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Original poster

Breastfeeding is making me miserable

331 replies

Houndsandbooks · 26/01/2023 10:53

I have been breastfeeding my daughter for 2 weeks and it is making me miserable. I hate the limiting nature of it. I am unable to go anywhere and only I am responsible for feeding. My partner is fantastic and will give her a bottle of expressed milk at night whilst I try to sleep but all other feeds, burps etc are taking on average over an hour.
as for the promised oxytocin release, I haven’t felt any such thing. If anything my mental state takes a nose dive whenever she is at the breast.
I have spoken to my midwife and she has recommended introducing a formula feed at night but I really want to abandon breastfeeding and solely formula feed. I am also desperate to enjoy this time but the thought of 6 months minimum of this is filling me with dread.
any advice would be greatly appreciated

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Catcharolo · 30/01/2023 19:33

Parker231 · 27/01/2023 15:21

Why have you carried on when you hate it? Really sad.

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I didn’t enjoy breastfeeding my first that much either! I HATED it for a good while. But yep I carried on, for a good year or so. It’s not that surprising or sad that women do something they hate for the good of their baby though is it?! I also hate getting the paints out, cold toddler groups in stinky cold church halls, playgrounds in the rain, role play games… they fill me with gloom and negative energy. Of course I do them though! And they are probably less beneficial than breastfeeding, health wise at least. So it stands to reason that lots of mothers will continue to breastfeed despite disliking it.

Hoppinggreen · 30/01/2023 19:34

MarvellousMonsters · 30/01/2023 15:48

Since when has science and facts been fanaticism? Take your 'fed is best' rhetoric and ask yourselves why the NHS and WHO recommends all babies are breastfed for a minimum of two years. You may need to justify your own choices by encouraging others to make the same ones as you, but that doesn't mean they are the right choices. The science does hold up, the figures are significant and all the 'La-La-La-I-can't-hear-you' in the world won't change that.

Go away

KnittedCardi · 31/01/2023 12:20

MarvellousMonsters · 30/01/2023 15:48

Since when has science and facts been fanaticism? Take your 'fed is best' rhetoric and ask yourselves why the NHS and WHO recommends all babies are breastfed for a minimum of two years. You may need to justify your own choices by encouraging others to make the same ones as you, but that doesn't mean they are the right choices. The science does hold up, the figures are significant and all the 'La-La-La-I-can't-hear-you' in the world won't change that.

Because the science is based on populations. NHS for UK, and WHO for the world. Therefore it covers the whole spectrum of society, from the poorest to the richest, the uneducated to the well educated, poorly housed and lack of basic hygeine, to everything you could possibly need. It serves a purpose, but it does not apply to everyone equally.

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AllOutofEverything · 31/01/2023 12:42

If you live somewhere where mothers may not be able to make formula safely or be able to afford it consistently, then breastfeeding is always the best choice. Formula feeding is fine in situations where mothers can safely make it with clean water and sterilising equipment, and can always afford to buy formula.

WhatNoRaisins · 31/01/2023 14:46

Besides anything I'm not at all convinced that sort of breastfeeding facts is actually useful if you're not coping with breastfeeding or it's not working well. When you want to give something up because of issue A having a person lecture you on issue B doesn't help in any situation.

feedthepeony · 31/01/2023 15:54

MarvellousMonsters · 30/01/2023 15:48

Since when has science and facts been fanaticism? Take your 'fed is best' rhetoric and ask yourselves why the NHS and WHO recommends all babies are breastfed for a minimum of two years. You may need to justify your own choices by encouraging others to make the same ones as you, but that doesn't mean they are the right choices. The science does hold up, the figures are significant and all the 'La-La-La-I-can't-hear-you' in the world won't change that.

The only 'LaLaLa' people are like you who preach LaLaLaLaLecheLeague and shame other mothers for formula feeding their babies. Not everybody wants to whack their tit out and offer a nipple to a baby and have their mental health plummeted to the floor due to the very SMALL advantages (if you're not in a 3rd world country) of breast milk.

No mother is making the wrong choice to formula feed their baby. Would you say that to a mother with inverted nipples, who doesn't produce milk due to the inverted nipples making it hard for baby to match, thus making the baby dehydrated and hungry? That formula was the wrong choice? Or mums going through cancer treatment and can't breastfeed due to medication? Or women who have been sexually assaulted and don't want their breasts to be touched? People like you can fuck off.

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