Your opinion and feelings, or any info. on breastfeeding Vs. Formula.........?

Question

I have a 2 week old that I have been breastfeeding but it is becoming so difficult, does it get any better? I am having a very rough time! feedings are an hour long and every hr.1/2. Any suggestions or hope? Thank you for your help!!

Answer 1

it definatley gets better but i believe you have to be totally dedicated to breastfeeding i did it for two months with my second child and then found out she was allergic to the milk so i had to stop but with my son i did it for 4 wks and stopped i just was not dedicated if you dont want to breastfeed then dont or do half formula half breastfeeding or pump so that you can just do a bottle there are so many ways you can do it..breast feed at night bottle during the day find what works best for you

Answer 2

You are definetly doing the right thing by breastfeeding, as you know it is so good for the infant and much better then any formula out on the market today! I would say continue to breastfeed...the only thing in your question that alarms me is the fact that the infant is feeding every hour & 1/2 for 1 full hour. Make sure the nipple is fully in his mouth, that he is swallowing not slurpping, also if you are feeling anxious or frustrated this could be a problem because when you don't relax your milk let down is slower. Since he is feeding so often for 1 hour at a time make sure you are doing all of these and if you are frustrated and angry take a couple of deep breaths and help milk your breast (by rubbing downwards on the top and squeezing your breast while you hole the "C" shaped hold. If it doesn't get any easier for you I would consult with your doctor b/c maybe he can look into it further and be some help to you. The routine of most infants who breastfeed is every 3 hours so if this doesn't get better you might need to supplement (that is if you are not getting enough milk in). But definetly contact help before making any decisions of pulling your infant off the breast. Good luck and I hope things get better for you....stay tuff you are doing so much good for your little one!

Answer 3

There are a lot of moms that really push breastfeeding and really love it. I breastfed my first two for 9 months each. And I have been breastfeeding my third for 2 months now. Although I have never throughly enjoyed it, I wanted to give my baby what was best and also formula is really expensive. There is nothing convienient about breastfeeding, except not having to mix the formula. Although the first couple weeks are very hard and it should get easier. I usually feed my daughter every 2 hours, but the feedings only last for about 15 minutes. I find that it is hard to get out and that I get impatient. I guess a lot about having a baby is sacrifice. Once they start eating solid foods they may not have to eat as often although mine sometimes still did. I don't think you should have to feed your baby so often though, perhaps you are mistaking the signs your baby is giving you and thinking it is all hunger. I know my girls have all had gas that makes them want to suck even when they aren't hungry. My baby now often likes to suck to fall asleep. Maybe try burping, giving a pacifier, or changing your baby's diaper before offering the breast. Good luck, hopefully it gets better for you and you don't have to give up on breastfeeding!

Answer 4

From what I have read and from what I have learned by watching my wife breastfeed our three children, I feel that breastfeeding is suprememly better than the bottle and things will get better with more time.

Though I understand that there are instances where it does become quite frustrating. I know that at times like that, my wife would try to express milk in advance (yes, some how she found a way) so that when I came home from work I could "cover" for her for a short while so she could have a break.

With our first child breastfeeding became really hard for her. The food demands of my son were enormous. In fact, with in the first six weeks our doctor had us adding baby cereal to the expressed milk and formula (granted this is not the norm but something to think about talking to your doctor about if your child's food needs become too demanding)

You should also rest assured with the fact that you have breastfeed your child for two weeks already. I say this beacuse that has provided ample opportunity for your child to receive the benefits of your antibodies and such via your breastmilk so should you feel that you may want to switch over to formula, you know that your child has benefited from you already.

I think that the best coruse of action would be to talk to your pediatrician and ask them what they think about possiblly changing over or in the best case senario doing both. This will allow you to have a break without giving up the whole breastfeeding process entirely.

