Giving up breast feeding

I had this with my first and second the first time i was like you logically got it but emotionally felt like a failure.and was an emotional wreck.

Second time around I was like, nope we're stopping and go to formula I can't after legitimately trying but low birth weight and multiple weight ins, I can't breastfeed and get her weight up so let's just do what works.

But both times, once it was done we were both instantly happier, calmer, could track milk intake and partner could help - bonding is the same imo.

I'm glad I tried with both. I'd try again. But my boobs just don't work as designed at that's ok.
I always say you can't tell breastfed kids vs bottle fed kids by school age.

Kindness to yourself mumma 💜

I combi fed from 1.5 weeks old and I never felt I had enough milk, I’d only manage to get a tiny amount from pumping, but I found that pumping was the really the straw that broke the camel’s back for me, as it took up so much physical and mental energy for me. So, I stopped pumping and just breastfed and gave formula aswell. And I’m now still breastfeeding my LO who just turned one. She now also drinks cows milk from a cup.
My health visitor had told me at the time that I had to either breastfeed or pump every 4 hours to protect and maintain my supply, but after I dropped pumping, I was still able to breastfeed for some feeds and formula feed for others, and then overnight I would just breastfeed.

I totally get how you’re feeling with the anxiety. I took the risk of my supply going down with dropping pumping but mentally, something had to give. For me, it worked out and personally I’m so happy I was able to continue breastfeeding but I was open to only formula feeding if my milk had

dried up. I think the most important thing for your baby is to have a mum who is mentally well ♥️♥️

Why dont you formula feed her quota and then just pump twice a day and do a bm bottle when you can? Then at least you know shes getting best og both x

I had to stop breastfeeding my first son due to a severe milk allergy - waiting until the protein left the milk wasn’t working and he was so ill.

I have diagnosed OCD and health anxiety and I’m only being honest, for me it made my health anxiety 100x worse. He’s now 3 and constantly ill, I just blame myself every day for not making breastfeeding work.

I’m now breastfeeding my second son but my situation is completely different to yours because I have an oversupply and a 98th percentile baby so I can’t imagine what you’re going through 💛 Take care

I was in a very similar situation myself, our little boy was only 4lb 9 born, however I wanted to ebf but he had low blood sugar levels so I got told to give him formula. I was like you tried to increase my supply but wasn’t successful. He wasn’t gaining enough and I got told he might get admitted to hospital so I decided to give up and switch to formula, yes at first I was a bit upset but he gained a good amount of weight and was thriving. He’s now 3.5 and is a healthy weight and height, obviously eats 3 meals a day and snacks.
For the sake of your mental and to make sure baby is gaining enough weight.
We do what’s best for our babies and a fed baby is a happy baby x

Oh lovely! 10 weeks postpartum is already a hard time, please don’t make yourself feel any worse. You’ve done an incredible job looking after your baby and she’s lucky to have you. Failure would only be not realising what is best for your baby, and you’re doing nothing of the kind.

For my first I formula fed and expressed (after a rocky birth) and it was SO tough. The guilt forced me to continue. Once I stopped my mental health improved tenfold. A weight (I was forcing on my shoulders) was lifted.

She will inherently be a happier baby if she has a happier mummy 💕

I was forced to exclusively pump for at least 5 weeks while baby was in the NICU, I was so exhausted from the driving back and forth everyday or suffering sleeping on a hospital pullout bench to be with my baby. By the time he came home, my supply had went from 5-8oz per pump to 1-2 oz. Ran right through my freezer stash and had to start giving formula. The pumping was so hard, and he was having problems I switched to EBF, this worked for 3 weeks, he started just screaming at me after 30 seconds every time he fed. My baby wasn't happy and I sure wasn't either, he's 95% on formula now with occasional breastfeeding normally at night. Yes I feel guilty for not doing it all myself but I genuinely can't. I'm almost 5months pp now and yeaaa I'm not going back 😁