Confused and Upset
This is clearly an issue close to home! I am a mother of four, all bottlefed. I had every intention of breastfeeding, but it was more than I could do, to make a long story short. I didn't have to go back to work either. I had so much guilt and emotion, and it was really a waste of energy. My babies were all healthy and strong and they just did great with the formula. The best thing I did was give up the breastfeeding ideal and just take good care of my baby. Those feelings past as I saw them grow and smile and I realized everybody was going to be okay and I was a good mom meeting the nutritional needs of my baby. I really do believe that the benefits of breastfeeding are way overstated. THat was the word my pediatrician used by the way. Additionally, the most longevitous generation so far was almost exclusively bottle fed in a day when the quality of formula pales to what it is now. If breastfeeding is a 100, then formula is a 99.9. Don't waste this precious time feeling bad. Hold your baby, and however you feed them is the right thing for you. Everyone else can just shut up and mind their own business. You are the mom, you decide.
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time! ((hugs))
My baby was born a month early and had a very difficult time latching. I pumped after every feeding for quite a while to help build up my supply and to supplement. Sometimes I wouldn't get much milk pumping, but supply varies throughout the day and from day to day. I would pump after feeding and then use that milk with an SNS to supplement at the next feeding. Is that something you've considered? It's easier for babies to drink from a bottle than from the breast, and using an SNS or lactaid type system will supplement while also keeping the baby stimulating your supply.
I also had very supportive doctors and lactation consultants helping me out. Every newborn is different, but I can't see how limiting feeding to 15 minutes is going to help build your supply at all. I think it took us somewhere between 4-6 weeks of this routine before his latch improved and I was able to stop pumping after nursing (although, I probably dropped some of the night pumping before that time). Have you checked out www.kellymom.com? It has many great resources.
I just wanted to let you know that it is possible to have a very rocky start and then later move to exclusively nursing (without having to pump or use formula).
Good luck with whatever path you take!
My baby was born a month early and had a very difficult time latching. I pumped after every feeding for quite a while to help build up my supply and to supplement. Sometimes I wouldn't get much milk pumping, but supply varies throughout the day and from day to day. I would pump after feeding and then use that milk with an SNS to supplement at the next feeding. Is that something you've considered? It's easier for babies to drink from a bottle than from the breast, and using an SNS or lactaid type system will supplement while also keeping the baby stimulating your supply.
I also had very supportive doctors and lactation consultants helping me out. Every newborn is different, but I can't see how limiting feeding to 15 minutes is going to help build your supply at all. I think it took us somewhere between 4-6 weeks of this routine before his latch improved and I was able to stop pumping after nursing (although, I probably dropped some of the night pumping before that time). Have you checked out www.kellymom.com? It has many great resources.
I just wanted to let you know that it is possible to have a very rocky start and then later move to exclusively nursing (without having to pump or use formula).
Good luck with whatever path you take!
HW 300ish / SW 280 / CW 162.8/ GW 140?
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