Hi.

I'm looking to talk to some Mums who breast fed a subsequent baby after bottle feeding their first baby. I bottle fed my son after trying for 3 weeks to breastfeed, I found it very distressing although I had a lot of milk & no attachment problems I emotionally found breastfeeding very hard to deal with. Prior to having my son I thought watching other people breastfeeding was just lovely, however when I started doing it myself I was very surprised to find that I found it personally HORRIBLE. I really, really really hated breastfeeding & found myself resenting both the process of feeding & I am ashamed to say, my son as well.

Many people say that breastfeeding is a bonding experience, well I found it the exact opposite. Every time I had to feed I felt a wall going up between my son & I. Once I stopped breastfeeding I was able to start loving & bonding with my son in a way I could not while I was breastfeeding. I would love to breastfeed any other children I have (my brother & I were exclusively breastfed until 12 months old so I come from a very pro-breastfeeding background) but am nervous about facing this again.

While I'm not pregnant again (yet!) I want to start preparing myself well in advance for how I may cope with it next time. If you've had problems like this & managed to get past them for another baby could you please post here? Of course, if you've had other issues that's fine too, but what I'm specifically looking for is when you've had an emotional issue. I had no problem with supply or attachment at all. Thank you, have a nice day