to give formula or not...i'm torn...

[RachelC]

stridey, please do not beat yourself up over this.  You have not failed your dd in any way.  {{{{hugs}}}}

[stridey]

Cheers for the vote of confidence Rachel. It is great to chat on these threads as it turns your blues around and gives you a smile.
Cheers

[nona]

Kiwi - oh my gosh! you have not failed - you are BFing 4 times a day! i dont' have a good reason at all for offering formula  - you had a medical one. (not that you need a reason to offer formula  ). i have to work this saturday and only have about one feeding's worth of EBM so need to get the pump on.....if DH has to give formula then i'm ok with it...i think it is just doing it that one time and once you do it, it won't be that big of a deal for us. we are also about to increase his solids and offer dinner so we're weaning anyways...

[grantsmom]

I had to introduce formula to my 7 mo DS about a month ago. (He had been taking solely bm for the first 6 months). I had been pumping during the day (work) and bf at night and weekends. He got to where he preferred the bottle, I'm sure due to the easiness. Anyways, at his 6 mo. checkup he didn't not gain any weight in 2 months. The doctor said to up the amount I was feeding him. I couldn't keep with the new amount (he went from 7 oz to 9)and was depleting my frozen stash. So I started adding formula, 2 oz in a bottle. He didn't mind the taste and it made feel better. There are times even now where the ratio of formula is greater than the ebm.

[stridey]

Hey Nona how was the movie? Sorry ladies wasn't fishing for sympathy just wanted to say that we sometimes have these ideas in our minds of what we want to do with our LO's in terms of feeding and it doesn't always work out and it is important that we get a break and no Nona you are so right about not needing a reason to FF. I think us females can beat ourselves up over this whole BF thingee and I must admit that it is good to be able to get out and about and have abit of a break and DH likes giving DD her her FF, bit of bonding.
Cheers
Kiwi from NZ

[nona]

i think for our next LO, i may try the one FF at night for DH and i'll BF the other times. looking back, the break would have been good for me!

we may have to give formula this next week b/c i am helping out a friend who just had her baby @ 30 weeks    who lives out of town. SO to help out i'll have to leave cade w/ the grandparents and prob won't be able to pump enough or may not get there in time to BF. they don't live to close to the hospital. this is OK b/c i know my friend needs my help and  giving cade formula for me to help her will be worth it. Don't you think???

[stridey]

Hi, I think so to. It is probably a great opportunity for you to catch up with your friend and to have a break, even though you will be helping her. I think you are doing so well to have BF this far. Good one.
Cheers and have a safe journey.
Kiwi from NZ

[Aly Mac]

You are a good person Heather.... 

[nona]

thought i would update.....

so last week we went on vacation but cade had a hard time settling so woke about every 2-3 hours at night. cade wanted to nurse ALL THE TIME. it was crazy! when we returned home, i was sick (mild flu or something). then at midnight, trying to settle cade i got this crazy GI bug (like at the same time) so i told DH to do "whatever it takes" and cade got his first bottle of formula and i got some sleep. honestly, i feel pretty indifferent about it probably b/c i was tired of nursing at that point! then today i got a migraine (still sick and dehydrated) so had to take a migraine medication and cade is getting another formula bottle. he'll prob have to get it for the next 24 hr. so, i'm officially over my formula phobia and it feels good. i think i'll only pump when i miss a feeding (like at work) and give formula when necessary. anyway, i'm glad its over and i can move on from this and worry about something else!

hopefully, this topic will make someone else feel OK about their decision!

[RachelC]

{{{{hugs}}}}  You made a good choice.  Hope you are feeling better.

[Elizabeth410]

I'm happy you're happy with your decision