Any health professionals who didn’t breastfeed?

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Just that really. I’m an ex health care professional and I'm unable to breastfeed as I have IGT due to PCOS (my second baby was born 5 weeks ago). The guilt I feel is unbearable… just wanting to know if any health professional decided to formula feed their children despite the benefits etc of breastfeeding. Just wanting to feel less alone if that makes sense.. sadly I have no choice but to formula feed my daughter.

I breastfed first for a few weeks and absolutely hated it. Formula fed dc2 and loved it, he's happy, I'm happy. Why are making such a big deal of this?

I’m a nurse. Struggled and couldn’t bf DC1, bf DC2 for 3 months but then gave up. I’m not a natural breast feeder. OP I’ve been where you are and felt incredible guilt, it contributed to PND both times. Honestly please don’t worry about it- you cannot tell now my kids are older. I found cribsheet a really reassuring read and as it was evidence based appealed to the HCP in me. There’s so many ways to be a good mother- bf is a tiny part of that.

You need to let go of the guilt, is your baby fed and growing? If yes, great. If no, it's not because you didn't breastfeed, speak to your health visitor.

This is the first of many things that people will judge for - mothers can't do anything without someone having another opinion about how it should be done better.

You need to be kinder to yourself.

• from a HCP who didn't breast feed (very traumatic birth, couldn't bear to have dd attached to me).

Didn’t breastfeed, just not my cup of tea! My kids are healthy and happy. I didn’t feel guilty either!

I'm a HCP and formula fed ds2 for various reasons. No regrets. You might find this article interesting fivethirtyeight.com/features/everybody-calm-down-about-breastfeeding/ by someone who looked at the evidence supporting benefits of breastfeeding and says they are overstated.

Your baby will do just fine. Fed is best

I was a nurse(now retired) and trained midwife. I tried to feed my first baby while being seriously ill after an emergency caesarean during which I almost died.I failed miserably and put him on the bottle as soon as I got home.When pregnant with my second (and last) baby I vowed that if I had to have another caesarean delivery that I would not breast feed.Well I needed another emergency caesarean so stuck to my word and baby went straight onto the bottle.
This though was 49 years ago when breast feeding was not pushed as it is now.This baby is now a grandfather, so not having great milk did not affect him in any way.

When I was having DD2 there was a nurse from the neonatal ward in the bed beside me. One of the midwives came round to see her (they were clearly friendly) and asked if she was breastfeeding, the nurse said no and they had a laughing discussion about how breastfeeding is more bother than it's worth! I was like then the community midwife told me she mix feed her babies at the start then moved onto formula only after a couple of weeks. Breastfeeding can be a challenge for anyone OP!

I didn’t breast feed .. I just didn’t want to.. and that was my choice.. please don’t beat yourself up over this.. you haven’t done anything wrong and your baby will be absolutely fine

I used formula for both my DDs. They are happy and healthy 20+ year olds now who have hardly ever been ill. In fact when DD1 went to the GP T 18 to ask to go on the pill, the GP remarked that the last time she'd seen DD was for her childhood vaccinations!

I work in healthcare and am formula feeding my 4 month old as my milk never came through properly following a traumatic birth/postpartum haemorrhage. I tried everything, not just for days, but for 3 months - hospital grade breastpump, skin to skin, fenugreek, lactation consultants, domperidone etc etc. Nothing worked. Despite the evidence and my colleagues’ reassurance (formula is more than fine - the WHO only recommend breastfeeding until 2 years because breast milk is free/and (usually!) accessible to all mothers) I felt tremendous guilt - that I’ve disadvantaged my baby somehow. But she’s super happy, healthy and sleeps through the night without waking since she was 3 months old. Despite the horrific start, I’ve lucked out big time. Some of my friends bang on about breastfeeding boosting IQ etc but my consultant and later on GP said she was the most alert baby they’d come across, so presumably she’s no dumbo either (lol). It took a while but I’m over the guilt now!

I hope you are feeling better about your situation now OP. I'm a nurse and new that I didn't want to breastfeed before I even got pregnant. Honestly I have no regrets about it and am not ashamed that I formula fed my baby x

@Reallybadidea

I'm a HCP and formula fed ds2 for various reasons. No regrets. You might find this article interesting fivethirtyeight.com/features/everybody-calm-down-about-breastfeeding/ by someone who looked at the evidence supporting benefits of breastfeeding and says they are overstated.

Your baby will do just fine. Fed is best

Interesting read

I'm a paramedic, I breastfed , but a colleague of mine who was desperate to breastfeed had to stop very early on as she suffered from Raynauds of the nipple which was, apparently, absolutely excruciating.

I think it's about 95% of women can breastfeed of they wish to, which is great, but that still means that 1 in 20 can't physically breastfeed no matter how much they want to and how hard they try, and we all know far more than 20 mothers, so we will all know women who simply can not breastfeed. It's really nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm a midwife and know as many midwives who couldn't feed at all or fully as non midwives. And most (almost all?) midwives I know are completely relaxed/enthusiastic about very early and consistent formula complementary feeds.