Can you guys remind me that feeding baby is what's important

[cjcouple]

Don't feel badly! My 9 and 7 yo boys were FF and are healthy, smart and wonderful boys.

Big hugs

[macmars45]

Huge hugs pirate .

My baby is 2 weeks old and we've been supplementing since day one as he spent the first 4 days of his life in NICU for low blood sugar & low birth weight. It is hard. I cried a lot. Also, breast feeding hurts like a bitch which is also hard and makes me cry. And I stripped skin off of my nipples etc while pumping for the first time at 1 day postpartum... ouch! Pain and hormones. Ugh.

H and I have a mantra, "It can only get better."

 

GL pirate! We can do this.

ETA: nipple shields have saved my sanity and my nipples. And do what you think is best/what works best for you and to hell with anyone who questions you.

[bugandbibs]

You will make the right choices for your family.

My biological kids were all EBF. I cried for 3 weeks every time DD2 was due for a feeding. My nipples were bleeding and scabbed. Things that helped me: a pacifier (specifically MAM brand), nipple cream (Lansinoh) and letting my boobs hang out exposed to air, seeing a LC for weighted feedings and support, keeping track of wet/dirty diapers, pumping milk for bottle feeds once/day (I pumped and MH gave it right away).

I have now been breastfeeding for over 5 years straight. I could do it one handed hanging from a chandelier probably. Having a rough start doesn't mean it will never work. BFing is the most unnatural natural thing I have ever done. It's a skill you have to learn (as long as your body actually makes milk). Just remember the choice you make today doesn't have to be the choice you make tomorrow. However you choose to feed your baby in whatever combination is okay. You are a good mom.

[sparkythelawyer]

The first 30 days of newborn life suuuuuuucks so hard. It gets better.

Also, my nipples felt like effing sandpaper those first few weeks until we all got the hang of it. If you want to continue to try, cut yourself some slack and remember you are two people who have never done this before.

Oh. And Earth Mama nipple butter. That shit was a lifesaver.

[frkls]

I haven't read the responses because I actually just pulled over in a parking lot to respond. I tried to change the song on my phone and I hit the little globe internet icon by accident. Feeding your baby is absolutely most important anybody you decide to EFF, that's perfectly wonderful too!

HOWEVER, if you want to use a little breast milk in with the bottle, that's also good. There are millions of anti-infective agents in a teaspoon of milk. I know a LLL leader whose milk never came in sufficiently and she thought about using the little bit she did make kinda as the baby's medicine.
It's all about survival with a newborn!!! You're doing awesome!

[thebreakfastclub]

May 12, 2016 15:51:09 GMT -5 daisyfay25 said:

May 12, 2016 13:30:43 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

My milk also didn't come in until day 4.

OK another question - how long did your boobs hurt when you didn't breastfeed at all? How long until it seemed like they dried up?

Mine came in the morning day 6. I did the cabbage leaves and ibuprofen. They felt better that night.

I leaked a little 3 weeks later while the baby was sleeping on me, but never again.

[miso]

Look at me! I was formula-fed, and I am healthy and smart and hilarious and adorable!
[photo]
And my mommy was formula-fed! And my uncle was formula-fed! And he is basically the coolest person I know!

[KateAggie]

May 12, 2016 17:11:25 GMT -5 daisyfay25 said:

May 12, 2016 15:57:44 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

They hurt pretty bad for a couple of days and then dried up quickly from there. It was a similar  experience to weaning from the pump at 6 weeks pp, except I didn't have any residual BM after I was "dry." (After J, I could still get milk out even a couple of months later.)

OK good to know, thanks for entertaining my questions! I'm not even pregnant but I'm already worrying about it lol.

Sudafed is your friend. I dried up much faster with my 2nd kid by using it.

[Deleted]

You aredoing a wonderful job, do whatever ends up working best. 4 days after we brought C home, I was so miserable because I swore C wasn't getting enough and I was failing. My best friend had a girl about 7mos old at the time, DH called her over, and she calmed me right down and gaveme tips.

