Do you plan to not breastfeed?

[sleeplessinseatle]

Hi

Expecting DC2 and have breast issues which made breastfeeding DC1 very difficult.

Was just wondering if there is anyone out there who doesnt plan to breastfeed, or not for very long? What will you say when the disaproval from friends starts?

The thought of BF not working again is making me not look forward to the baby arriving. Sorry not to post in 'feed the world' but its so pre-BF I'm scared to!

I agree with the majority of posters - this is your choice. i have the same concerns at the min - a girl at work is also pregnant - she has children already and keeps raving about how id be selfish to FF.

this is my first and i think i will FF - i may feel different when baby is born - but thats my feeling now

my MIL also stuck her nose in saying how she BF and its the best - she also smoked all the way through pregnancy (something i have stopped) and her DS was brought up on a very bad diet of 'summat and chips' daily. something i am really against!

you will do the best for your baby - and that is all that matters.

good luck with what ever choice you make!

I completely sympathise with you..

I'm planning to FF due to a breast reduction a few years ago... I can't believe the comments I have gotten over this, from the midwife, my SIL and even just people at work..

I would never think to even ask someone such a personal question but I suppose when you become pregnant you are fair game it would seem!

My favourite was when the midwife said 'I suppose with hindsight, had you not been so vain you may have made a different decision.'

I'm starting to really panic about being in hospital and having the breastfeeding nazi's attacking me for me choices.

I do wish I could do it, I know the benefits and feel like a terrible person already for not doing it, but have been told by my surgeon that it won't be physically possible, so just wish people would leave me alone :p

Sorry for the rant! x

It gets me down how people judge other choices. Just ignore your 'friends' if you're happy with your choice in your circumstances, OP.

If it makes you feel better, I'm BFing and am getting loads of 'he's such a big baby and so hungry, you'll have to top him up with formula' etc and looks as most people round here seem to FF. So there are judgmental folks whatever you do. I smile and ignore em.

I am not planning to bf dc2 - though I did dc1 (who never had formula).

Had a lot of problems with dc1 plus this time my mental health is much worse. I was panicking at the idea of it and remembering the experiences. Just talking to dh and telling him I didn't want to was such a relief. I also may not be able to anyway because of the medication I am on.

It's good to find out I am not the only one in this position. It's not something I've talked about so far as I don't want anyone pushing me into doing something that makes me stressed out to even consider.

I don't think people judge I bf both my children, I didn't know any different the only babies I knew closely were bf so to me it was easier having 24 hour on call mam who could tell me what to do with mastitis/infection/thrush/blocked ducts but neither of us have a clue how to ff eg how much to give or how to mix or anything about it.

It is easier to do what you know and newborn days are hard enough without guilt trips. My sil choose to ff both her kids because she didn't like the idea of a baby's mouth on her boob. I never really thought about it to be honest it was about the same to me as if she said I don't like huggies nappies. But after her ds2 she did ask me if I judged her for ff and I was so shocked I spat tea all over myself because I honestly had never even thought to judge her,her baby/body her choice.

Yet I was panicking that she judged me because she suggested buying me a expresser so I didn't have to feed around guests and always sent her husband out when I feed so I asked her if she judged me and she said no I just wanted to help but not having bf didn't know what to offer. We laugh like mad about it now the fact that we were both paranoid that the other was judging.

I was asked 'Oh dear, are you not feeding her yourself?' with DD3 when she was having a bottle aged 6 months. I told the 'concerned' mother 'As you can see I am feeding her this afternoon but only because the staff have day off'.

Some people are twats. My bf history isn't what I hoped for but if I had a fourth I'd give it a go agaon. See how things are and don't feel bad if you FF. My lot have no allergies, hardly ever ill, never had an antibiotic etc. There's a lot you can do to bring up healthy, active kids and you'll be doing those things long after most people finish bf.

I BF DS1 to 11 months and hated it. I am now 3 months pregnant with DS2 and have compromised with my DH (who is very pro-FF) that I will BF until 6 weeks and then I will review the situation and if I am as unhappy as I was the first time round we will switch to FF.
Do what you want, ignore the naysayers and eyebrow lifters.

Great response sallyJG

You know I always thought I was breastfed as I have never really been ill - bar the very had the odd cold.

I was shocked when I found out I was ff all the way

anythingwithagiraffeonit - lol at 'breastfeeding nazis'

ladyintheradiator sorry you are feeling scared.

No one else needs to understand your decision except you!

Ladyintheradiator - same here, no problems with breastfeeding after the first 48 hours (I had a c-section and with what I now know he was just a sleepy baby but at the time seemed like he was rejecting b/f cue much angst).
I struggle with babies, they just don't hold my interest, and I almost resented my DH that I had this huge burden (B/f) which meant I was tied to my DS so much and if DS was crying he was just handed to me as b/f would quiet him down (whatever the actual problem). I had/have a huge problem with the dependency on me and the change in my life. I was jealous of people who had a reason to formula feed!

I do acknowledge that breast is best, this is a fact and I don't necessarily subscribe to the view that happy mother = happy baby. I have done a lot of thinking over this and am hoping by LETTING myself give up at 6 weeks if I want it will take some pressure off myself and I will therefore continue longer, if this makes sense. I am fairly sure whatever happens, and no-one knows what will happen or how they will feel until the LO is here, from 6 weeks the 10pm feed will be formula.

Ladyintheradiator I hope you are able to come to peace with your decision as well.

Sorry missed out the " yet also emotionally drained, physically touched out" yes this is exactly how I felt.