Hi all,
I just wanted to see if there was anyone else out there feeling the same way as me. This is a bit long ;-)
I had a breast reduction when I was 16 and didn't know whether I'd be able to breastfeed. I now have a 5 week old baby and am formula feeding.
During my pregnancy, I was so hoping for any signs I might be able to bf and was delighted when some massaging produced a little bit of colostrum. When DS arrived, he latched on straight away and I was thrilled. As time went on, I found the process very painful. Two midwives said he had a good latch, two said he seemed just to be sucking on the nipple. I was worrying he wasn't getting enough milk. Every mw I saw didnt seem to take my past surgery into account with regards to pain and milk production. Once, I said "well perhaps it's nerve pain?" and the mw said "oh yes I suppose so, that's a good point." I just kept being told to persist.
I lasted about 5 days bf, during which time I cried, DS cried and I felt in pain and hugely frustrated. I had a difficult birth, was suffering "down below" and obv hormones were all over the place. I desperately wanted to give my baby the best start-who wouldn't?-but had to make a decision to draw a line under bf for the sake of us both. I tried pumping but nothing came out, which makes me think I wasn't producing what was needed (ducts were most likely severed during surgery).
So we switched to ff. I still however feel plagued by guilt 5 weeks on and the breast is best messages seem to bombard me. When I buy first milk formula in boots, I am told "sorry, boots points can't be collected on infant formula under 6 months due to govt legislation". When I went to research different formulas online, I was faced with a message to click on before proceeding saying that I must consider the "social and financial implications of ff.". The mw that visited me at home said I should try continuing bf rather than giving DS "that rubbish".
I am being made to feel like I'm feeding my baby poison! I agree that breast is best but what if you actually can't? And why is the govt so involved? Shouldn't they say "sorry you can't collect nectar points on this junk food" by the same token?
Even if no-one reads or responds to this post, I have felt better getting it all down! But it would be good to hear from anyone in the same position!
Xx
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.
Infant feeding
Seeking Support for formula feeding mum!
21 replies
Bobian123 · 17/11/2013 15:43
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.