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So I discovered that I'm not going to be able to pump enough milk to keep up with how much Lowe eats when I'm gone at work especially since I'm going to be doing day shifts for the next 2 months. I have this strange guilty feeling like I'm not being the mother I should be since I can't provide him with all the breastmilk that he needs. I trialed him with a bottle of formula for his last feeding and he took all 4 ounces down like it was the homemade stuff. So far so good, no puking it back up or anything like that. I know it's not as good as breastmilk but what's a mom to do when she can't pump enough for him to continue to be exclusively breastfed?!?!?!?
I'm happy that he took the formula so well but sad at the same time that he's got to take it. I am glad too though that I was able to exclusively provide for him for the first 3.5 months of his life!!! It's more than some mothers get to and I need to just realize that he's a big growing boy who eats a ton! I doubt anyone could pump enough for the way this little guy eats!!! And since he's getting so past the point of wanting big people food too, I doubt he'll be exclusively breast or bottle fed for much longer anywho!
Lowe already drools a ton (no teeth coming in though, I check his gums like 4 times a day...), he watches our food so intently it's like he's willing it to come to him so he can shove it in his mouth like he does with everything else that comes close to him! I'm sure he'll have doubled his birth weight by his 4 month appointment which is in 3 weeks. Last week he was already 13.5 pounds so I'm sure he'll gain another pound here in the next 3 weeks.
Any suggestions on how to not feel guilty about having to give my baby formula?!?!?! I know I probably sound pathetic but it's a feeling that's there!!! Weird but there...
6 comments:
hey
I had the same guilty feeling i only breastfeed Jacob for 3 months because i just wasn't producing enough. We all know that breast milk is way better but formula is good for them to it's food for them and if he is gaining weight and being a happy baby then you shouldn't feel guilty. The guilty feeling will go away:)
Breastfeeding is one of the hardest EVER for me! I so know exactly how you feel. I have struggled with breastfeeding and pumping while working too! I have always viewed formula as “not good enough.” I have had to supplement along the way. Thankfully Hayley (and your little Lowe) take formula and a bottle well. I’m just barely getting to the point that I realize that formula is ok. I was talking to a friend about this issue and her hubby said, “It’s just formula… it’s not rat poison!” Every month I’ve been happy to have made it another month breastfeeding. Just do what you can do! You can always feed him when you’re home, pump when you’re not, and give him formula when he needs more. That’s what I’ve done for 6 months. Try not to feel guilty and agonize over this (that’s what I’ve been doing)! Even if it takes a little while to get over this issue, it’ll be faster than me! Seriously call me if you have any more questions!
i was SO there...you just have to let things run there course. I was so sad and depressed, but Kinz slept so GOOD once on formula and she was getting so much more full that the extra sleep and sanity for me really helped :)
i would just nurse at night and see if that keeps up for a little while longer. then you get that time with your son and he is still getting the antibodies and everything but without the hassle of pumping all day. i have heard of people doing this plus it saves a little money, formula is expensive! but 3.5 months is still wonderful.
oh yeah i should mention at nine months elizabeth was only breastfed and woke up every two hours every night to eat. then at nine months i switched to formula and she started sleeping 12 hours a night within a week!!! so i wished i would have used formula sooner, poor girl was just hungry and i wasnt making enough:)
I felt horrible when I couldn't breastfeed Ashton... I cried and cried, and felt as though I was somehow less of a mother...
But the little guy did just fine on formula, and now 2 1/2 years later, he is happy, healthy and smart! It was good to see him gaining weight, and sleeping so well. You'll feel less guilty as time goes by... promise.
BTW- Good job for making it 3 1/2 months! That's more than a lot of moms are able to do!
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