There are 40 story posted.
Story told by Kelli
From
GA She has
1 child Her child is
8 weeks years old
I never imagined I'd be bottle feeding my first-born child, Cullen Patrick, when he was just 4 weeks old. But breastfeeding was doomed from the get-go. A severe reaction to the anesthesia used during my c-section left me unable to see Cullen for the first 36 hours, so he was given a bottle from the time he was born. When he finally learned to latch a few days later, my migraines decided to rear their ugly head.
I should have suspected they'd do so; after all I was tormented all my adult life with debilitating migraines that left me hugging the toilet and blind in one eye ... and my pregnancy was no different. I had to stop taking my migraine prevention medicine, Topamax, when I started fertility treatments, and couldn't take it during pregnancy either. During my 5 months of bed rest, 9 weeks of which was spent in the hospital, my doctors had to prescribe demerol and morphine and anti-nausea meds by IV to combat the pain and vomiting.
So, when my ob/gyn said that I might have to consider foregoing breastfeeding to go back on my migraine preventatives, I was flabbergasted. It wasn't an option I'd ever even considered. I thought I'd just suffer through them and pop a breastfeeding-compatible pain medication from time to time. That lasted for, oh, about 3 weeks, when 3 major migraines forced my husband to call in sick to to his new job several times so he could stay home and care for his son while mommy stuck her head under the covers and hoped her head wouldn't explode.
The decision to stop breastfeeding tormented me. Was I putting my health over that of my child's? Would he be cognitively deprived because I gave him a bottle instead of the breast? Everyone assured me that I had to cure my headaches in order to be a better mommy -- that I could not be a good mom if I had a headache, because Cullen would feel my frustrations. It took me a while, but in the midst of a bright blue aura I realized that they were right. When the umpteenth migraine was going on day 3, I threw my hands up in the air (don't worry, baby was in the bassinet), and called my doctor for some real medicine. I packed up the breast pump, bought a bucketload of formula, and blocked the calls from the lactation folks who just wanted to see "how it was going."
It's going more than fine. Cullen never had nipple confusion, and mother nature never punished me with engorgement. My husband gets to help with middle-of-the-night feedings now, and he's bonding with the baby more so than he did when I breast fed. I still get an occasion twinge of a headache here and there, but nothing that makes me want to hand the child over to my husband like a hot potato and go run and hide under the covers. I haven't had a migraine-inspired toilet-hugging episode in more than a month, and Cullen's going on 8 weeks. He's happy, I'm happy, and the doctor's say he's doing just fine.
Story told by Philippa
From
Western Australia She has
3 children Her children are
21, 20, 18 years old
When I had my babies in the late 80's/early 90's in Australia the 'breast is best' campaign was in full swing so naturally I wanted to give my babies the best start in life. However, my reality was that I was unable to produce enough milk to sustain them despite lactation nurse help, supplements,pumps,etc. There was no question that formula feeding was 'best' for my babies - I had no other choice, but I will never forget the taboo that existed and how I was a 'closet' bottle feeder for several weeks. I felt a terrible sense of failure and worried that the children would not be as healthy as they would have been if they were raised on breastmilk. As it has turned out I have raised 3 strong, healthy, allergy-free, intelligent young adults. If this 'taboo' on formula feeding persists I worry about the impact both on the babies' health at being starved of proper nutrition by mothers who cannot produce enough breastmilk, and also the psychological impact on the mother for 'failing' to feed her baby nature's way. Give me a break! Surely the most important thing is simply to feed the baby whichever way the mother can so the baby can grow into a healthy child? Incidentally my husband treasured being able to share in the feeding of our babies where many fathers feel redundant in those early months. It also meant that I could get a whole night's sleep occasionally and be a better mother to them the next day.
Story told by Carol Weiss
From
CA She has
2 children Her children are
10, 6 years old
I had hoped to breast feed my two daughter exclusively after going back to work. But after 4 months, where I had to travel between buildings all day without an office of my own, and searching for a place to pump, I had to move to supplements. I had stored milk during the first few months, but upon returning to work, my milk production dropped off dramatically. After 20 minutes I still only had 2-3 ounces. Adding to my stress was the feelings of many of the postings I've read here. Rather then supporting woman for the decisions they make, there is such negativity towards woman who choses to supplement. Yes, woman need to have choice. And they need to be supported no matter what direction is right for them.
Story told by sheila
From
Missouri She has
1 child Her child is
5 MONTHS years old
I really wanted to breastfeed my daughter. My husband and I have tried for 15 years to have children. I went through fertility treatment and lots of heartache. When I was pregnant with my daughter I told myself that breastfeeding was the only way that I was going to feed her. She was born by emergency c-section. I had toxemia and diabetes that complicated the pregnancy. She was in the NICU and they had a hard time keeping her blood sugar up. At the same time they had a hard time getting my blood pressure down. The medicine the would help me they could not give if I wanted to breastfeed. Also the highs and the stress was causing problems with my milk coming in. They said that they needed to give my daughter formula to help with the blood sugars. It was a hard choice to make but I decided to bottle feed her. For her health and mine. I cried so hard that night. What did not help was the lactation nurse that continued to come in my room and tell me to try. The pressure that I felt was worse than the guilt that I already had. I know that I made the right choice but I feel that everyone else doesn't see it that way. There is always two sides to every story.
Story told by Sam
From
Indiana She has
2 children Her children are
2, 5 years old
I work at a Baby-Friendly hospital and I must say that my choice of continuing to breastfeed my baby after returning to work was wholeheartedly supported by my boss and my co-workers. They provided a quiet place for me to pump and store my milk and never complained about the time I needed to be away from my desk. i wish all mothers could have the support that I have had. It wasn't that way with my first baby. My co-workers there were not at all supportive and told me that I should just give him formula, but I had read that it was much better to breastfeed and I kept it up, but had to pump in the bathroom all the time. Both of my boys are healthy and happy. I am much happier in my new job where they have supported my choice of how to feed my baby.
