Breastfeeding

I was so adamant on only breastfeeding my baby when I was pregnant. I bought three different pumps to try out. At first it was going great. My mum was with me constantly cooking for me to build my supply and I was breastfeeding at night and if not then always pumping. The health care professional advised me that my LO wasn’t gaining enough weight and to top up on formula if I couldn’t get my supply up. As time went on I was being advised more bottles of formula as her weight still wasn’t getting to the right level. Eventually I would only pump 20-30ml of breastmilk. This was no where near enough and my LO would get frustrated on the nipple and wouldn’t settle until given a full bottle of milk. It was very disheartening seeing such little supply, I would pump until my nipples would turn inside out. Until I barely produced enough to I stopped at around 2/3 months and have been giving her formula ever since.

Everyday I feel so guilty for stopping I regret it so much I wish I tried harder. I look at my baby and think maybe she isn’t hitting her milestones because of this or she might get childhood obesity or develop illnesses in the future. Whenever I see women online pumping or breastfeeding their babies I feel like I failed my LO. Has anyone else experienced this? And I was wondering whether I generally didn’t have a supply or I wasn’t pumping enough ? My sister also went through the same thing.

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I have a whole regimen I can send you if you want to tuck it away in your back pocket if you ever want more children for building and maintaining your supply, you can share it with other moms too. Topping up with formula is the worst way to help a mom gain a supply, babies can become satisfied for longer thus not taking as much from you and it’ll continue (as I think is what happened in your case). I do want to say you did NOT fail your baby, you tried your best!

Thank you so much for the reassurance and YESSS please send me that. At least now I know exactly what I’m NOT gonna do for my next child

As someone who tried until it gave me depression and anxiety with both my kiddos, you didn't fail. Before formula if a mom couldn't get an adequate supply, the baby would just pass. It's honestly wonderful we have formulas now.
As far as lingering health issues -- My son is almost 13 and is athletic, smart (he's working out of 10th/11th grade curriculum) and not overweight, my daughter who is 6 1/2 is also athletic, and not overweight, and incredibly intelligent(working out 3rd/4th grade curriculum.) Because of their success, everyone always believes they're older than they are due to how tall and healthy/intelligent they are. A lot of the studies on formula vs breast milk fed babies are not accurate. Don't worry, your baby will be fine(:

in our community

I have been cut off by people.

Okay so let’s try this again.

I am cut off by people who were at once a support system but love and have access to my baby but absolutely have turned on me. But at some point loved and adored me now hate me.

I know people don’t like people but I’m that horrible?

How do you handle that? And is it valid to feel hurt when you as the mom know they get to see baby but have nothing to do with you? Have lied and gossiped and had caused mental and emotional and distress.

To the flies on the wall, if you’re not going to offer support or respond the post it’s self no need to comment. 😁

Going out with baby

Hi! I have an almost 4 month old and honestly it’s been hard ever since my husband went back to work. I definitely have PPD and have been actively seeking help (therapy, support groups, etc.).

Going out with my baby gives me some anxiety, especially anything that requires me to commit to a time since I can’t predict her mood and if it’ll be during a time she wants to nap or not (trying my best to follow her cues). I like the idea of and curious about storytime at my local library but I don’t know what to expect — I read books to her at home but what does storytime look like for a 4 month old in a group setting? First time mom and new to all of this so please pardon if it sounds silly of a question or obvious.

My baby is pretty content in the car starting out, but if something does take too long due to traffic, she does get impatient/fussy/crying and I feel extra pressure to get home as soon as possible (and as safely as possible).

Any advice on going out to lessen my own anxiety? What has your experience been like in going out with your baby, especially at 4 months?

Sterilising bottles

Have you stopped sterilising bottles yet? Or when are you planning to?

crying after feeding

has anyone experienced their LO crying a lot and bloated after breastfeeding? even if she burps then it still seems that she’s uncomfortable and i’m stuck on what to do. i’ve given her gripe water and sometimes it helps but sometimes it doesn’t

AITA for being upset? Best friend using my baby name (please read before voting)

I want to preface this with saying that I don’t believe anyone owns a name and that I hope people don’t read this and think that I feel entitled. Because I don’t. I’m just sad and upset.

So, my best friend and I met like 10 years ago because we were both doing IVF at the same clinic at the same time and lived a half hours drive away from each other (despite the clinic being a 2 hour drive away). IVF didn’t work for either of us.

Since then she has decided she no longer wants to have children (long story to do with her toxic partner) and I have had a child.

Recently we found out I was pregnant again and I told my friend and we talked about names etc as my partner and I were set on names this time around. I told my best friend our names (one picked for boy and one for girl). She loved them. I know people will say you shouldn’t share but I’ve always shared with her and it’s always been fine. She was my biggest cheerleader with each pregnancy.

My pregnancy then ended in miscarriage and I was devastated, as you can imagine.
My best friend bought a puppy 2 weeks after our miscarriage and named her the girls name that we were set on using.

I didn’t say much when she told me, just that I guess we can’t use that name anymore. But I am upset by it. Sure, we may have had a boy and not been able to use it any way. But I think, it’s the timing that stings the most.

Best friend think I’m being an A hole and has put a dark cloud over her happy time with her new puppy.

So, AITA?

Breastfeeding

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in our community

I have been cut off by people.

Going out with baby

Sterilising bottles

crying after feeding

AITA for being upset? Best friend using my baby name (please read before voting)

Breastfeeding