Nope

Can be difficult to wean. Given your job situation use formula. Your child will be fine and healthy. Because this way you will be less stressed.

It’s all good.

Start as you mean to go on. Friend of mine was in your situation and when it was time to go back to work the baby wouldn’t take a bottle. She screamed and starved during the day. Friend ended up having to ask for a bunch more time off until they could sort it out. Took months and was a stressful disaster that pushed their marriage to the brink.

I’m expecting #2 and I only plan on breastfeeding until I go back to work (at 15 weeks), if even that. I weaned by 9 months last time and it was such a pain. Don’t want to bother this time. You’re allowed to prioritize how you feel about it.

You should give it a try and see if you like it. If you don’t enjoy it or it hurts, you can switch to formula. I wouldn’t bend over backwards to pump and quit when I went back to work anyways, even with a job where it was possible.

I would at least give breast feeding a try for the health benefits, but don’t worry about it if you stop when you go back to work (or earlier). Pumping sucks anyhow.

It's such a personal decision. Only you know what will make you feel the most comfortable and what will fit best with your life. I hope you are able to make the choices you need to make with support and without judgment.

OP—curious about what job does not allow for pumping. I ask because I thought being an elementary teacher was pretty difficult for pumping. But I made it work, and so do colleagues.

You lose nothing by trying. Getting breast milk even for 3-4 months can be a great thing for your baby (& in my opinion, it’s so much easier than dealing with bottles— they eat so often at first).
And by 4 months, you may even be able to do formula during the day but nurse in the morning and at night when you see the baby.

I hated breastfeeding and nearly wrecked my mental health trying to make it work. Try it but if it does not seem to work then don’t string yourself up about it. Nothing is wrong with my formula - my kids are gifted loving and healthy.

Just curious what your job is and why pumping isn't possible? There are a few types of pumps now that fit discretely under your clothes.

If you want to breastfeed, you should try. Baby will get lots of benefit even if you fully wean after the four months are up.

If I could, sure. I comfort nursed my children to sleep despite never having supply sufficient to feed them. It’s worth it for that bedtime routine alone (for me).

Definitely breastfeed.

Try! There’s no reason not to try. Then if/when you hit the 3 month mark you can decide how to wean. You could wean entirely to formula or you can do formula during the day and breastmilk morning/night.

I would breastfeed as long as possible and switch to formula.

My milk never came in, the most I ever produced with a hospital grade pump was 2 ounces. I would breastfeed first then supplement with formula. DS still got antibodies and good things from that little bit of milk. He weened himself at 3 1/2 months but I am glad I gave it a go.

My husband and I are expecting our first child. I will taking 4 months of maternity leave. I work a job where pumping isn’t possible. I’m deciding if I should breastfeed and switch to formula once I go back to work, or use formula from the start. I’m not even sure if I will be able to breastfeed. Would you breastfeed or use formula?