to the anxiety over pumping. Now I'm more chilled out about it with my dd, if I miss a session I don't hate myself like I did last time x

happygirl87 · 25/03/2015 14:01

OP, you're brilliant Flowers Maybe ask if this can be moved to the breast feeding topic, and/or refer to mixed feeding in the title? You may get (even) more traffic there Smile Brew for you

RabidFairy · 25/03/2015 14:12

You are feeding your baby. How could you feel guilty about that?
Don't be so hard on yourself OP Smile Flowers

Congratulations on your baby!

Nolim · 25/03/2015 16:12

Oh, and sleep depravation is a bitch. Take care of yourself: sleep when you can, eat well, forget about non essential chores.

And remember that formula is baby food not poison, and that breast is best except when it is not! Flowers

Givemecaffeine21 · 25/03/2015 21:55

Please don't feel guilty. Motherhood and Guilt go hand in hand unfortunately. You are feeding her, she is being nourished. Enjoy her and don't waste these precious early (sleep deprived) days feeling guilty. I couldn't BF mine, they are both healthy, happy and rarely ill and in my non-biased opinion, very bright Grin Grin .

momtothree · 25/03/2015 22:05

Yep bottle fed all three ... also fit healthy and top of the class.... I didnt feel guilty - didnt happen - different reason for each - move on if your unhappy - just tell those asking u express and ignore

slightlyconfused85 · 25/03/2015 22:31

No you should not feel guilty for one second. The only thing that matters is that your baby is fed and it really doesn't matter how. Please don't let it get in the way of enjoying your dd, feed her however works for you and enjoy her.

Sorry your birth was traumatic and big congrats on your dd. Smile

TLCohmy · 25/03/2015 23:18

Oh wow, definitely do not feel guilty. There never needs to be guilt, for any reason. If you had simply chosen to ff or to mix feed then you wouldn't need to feel any guilt.

However you have additionally had a huge impact on your physical state, and no doubt emotional state - every birth will do that! But you have that added impact from undergoing a traumatic event and major surgery. Go easy on yourself, you have this beautiful baby, you've done something amazing, all you need to do is rest up and take care of yourself and the baby, ideally with help from others too if you have it. Taking care of the baby just means warm, dry, clean and fed, and most of all loved, whichever way you reach those states is not important.

As for your question at the end, a lot of mothers mix feed and face those difficulties establishing bfing. Some continue to mix feed, some fully establish bfing, some move exclusively to ffing. After I had DC1 I tried bfing, expressing, then tried topping up with formula... long story short my milk never came in, DC1 was losing weight and becoming dehydrate, I decided to ff exclusively. A good friend had an EMCS and mix fed almost from birth, it took her within a month of the birth to establish a supply of breastmilk and she decided to continue mix feeding which she did without issue.

Have you had visits from MWs or the HV? They can help with anything immediate but they will also know about other support available in your local area. There are also breastfeeding groups that will visit at home if you wanted to talk it through and get further advice and support for bfing. Hopefully you have others around you to support you too. When you feel up to it there will be groups at local children's centres, support cafes etc where you will be able to meet other mothers and hear their experiences and that might be helpful too, just to have some RL support from people who can relate. And of course, MN will always be here Smile

Flowers
fairylightsbackintheloft · 26/03/2015 08:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheGirlAtTheRockShow · 26/03/2015 09:52

Congratulations on your new baby!
Your baby is being fed, cared for and is loved. What is there to feel guilty about? In 6month/a yearno one will even ask what milk your baby had.

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