I have been breastfeeding my son for 6 1/2 months. Recently I have been thinking about switching to formula because my son is irritable most of the time, and I am not sure he is getting full. He is wanting to eat about every 2-2 1/2 hours which he should be past this stage. I feel like if I stop nursing now, I will be a failure one because most people do it for at least 9-10 months, and 2 my mom keeps encouraging me to continue. I am starting to work next week 3 days a week, and can't decide what to do. Will my child resent me for stopping to nurse? Please help!!!
2006-10-31 14:01:48 · 11 answers · asked by Bird79 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
Don't feel like a failure. 6 months is great.
I nursed both of my kids for more than a year each, but there probably wasn't a single day that I didn't consider quitting.
Truthfully, though, my daughters would sleep from, say, 10:30 pm 'til about 6 or 7 am, but they made up for it by eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours throughout the day.
If you can pump at work, I really recommend it. Your baby will get used to a bottle, and you won't feel so awful if you give the occasional formula or even switch entirely, but it's so nice to have that cuddly time when you get home from the job. (Of course, you can be cuddly with a bottle, too, but it's not quite the same.)
Your child won't resent you, although the transition can be tough.
But change happens, whether we want it to or not. All you can do is make the decision that you feel best about, that makes you happiest, and then keep on moving. That's what makes a good mama--nursing or formula feeding are completely beside the point.
2006-10-31 14:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
At 3 months my son started doing the same. Eating all the time and never acting satisfied. It started to feel like I was naked all day and he was crying all day. It turns out, that I was producing milk with no nutrition. It starts to become a vicious cycle. The more you stress, the less nutrition produced. The more the baby is eating, the more you are stressed.
I started feeding my baby formula, which he had no problem going to bottle because he was essentially starving to death. He took to that bottle like it was the last meal he was ever going to get. Every now and then, especially in the morning, I would still nurse. It gave my body a chance to produce a better quality of milk, and that way, it wasn't like I gave up nursing all together.
I have to confess, this routine only lasted till he was about 6 months, and by then, all he wanted was the bottle because it satisfied him better.
Things work how they work and kids have ways of telling you what they need. There is no set rule about how long or how much you should nurse. You should not feel like a failure just because someone else did things different. The failure comes when you don't do what's right for your child.
2006-10-31 22:18:01 · answer #2 · answered by bloomquist324 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your child will not even remember if you breast fed or not.
Give yourself a break. If you are not sure he is getting enough nourishment have the doctor give him a check up. If he is developing the way he should be then you have nothing to worry about.
If you decide to go to formula or even 2% milk, that doesn't mean you are a failure, it means you are more concerned about your child's health than what all the do gooders think.
It's great that your mom encourages you to continue to breast feed but not to presure you to do so.
Every woman is different and breast feeding does not make you a better mother. Loving your child and taking care of him is what makes you a good mother.
When you go back to work, it will be a lot easier for you if you are not breast feeding and you are going to need all the help you can get to adjust to leaving your child even for a short time. It is going to be an adjustment for him too so you don't need the added stress of beating yourself up because other people think you should breast feed.
Do what you feel you have to do and don't worry about anyone else. If it helps, don't even bother to tell them if you are breast feeding or not. This is a very personal thing and it is no one's business but your own.
Your baby will love you no matter what you do as long as you cuddle him and comfort him when you are with him.
Good Luck to you and your baby and just be happy don't worry about the opinions of the rest of the world, only you know what is best for you and your baby.
2006-10-31 22:12:58 · answer #3 · answered by nellie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have felt the same way. I breastfed my older son until he was 2. I started working when he was 7 months and was able to go home to feed him when needed. I had to go back to work when my 2nd son was 6 weeks old. I had to pump and it wasn't working out very well (despite various methods, I had a very difficult time pumping enough). I made a pact with myself to pump for at least the first four months of his life. I made it to four and a half. He then started taking formula during the day. He breastfeeds when I am home in the evenings and on the weekends. He is now 11 months. He doesn't need formula during the day anymore. He still breastfeeds in the evenings and on the weekends. The point is, it doesn't have to be all or none. Sometimes I feel bad that I didn't try harder to pump at work for longer. But then I remember that I was a formula-fed baby myself and I turned out fine. I truly feel that breast feeding is best, but we are very fortunate to live in an age when alternatives are available if needed. Good luck!!
2006-10-31 22:56:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every drop of breast milk is a gift, but there is no shame in feeding your baby formula. Formula is made so similar to breast milk these days.....it is much more nutritious than 10 years ago.
Also, why don't you pump breast milk as you can and mix it with the formula? The baby will have to take a bottle anyway, so it will be easy to mix them together. You can still nurse in the evening, when rocking him to sleep at night and have the bonding, etc, without the pressure.
As far as him resenting you....I wouldn't worry about it. He won't even remember breast feeding as he gets older....but, don't expect it to be easy to stop because it is all he has known. He may be fussy around you for a while, but be sure to give him a of love and give him the bottle as well....and see how it goes. If you still nurse him once a day, he should be less fussy around you.
2006-10-31 22:09:04 · answer #5 · answered by tallnfriendlyone 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are not a failure from the decisions you make concerning your children. Remember the worse thing you can do is compare yourself to other people. This always causes frustration in life. You have to do what you feel best for you and your family. Don't let other people opinions sway you.
I always tell people when it comes to convictions, that a convictions is something God reveals to you on the inside. It is not hearing someone's else's thoughts and making it your own. There are many churches full of angry frustrated people that have done that. It is not a pleasant thing. But when you live from what God has revealed to you, your life flows easier.
Sorry for the lecture, LOL! But the point is you are the mom and I believe God's placed the ability in you to make the right decision for your family.
God bless.
2006-11-01 06:05:02 · answer #6 · answered by egg_sammash 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he'll resent you, but it will be hard on him. Switching from boob to bottle can be tough on them at that age. They enjoy being held and comforted while being fed. It'll be hard but sometimes there are things that you just can't continue doing. Good luck and God bless :-)
2006-10-31 22:07:34 · answer #7 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey i am in the same situation as you but my son is only 4 months or is going to be on nov 16th i feel like a failure and want to continue but i realize the wants and needs. email me miraclebaby_2006@yahoo.com or cutie_2258@hotmail.com we can chat more. hope to hear from you
2006-10-31 22:31:15 · answer #8 · answered by miraclebaby_2006 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly my son ate every 2-3 hours until he was 1years I breastfeed him until he was over 2 years old and
2006-10-31 22:08:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't stop until the recommended stage.
Breastfeeding is vital to your child's immune system, that's where he or she gets all the natural immune defense agents necessary for his growth and defense against pathogens or germs.
consult your peditrician for the importance of breastfeeding or log on to the Department of health's website for more and accurate information.
2006-10-31 22:17:48 · answer #10 · answered by enjabmz9v_8@verizon.net 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