Had to stop breastfeeding and feeling very guilty?

I was strictly breastfeeding my 2 week old son, which was a big deal for me b/c I had problems breastfeeding with my first son. Then we developed thrush, and so I started pumping until it was over b/c it was so uncomfortable. Well, now I am trying to put him at the breast again and he just screams and pulls away. So I was just going to continue pumping. Should I feel guilty for giving him pumped breastmilk? Any ideas?

Don't feel guilty for giving him pumped milk! That's more work than just breastfeeding- good for you!

My suggestion would be to try to get him to latch when he's not hungry but wants to suck on something. If you try to get him to latch when he's hungry, you'll both end up frustrated and in tears.

If he's only 2 weeks old, you can totally get him to latch again. He doesn't have nipple confusion, he just took a preference to the bottle. He's still young and not completely set in his ways. A little bit of hard work and he'll be back at the breast. Keep trying and you'll both get the hang of it again.

Sorry you had to deal with thrush :( I haven't experienced it myself (knock on wood), but I hear it's no fun.

I wish you the best of luck, mama!

you do whatever you need to do to make sure you and comfortable and your son is eating and healthy. if you can try to stick it out a little longer and try breastfeeding...go for it. if not, he will still benefit from your milk in a bottle. and if you aren't able to keep that up don't feel guilty for feeding formula. i was adopted, therefore a formula fed baby, and i'm just fine...along with millions of others! most important...your baby is healthy and happy!
good luck

ps i did the pumping milk thing for 2 months and it was VERY time consuming. i felt like i was always milking. :)

You shouldn't feel guilty for giving him breastmilk, regardless of the method. You can't help how you feel though. Been there.
Pumping will get more difficult though. Especially around the end of the second month. I think I would continue to try to get him to nurse, but in a very "pressure free" kind of way. Do it when he's not to the point of crying for food yet (like he's not hungry but won't turn down a snack).
Be sure to get the milk flowing before he gets to the nipple so he doesn't have to work so hard for that taste.
If he latches for even a second, you might try compressing your breast so that it's less work for him. (look up compression feeding http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/inde... )

Maybe let him try using you as a pacifier. Maybe snuggle topless either sitting up or lying on your side with him. Anything to encourage a "liking" to the nipple again.

Oh yeah....DON'T use anything other than slow flow nipples when you bottle feed. If the bottle is easier than the breast, why would he choose the harder meal?

I felt extremely guilty when I stopped BF. I think that had a lot to do with why I developed postpartum depression.

I started with supplementing my son with formula because of jaundice, and I was part time BF until my son was about 2 months old and then I just gave up.

I think it was one of my biggest mistakes with parenting him so far. :(

But you know what, you are still giving him breastmilk, so you're good to go!

Whether pumped or directly from the breast, you are still providing the best nutrition for your baby! When feeding you baby the pumped milk be sure to hold him close to your bare breasts, and maybe leave a bit of expressed milk on the nipple for him to smell. Try to slip away the bottle during feeding, and give him the breast again. Keep up the good work! Don't feel guilty he loves you regardless!

No. A lot of moms feel guilty when they stop breastfeeding because that is the food babies are SUPPOSED to have, and when you take it away from them, sometimes it is easy to feel like a failure. I felt the same way and i breastfed my daughter for 5 months. At least you breastfed him and still are and that is all that matters. Dont give up and just keep doing what you feel as a mother that is right. Good luck and i know what youre feeling.

NO!!!! I am doing the same thing! My first child, was so demanding at breast feeding that I pumped till I went back to work. My 1st daughter, I just pumped the entire time..... 9months. I have a 5 week old, and pump mostly so other can help feed her and it is working fine! Just remember, your son is getting breast milk. How he gets it should not matter. You can still bond during a bottle feed too! Plus others can have the joy of feeding as well! There is nothing like watching my older children feed their sister :) DO NOT FEEL GUILTY!

I pump instead of breast feed for my 4 week old.. I hated breast feeding for some reason but I still wanted him to have the benefits of breast milk. Don't feel guilty & you are definitely not alone. All that matters is that your baby is getting breast milk! Who cares how he gets it.. you are doing what is best for your child & you're doing great!

Not at all! He is still getting the best form of milk and that is yours!!
So many other mums would have given up by now! including me!
just keep offering him your breast, he will just be not used to your nipple, he should get used to it if you keep offering.
Don't feel guilty, your doing the best you can in an awful situation!

I stopped nursing my daughter at 2 weeks. I felt so guilty but i realized she was still in my arms while i was feeding her a bottle. So we still bonded, and you know I don't think she will hate me for it. :)

No you shouldn't feel guilty. You sound like you're thinking about what's best for your son so what's wrong with that? Just hold him and talk to him while he drinks his bottle just as you would if he were nursing.

Do not feel guilty! At least you are trying! And you are doing what is best for your son also! Just keep doing what you need to do to keep your son happy and healthy! Congratulations, by the way!

I pumped and gave breastmilk in a bottle to my twins for 10 months. It is what worked for us. Do NOT feel guilty about it. You are doing what works for you and your baby.

I had to do the same thing because me and my baby had every feeding problem in the book. I didn't feel guilty about pumping because at least my baby was getting breastmilk. You should try to get him back on the breast though maybe contact a lactation consultant. The reason because many people find by about 4-8 months their supply disappears.
It may help to put sugar water on your breasts to begin feeding him. Or it may help to use a nipple shield until he gets used to the idea of a breast. Just don't use it too long because it isn't enough stimulation. It may help to pump first a little before feeding on the breast that a way you are letting down and it is easy for him to feed from them. Also, when bottle feeding, use bottles that are like the breast, such as Avent, breastflow, playtex, etc (ya know wide nipples), also be sure the nipple is the smallest you can get so he really has to suck from them. Make him work for the bottle like he does the breast, meaning tease the nipple on his nose and make him have to root for it like he would a breast. If your baby cant stand water try putting only water in the bottle so he wont want it.
Whatever you do, DONT PUSH the breast or he will absolutely hate the breast. Just try it each feeding but if he screams dont force him.