I have a medical condition, need advice on breastfeeding then formula feeding

[Tilly877]

I'm a first time mum and due any day now, and I've been debating breastfeeding v formula feeding the whole pregnancy and still to be honest very unsure what to do.

I have a medical condition (autoimmune disease) and take various medication for it and in remission for years as under control, the doctors say it's safe to breastfeed as only very minimal transfers to milk but I still just don't feel right about exclusively breastfeeding on it, I've been feeling guilt while pregnant as it is but that's my personal issue.

I do want to give baby the colostrum etc so she gets the benefits of breastfeeding at the start and then move to formula.

Is this something I can do?? Or would it be best to do a bit longer than formula feed? Or combination feeding from birth?

My thoughts are also by formula feeding my husband can help with the feeds so baby isn't attached to me 24/7.

I'm so confused on what to do and unsure on what is best, my midwife says it's just up to me but I don't know so any advice appreciated. Thank you

You could just wait until baby arrives and see what feels right for you? Rigid plans tend to be a bit of a recipe for disaster with babies anyway and I think if you get a fixed idea of things in your head in advance you can end up feeling like you failed to execute a plan, rather than realising you’ve responded to the specific situation you’re in. So get informed about breastfeeding and formula feeding, find out about local breastfeeding support as it’s often brilliant, and then try and relax/wait and see?

for what it’s worth, I exclusively breastfed and gave expressed milk from a tiny cup when he wouldn’t latch, avoided nipple shields, didn’t give a dummy etc to avoid ‘nipple confusion’ in the early weeks, and as a result when I wanted to give milk in a bottle he point blank refused and would poke the teat and laugh. If I’m lucky enough to have another I’d maybe introduce the odd feed from a bottle earlier so they believe it works, if I thought I might want to give some milk that way.

I am on Humiria fentanyl oramorph and diazepam and still breastfed all my children. Trust the doctors.

Trust the docs 100%
I combo fed all 3 of mine, then moved to just formula after 10 weeks. No medical reason, just personal preference.
There are loads of things to feel guilty about with children OP, don't start with breastfeeding 😁

I take a number of different medications and I bf. Ime doctors are very cautious so if they say it’s fine it will be.

Hello, it's a personal opinion what you do and what feels right. I had to do top-up feeds at 2 weeks and had issues with cmpa in the end but one thing the GP said to me was if possible not to do combi feeding so early as it can upset the gut going between the two milks. I didn't research it so have no evidence but that might be something to consider.

I combi feed now at 7 weeks due to cmpa but sterilising bottles is such a faff!!

Good luck and enjoy the baby cuddles

If you want to give baby the first few days of colostrum, then move to bottles, do it.

If you want more guidance on what impact the drugs may (or may not) have on baby, these guys are the experts
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/

Congrats on your upcoming baby.

You may find that you feel differently when your baby’s here so keep an open mind and prepare for both. My attitude when pregnant was I’ll see how it works out and try to breastfeed but not put too much pressure on it, when baby arrived I felt completely differently and breastfeeding became very important to me.

Have a look at the breastfeeding network website, you will find up to date evidence based information about the drugs you are taking and safety in breastfeeding. You can email their pharmacists and they will go through it with you, they are highly trained and specialised in this area and I would be really reassured if they say these medications are fine for breastfeeding. There are very few medications which are contraindicated in breastfeeding.

I’d trust your doctors when they say that BF is safe for you. As other have said, doctors tend to be very cautious when it comes to babies, so I’m pretty certain thru wouldn’t want to put your baby at risk by suggesting BF is ok when it wasn’t.

By all means formula feed if you want to for other reasons, but to decide that the risks of BF outweigh the significant benefits (both health wise for the baby but it’s also a whole lot more convenient!), when the doctors have told you it’s safe, seems a bit illogical.

Thanks everyone.
I'll take a look at the breastfeeding network website. I guess I'll know once she's here what feels right and see how it goes!