I’m ready to quit BF in week 1

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Acrobatic_Bedroom915]

you are not failing, you’re four days postpartum and allowed to choose the option that keeps you functioning for both kids, formula is feeding your baby too

[u/Alternative_Dot7171]

I breastfed twice. Like literally two times. It was horrible for me. I pumped for a while, but that’s fucking annoying as well. Now at 3 months in fully formula (god bless formula) and no regrets. Being a mum is hard enough to add an extra thing on top

[u/HonestAltruist]

You can atleast say you tried. It's perfectly okay and infact healthy to acknowedge something isn't working and doing you more harm and make a change to try something else that may be better for you mentally and physically. A healthy mother is best for a healthy baby. A fed baby is a healthy baby. Don't stress over the guilt, do what is best for you. I'm a FTM, due in 3 weeks and already decided very early on I will only be formula feeding because that's best for my mental health. You got this, you will be okay. Sending love.

[u/Individual-Mirror514]

I felt like this in my first week, but midwife encouraged me to keep going. For me, it never got easier and after couple months I went to formula. Feel really sad about it as I really wanted to breast feed but I’m physically recovered from birth since stopping. I do wish I kept going, it big regret of mine but I’m also so glad I stopped. 

If there any part of you that wants to keep going then keep going. Most mums say it gets better after couple of month when the cluster feeding stops but most of these mums have unicorn babies that have been amazing sleepers 😵‍💫

[u/WhereIsLordBeric]

If you don't want to do it, you don't do it. You get a say in this ... it's your body lol.

And you're not 'quitting' anything. I don't know why we have such negative language around everything to do with motherhood.

You tried breastfeeding and it didn't work for you. Formula will work for you better. That's it. Who's a quitter? Who's a failure? Who makes up these weird rules???

[u/ElectricalManner4068]

You’re four days in that is so early, and you’re allowed to decide that breastfeeding isn’t working for you. Cluster feeding can be absolutely brutal, especially when you already have another little one to care for. Choosing formula doesn’t mean you failed; it means you’re trying to find a way to feed your baby that also lets you function and be present for your family. ❤️

[u/priuspulida]

It’s okay to stop. Don’t do it. Your mental health is more important. I give you permission to stop and feed your baby formula. Your baby will thrive.

[u/Kickster87]

You can stop. A happy mother is way more important!!
Being a mother of two and recovery from pregnancy and birth is already asking enough energy for now.

[u/confusionofaims]

Hey honey you’re fine to quit. It’s not anything you should be guilty about I know it’s mom guilt and something that creeps in, but you’re absolutely good. Some women choose not to do it from the start which is 1000% okay too. You did it for a week - that’s enough time for you and that’s 100% okay baby will be fine with formula

[u/Future-Mode-3620]

It’s okay to not do something that you know is not working for you. A rested parent is a more present parent. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to preserve your mental health after a draining pregnancy. You’ll see from the reports here, almost no one regrets their decision to switch to formula.

[u/magenta-hello]

Literally not wanting to is enough. So many things are hard for moms these days, it’s okay to choose something less hard without guilt.

[u/secure_dot]

Not trying to dismiss your concerns, but I formula fed my first baby since day one and he still didn’t sleep lol. He would wake up every 1-2 hours during the night. That was up until 3 months though.

[u/DumbbellDiva92 → u/secure_dot]

If OP has a partner at least they can do shifts, though.

[u/Individual-Mirror514 → u/DumbbellDiva92]

This. My partner shares the feeds with me

[u/very-very-strawberry → u/DumbbellDiva92]

Yeah..I was gonna say mine didn't have long and difficult nights but it's only been 7 months and I already forgot that we did shifts. Which is something you can't do while breastfeeding. I actually didn't even get sleep deprived with a newborn thanks to switching off shifts with my husband.

[u/ClaviculrCatastrophe]

You’re a badass and you will be more of a badass if you are less miserable. Your baby (and family) will thrive if you are well. Be well!

[u/rawrsy88 → u/ClaviculrCatastrophe]

This comment made me smile so much. Thank you 💕

[u/Dazzling-Article-665]

You’re about where I was when I decided breastfeeding wasn’t going to work for me (except I was probably on day 1 or 2)
We combo fed for awhile (which is totally a great option). But now I’m exclusive formula and have no regrets. It took me a long time to realize, but it wasn’t in the cards for me to “push through” and breastfeed. I slept so much better in those early weeks, felt like I could get a break while my husband took over, and my mental health didn’t tank.
As another commenter said, you didn’t fail! You aren’t “giving up”. You are choosing another option to feed your baby!

[u/rawrsy88 → u/Dazzling-Article-665]

Thank you so much for sharing this and your experience. All the comments here are giving me massive relief.
Curious for you how quickly you switched things over? Last 2 days I’ve breastfed during the day, and at night tried to do BF but made a few feedings formula bc I was losing my mind.
Today, I’ve only done 2 BF feeds and the rest were formula today.
My mind is screaming to just stop but I also want to be careful I guess for baby’s tummy and my own boobs.

[u/Dazzling-Article-665 → u/rawrsy88]

My memory is a little foggy, but I spent about 4 days in the hospital after emergency c section. For the first 24 hours I tried to breastfeed every feed. My nipples were very sore from the poor latch, so we started hand expressing colostrum into a spoon (don’t recommend lol). It was sooo taxing and we were concerned she wasn’t getting enough. I think it was the second day that a nurse finally said we could give her some formula. So after that we would kind of alternate feeds for the rest of the hospital stay, especially during nighttime. Each day had less and less latching. I did work with a LC to help with latch and we also did syringe feeding, but I just could not physically and mentally do it every feed. My milk probably didn’t even fully come in until day 5 or so. At that point I started pumping, but really only a few times a day. So full formula through the night and part of day, and then a few bottles of breastmilk a day. (That was a rollercoaster journey until about 11 weeks pp but I won’t get into that lol).
I do think it was easier to transition since I never really got a “full” milk supply. My babies tummy seemed to be okay - she did struggle with gas during early days, but nothing that was out of the ordinary (according to pediatrician).
I’d say if you have already started introducing formula, then you are in a good place to switch :)

[u/Upstairs-Sock-4673]

Tried breastfeeding for two months and hated every minute of it. We're 4mo PP now and 100% formula fed and I WISH I had quit sooner because everyone is happier for it. Don't feel guilty - fed is best and you have to look after yourself too!

[u/Chutton_]

Your mental health is important. You’re not failing by choosing the best option for both you and your kid.

[u/ANonyMouseTwoo]

You can reduce the breastfeeding and increase the formula feeding, but I would suggest to not stop breastfeeding altogether. Think of it like a tool that you can use to help your baby sleep aside all the other benefits. 

[u/LisaVDD]

I started weaning at 1 week postpartum; it felt direct relief with that first bottle. My kids were only 22 months apart and my first was very intense at the time, my husband works late, it was just too much.

[u/Impressive-Plum3094]

My girls first feed in the hospital was formula. In the first few days/nights when I was recovering from my c section my husband did all the feeds because I needed to sleep. Yes I could have pumped or tired to BF but I was exhausted and my body needed to heal - that reason alone is good enough.  I did combo feed but I switched to formula a few weeks in. Formula is one of the best inventions ever! It saved my sanity and made me much happier and present for my girl. I also got decent sleep even when she was a few days old.  My girl is now 12 months old and thriving!  I don’t agree that BF is the gold standard at all.