[fatmad]

First off, congrats on the baby.
Next, if you want a second opinion about the meds, whether there are safe alternatives for your condition that would allow breastfeeding etc, there is a site called MOTHERISK, run by the Toronto hospital for sick children, where you can find out how to access expert advice.
Assuming you are not able or choose not to breastfeed, I think it is incredibly important to make feeding a special loving time with your baby.
One of th great joys of nursing is skin to skin contact, the time to cuddle, the excuse not to have to be doing some other "work" or anything. So make your feeding times special, loving times. Avoid the shove the bottle in the kids face thing. Take the time to sit down in a quiet place, look at your baby, coo and smile, even undress the baby and yourself in private and enjoy the whole sensation. Don't let bottle feeding rob you of those special moments.
( I recently had a client who had a baby with Down's syndrome for her 8th baby, and he wasn't able to breastfeed at first. So she was pumping and bottling, and asked if it was ok to co-sleep with him since he wasn't nursing. I almost cried to think they would have missed out on that.)

The other part I have been struggling with saying: I agree that you may feel this choice was taken away from you, and I am sorry if this is so. So I am not saying any of the following to undermine the good mothering that you or others do when bottle feeding from choice or necessity.
BUT I do have to say, that there are real differences between breastmilk and formula, and I don't think it is appropriate to undermine the importance of ensuring that most babies have breastmilk when it is safe and available. It is a better food option, a better physical option, and most often, a safer option for babies.
I don't think we have to say things like "it doesn't matter", or "one is as good as the other" in order to support women for whom breastfeeding isn't an option.
I don't judge anyone for their choice in this matter, but understanding the reasons for the choice helps everyone see that this is the right decision for this family, in this circumstance.
I hope you and your baby will have a wonderful and loving relationship, however you feed.
best wishes,
fatmad

[fatmad]

modkittn: I lost a much loved SIL to leukemia, and of course, its far more important for your baby to have you around, and well, than to breastfeed but risk not having you later!
It may indeed be hard to give up the bf if you start for the first few days, and I would really encourage you to enjoy the skin to skin contact and make the bottle feeding really special for both of you. Your loving will be the most important thing this baby will have. You will be feeling kicks any time now!!!
fatmad

[2muchbackend]

First and foremost you need to take care of yourself that is what is most important to the future of your baby. So follow your Dr's advice and go on your meds as soon as possible.
Also I know nothing about this but read about getting milk from milk banks again now nothing but if you want to search into that.

[Jen]

Hey there. Congrats on your pregnancy!! I'm glad to see that you are starting to come to grips with this issue, not breastfeeding I mean. I had difficulties with both my babies and just finished pumping for my 3 month old. I did it for as long as I could stand it. I had such pain with breastfeeding for the 1st 2 weeks that I couldn't do it and started pumping. About halfway through I developed cracked and very painful nipples so I cut back to twice a day and they healed up and I kept on with pumping twice a day and I'm done now. My first baby wouldn't latch on at all and I pumped for 3 months as well. He is now 7 and a very healthy and bright child. I have no bad feelings about giving up pumping my breast milk and giving him formula. There are millions of kids that have been given formula exclusively and they are all fine. Your baby will be as well. I feel that I am just as close to my babies as if I had breast fed. It is not all it is cracked up to be. I've hated that the past 3 months my breasts have been leaking all over the place, I've had to wear a bra with pads all the time, even at night which has been so uncomfortable and annoying. I stopped feeling bad about not breast feeding a long time ago especially looking at my 7 year old. He is a great kid and not breast feeding and giving formula to him has made no difference in any respect.

[Bumbleberry]

What you should do, since this decision is made, is not revisit it and instead focus on areas in which you have greater control.

For instance, if the discrepancy between sickness in breastfed children versus formula fed concerns you, something you could try is avoiding pushing solids too early. Try self-feeding (google it). This has been shown to keep the baby's "gut" flora more intact and able to fight off infection. Avoid most cows milks, especially early on, as they can negatively affect the immune system of babies.

If you want to be more bonded with the baby, you could try baby-wearing. The baby would feel your warmth and hear your heartbeat, and babywearing helps babies' brains develop.

Lots of nursing mothers sleep with their babies or at least next to them (baby in bassinette). This also reduces the chances of SIDS.

HTH. There's lots you can do to "take control" and help your baby be the best he or she can be. Nursing is just one small piece of the puzzle.

[Bumbleberry]

I just re-read that you are going to nurse for the first couple of days. I think that this will give you strong, wonderful memories to look back on as well. Sorry for missing that part.

[Bumbleberry]

BF aside, that is SUPER AMAZING, WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!

[aphil]

Wonderful!!!! ANY breastfeeding is better than none, and I am so happy that you are being given the chance to nurse your baby for the first month if you wish to do so!!!

*hug*
*hug*
*hug*

[JuliaDH]

That is amazing news. Glad to here tests are coming back neg. The hardest mothering lesson to learn is that you need to take the best care of you so that you can provided the best for your babe!

[MeganBeth]

I know this thread is old, but have you thought about looking into a milk bank? With your condition you may be able to get donated milk for your LO. If I were still pumping and donating I'd totally ask for it to be sent to you!! But with this pregnancy my milk is el-gone-o

[kiramira]

If you don't take care of yourself, how will you take care of your little one? And whose business is it anyways, to be judgemental about those decisions made FOR you by medical circumstance?!
Relax, enjoy the baby. You will have PLENTY in your life to worry about re: parenting other than if you breastfed or not -- just wait til your little one wants to borrow the car!!!
Only thing I can think of is to invite Salma Hayak over for dinner, like every day....hahaha

Kira

[kiramira]

AWESOME!!!
Glad both of you are doing well...
Kira

[Jen415]

Congrats, modkittn!!

For those of you interested, a friend of mine has a blog for moms that choose to bottle-feed their babies. It is not a breastfeeding bashing place, but a place where moms don't have to feel guilty about it.

www.fedbybottles.blogspot.com

[Kriket84]

you're freaking amazing! go you for pumping! have you thought about finding a milk donor? pm me my son was born 4/24