Sadness about giving a bottle...

[NikiG]

Just need to express myself and this seems like the place to do it.
DS id 7 and a half weeks old and so far has been EBF. Monday he will have to have a bottle of expressed milk. He'll only get one bottle while I'm at rehearsals (I run a theatre company) which is 1-2 times a weeks and I'm only gone 4 hours. I tried taking him with me, but it was too distracting.
I've known he'd need the occasional bottle since preggo, but I never expected to feel such sadness about it. I couldn't give the reason, I just feel it.
(And I have no issue with bottles, formula, purreed steak, you feed your kid whatever you want it's none of my business)
I guess I feel sad more in that what will DH do if he wants to nurse for comfort? (We don't give a paci and that's not an option. Again no issue with it, it's just not for us).
I never thought I would love our Breastfeeding relationship so much. We worked hard to get here (lip tie, anterior and posterior tongue ties which needed 2 clippings) and have an incredible bond. In some ways I want to be the only person who can soothe, care for and feed him, but I know it's important for DH to have a caretaker role as well.
So, that's it. I'll live and I know DS will be in great hands with DH, I'm just a little sad that I'll be away and that he'll nurse a piece of plastic instead of a warm, squishy, loving mummy.

[Hopefulily]

Originally Posted by NikiG Just need to express myself and this seems like the place to do it. DS id 7 and a half weeks old and so far has been EBF. Monday he will have to have a bottle of expressed milk. He'll only get one bottle while I'm at rehearsals (I run a theatre company) which is 1-2 times a weeks and I'm only gone 4 hours. I tried taking him with me, but it was too distracting. I've known he'd need the occasional bottle since preggo, but I never expected to feel such sadness about it. I couldn't give the reason, I just feel it. (And I have no issue with bottles, formula, purreed steak, you feed your kid whatever you want it's none of my business) I guess I feel sad more in that what will DH do if he wants to nurse for comfort? (We don't give a paci and that's not an option. Again no issue with it, it's just not for us). I never thought I would love our Breastfeeding relationship so much. We worked hard to get here (lip tie, anterior and posterior tongue ties which needed 2 clippings) and have an incredible bond. In some ways I want to be the only person who can soothe, care for and feed him, but I know it's important for DH to have a caretaker role as well. So, that's it. I'll live and I know DS will be in great hands with DH, I'm just a little sad that I'll be away and that he'll nurse a piece of plastic instead of a warm, squishy, loving mummy.

I know exactly how you feel! My LO is 2 months old and I am going back to work next week. I am very sad that he will be receiving two or three bottles while I'm working. I would so much rather be the one nursing him! I am only going to work three weeks then have off another two months but those three weeks are going to be so rough! I never expected to love nursing so much but I really do enjoy our time together!

Sent from my iPad using DS Forum

[momof3boys1girl]

aww im so sorry mama your feelings are very normal. We dont give bottles around here unless we have too. DH had to supplement when i got sick and admitted into the hospital my supply took a small hit so he had 2 bottles in there and i was very sad and one when i had a root canal.

[lydoomizelaine]

Originally Posted by NikiG Just need to express myself and this seems like the place to do it. DS id 7 and a half weeks old and so far has been EBF. Monday he will have to have a bottle of expressed milk. He'll only get one bottle while I'm at rehearsals (I run a theatre company) which is 1-2 times a weeks and I'm only gone 4 hours. I tried taking him with me, but it was too distracting. I've known he'd need the occasional bottle since preggo, but I never expected to feel such sadness about it. I couldn't give the reason, I just feel it. (And I have no issue with bottles, formula, purreed steak, you feed your kid whatever you want it's none of my business) I guess I feel sad more in that what will DH do if he wants to nurse for comfort? (We don't give a paci and that's not an option. Again no issue with it, it's just not for us). I never thought I would love our Breastfeeding relationship so much. We worked hard to get here (lip tie, anterior and posterior tongue ties which needed 2 clippings) and have an incredible bond. In some ways I want to be the only person who can soothe, care for and feed him, but I know it's important for DH to have a caretaker role as well. So, that's it. I'll live and I know DS will be in great hands with DH, I'm just a little sad that I'll be away and that he'll nurse a piece of plastic instead of a warm, squishy, loving mummy.

I thought I was the only weird one that felt that way! I said that I loved knowing that I was the only person that could feed and soothe my son by ebfing him. I enjoyed knowing that he needed me and only me it's a special bond that only me and him can share together. I have given him a bottle a few times though, due to cluster feeding and I felt that he wasn't eating satisfied with my boob.

[Naturally Wise]

I think it's perfectly normal and very sweet to be cherishing this special time with your baby, especially after overcoming such big obstacles. Hope it goes/went well!

[JAGRRS]

Hope it went ok mama. It is hard and wishing it was something you didn't have to do.