Elena

THIS. Yes. Thank you for sharing.

Really glad you and your baby are doing well, too! Formula is amazing. And it helps get partners to share the feeding load so effectively. With my second, I wanted to try nursing again, but when my supply was really low a second time we switched to exclusive formula feeding at 3 weeks. So glad I could make the decision faster the second time, I was able to stop feeling guilt so much quicker!

This! Yes. It is in no way a failing to seek help. You’ll be absolutely amazed how much better you feel with meds and support.

My breastfeeding journey was a crash and burn. My son was taking chunks out of my nipples, I was in so much pain, and my supply was extremely low. I met with virtual lactation consultants, spoke with doctors… I didn’t begin to feel better until a girlfriend told me that she hadn’t liked breastfeeding at all, and that she and some other mom friends of hers had all decided together to stop nursing together, to return their mental health. Knowing that other people – for any reason – had made the choice to stop trying to make breastfeeding work was so comforting. It gave me the confidence I needed, that it wasn’t a personal failure or something I should keep trying to solve. Switching to formula was essential and 100% the right call for me and my son – it was a godsend – and I wish I had been less anxious that I was hurting him, even after reading the data in Cribsheet. He is amazing, and it was 1000% the right choice for both of us.