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To those moms who formula fed their children
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Anonymous
This is a great point. So many people BF, but then nutrition goes to hell when the kids get older. My mom BF me, and is very proud of the fact (since it was the 70s and everyone else was FF), but we grew up with junk food everywhere and no portion control, and I still struggle with those issues today. Oh, and I have an autoimmune disease and got lots of ear infections, so so much for THAT benefit of BFing. |
Anonymous
| alive and well at 40 formula fed - don't stress |
Anonymous
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I formula fed my Daughter. She is bright, beautiful and healthy.
My time feeding my daughter was no less special b/c it wasn't from the breast. She looked into my eyes, I sang to her, we snuggled. She's a mommy's girl to this day who loves nothing better than to snuggle in my lap. In other words, don't be afraid that you will no longer bond w/ your baby. That is BS. BF/FF is only one element in the equation that is childhood. You'll be fine. Your child will be fine. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| I gave up BF with my daughter at 9 weeks, after a long, painful, exhausting struggle that pushed me to the brink of ppd. I EBF my son for 9 months. They are both happy and bright. If anything, my daughter is healthier, having had fewer ear infections. As everyone else has said, you and your baby will be fine. Now enjoy that baby! |
Anonymous
| I also struggled with bf, exclusively pumped and made myself crazy, anxious, exhausted and obsessed. After the lactation consultant, obgyn and pediatrician told me to stop the insanity and accept ff...I finally did and felt very guilty. My dc is 3 now and so healthy, smart, tall, verbal, funny, happy....Looking back, I wish i would have been more rational and enjoyed those early months more. I wasn't bf at all and have managed to be successful. My sibling who was bf for 2 years, has more allergies, health issues, less ambition, etc. I know how hard it is...but try to let this go and have faith it'll be ok. you are a good mom. |
Anonymous
i absolutely love this thread. 
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Anonymous
| I breastfed, my dear lifelong BFF ff. Our dc are the exact same age. I *loved* watching her bottle feed her baby because she was so loving and sweet and it was obviously such a special moment in the day for them. Baby would giggle and reach for mama. If I stared, it was not in judgment but in love. Hold your sweet baby, look into his / her eyes, kiss their soft little head. You are a mama. It's the love, not the food, that counts. |
Anonymous
| OP, i dont' have personal experience with formula feeding, but my 2 sister in laws exclusively FF their 5 kids by choice (now aged 2-7) and all of them are fine and healthy. You have nothing to feel guilty about - you breastfed your baby for 5 weeks and cannot any longer - while it may not be what you pictured or would have chosen, your child will be fine! Try to let go of the negative feelings and enjoy your sweet new baby. Best of luck to you! |
Anonymous
Couldn't have said it better. I BF my DD until she turned 1, and seriously people still gave me grief about weaning when she didn't take to cows milk right away. Just love your daughter, there is nothing wrong with FF. My EBF child has been more sick than anyone I know (she had a nonstop series of ear infections, sinus infections, and allergies for literally 3 months, ahhh), so don't feel guilty, breast milk is not some magically elixer that cures all woes. |
Anonymous
| Same thing happened to me at the same time- absolutely no choice. DS is almost 2 now, ridiculously happy, charming, smart, and sweet. (and I'm not biased at all!) He has also been extremely healthy (knock on wood!). |
Anonymous
| Really, in the end, isn't breastfeeding negated if you fail to love your child, let them watch too much tv, eat crap, stay up too late, and do all sorts of other bad stuff? Not to say that doing any of that will make your kid turn out rotten but breastfeeding is only one small component of raising a happy and healthy child... |
Anonymous
| I am not the OP but I want to say thank you for all the wonderful comments. I am crying while reading this thread. For my own medical reasons only my left breast produced any milk and at the most it was only 4 oz a day and then about 3 weeks ago it all just dried up. We've been giving our 11 week old boy formula since day 1 (or hour one for that matter.) While I don't feel as much as a failure as I did, it still lingers. It is really wonderful to read such supportive comments. Thank you. |
Anonymous
You know what's funny? I felt the same way you did at 11 weeks. At six months, I look back on myself and think it's kind of funny that I was so bent out of shape about it. The guilt will stop - sooner than you think 
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Anonymous
I have a small, benign tumor on my pituitary, the gland that controls prolactin. I have to take medication, or it could become a big, problematic tumor. I could only breast feed for a few weeks, and my milk supply never really came-in, anyway. We had to FF since our daughter was three days old. She never got sick or had any digestive issues -- until she started day care at 1yo (sigh). All the BF toddlers in her day care get sick just as often. At 1-1/2 years, my DD is perfectly happy and has a great relationship with her father. Honestly, I think all the bottle feeding, including those late-night feedings while I slept, helped secure the early bond between the two of them. To all of you who are up to your elbows in guilt and tears, please know it will pass. Wipe the tears and enjoy these precious moments. It's a cliché , but it really does go by in the blink of an eye. |
Anonymous
| Healthy, happy child who never was sick his first year of life. Oh, the bonus, dad really bonded with baby as he enjoyed feeding/snuggling and doing everything and I got a help so I could reenergize and be at my best. |