Answer 5

Yes it does. I have a 2 month old and it started getting better when she was almost 6 weeks. My mom tells me that when I was a baby I wanted to eat every 1/2 hour like your baby does. Some babies just want it that often. I promise it will get better. If you are having a really hard time then talk to a lactation nurse at the hospital or call your doctor. A breast feed baby is usually happier than a formula. And besides breast milk is preferred over formula. That's why they try and push it so much.

Answer 6

The first 6 weeks are often the hardest. It will get better actually easier than bottle feeding and much more rewarding. Actually your milk is the best thing for your baby. It has many antibodies, and other beneficial ingredients that formula does not have. It also changes according to the needs of your baby. If you both are exposed to a virus your body will build antibodies that show up in your milk so your baby is protected. Besides that breastfeeding intensifies your bond to your baby bec of hormones released. You also can contact a LLLleader. It's free and they can help you over the phone(trained volunteer moms,that are breastfeeding them self) and at meetings.

Answer 7

Yes, it will get better. You just have to perservere, with the knowledge that you are giving your baby the best possible start that you can. You are a brand New mom, and breastfeeding is something that has to be learned, it doesn't come naturally. after the first few weeks is the toughest because your breasts and nipples are pretty raw, keep going for a few more weeks and they will toughen up. Also is your baby latching on correctly to your breast? There shouldn't be any slurping sounds when the baby is feeding, just a swallowing sound. You should make sure that you are comfortable when you feed the baby, because your child will pick up on your anxiety. And make sure that the baby has almost or all of your nipple in it's mouth that is the correct latch. But the best advice I can give you is to look up your local La Leche League, they will help you, If they are not in the phone book enquire at the hospital, or with your public nurse, pediatrition. The La Leche League's purpose is to help mom's with breastfeeding and to provide a support group. Good Luck, and congratulations for not giving up and giving the best for your baby.

Answer 8

I have to say I have had positive experiances with both. My first child was breastfed for only 6 weeks, as I found it all too overwhelming, and Bottles put me back in control. I was also dogged by the older generation who did not breastfeed thier babies, and were worried about baby not getting enough. If baby is putting on weight,then he/she is getting enough.it was not until I had my second child I realised that control does not come into it, and when you relax and take the babys lead it does get easier. My second child was breastfed until she was 2 (from 9 months on I think it was comfort more than anything else). There is nothing to stop you from supplementing breast with a bottle, and my advice is if you are going to mix then the sooner the better. My second never took a bottle, and this was very tying. My main point is a happy conteted mummy equals a happy content baby. do whats best for you. I think once you pass the 6 week mark things do get easier, but its hard at the start, its something you both have to learn. Maybe your latching on method is not whats best for you. On one breast feeding was easy for me, on the other it was very painful, so I mimicked the latching on my placing Anya underneath my arm, feeding from the side, a nit like holding a rugby ball, not lying directly in from of me. this eleviated the pain and I was able to feed happily. A good nipple cream eleviates pain too, lanisoh was a godsend for me. Best of luck. Don't beat yourself up if breastfeeding is not for you, and dont listen to the breastfeeding gestapo, just do what you think is best for BOTH of you, not just baby.
Take care

Answer 9

welcome to breastfeeding, just kidding, it will be this way for a few weeks then it does get better!! But you know what, if you have something that you really need to do, or if you need a quick break, there is no harm in giving him a bottle, so PUMP so that you will have something to give when you are so tired. That is what I did, I pumped all the time at night, while watching TV, cause it was faster, then husband gave baby the pumped bottle, and I would wake up, pump for 15 minutes and go back to bed. Still had to wake up, just not for as long!!

Answer 10

My wife was in a very similar position. She was completely stressed out, our son wasn't putting on wieght, he was always crying, and she had bleeding nipples. This was after about 4 weeks. She went on to formula for a few days, and once he had stopped starving, she reintroduced breast feeding. She carried on with a mixture of the two very successfully for a year.

Our son is now 13, very fit and active, representing the school in a wide range of sports, and is in the top 10% at school academically.

Breast IS best, but there are alternatives.