Feeling guilty

[lisaandshaun]

Hi,

does any one feel guilty about formular feeding their child?

[Purple Penguin]

i used to... but i know i'm doing what's best for both of us and I can see how she's growing so well and to me all that matters is that she's happy and healthy.

[Mad Scientist]

I did for no other reason except I felt like a failure because my body couldn't breastfeed. It was our last option yet I still felt guilty. I still feel the need to justify why my baby isn't bf. But dd1 is almost 2 and I haven't been asked if she was ff ever since she stopped bottles at 1 year old. It's a very short period where they are on bottles yet we torture ourselves for much longer. I just look at how healthy my girls are and that reassures me that formula was ok for my girls. It's not poison! My dd1 has only just had her first lot of antibiotics in 23 months for a uti. So much for formula contributing to a lowered immune system. Sending you hugs Hun. I know how it feels

[Fleur]

I Ffed two of my children with no guilt, BFed one & currently feeding EBM.
In each case I have done the best I can at the time - so, no guilt!
There's a lot more to raising children & parenting than how they are fed.
In some cases, there might be physical or emotional reasons why it is better to FFeed.

I also think that there is not a mother out there who thinks that she gets absolutely everything right. We all fall a bit short of our standards somewhere along the line, you know?

If they are loved & have their needs met, that is the most important thing.


ETA - FWIW, I suffer more guilt over what they eat now ... wait until they get older! That's a whole different kettle of fish

[Party-of-five]

i felt guilty for a little while but DS and DD are very healthy and robust. 3rd time around i know i wont be so hard on myself if i fail at bfing again because i know my babies did just fine on ff.

[takingtime]

I felt really guilty when I was contemplating the switch but I feel alot better now I can see him thriving and getting enough milk. I still have times where I wish that I was breastfeeding and feel guilty but I know it was the best for both of us.

[tattoo_mama]

TBH i didnt feel guilty AT ALL. i was put in hospital as i had severe PND and DDs bad attachment and my bleeding nipples was not helping my mental state at all. i can understand why some ppl feel guilty, but in the end its about what is the best for you and your child. if id continued BFing 'yes', its natural, but i wouldve been angry at her for hurting me, ruining our bonding process and IMO alot worse than switching to formula and possibly feeling guilty.