"Women should NOT feel guilty if they are UNABLE to breastfeed but they should feel guilty if they…

I still beat myself up, I know I tried I gave the boys 5 weeks of breast milk and formula but still wish I could have exclusively breast fed.

I agree 😉 I'm hoping to be able to breastfeed until she turns 1. If I can breastfeed longer than that then that's even better 💪

@nicholefrank, since my baby was 6 Months I incorporated formula because I got lazy I feel so guilty for doing so because though she is being fed I know breast milk is superior to ALL formula. She is formula fed during the day while I work and breastfed after work and on the weekend unless we are out long periods of time. My dtr has sickle cell and one of the more severe strains at that to where most have episodes by the time they are four months she will be 9 Months this weekend and never an er visit thank God and thank God For breast milk because I know that is due to the liquid gold my nieces dtr has the milder version of sickle cell and is hospitalized all the time. at my baby's recent check up the doctors were so shocked that she hasn't had problems. it's good you have them that first bit of bm because that early stuff is the best stuff too. But saying fed is best is not true because we all eat but not all of us eat the best foods I can go to mc donalds and you can go get a salad but who actually had a more nutritional meal? point is formula is not "bad" it's just that BM is more nutritional 😊 it's painful, it's time consuming, and a huge sacrifice I totally understand how moms can give up. I may have quit already quit my daughter didn't have a disease and that would make me a selfish mom I'm not afraid to say that. NOT a bad mom but a selfish one

@twinmamma2015, don't best yourself up use it as a learning tool figure out why you couldn't continue and next baby try to change the behaviors that prevented you from taking it the long haul. every mothers goal is to raise a healthy baby

@nelianiz.elize,

well @ginag918 I definitely plan on trying with my next baby, I knew I had a challenge trying to be a ftm and breastfeed twins. there were other psychological factors as well, like they had me try and tandem nurse from the start, then they screwed up on of the boys weight so they said he lost 17% of his weight which he didn't but I broke down thinking I wasn't feeding them enough, so there were other factors BUT next time twins or single baby I'm determined to try again!

you can definitely reach a year or more I plan to let my baby wean on her own but I do use formula as well I'm not proud of it and I am working to eliminate it completely so it's fine if you use both just as long as you keep the boob in the routine 😊 @nelianiz.elize

BUT it does matter!!! lol yes your kid will still be healthy from formula but they would be even better as a direct result of breast milk like breast milk benefits mom and baby I have cancer in my family and breastfeeding reduces the risk for breast and ovarian cancer among other things so even though my baby uses formula have no intentions of ending breasfeeding @nicholefrank it's just a defense mechanism when people say "fed is best" mechanism because they think they are being slighted when people give facts about the benefits and superiority of breast milk but that's not the case lol

see you had a challenge in itself there are many reasons moms can't continue to BF but recognize that it is the best for your baby and give as much as you can this quote to me is more for those who don't do it or quit for vain reasons @twinmamma2015

well yeah, it still hurts that I couldn't continue, they atleast got 5 weeks of it, but even though they're almost 5 months I find myself beating myself up cuz I couldn't. I tried so hard to, tried drinks, vitamins, foods that all increase supply but it just wasn't enough, broke n still breaks my heart but again they got 5 weeks of the good stuff, and that's better than none!

That is wonderful it's just unfortunately due to lack of knowledge and support many moms think their "milk isn't coming in" because some compare the way their child feeds to that of a formula fed baby when there is no comparison. I understand what you are saying though but the reality is only 2% of moms literally can't produce enough milk the rest is due to lack of knowledge and support which leads them to believe their babies are not getting enough milk prime example my dtr at 8 Months and 18 lbs gets 6-7 oz formula bottles during the day that also have cereal but at night and weekend's I solely breastfeed and I know I'm not pushing out 7 oz per feeding off both my breast because my milk has reduced since I don't pump several times a day anymore my baby never cries from not being full off me. Not saying that was your case but for a lot of moms they mistake irritability, a little weight loss, infrequent poops, and crying for a hungry baby but the fact is that's just a baby being a baby and your 2-3 oz of breast milk will fill the baby up more than 4-5 oz of formula because of the special nutrients in it it's just a lot of moms are not aware and there is not that much help at hospital unless the mom request and works with the lactation consultant which most don't follow up with them after the hospital I was just determined on my own to BF so I sought the knowledge and was lucky to have friends who had recently had babies who helped and supported me. I think the biggest cause of failed breastfeeding is lack of support and knowledge. @nicholefrank I in no way doubt your child is healthy off top your child is healthier than mine because she has a blood disease. I'm just saying those who can should and they need to fight thru and overcome obstacles such as thinking they don't have enough milk because majority of the moms that quit for reasons like what you and @twinmamma2015 do actually have enough milk it's just other outside factors some that can be controlled some that can't caused you guys to stop and let your milk dry up. The point is those who complain about BF post deflect their responsibility in why they did not keep doing it. Twinmama accepted her role in it but also had things beyond her control that caused her to discontinue. Shit happens I'm just so passionate about BF now tho that's all don't mind me 😊

hey I'm right there with ya, I was determined I had a hand pump in my diaper bag incase I needed it, had the medulla double electric pump, had nursing covers, a double nursing pillow, I was so eager and excited. Maybe next time I'll get it right!

yep I think if you can't BF the first or in your case the first two then you gotta have another to get it right lol @twinmamma2015

lol sure do! even if I have twins again cuz I'm a high risk for having twins lol I'm still gonna try again! that's all you really can do!