Feeding stories. Did you breast feed or formula?

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Anyone have any stories about feeding. I’m thinking of breastfeeding but I’m worried about doing it.

Just as a point, many PPs have talked about breastfeeding and the physical benefits. Aside from one feed a day, DD was breastfed for months but has needed antibiotics twice before a year old (chest infection and a UTI). I hope she's protected against other diseases but bf didn't do much to protect her against the onslaught of illness once she started nursery.

I’m breastfeeding as well and the physical side was better than I expected (esp after reading so many stories about the challenges of BF online). It was only painful for about a week, used Lansinoh cream and let my nipples air out at home. Had a lot of pressure from my parents regarding EBF and good milk supply so I did a no-no, which was to start pumping very early (started around 6 days post partum). Not sure if that worked or if I would have had a normal supply anyway, but my output did go up and haven’t had problems feeding since. Had some engorgement pain within the first 2 weeks but that went away fairly quickly too.

However the mental side of BF is tough because you’re the only person who can take care of baby. After weeks of 1-2hrs sleep per night, I felt like a broken person. It wasn’t so much baby blues but just the physical torture of being so tired you feel like dying, and knowing another endless black night stretches out before you. Husband does what he can but I’m reluctant to mix bottles with breast every night due to nipple confusion (still not sure if that’s really a thing or internet fearmongering to make women suffer).

Now at 4 weeks pp I really enjoy the act of breastfeeding and how adorable baby is when she’s latched on, but the frequency and lack of freedom is challenging. I intend to EBF all the way through for health reasons but greatly underestimated the personal sacrifices you need to make.

I EBF to five months, then switched to mixed in preparation for going back to work at six months. I've been back for two weeks and he's now nearly entirely formula fed, though I still do one evening and one morning feed (which he's rapidly losing interest in, I suspect because I have almost no milk now).

I always suspected that the massive BF/FF controversy was nonsense and now I've done both I'm certain it is. They both have pros and cons. FF is more hassle than BFing an older baby and takes up more of my time, but I can see how it would have been easier when DS was still in his 'each feed takes an hour' stage. BFing is nice bonding time, but so is giving baby a bottle - it's a nice milky cuddle either way. DS does sleep better now he has bottles at night, but on the other hand I have to get out of bed and go downstairs when it's my turn to feed, not just get a boob out.

I think on some level I thought that life would get loads easier once he was formula fed because people go on so much about how it's the easy/lazy option. Turns out having a baby is much of a muchness however you feed them, and it just doesn't feel like a big deal to me.

I have four month old BF twins.

Yes it is hard at first. My nipples would hurt, I got engorged, milk blend etc., but we worked through it.

Yes it’s tiring, yes cluster feeding is a pain in the arse, but it has been one of the greatest joys of my life. There are honestly no words to describe the joy of looking down and seeing your smiling baby look back up at you. Plus my babies obviously draw so much comfort from being BF. Bottle feeding is just not the same (and I know because they occasionally have a bottle of ebm) BF is the biologically correct way to feed your child. It is what we are designed to do. I would BF forever if I could.

I’ve ebf DD for three months so far and will continue to. I love it and it’s been easy. No problems at all. Give it a go and see how you get on.

Currently bf 7 month old. Had a painful first 13 weeks but got through it and didn't want to give up after getting so far. Very convenient and easy (making up formula sounds like such a hassle!) not sure how long will carry on bf - maybe until 12 months. Wouldn't say I 'enjoy it' but it is very special to get this far.

OP it would be helpful if you said what your worries are about breastfeeding.

I’m still breastfeeding my baby at almost 9 months. I had some pain for the first few weeks but his latch was good despite a minor tongue tie and it’s just been a joy - so easy not having to prepare bottles, and it comforts him as well as nourishes him - if he’s ill or in pain it’s often all he wants. His sleep hasn’t been great but I don’t ascribe that to breastfeeding (he’s a massive eater and has had 3 big meals a day since 6 months and that hasn’t changed sleep either) and it’s much easier for me to feed him at night than it would be with formula.

I’m so happy I persevered in the early weeks, but every mother, baby and situation is different. Feeding is a big part of the first months because that’s all babies really do, which is why people fixate on it I think. There are health benefits to you and baby if you breastfeed though.

I intended to just breastfeed when my son was born but was advised to go onto formula too as he had lost a bit of weight in the first few days due to me not producing enough at that point. We decided to keep doing combination feeding which was lovely, I enjoyed breastfeeding, it was the bonding part of it that I loved. I did that for four months until my son just seemed to go off my milk and wouldn’t take breast anymore. I was a bit sad about it as I wanted to aim for 6 months but accepted it. He’s now 2 years old and I’m 7 weeks pregnant with our second. I intend on trying to breastfeed again or do combination feeding again.
You could always give it a go to see if it’s for you. If it’s not then don’t do it. I won’t lie though - the first few days we’re really painful but if you stick it out it does get a lot better and more comfortable.
It’s entirely your choice!

I mixed fed for a few months then went to EBF until weaning. I had terrible nipple pain for a week which was helped with lanolin.

DD as a newborn was an intense cluster feeder who could go from 4pm to the early hours of the morning which was we why we gave her a bottle so I could get a few hours sleep. Then it became less intense and I got over my fear of cosleeping.

In hindsight I wonder if she was a colic baby and a lot of that cluster feeding time was in fact her comfort nursing.

What kept me going at BF was the thought of having to get up in the night to make bottles.