I don’t want to breastfeed

[Pancakdayz]

3 weeks in and now I’ve started it I feel like I have to keep going

My newborn is cluster feeding and it’s hell I can’t put her down without her waking immediately and crying for me she’s just been Feeding non stop she’s not even going an hour sometimes

Sleep is awful I can’t remember the last time I had longer than 2 hours in a ro

i have a toddler and the guilt I’m feeling because I just sit feeding my newborn is relentless

I feel like I have to keep going I just am hating it. The only thing I like is the ease of it but I just don’t enjoy this. I want to be able to have someone else hold my newborn for me I feel drained I can’t have 1-2-1 time with my toddler it’s just so difficult

Ohhhh zip it! Whether or not you can put up with the pain. Smug.

@sleepingbeau i don’t think anyone on this thread is finding your posts useful or relevant. You are welcome to your opinion but need to read the room.

Honestly don't then.
I bottle fed all 3 of mine. Happily after hating breast feeding the first. Made life much simpler.

3oz is a good amount at this early stage, it’s unlikely your baby is taking more than that via direct breastfeeding currently.

I felt so much guilt for neglecting DS1 at the beginning. I hated being so tied to feeding and always saying ‘just give me a minute darling’ a billion times a day. DS2 slept pretty well as a newborn gave that up at 4 months otherwise I think I would have lost my mind. I only continued breastfeeding because I literally didn’t know how to settle a baby any other way. If DS2 had taken a dummy I would have 100% quit. I had such a weird relationship with breastfeeding in the beginning - I needed it but I hated it!

We combo fed a bottle of formula a day from roughly where you are so I could entirely focus on DS1s bedtime. That was so good. Being completely honest, there is no way on earth I would get into pumping through choice. It’s the worst of both worlds. I speak from experience of pumping for tongue tied DS1. I know you have bought a pump but I really, really implore you to not go regularly go down this route with a toddler and a baby. I’d choose a bottle of formula any day over pumping.

I will say that it definitely did get easier for me from 6 weeks and was a breeze by 12 weeks. At 7 months I’m really glad we continued now. It’s practically easy and a lazy great way to soothe any problem DS2 has. But I still maintain it’s okay to quit if holding on to potential better times are coming doesn’t do it for you. I would have killed anyone who said that too me at 3 weeks tbh!

I kept breastfeeding for 6 months as I just couldn't let go of the guilt that I was doing the best thing. I look back now and kick myself. I wish I'd have done it earlier.

You don’t have to breastfeed. Or pump. Your baby will be fine on formula. Best of luck to you

No. You do not have to ‘soldier through’ pain. The gall.

Yeah, I’d see your picture.

Not the opinion of many on here but keep bleating on about being able for the pain and doing what’s best for the child regardless of how the mother feels…after all you did it!

Lol.

As if i don’t get cuddles from my baby because I ff. How funny.

Many things have been better than bf for me - Not being stressed, not having bleeding nipples, getting more sleep, being able to spend more time with my toddler. No guilt in the slightest.

Everyone I would also not let sleepingbeau wind you up (including op). For anyone who regularly reads breastfeeding post, i’m fairly confident it’s the same person as cowlover89. You’ll never change her mind and the same shit is always spouted that doesn’t take logic or a mother’s wellbeing into consideration.

Yeah it’s you lol.

Yes i’ve read the comments. Op is having a really difficult time and you told her to soldier on and enjoy cuddles. Nothing actually helpful. Great for you that you get sleep but Op doesn’t.

Anyway I won’t engage any further with the same old shit you always post and i would encourage others not to either.

How are you getting on OP? I remember feeling absolutely broken by all of that stuff at 3 weeks; that was the lowest point. It got better for me after that, and I did keep breastfeeding. I also pumped, and 3 oz with such a little one is a good haul! I probably got about that, and I could have fed a bloody village by 6 weeks.

You can absolutely give a bottle of formula if you want, or switch to formula entirely. Those things are ok!

If you want to keep BFing though, here are some things that helped me:

• Using a dummy, so that DC2 didn't need to suck ALL THE TIME
• Getting DC1 (who was a lot like your lovely little boy, so good and patient with the baby) to help with things so he felt included
• Handing the baby to DP so that I could spend some time with DC1
• Keeping DC1 in nursery (I recognise this may not be possible for you, but if there is some activity where he can go and be the big boy it might be helpful)

Omg, you should totally stop - bottle feeding is so much easier - you share the load (and the night feeds!) with a partner, the baby needs fewer feeds and is happier. Definitely bottle feeding all the way!

I never BF mine. Feeding time was always relaxing, stress free moments from day 1.

Please come back OP we’d all love to hear how you are getting on now.