Getting out and about - BF or formula?

I’m desperate to bf, and I am, but I have wounds on my nipples which I’m navigating which is bringing me down. I keep thinking about switching but I internally feel like I really want to bf. I agree it feels so much easier to navigate life when on formula but I may be wrong x

@Laura sorry you’re struggling so much. Have you tried nipple shields at all?! X

Yes I try them but worry about let down and restriction

I understand how you feel. I combi feed - I express milk with an electric pump and I also top it up with ready to feed formula. As baby is only fed with bottles, it’s easier to take the bottle with me when I have to go out. As BM is the best thing for babies, I wish I didn’t have to use formula at all. A friend of mine manages to feed baby excess with pumped out bread milk. I still don’t go out much as baby is still only 2 and a half weeks old, and it’s so cold outside now. But having a bottle fed baby has some advantages.

I’m breast feeding and have started to manage getting out a fair bit, I’ve adopted the mindset of I don’t care if I run late, I don’t care if i need to stop what I’m doing to feed, and get comfortable feeding wherever! I try and give a good feed before we leave the house and marlow tends to stay asleep in his car seat or push chair but if he does wake up, then I just find somewhere to perch to feed him! I actually can’t imagine formula feeding it seems so much more effort and admin! My boobs are coming with me regardless, and I can give him a quick feed within seconds! As long as you get comfortable getting your boobs out anywhere; you’ll be fine! X

Sorry to hear you’re finding it difficult, I personally just go for it with BF while out and about, it’s not fair on myself for it to stop me getting fresh air and change of scenery. If I can build your confidence bf in public, my inbox is open to you 💛 I’ve learned to actually really love it, even if it is clustered sometimes (my 5 week old also has a tongue tie that midwife only just noticed so it can be quite chaotic!) If you’re worried about others, please be reassured that the vast vast majority of people out there would agree that it’s the most natural thing in the word to see and they know not to stare. And everyone should know that you have a legal right to breastfeed anywhere, nobody can stop you. There’s obviously nothing wrong with formula but I do think that if you’re able to bf and it’s something you can try and work through, it’s worth persevering with. Also please know that it won’t always be cluster feeding, an easier routine will emerge really soon 🍃

@Chloe thank you, this is all true but a bit more complicated as I also have a toddler so we need to get two out of the house, fit in with her routine etc! My baby feeds SO often on the breast and I can’t help but feel we’d have much bigger windows if bottle fed, meaning it might be a bit easier to get out. I think long term, breastfeeding will be easier but right now it’s hard on all of us 😞

@Laura have you tried silver cups to help with nipple trauma? They really helped mine recover relatively quickly and they were shredded to bits

I second silver cups! They’ve seriously saved me!

@Katie thank you ❤️ it’s not that I’m uncomfortable feeding out and about, it’s more that he just feeds so often that it’s so hard to physically get everyone dressed and ready to actually leave the house! Yesterday we managed to get out to walk to the park for my toddler and my baby was just screaming as he wanted yet another feed. It didn’t really feel appropriate weather to sit and feed on a wet bench! I do hope the cluster feeding stops but it just doesn’t really seem to be settling?! He also only feeds with nipple shields and they can be a faff when out and about. Thank you for your reassurance!

I think you just have to do what's right for you , babies will thrive no matter what they are fed. I have 2 young children and my baby was in NICU after birth so breast feeding never went great he was too tired to latch and by the time he was out he was used to bottles and the latch was that painful it shredded my nipples so I ended up exclusively pumping and bottle feeding him expressed milk , but pumping every 2 hours is really hard with 3 children's and it was affecting my mental health eg worrying about going out for too long without my pump. I ended up getting mastitis a couple of days ago and it's literally been so painful to pump I'm on antibiotics and feel terrible so I've been giving him formula along side some expressed breast milk to take the pressure off. It's really hard but baby will be fine no matter what it's really what's gonna work for you. X

Bf I'm 4 weeks pp still nervous to bf in public so take expressed milk if I go to the shops I bf in parents room or in the car

Ladies I do have to say, I don’t know how you do it with other children too.. I can only speak as a ftm with a newborn and it’s almost overwhelming as it is, let alone having others to think of and care for around the clock! Hats off to you ! And totally, as Chloe says, it’s whatever works for you of course! You’re doing great!

i’m EBF and have a hungry baby who feeds every 2 hours or so. i’ve just been feeding when we’ve been out and about when needed

Ahh I hear you, most of my advise is abit obsolete in that case then im sorry! I can’t imagine how difficult it is with a toddler and a newborn! X

I also have a toddler and a newborn. I always try to get everyone ready, feed baby, and then leave the house. I have sat in the park and breastfed baby before, I just wear a zip hoody and a breastfeeding t shirt so I don't have to take anything off if it's cold. It's just whatever you feel comfortable with and what works for you as a family x

I’ve been out everyday for the last week and I EBF! I notice my little girl is actually more sleepy and also just interested in being out so doesn’t want to use me as a dummy as much while at home I was stuck feeding her nearly every hour I just make sure to keep eye out on her cues to make sure she is still feeding when she needs it she is 5 weeks now but we have been going out since she was 1 week for walks and now more out to cafes, shops etc also I noticed no one even cares when I breast feed in public if people are eating I will cover a little with muslin cloth unless hot but in cafes no one cares every one is just mesmerised with a little baby haha!!

I'm exclusively breastfeeding and have recently done the cluster feeding saga. I didn't want to go out either. I did find however that I could feed just as I was going out and then being in the pram settles her and she didn't wake for 3 hours the first time I was out. I did BF when I was out and then she had a cuddle and went straight back down. It is possible to do, every baby is different. Try a walk first to see if the pram settles them. Mine was cluster feeding for around 2 weeks but they do say it's a development indicator so you may find in a week or two your LO would have learnt something!