Does it make me a bad mother??

milliebear00001

Used to be a breastfeeding counsellor and NOOOOO, you are not a bad mother for giving some formula!! Mixed feeding is perfectly possible. If you're knackered and ill, your body will naturally struggle to produce as much milk. Try getting some rest (if you can) and you should find your supply picks up again in a short while - in the meantime combine formula and booby. Only book I'd ever recommend for ALL new mums - 'What to expect when you're breastfeeding...And what if you can't?'. Has some excellent advice about mixed feeding and is extremely practical and non-judgemental.

Loopy_Girl

Being a good mother is admitting you are struggling and not (pardon the pun!) bottling it up!:j

Whack a bottle of formula down his neck petal, and get a good night's rest in you.

I absolutely promise you that he won't grow 2 heads and if he does then I solemnly promise to take him off your hands!!!!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

You're doing a grand job and don't tie yourself up in knots over the small stuff. A good Mum is a happy Mum and a happy Mum needs a rest.:D

Also maybe invest in a bottle of Rescue Remedy. I swear by the stuff and actually used it in labour!! My daughter is now 7 and over the festive period I was necking bottles of the stuff!! Sod this '4 drops under the tongue' malarkey!!!!!!!!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

natalie1974

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Used to be a breastfeeding counsellor and NOOOOO, you are not a bad mother for giving some formula!! Mixed feeding is perfectly possible. If you're knackered and ill, your body will naturally struggle to produce as much milk. Try getting some rest (if you can) and you should find your supply picks up again in a short while - in the meantime combine formula and booby. Only book I'd ever recommend for ALL new mums - 'What to expect when you're breastfeeding...And what if you can't?'. Has some excellent advice about mixed feeding and is extremely practical and non-judgemental.

How nice to hear from a pro breast feeding person a comment that is non-judgemental and won't end up making Mum feel like rubbish :T.

jacky_horn

I was saved from a nervous breakdown cos a temp midwife visited me. She was from Newzealand. She told me to use breast shields to give my boobs a bit of relief and to supplement with a bottle if I felt my baby was still starving after me. I ended up using the shields for 3 months till the cracks all healed and the nipples toughened up and feeding the teatime feed with an additional small bottle for a few months. I fed my daughter till she was 19 months every day and occassionally after that till she was 21 months and it was fab.Don't feel guilty.

MaximumImpact

Hi again Everyone

Thanks once again for your messages of support!! Am back to Breastfeeding DS and feeling slightly better! Howver last night DS spent a few hours in A & E after his breathing got very laboured..They have diagnosed that he has Bronchiolitis and RSV which is apparently common at this type of year. They were great and we have 48 hrs open access to the childrens ward should he get worse..I am sat here listening to the poor little chap coughing and spluttering....He seems a bit happier but we have been told that it may get worse before it gets better!! Poor little soul!!!

Thanks again to everyone

xxx

missjennipenni

My DS was also in SCBU, i started off just like you, i seemed to be breast feeding ALL the time, i went days without sleep trying to dedicate myself to his needs. I too, resorted to formula after awhile. I had 2 other children that needed me too, and just could not sit for 22 hours a day BFing!

It was against all my principals, id BF my girls for 13 months!

But the difference was amamzing, he became a happy baby, and i became a BETTER mother. yes, BETTER despite forumal milk!

please dont beat yourself up about it xx

missjennipenni

oh, just to add, i BF til 6 weeks, mixed fed til 6 months then switched 100% to bottles

Sarahsaver

MaximumImpact wrote: »

Hi again Everyone

Thanks once again for your messages of support!! Am back to Breastfeeding DS and feeling slightly better! Howver last night DS spent a few hours in A & E after his breathing got very laboured..They have diagnosed that he has Bronchiolitis and RSV which is apparently common at this type of year. They were great and we have 48 hrs open access to the childrens ward should he get worse..I am sat here listening to the poor little chap coughing and spluttering....He seems a bit happier but we have been told that it may get worse before it gets better!! Poor little soul!!!

Thanks again to everyone

xxx

thanks for the update:D

^!£$&

My sister couldnt breast feed full stop due to medical reasons ,this didnt do my nephew any harm he is now a very healthy, strong toddler!
I really dont think there is anything wrong with giving babies formula milk??
And to me you sound like a very caring mother!