thread: Being pressured to give up breastfeeding - HELP

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    22

    Being pressured to give up breastfeeding - HELP

    My DD is not even 4 months old yet and I am being pressured by my DH to give up b/f right now.

    Just a quick breakdown of whats happened

    DD was born 3.5weeks early, i had severe problems with b/f but DH kept telling me to persevere even when i was at the point of wanting to put DD on a bottle as it was way too difficult.

    After a few weeks of DD being born i sent DH out to buy me a b/f pillow which has helped with b/feeding hugely.

    So, initially i was begging DH to let me put DD on a bottle as I just couldn't handle the stress of B/feeding , but after around week 7 things improved and b/feeding is much easier - it is now week 16 and its easier still (even though i still cannot b/f without my b/feeding wedge (pillow)) . I feed DD whenever I think she is hungry.

    She is totally healthy, puts on weight and is thriving BUT .... DH comes home from a visit to his mums one afternoon (probably around week 10) and has decided that b/feeding is not best for DD and that i should stick her on a bottle. I have a feeling that DH and MIL had a chat about it while he was there.

    Now I have DH in my ear EVERY afternoon when he comes home from work asking me if i have put DD on a bottle yet and I am almost at the point of saying 'yes i tried but she won't take it' ( i have tried a few times and she just really won't drink from it -breastmilk or formula) So DH is getting cranky with me each time i tell him that i will try a bottle another day etc - he keeps telling me there is no way our child is going to be b/fed until she is 6months old or over.

    I do not have the heart to put DD on the bottle or make her starve until she takes it and i KNOW there is nothing wrong with my milk and DD is happy b/feeding as am i at this stage

    What do I do, i am starting to feel anxious anytime DH questions me re b/feeding , i mean , shouldn't it be my decision as I am at home with DD every day and I am the one looking after her?

    DH also states we can never go anywhere as I cannot just b/feed anywhere ( i have been shopping, visiting people but just take my b/feeding wedge which i am ok doing) so i haven't stopped myself going anywhere so i am not sure where he wants to go where i cannot feed DD.

    On the other hand my mum and sister say i am crazy if i give up b/feeding as my sister b/fed her boys until 2.5yrs old as did my mum with the youngest siblings.

    I am at a loss what I need to say or do re DH and MIL( she keeps asking if i am still b/feeding at every visit)- I am more eager to b/feed for longer now just because i feel pressured to give up. (but also as it works for DD and myself)

    They make me feel horrible and almost embarrassed that i am still b/feeding but dd is only 16weeks old not 16months old...

    Argh.. sorry to rant and rave but I need ideas and support as to where to turn and what to do as i don't know how to deal with DH at the moment. I am almost scared to tell him that i want to continue b/feeding????!!!!????????
    Last edited by Dido; May 29th, 2010 at 09:44 PM.