How do you feel like a mother if you can’t breastfeed?

Question

How do you feel like a mother if you can’t breastfeed? 
Please don’t tell me to try more or harder or eat this or that. This is my second child and I have been diagnosed with not having sufficient tissue to produce. I have tried everything. 
I had been hopeful because this baby actually latched pretty well and was doing pretty good. But then I had to supplement a little and now they are absolutely refusing to take the breast at all. 
I’m struggling with feeling like I’m a mother and not just a parent (and don’t say that dads bond just fine with babies so that it’s not an issue). My body is not doing what it’s supposed to do as a woman and as a mom and it’s heartbreaking for me.

Answer

Your body grew a wonderfully healthy baby! It did exactly what it was supposed to do!

Answer

Because breastfeeding doesn’t make you a mother! 🙄 taking care of your child and their needs makes you a mother. As long as your child is fed, clothed, clean, and happy.

Answer

Breastfeeding doesn’t make you a mother... I 100% chose not to breastfeed either one of our daughters. We exclusively formula fed both of them from birth and I’ve never once felt like less of a mother for that decision. I have an amazing bond with both of them and they’re both very healthy and happy.

Answer

Lots of women cant breast feed and that's 100% okay. Your baby still loves you no matter what and formula is still full of all the great things that a growing baby needs.

Answer

I'm so sorry!! I know the feeling of desperation and sorrow although my situation is not the same. My heart breaks for you that won't have the breastfeeding journey you dreamed of. ❤

Answer

With my first, he couldn’t tolerate my breast milk. It made him bloat up and scream in pain. I felt like my body was both betraying me and hurting my child. I cut so much out of my diet to try and keep going because I so wanted it to work. All that did was make me lose an unhealthy amount of weight and continue to cause my son discomfort. I had to face the fact that it wasn’t anything I was doing; my child just had a very sensitive tummy. It took me a bit to come to terms with it, but I realized him feeling comfortable and content was all that mattered.
Being a mother is so much more than how you feed your baby. Your baby still knows it’s you by smell, hearing, and touch. Doing skin to skin contact helped me the most when I had to stop with my first. Any time he would start fussing, I would just hold him close against my chest and wrap us both in a blanket until he settled and fell asleep. I still felt the closeness and physical bonding I would feel while breastfeeding.
Just remember, you’re recognizing and taking care of your baby’s needs. That makes you a GREAT mother. ❤️

Answer

I’m sorry for how you’re feeling, I can understand that is so disappointing. But you are their mother because you grew them and birthed them! Trust me they know who their mama is, you don’t need to breastfeed for that. They know your heartbeat, your voice, your smell. You are mom!

Answer

I went through the same thing and in the end we are mommy’s not because of what we feel like should be right but for providing the best we can for our kids. Don’t forget a fed baby is a happy baby period. You’re feeding that child and doing what you need to do. You are doing great. Don’t be so hard on yourself

How do you feel like a mother if you can’t breastfeed?

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