Breastfeeding and Stress. My wife is a little stressed at present & breastfeeding. Should she go onto formula?

Answer 1

no tell her to stick at it if she can, i gave up and i really regret it.

Answer 2

Hi, Breastfeeding is very demanding and puts stress all around, lack of sleep etc.

This is what i would suggest. Keep breast feeding and introduce formula once or twice a day and 'you' feed the baby.
The reason i say this is because babies can smell their mothers milk and if she tries to feed your baby with formula the likely result will be, the baby will refuse.
If you feed your baby let it fit in with your scheduel ie work, be consistent. This is turn will also help your wife out, she will get a break and can have a nap whilst you feed.

You might want to take over some of the role ie, bathing, changing, cooking, laundry. This all helps.

Try NUK teats - they are the closest to the mothers breast. Nuk fit most bottles, but do check the diameter of the nuk teats against any other bottles, because some they do not fit. Try and just get a NUK teat and bottle.

If i was you go out and buy a few of the ready made cartons of baby milk, . Select a few and if the baby does not like one try another, this way you dont spend a fortune on milk that he or she wont like.

This is how i weaned my daughter off breast milk.. It took me a month to do. Also in the first few week and months, baby just keeps getting hungry and hungry.

You can formula feed and breast feed at the same time!

I would suggest you doing a night time feed about 11ish if this is the baby rythmn- as babys who have formula get more satisfied and might help baby sleep a little better in the night.

Keep with the breastfeeding if possible, but your not a bad person if its not working out for you all.

Good luck

Answer 3

You don't say how old your baby is or whether your wife is stressed because she's finding breastfeeding difficult or because of some other reason.

Not knowing the answers, I can only answer the question very generally. I'm assuming that your child is very young, in which case your wife has every right to be a bit stressed! Its a massive upheaval having a new baby in your life and sleep deprativation only adds to the sense of not being able to cope. In addition, its possible that your wife might be suffering from a touch of the baby blues (although if you suspect post natal depression, you should get her to see your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible). Its unlikely therefore that breast feeding is the only thing that is stressing her out, unless she is finding it difficult - in which case your local NCT or La Leche councellor will be able to give advice on latching on etc). If your wife is finding the breast feeding hard because of the one-woman band sleeepless nights, then she could try expressing some of her milk, so that you can cover for a couple of nights and give her a bit more rest. This could make a huge amount of difference to how she copes.

As it is unlikely to be the brestfeeding that's causing the problem, then giving up is not really the answer. Its much better for mummy and baby than switching to formula and if your wife set her heart on breastfeeding before the baby was born, its likely that she'll end up being very disappointed that she didn't continue. If, however, she really feels that she can't cope, then she shouldn't feel ashamed at giving up. Just breastfeeding a baby for one day makes a huge difference to their health and she should be proud of having done the right thing.

You need to be aware that if you do decide to switch your baby to formula, your wife may need a bit of additional help over the following days as its likely that she will be quite uncomfortable with swollen breasts etc (so another reason why giving up may not be a short term solution).

Good luck to the both of you and don't forget to contact your health professionals if you believe there is even a small possibility that your wife is developing PND.

Answer 4

I am not sure if you are asking because you are worried that the stress will affect her milk, or because she is stressed about breastfeeding.

If the former, don't worry. The baby won't be poisoned. : ) As long as mom is relaxed while she is feeding (to help with the letdown), breastfeeding will be fine. Stress is so normal when there is a newborn in the house. Nature knows what it is doing. As (almost) everyone will tell you, breastfeeding is the BEST thing for baby.

If the latter:
I am currently breastfeeding my second child who is now two months old. Let me tell you, it is so normal for breastfeeding to be difficult for the first month to month and a half. Everything you read will tell you that it is only hard for a week or a few days, but this is bull. Even though this is my second time breasfteeding (I breastfed my first for a full 13 months), I still had a very painful, stressful time with this one (cracked, bleeding nipples, engorgement, baby not latching on right, you name it). My milk supply is still adjusting itself.

