Did you feel pressured into breastfeeding

[Disney Ella]

I was very anemic after the birth of my twins and couldn't even walk up a set of steps without resting for ten minutes. I barely had the energy to take care of the babies and the thought of adding breastfeeding was just too much. No one ever pressured me but a lot of people gave me disapproving looks when they heard I was bottlefeeding. Just because one person has an easy delivery and recovery doesn't mean everyone does, and just because one person's baby has no problem breastfeeding doesn't mean everyone's baby takes to breastfeeding. It would be nice if people would not be judgmental about the subject.

 

[GeorgeG]

Um, no...

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

I felt pressured from DH's family, as they are all strong believers in breastfeating. It was pretty rough when DD was very young. I'd get looks of scorn whenever I brought that bottle out at family gatherings. Luckily, DH was supportive in my decision. He told MIL that I could do what I pleased with my breasts LOL. After a few months, they all got over it. DD is just as healthy as any of their breastfed children. The world did not end.

Definitely let the patients know that the choice is theirs and theirs alone. People can pressure all they want, but it really is none of thier business.

 

[Kermit]

I get more pressure NOT to breastfeed. Jacob was a preemie, and people couldn't believe that I didn't want to measure what was going into him. He was making the appropriate amount of wet and dirty diapers and putting on weight correctly, so I knew he was fine. Then I got a lot of flack about nursing in public, and now everyone has an opinion about breastfeeding a toddler while pregnant. However, I don't let it bother me. I've done my research and know that I'm making the best decision for us. It bugs me that people would think that I was actually doing something that could harm myself or my baby, but what they say has no impact on what I do.

 

[Christine]

Yes, I felt pressured.

Before I ever had kids, honestly, I never thought about breast or bottle. When I was pregnant I started to research it and was really leaning toward bottlefeeding. My best friend never really told me I should breastfeed but she want on and on, almost daily, about how wonderful it was. Add to that, all the literature that was given to me in every childbirth publication about how spectactular breastfeeding is and I really started to feel *guilty* about using formula. So when DD was born I made the choice to breastfeed. It really was a disaster. At that point, I really did *want* to do it. But it was a struggle. She was not a voracious eater--I think the nurse called her a "diner." It seemed to take 45 minutes for her to get her meal in. All the while my best friend telling me "Wow, it only took my DD 15 minutes to guzzle her meal!!" I really felt inadequate. Add to that, I have really sensitive, dry skin. My nipples were a mess despite all the pre-stimulation, creams, etc. On top of it, I felt exhausted all the time. I even had a lactation expert try to help--but to no avail. DD and I struggled for 3 heartbreaking weeks. I finally stopped and felt so guilty. I guess a lot of the emotions are hormonal but it probably took me 6 months or more to get over the fact that I couldn't breastfeed. As soon as I stopped I, physically, felt so much better.

Fast forward to DS coming along. You think I would have learned. But I decided to try it again. I had to quit after two days because my nipples were cracked and bleeding--although he was a much better eater!!! I still remember feeling horribly guilty and when he was 5 weeks old I tried to do it again. But he was very interested in his formula by then!!

I tell you, the guilt I felt over that failure was worse than any guilt and remorse I have EVER experienced in my lifetime. I know those feelings are hormone-driven, but it really hurt. I think if I hadn't been so pressured to live up to the 'breastfeeding' expectations that seem forced on women, I would not have felt so badly.

Although, I do have to say that my OB/GYNs and nurses were NOT the once who pressured me. That were very okay with whatever my decision was. It was just all the "well meaning" parents I spoke with.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I chose to nurse my 2 boys.

The first month though was very hard though. My older son was a diner too, and a frequent diner at that. I felt as if he was permanently attached to me. My mother, who nursed 3 babies, suggested perhaps I should bottlefeed, but I dug in my heels. I ended up nursing him for 6 months. The second time around was a lot easier and that time it lasted 18 months because he showed signs of milk allergy.

Although my only regret is that I didn't nurse my older son longer, I perfectly understand the mothers who choose to bottlefeed.

The ILs couldn't understand why I would nurse, but as both boys gained a pound a week for the first 8 weeks, they really didn't have any grounds to complain.

Kay

 

[GailT]

I didn't breast feed my son. I just felt it wasn't the natural thing to do, it was for wild animals that are in the wild. As far as doing it to bond, that is hogwash, my son is 21 and we have a very strong bond I think BF is a personal choice and it is up to the mother, no one else.

 

[mum4jenn]

I bottle fed my dd but probably would have breast fed for a few weeks but when my dh kept talking about HIM getting breast fed it completely changed my mind. That was just too weird for me and I was totally turned off from breast feeding my dd.

 

[mainewmn]

I wanted to breast feed my first son but we learned that he was allergic to my milk so that idea was scraped while he was only 4 days old!
I wanted to try again with my second one but was too afraid of the complications and the doctors suggested that because of the problems we suffrered with the older one it may be a better idea to bottle feed the younger one.
Pressure, maybe a little with my yournger DS as some people thought that I should have at least tried!
What those folks didn't realize is that we almost lost my older boy due to the complications with breast feeeding.

 

[Kitty 34]

With my first I started to breastfeed but a severe uterine infection put me back in the hospital without my son for 4 days which pretty much took care of that decision.

With the other two I just stuck with the bottle as 2nd DH wanted (yes wanted!!) to help with the night feedings since he already was up because of his hours at work. So that kind of worked out nice!!

 

[BHFan25]

I felt tremendous pressure to breastfeed. From the OB doctor, the nurse practitioner, my family and my DH. I got pressure from everyone except the baby's doctor. I was adament I wasn't going to BF and was told by several women how horrible that made me and that my baby and I wouldn't bond, the baby would be sick etc.
It was horrible pressure but my mind was made up. I have no regrets. But I do think it is awful to pressure mothers either way.

 

[floridaminnie]

Everyone was pro-breastfeeding everytime I turned around. I decided to breastfeed after researching and finding out the benefits for DD and myself. Also the price of formula. She never had formula.