When I nurse my son he seems to be hungry every 2 hours, but when I pump and give a bottle he goes 4 hours before being hungry again. He also spits up less with a bottle. I cannot pump and feed exclusively breast milk as my nipples won't allow this. So do I stop nursing and go to straight formula when my breast milk supply runs out? Give him formula and let him nurse morning and night only? I can't go on feeding every two hours, I have other children and they miss Mommy terribly. It is so hard to take the others any where or even just go to the store.
Why do I feel so bad about even considering giving her nothing but formula?
bf while you can. it's only for a short time and gives a lifetime of health! good luck! =)
Well as someone who exclusively pumped for 6 months I will tell you that your nipples WILL get used to it, however you really don't want to go that route. At first it seems freeing because it takes less time, but after a while baby gets easier to feed and you can't pump so well while you are out doing errands. I think what you probably need it to see a lactation consultant and work on the baby's latch if he can take in more when bottle feeding, but isn't when breastfeeding. Either way the two hour stage will end eventually, and if you want to breast feed you have to just stick it out through the hard first 4-6 weeks, and it gets way easier. You could try morning night nursing but unless your supply is established (say 3 months) you may end up losing it all together. As for going to formula, it just depends on your level of comfort with that and how much you want to breastfeed. I won't judge you either way because you do what you can, just make sure you KNOW what you want before you start supplementing because it is a slippery downward slope.
Well you feel guilty because your heart is telling you to keep on nursing while you can. If you are going to be out and about for more than a couple of hours just make sure you have a bottle on hand, there is nothing wrong with that. But, I encourage you to continue nursing for as long as you can. When you really hate it and know that you've given the baby a good start, you wont feel bad to quit. Listen to your heart.
How old is your little one? My guess is he is probably approaching a growth spirt. Remember that breastfeeding follows the good old supply and demand rule. If you really want to nurse, keep nursing. I too was not a good pumper... until I got the right pump. You can't go wrong with Medela. If you feel like you are unable to keep up and you are ready to incorporate formula feel no shame. What works for one person may not work for another. I nursed my oldest first thing in the morning and at night and used formula thoughout the day when I returned to work. She did just fine moving between the two. You've done your baby well nursing for this long, and anymore you can give is a bonus. Good luck!
I didn't read all the other answers, but if you really feel challenged, see if you can get a referral to a lactation consultant. They really can be wonderful. Most of the time, it's the baby that's having a challenge (latch, suction problems, high palate, etc.) and an LC can help figure out what the issue might be and come up with ways to solve the issues. You need one that's dedicated to help make the breastfeeding work, but that won't lay on a guilt trip if you need to do fornula. You need to do what works best for the both of you.
I used both breast and formula from birth and it worked great for us. I nursed when I could, and used formula the rest of the time. I stopped nursing at 3 months and went to formula only. My boys are healthy, well bonded, and smart little boys now. You have to do what is best for your and your family, whatever that may be.
Whether to breastfeed or do forumula is a personal decision. Personally, I liked the ease of not having to make and clean bottles and formula. It was also cheaper. However, I can understand you have to consider what works for you.
If your nipples really hurt I would see a lactation consultant. You didn't say how old your baby is. If he is small it will get better. He is probably hitting a growth spurt. If he is really tiny than he may just need your attention. This will not change whether you breastfeed or bottle feed. Just the way that he gets it will. You may also need to nurse him more on one side of the breast to get the more filling fatty milk out. If you are switch nursing too often he may be getting the more watery less filling milk. This sounds like typical baby behavior though.
There's no need to feel guilty, no matter what decision you make about this, but here's my input.
Find a local La Leche League leader or group, or contact La Leche League, International, with your questions. There's nothing like talking with other moms who have successfully breastfed their babies when you're facing difficulties of your own. There's no breastfeeding problem that hasn't been experienced and conquered by other moms, so take advantage of their willingness to share what worked for them.
The fact that your baby is less hungry when bottlefed your breastmilk makes me wonder whether he's not nursing effectively at the breast. A LLL leader or lactation consultant might have an easy solution for you, if that's the case.
Two other things to keep in mind:
1) Will you actually have more time if you go to exclusive bottle-feeding with formula? Breastfeeding is so much easier since there are no bottles to clean and formula to mix. I always loved being able to just walk out of the house with my baby and an extra diaper, knowing that I could take care of his/her hunger & thirst at any time without having to drag along bottles that have to be kept at a safe temperature. I'm not sure why your other kids have to miss you when you're breastfeeding, as they can snuggle up with you while you read a book or play at your feet while you talk with them and listen to what they want to share with you. If you haven't figured out how to breastfeed while walking around doing other things, La Leche League is, again, a great source for moms helping other moms with advice.
2) There really are some huge reasons to continue breastfeeding, and there's even a lot to be said for exclusive breastfeeding without formula supplementation. Once more, LLL is a great resource for this information, but just to mention a few advantages: a) Your breastmilk is a living liquid. Your wonderful mother's body is able to adjust the quantity & quality of the milk to meet your baby's needs at any moment in time. If you & your baby are exposed to germs, your body produces antibodies for both of you. No matter how much research is done, no one will ever develop a formula that contains every important ingredient in breastmilk, and no formula will ever be able to produce antibodies in response to the particular germs your baby is exposed to. b) A breastfed baby exercises facial muscles in ways that help with spoken language development. c) There is nothing like breastfeeding for mother/baby closeness. I'm not saying a mother who bottlefeeds can't be extremely close to her baby, but holding a baby with a bottle is not as intimate as holding a baby to the breast & using your own body to fill your baby's nutritional & emotional needs. d) There are many health advantages to you as a breastfeeding mom, and nursing triggers the release of prolactin, which is called the mothering hormone because of the way it calms the mother and helps her feel more loving to the babe in her arms.
Try this article for more info: http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/baby/scienceofmother...
Find La Leche League here: http://www.llli.org/
Whatever you decide, I'm sure a loving mom like you will do just fine.
Don't be so hard on yourself!! Find a schedule that benefits you and your other children best. Maybe nurse first thing in the morning and then give formula for the mid day bottles. If your others are still napping, nurse during that time, then formula late afternoon and nurse just before bed. Whatever works best for you and your family. Your little one will be just fine with the formula and you and the rest of the family will be happier. Everyone wins!!!
YOu feel guilty b/c women and mommy culture put pressure on breast feeding. I think breast feeding is great and people should do it as long as they can or would like to, but I think if you feel ready to stop, you should. It shouldn't be about guilt. You have to move past it and own your true feelings, which sound to me like you're done, and make it happen. Formula is more expensive but if it makes you happier and your life easier (b/c bottles are so not that hard to wash) then do it and feel good!
