Just done nightfeed with EBM bottle - feel REALLY guilty........

[Salli198103]

Hi,

My husband did the dreamfeed tonight at 10.30pm and could only get out 3.5week old to take 1 oz, where he would usually have 3oz. I exclusively breastfeed except for the DF when hubby does it with EBM.
He brought the bottle into the bedroom, of the 2oz that was left and said, "just in case he wakes early and wants more - you could finish this off if you want".

He woke for his 2am feed, which I have always done on the breast, and I felt so tired and fed up I did it with the bottle and he took the full 2oz almost like a DF, no winding, straight back to sleep - SO EASY!!!! Now I feel terrible, as he might miss the breast, or the bonding, and I only did it through sheer laziness and tiredness, and now i can't get back to sleep as I feel awful. I'm scared he won't take the breast at 5am for his next feed....

could do with some reassurance that I've not done a terrible thing!

Salli

[MJMom]

Salli, you did fine!!!  There will be no miss of bonding over one feed that you did with the bottle!!  There are many women who are bonded with their child and never ever ever give them the breast!  Our parents were a generation where few of them breast fed and we feel connected to our own parents, right?  3.5 weeks old means you're not getting a lot of sleep.  laziness?  I hardly think so.  How many times did you get up to feed him tonight?  last night?  The night before?  You are definitely NOT lazy!  You're a mommy!

He's so young, he will likely go between breast and bottle very readily.  ours did.

And also... keep in mind, that white gold is pretty darn valuable!!  Better to have him eat it than waste it!

you're a LOVELY mommy because you care soooo much!!!!

(((HUGS!!)))

[dbj]

Don't be so hard on yourself!  You are doing just fine.   I'm sure he'll be fine for his next feed.  One missed session won't stop the bonding process or his familiarity with the breast (you said he was really sleepy anyway) and your DH does the DF with EBF so you know he can go back to the breast just fine after that. 

The first few weeks are so tough and sleep deprivation can really take over.  You are definitely not lazy!  You need your rest as well, and sometimes you just need to take a break.  You are going a great job!

[Salli198103]

Thankyou - I feel better - he woke early for his 5pm feed (hence why I am here at 4.30am! ) and had a few mins on the boob. WEnt to sleep though - I think he just needed a mini feed as he is having a growth spurt.

Now I know it's okay - I might do it for one feed every night!!!

[Aly Mac]

Just think, your DH can get up in the middle of the night to feed him sometimes if you are really tired (wish I had done that!)  Don't feel bad love - you did great!!!!! Keep on pumping!

[AJs Mom]

What I loved about DH doing the DF with EBM was that he got bond too.

Don't feel badly!  It's okay to get some sleep!  You fed your baby!  That's what's important!

Take care, Sonja C

[RachelC]

{{{{hugs}}}}  PPs already covered it all.