How Did You Decide to EFF?

[u/Time-Milk-5377]

FTM, 35 weeks so preparing for all things baby.

I’m wondering how people decided to EFF? Or combo feed? I am not terribly inclined to BF, pregnancy has been really hard on me mentally and I want to have my bodily autonomy back as much as possible. Also the thought of BF gives me the creeps in a way I can’t describe. However, I’m not 100% sure and am open minded so I’m wondering if I should just try in the first days and see how it goes.

I guess I’m looking for perspective on how folks decided to formula feed if you were on the fence going into labor. My hospital really pushes breastfeeding so I feel like I need some idea of what I want to do before going in.

Is it possible to just breastfeed for like a month to establish immunity benefits, then fully switch? Or is it advisable to just go formula straight from the start?

Thanks for any input- this has been giving me a lot of anxiety.

[u/mylongdecember12]

I had wanted to try BF but was open to formula. Baby girl lost more than normal weight her first few days and I wasn’t making enough for her to regain so she had to start formula supplementing in the hospital. The hospital I gave birth at was also big on breastfeeding.

I wasn’t making enough determined to BF in the beginning but it stressed me I wasn’t making enough and she wasn’t regaining weight appropriately. I also for a really bad case on postpartum depression/suicidal thoughts and keeping up with pumping/breastfeeding to up my supply was too much mentally. I tried BF for maybe 2 weeks before switching to EFF and it was the best decision for both me and baby. The moment when she finally regained her birth weight and then some I knew EFF had been the right decision.