The one thing she said that struck me is that breastfeeing is the most unnatural natural thing to do. You don't have a clue what you are doing, your body and hormones are out of whack, and the baby needs to learn what to do too. We ended up figuring it out, and once I got back to work a 50/50 approach worked best for us, until I dried up around 9mos and went full ff. Take a deep breath, try to get some rest, and feed the baby however it works. You are getting through the roughest part, and you got this!

[anonymous]

My first was EBF and my second was EFF after first 3 days. Both equally smart, perfect, developmentally on track or ahead in all areas. Anecdotedly, my second was sick much less than my first. What you feed them does not make any difference whatsoever. I promise.

Hang in there-it really is all about survival at first

[pirate]

Thank you all so much, I am going to save this thread and look back on it often for the next few days and weeks. I'm sorry I don't have time to go back and reply to everyone but all of you were so helpful and I appreciate all the different perspectives so much. I pumped before her last two feedings and got a total of 1 ounce and mixed that with her formula. I felt happy I could do that for her and it was so much easier on my nipples. I'm still a little upset but am so glad she's finally had two poop diapers this afternoon and am going to keep pumping and maybe try breastfeeding again when I feel a little better.

I just can't thank you guys enough. Here's a picture of my sweet Zoe.

[christy082]

She's beautiful =)

I don't have any other advice to add that hasn't been said, but just wanted to send you support. No matter what you choose, you are a great mom.

[lilles]

You are doing a great job! I had supply issues with my first and pumped to increase supply. I also took Fenugreek to help with my supply. I ended up nursing her until she was 18 months old. The first weeks were hard because the LC had me pump for five minutes then breastfeed but we made it work.

That said there is nothing wrong with formula. You are pretty early in the game. Get some rest and see what works best for both of you.

Good luck!

[pirate]

May 12, 2016 12:33:32 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I literally went through the exact same thing. I didn't make enough milk and I cried when the LC said he lost too much weight. We agreed to try formula and he chugged the bottle she gave us in the office. I felt awful because he was so hungry and that's why he hadn't been able to sleep, so he was waking more often than 2 hours and I was exhausted.

Yes, this is exactly what happened, she chugged a bottle in the doctor's office and I cried. The LC also discussed ppd with us, I'm not sure if I have it already or if it's just the hormone flux.

[hopecounts]

You are doing great.
A fed baby is a healthy and happy baby and that is all that matters, formula or BM she is going to do great because she has a wonderful mom.

[CurlyQ284]

May 12, 2016 19:36:04 GMT -5 pirate said:

May 12, 2016 12:33:32 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I literally went through the exact same thing. I didn't make enough milk and I cried when the LC said he lost too much weight. We agreed to try formula and he chugged the bottle she gave us in the office. I felt awful because he was so hungry and that's why he hadn't been able to sleep, so he was waking more often than 2 hours and I was exhausted.

Yes, this is exactly what happened, she chugged a bottle in the doctor's office and I cried. The LC also discussed ppd with us, I'm not sure if I have it already or if it's just the hormone flux.

Ohhh ((hugs))
I was so there and I want to hug you and pet your hair in a non creepy way.

[pirate]

May 12, 2016 19:42:43 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

May 12, 2016 19:36:04 GMT -5 pirate said:

Yes, this is exactly what happened, she chugged a bottle in the doctor's office and I cried. The LC also discussed ppd with us, I'm not sure if I have it already or if it's just the hormone flux.

Ohhh ((hugs))
I was so there and I want to hug you and pet your hair in a non creepy way.

I would take all the hair pats, thank you. *whimpers*

[morecoffeeplease]

I just wanted to add that my first son was breastfed for a month when I decided that I would go straight to formula for #2. I breastfed #2 once and remembered why I had made that decision. #2 has been fed formula since the first day and I have zero regrets. I won't have a third but if I did, I would 100% do formula first.

Feeding your baby is what matters. Hang in there. :-)

[spitforspat]

pirate, I am in almost this exact same boat. It's so easy to feel like a failure, but like everyone has said - feeding baby is what's important. Even though I can hear that a million times and still cry because I want to breastfeed my baby SO BAD. I'm here if you ever want to commiserate. Best of luck to you. Your baby is lucky to have a mom that cares so much. <3