Breastfeeding vs combi vs formula
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That's so interesting and literally your last sentence is what has been on my mind recently especially with my high bp and c section healing, it wouldnt do my baby any favours if i had to be readmitted to hospital because i wasnt getting enough rest
@Ann exactly! Yes, breast milk is great but 1. a lot of the long-term benefits have been exaggerated and 2. the pressure put on women from the "all natural" movement is leading to higher numbers of postnatal depression than are currently reported. IMO the best way to take care of your baby is to take care of yourself first. Don't feel guilty and look after yourself!
Yup I was dead set on breastfeeding my first and it was awful we both found it so distressing so then I switched to exclusively pumping and the pressure I put on myself was insane and so draining. So we switched to fully formula. And I don’t regret that for one second it made everything so much easier for everyone!
@N L Awww glad you found what was best for you and baby x
Do you enjoy breastfeeding? (You don’t need to answer!) but if you find it enjoyable in some way I would personally stick to combi feeding. It allows you to have a break if you are feeling tired, so long as you keep breast feeding to certain times of the day or pump at certain times of the day. Otherwise, there’s not a huge difference other than antibodies etc, but your mental health and general mood will impact baby more right now x
I combi fed for 6 weeks with my first and want to try to breast feed again this time. Only thing I have said as I had PPD last time if it affects my mental health it will be going into formula
I was of the same mindset with my first and breast feeding didn't work out due to an unexpectedly bad birth and extreme blood loss. But I lost a lot of happy times because of the impact it had at the start when I should have been focused on recovery and then the impact it had on my mental health for a long time after. Recently had my 2nd and decided that whatever happened birth wise I would formula feed and it's been the best decision. I already feel I can focus on and enjoy the newborn stage more this time round.
I bottle fed my first for the first few days then switched to breast until about 4.5 months when we switched to combi fed. I wanted to breastfeed all through my pregnancy but when she came I was too scared to try it 🙈 then after a few days i worked up the courage to and we breastfed exclusively for about 4 and a half months. We had a lot of issues with thrush, cluster feeding constantly and she was teething so biting a lot and it got too much so dad started formula feeding at night and when I needed a break. I was definitely in the mindset of breast is best when I was pregnant but after going through it you realise fed is best. It doesn’t matter how they get what they need as long as they get it.
I mainly breastfed my first but he would occasionally have a bottle - formula as I initially pumped for 6 weeks exclusively and it destroyed me mentally and honestly for me was the best thing mentally! It allowed me to have my own space if I needed it I plan to do the same with my second but what I will say this time round Isnimnjot going to put the amount of pressure and emotional stress on myself if it doesn’t work out as it took ALOT out of me first time! Having also a toddler to think about in the process of it all! What I will say overall end of the day you have to do what’s best for you as well as baby! Babies need happy and healthy mothers and either way they will all enjoy McDonalds and eat food off the floor
@Hannah This is what I've been leaning to, I'm just hoping my milk supply doesn't decrease as I'm not pumping 8 times a day as recommended. I do enjoy breastfeeding when he actually latches and sucks but it takes a long time to get there and only happens once in a while x
@Sophie This makes total sense!
@Emmy I totally understand this and I feel like I'm losing happy times focussing so much on it, I'm still experimenting with what will work best but your take is v helpful
@Vittoria V interesting
@Disey Omg teething doesnt sound fun with breastfeeding!
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@Tara Lol your last line about mcdonalds and food off the floor made me chuckle! How true!! I'm going to see a breastfeeding consultant tomorrow and give it one last go as pumping is really doing my head in, but if it doesnt work will go towards some kind of combi feed I can manage
@Vittoria which book is this? Very interesting!
@Kate it's called Matrescence by Lucy Jones. It's really really interesting!
@Ann as long as you feed 1-2 times a day around a similar time you should have a milk supply that’s or at least enough for baby. Sounds like a very difficult decision but I am sure you’ll find one that works for you and baby ❤️
@Ann defos not 🙈 my daughter wouldn’t take to teething toys she just used me and it was hard but it was the only way to calm her down so I dealt up with it 🙃 and over exhausted myself in the process
I'm not there yet but I'm reading a book called Matrescence by Lucy Jones and it's opening my eyes about how much psychological pressure and brainwashing women are subjected to regarding natural birth and breastfeeding. I want to breastfeed but I also think that martyrdom is overrated. A more rested and less stressed you might be more/as beneficial to your baby as all the breast milk he might get from you.