Anit- formula moms opinions did this.......

Question

I am so depressed.......... Why?? because moms who are anti formula made me feel like formula is poison and since I cannot produce enough milk I HAD to start my 4 month old on formula and everyday I think I am doing something wrong....... I tried having a pumpin marathon and a breastfeeding marathon....fenugreek.... everything I can only pump 5 oz in 8 hours...................... Why am i feeling soooo guilty.......... formula never botherd me and when I gave birht my plan was to breastfeed for 6 months and then go to formula .... 2 months earlier than planned and I feel like I failed being a mom............

Answer 1

You gave your baby a healthy start. Quit beating yourself up and if someone says anything to you tell them where to go. I could only give my son breast milk for 10 weeks and then he went on formula. He was a preemie and on a feeding tube so I pumped for him, but when he came home from the hospital I couldn't make enough for him. He will be 4 years-old on Sunday and he is a completely healthy, intelligent, rambunctious toddler.

Answer 2

It is very normal to feel sad when you can't do what you had wanted and hoped to do.  It's very normal to feel sad when, for pressing reasons, you are not able to do what is normally considered 'best.'

Your sad feelings aren't wrong, and they aren't anyone else's fault. They are something that you will work through, and you will move on.

You are doing what is best for YOUR baby in your particular situation.  No-one can do more than that.

Answer 3

First and foremost, the mothers that are making you feel like c**p for using formula will have children that grow up to be selfish, narrow minded idiots that will expect everything and get nothing because they are unwilling to work for it due to the fact that their imbecile mom gave them everything the wanted with out question.

So don't listen to them.  They are all idiots.

Just do what is best for your child, not what others tell you is best.  Be your child's advocate - nobody else will.  Don't compare your child to other children, they are all different and lean at their own pace.

Be a loving and understanding mother and your child will do just fine.

Answer 4

Pippin said it best, you will get through this. Four months is great! Be proud that you gave your baby the best possible start in life. Formula is not poison. Look around at all the healthy thriving babies and you will see that they are certainly not suffering at all :). heck, they used to feed babies goats milk and Karo syrup!!  I also had to stop breastfeeding earlier than I had wanted to. When my daughter was 6 months old I got sick and had to stay in the hospital for a week, and couldn't nurse during that time or for three weeks after because of the meds I needed to take. I tried to pump in the hospital, but it was like my body rebelled and refused to give any milk to the machine. I would be lucky to get half an ounce all day. Needless to say, my supply suffered and my daughter became used to bottles and had little interest in nursing after that. I felt all the things you are feeling. Honestly, I think part of it is hormonal...weaning throws the hormones all out of whack again and makes us more emotional not to mention its already an extremely emotional topic, especially if things dont go according to plan and we need to stop nursing sooner than we anticipated. BUT as long as you are feeding and loving and caring for your baby you are not failing as a mother, but being the best mother you can. Formula was invented so that if natures way was not enough, babies could still live and thrive. You are making sure your baby is getting the nutrition and nourishment he or she needs. My daughter is doing great on formula. My only problems with formula is its expensive and I hate mixing and washing bottles. But she's perfectly happy and healthy and THAT is what matters. Don't beat yourself up over doing what is best for your baby. And I really think you will start to feel better with a little time too. **hugs**

Answer 5

I gave up breastfeeding after 2 weeks for a few reasons.  First, she had jaundice and her Dr wanted me to supplement with formula (i know, not a good idea but I was so new at being a mommy and so worried....kinda wish i didnt listen) and also, I went back to work after 2 weeks at a place I couldnt pump.  I felt really guilty, but now at 10 months old shes big and happy and healthy and although I was only able to breastfeed for 2 weeks I know that I gave her a little healthy start.  Dont feel guilty you did a great job.  4 months!  better mommy than me

Answer 6

You did the best you could do Mama! I am all for breastfeeding I BF all four of my children. You shouldn't feel guilty or feel like you failed. You didn't. Not being able to BF is not failing as a mother. Look at the effort you put into it and feel good that you did the best you could do. Lift your head back up and keep on doing the best you can do as a mother.  

Answer 7

Please don't let it bother you. My plan was the same as yours, but my daughter had to have a forumal suplemnt cuz she didn't latch well, and when I found out that the birth gave me gallstones, I stopped breastfeeding her all together I was worried about what the pain meds would do to her. I only breastfeed my son for about 1 month before I put him on formual also. I found it more bonding to cuddle him with a bottle then to breastfeed. I'm heavy chested so I couldn't cuddle him while I breastfed. Both my kid's are heathly and fine, your's will be too

Answer 8

You did nothing wrong! I'm all for breastfeeding, I breastfed both my boys, but I don't look down on mothers who it didn't work out for. I had a HORRIBLE time the 1st time, and a pretty bad experience the 2nd time too, I almost gave up tons of times. But if you don't have enough milk, its not your fault. Once my boys got to the baby food stage, my milk couldn't keep up either, its like their appetites quadrupled. The thing that matters is that you wanted to, and you tried. Well not even tried, you did it for 4 months! Thats awesome! I think what us pro-breastfeeding moms hate is the ignorance people sometimes have. Its the people who wont even give it a try because they think its gross, or they just flat out don't feel like it. I once had a women tell me I was molesting my child by breastfeeding him. Don't feel bad you did a good job.