Formula, pump or breastfeed which is best?

[Maggie199408]

With my first I started breastfeeding I struggled with the lack of sleep and not producing enough and his latch I had a few appointments about it and they said it was fine but I was bruised badly it ruined my mental health I did it for a month I added formula here and there and he slept amazing with that I started pumping did hand pump and electric didn't produce enough anyway he developed a CMPA on formula which I know would've had anyway but formula was amazing after we got dairy free now on second baby and I wanted to use breast milk I was going to breast feed in hospital and then pump when home however reading on it everyone says same fears I have hard on mental health time consuming never get to sleep thro a feed when partner does it pumping in night but formula is SO expensive!! I just don't know what's best.... and then if I try it and have to dry up that sucked doing that too so confused any help what did u do? Also if you only pump how did you did that in hospital when did baby have first feed how do you make enough do you use formula??

What's best is whatever ends up working for you, tbh. Breastfeeding works well for some people but for others it is impossible or hard enough that it's not worth it, especially from a mental health perspective. Pumping works for some; others hate it. Mix feeding will work for some, and I think it's quite underrated and I wish there was more support/guidance on different ways to approach mix feeding. Formula will be best for some families became it allows both parents to share feeding instead of it all falling on the mother. Nobody can tell you what's going to work best for you unfortunately!

If you decide to mainly pump I do recommend doing proper research on pumps, there are big differences in quality and many popular pumps aren't any good if you're trying to maintain supply mainly from pumping. That might be why you struggled. Also especially after six weeks or so you really don't have to wake up and pump every time the baby wakes for a feed! Make sure you wake up and pump once or twice between midnight and 6am when prolactin is highest, but before then go to bed early and relish the zzzzzz. There is a lot of scare out there about reduced supply but sleep is important too, and as long as you're extracting milk at least once in the wee hours I really believe it will be fine.

What's best for your baby, been breastfeeding for 2 y9 months I have one of the biggest toddlers. But formula when born as established BF. Pump when I got a infection and needed to heal. My son hated it would throw the pump parts across the room. GP agreed it's not the same and my son knew it.

Breast is best from nutrient point of view. Every baby will sleep differently. My breastfed baby slept well.

Fed is best...... it has to be a combo of what works for baby but also what works best for you and mental health is just as important as physical health.

I breastfed for 12 months. Had a rough time at the beginning getting it established and had to do formula top ups. Never got much from pumping but it was lockdown so i was able to do all the feeds myself anyway.
Due next week and hoping to BF again but not wanting to put too much pressure on myself in case it doesn't work out.

Formula has come a long way and there's little difference nutrient wise these days, I just, personally, loved the feeling of breastfeeding.

Side note - my baby only slept through the night when I stopped breastfeeding at 12 months. The change was almost instantaneous for us.