A few tips:
Definitely stick at it, it WILL get better

Pumps can help relieve engorged breasts so baby can latch on better

Bring baby to the breast, not breast to the baby

Make sure both baby and mom are well supported with lots of pillows

Don't introduce any artificial nipples (binkies, bottles, etc.) until baby is at least 4 weeks

Make sure baby opens mouth wide for latch on. Have mom use her finger to keep it open until he is on

When all else fails, see a lactation consultant. They will help baby latch on, as well as provide emotional support and motivation to continue breastfeeding.

Answer 5

How long has she been breastfeeding? usually differcult for the first few weeks or days and then gets better, is she getting time to sit and relax with out being disturb by other things, is baby positioned right? There are breastfeeding support groups you could speak to or your midwife or health visitor should be able to help. Ensure she is getting plenty of rest, fluids and nurishment as well as support from you and see how it goes, if it continues and is really becoming an issue where babe is not getting fed and mum is to stressed try a bottle (possibly try one bottle of formula or expressed milk to give mum a break then let her try again when destressed) Good luck, been there and it does get better!After struggling for the first week I've now succesfully fed 5 daughters but this isn't the case for everyone, mum will need to do what she feels best. Good Luck

Answer 6

I breast fed four babies - not allat once!!!!!
It was hard going for the first baby. Once I got the hang of it though, I never had real problems again.
I do believe that breastfeeding is the best for your baby, which is why there is so much pressure put on mothers to stick to it. However, if your wife can't cope, or is crying and stressed out, try a little formula. Maybe she just needs a good night's sleep and a bit of help.
Formula fed babies make, in my opinion, just as good citizens as breastfed babies!:)

Answer 7

Being a parent is stressful. Baby will have to be fed whether breastfed or formula fed.

Breastfeeding releases "feel good" hormones, to help reduce the effects of stress. Help your wife out by removing the other stressful things around her. Do the laundry, dishes, make dinner, calm baby when he's not hungry, change the diapers, let her do things for herself between feedings.

Formula does not remove stress.

Answer 8

I've got three kids. Two I tried to breast feed. With the first I lasted about 2 weeks and was stressed. I was always worried whether she was getting enough milk, I was exhausted as new borns she was feeding every 2 hours. So I switched to formula and was unstressed and much more relaxed which was better for both me and my daughter. My 2nd child I tried again to breast feed. I lasted about 3 weeks but again tiredness got the better of me and I switched to formula. My third I did not attempt to breast feed and I enjoyed those early days much more.

They say breast is best, but for me formula enable me to be sure my babies were getting enough milk and allowed me to get some much needed sleep.

It's a individual choice but don't let you wife feel guilty if she decides to use formula, all my kids are well, heathly and intelligent even without 6 months of breast feeding.

Good luck.

Answer 9

do you mean she is stressed with breastfeeding or just stressed and breast feeding, if she's just stressed out iv'e found that doing the odd bottle and handing baby to dad is quite nice to get away from it for a minute, but to do only bottle may be more stressful because u have to warm it / make it and generally baby will be crying while u r doing it, remember a glass of wine,( if she drinks) would not hurt as long as it's not loads.
if she's stressed with breast feeding ask her if she wants to continue, it's her choice at the end of the day, if she's not getting on with it but want's to ,persist, with it but don't let her beat herself up over it, it doesn't suit everyone, I personally have been very lucky and fed all three with no problems and found it alot easier. but as i said befor do a bit of both if you want. it won't hurt,

Answer 10

hey every women that breastfeeds can get stressed i know i am but i am still breastfeeding but as soon as it gets to much then i will move over to bottle but i want to keep on for as long as possible talk to your wife and ask her how she feels about giving up if she cant manage it then it fine to go to bottle she must do what she feels is the right thing for both her and the baby i hope it goes well

Answer 11

I breastfed my first child for 3 weeks, it doesn't sound like much but every night she was waking every hour for feed or comfort, my nipple had a hole in it from her constant attachment. I was tired & stressed, I'd dread her waking at night so I had to start bottle feeding formula. I felt guilty at first like I was letting my daughter down but that first night she slept for 4 hours, the most in the 3 weeks since she was born, I was so pleased I'd switched & even though she does get the odd cold she's perfectly healthy!

I think if your wife is getting stressed it's probably wise for you to switch, just reassure her it's for the best & that if she's happier then so will your baby be!

Good luck!