I breastfed my first son for only 2 weeks, and then he was on the bottle, then on formula (he wouldn't latch on) SO- my husband and I are trying to get pregnant again, and if it's a boy-- I would feel bad breasfeeding him-- when I couldnt do it the first time. I feel like my second would be "better off" since he got breastfed...
2007-03-14 07:50:35 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It would be better that you allowed yourself the opportunity to have such a beautiful bonding experience with any of your children. Your first born won't be adversely affected whatsoever. Please do not let your feelings of guilt or impropriety to get in the way of making such a healthy choice for your baby. Your first child will atleast be able to benefit from the fact that he or she got to see you nourish your baby in this way. Perhaps that will help both of your children to adopt the attitude that breast is best when THEY have children. : )
2007-03-14 07:57:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, go ahead and breastfeed the second one. There is NO WAY of treating two kids exactly the same. The kids who end up super-competitive with each other are the ones whose parents try to keep things exactly equal. Your sons will have no idea of this feeding thing anyway. Think of it this way: your first son has had the advantage of having mommy and daddy to himself all this time, and that is an advantage the second baby will NEVER have, so if the feeding things bothers you, just tell yourself you are evening things out here... You know, we all do the best we can for our kids, and that involves different things at different times. If your first wouldn't latch on, at least you tried, and it is not like you were not willing! So please breastfeed your second one and ENJOY that baby!
2007-03-14 14:56:10 · answer #2 · answered by Cris O 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely try to breastfeed. It is something that can help you and your child bond. Just because your first one wouldn't latch on doesn't mean you love him any less or that he won't be just as healthy. Who's to say your second one will or won't latch on? You may have the same problem with the second one. You're just going to have to do what is best for you and your baby and love all of your kids the same. And there's no need to feel guilty about being unable to breastfeed your first.
2007-03-14 15:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can understand how you feel. I gave up way too easily when it came to breastfeeding with my son. But parenting is a learning experience, especially with your first child. There are a lot of things I am going to do differently with my second child. And that is a choice a lot of people make. Breastmilk is the best thing for a baby. And even though you may feel bad because your first child didn't get it, your second child deserves that chance. I say go for it!
2007-03-14 15:25:01 · answer #4 · answered by Wiccan~Momma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have all heard that breast is best, but formula is a wonderful substitute. When I was pregnant with my son (now 2) I planned on breast feeding exclusively...I bought no bottles the whole time I was pregnant. No body bought me bottles for any of my showers, He was only going to get breast milk from me! Well, imagine my surprise when he wouldn't latch on or wouldn't suck. I remember going out and buying his first bottle and the sheer disappointment I felt with myself when I couldn't provide what he needed. I nursed him for 6 mo. the whole time I was hating myself and wondering what was wrong with me that I couldn't feed my own baby. I would tell myself "women have been doing this since the beginning of time. What is wrong with you?" Well when he was 7 mo. old we found out he was tongue tied. I decided then and there, with any future children I would give myself a break. If they latched on Great. If they didn't that was OK too. So to answer your question...NO it is not bad for u to nurse this one and not nurse the last one. You do what is best for u and your baby. If that is the breast great. If it isn't let yourself off the hook. Formula is a great product and your baby still gets what he needs. I would suggest getting him the colostrum (sp?) though. Good Luck, You will be a great mom 2nd time around,also.
2007-03-14 15:03:30 · answer #5 · answered by Who Me? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hope you breastfeed your child regardless if it's a boy or a girl. I nursed my own son. Don't make yourself feel guilty for this decision. Nursed babies do get some additional health benefits from breastmilk, but formula fed babies are not idiots and are not developmentally delayed because they took formula. Look at most of my generation. We were mostly formula fed babies and we turned out all right. I say try nursing again and keep you fluid intake up, get some rest and enjoy! Good luck!
2007-03-14 14:59:21 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You do better when you have better support and better information. No, it wouldn't be bad for you to nurse one child after quitting so early on with another. You do the best you can at the time. Doesn't the child you are going to have deserve the best you can give him? Is it fair to the new baby not to give him the best you can just because of your past experience? Just because breastfeeding didn't work out well before, doesn't mean it will be a problem again this time. Please, give it a chance!
2007-03-14 15:24:18 · answer #7 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is kind've worded funny - gender should play no role. I think it is all in your head. Your second son is not going to be "better off" simply because he is breastfed. Like the poster above me said, you tried it the first time, it didn't work, you turned to formula. This go around you want to try and stick it out, and bravo for you for doing that. However, it is erroneous to think that your second child will be, by feeding choice, inherently better.
2007-03-14 15:13:23 · answer #8 · answered by MomofOneSpnkyGrl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you're just being paranoid. The 1st baby wouldn't latch on so now with the 2nd one-give it a try and hopefully it's successful. I understand you want the best for your children but I wouldn't beat myself up over who I breastfed and who I didn't.
2007-03-14 14:54:39 · answer #9 · answered by Di Di 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you should do the best you can for your next child. Things are going to be different for each child and in the future there might be things that you can do for your first child that you can't for your second.
Breastfeeding has so many advantages for your childs health and the bonding between you and your new baby so if it is possible for your to breastfeed you shouldn't base it on your experience from your first baby.
2007-03-14 15:05:12 · answer #10 · answered by LindsayLouWho 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