I nursed six adopted babies, with fibromyalgia.  The first two, I only
managed to nurse for a short time, so they were largely bottlefed, but the
last four weaned themselves.  Also, I bottlefed my fourth child for four
months, while I tried to teach her to accept the breast, so i have alot of
experience with bottlefeeding.  My FMS was first diagnosed (after 15 years
of being sent to psychiatrists because of it) when my third son was 6 months
old.  I was told to get on amitriptyline, but that I would have to stop
nursing.  There was no way I was going to do that, so I said I would just
have to wait until Thomas weaned.  Well, I did a little further research and
learned that drug was actually safe for during lactation, so I went ahead
and started taking it.  I would think that alot of the moms who think they
have a choice between no meds and bottle feeding could find meds that could
be taken during lactation, that would not render breastfeeding more
hazardous than formula feeding.

I found that having a comfortable place to sit and nurse was essential.  I
started keeping pillows and whatever else I needed, in my recliner, all the
time, and I sat cross-legged alot.  I always tried to have the baby
supported so that I did not have to hold them up with my arms.  That way, it
was alot easier to nurse, even with the Lact-Aid, than to feed a baby with a
bottle.  I could get the baby started and then let my arms relax.
Eventually, I found that, with a cervical pillow to support my head, I could
even go to sleep nursing, which was definitely beneficial.

I don't think bottle feeding is really any easier for a mom with FMS, unless
she lets someone else feed her baby, or props the bottle, and then she
misses out on the nurturing with her baby.   Also, it is important to
consider the fact that formula fed babies are more likely to be sick and the
stress and sleep loss from having a sick baby can make the FMS syptoms much,
much worse!  I think anyone who tells moms with FMS that it would be easier
for them to bottlefeed hasn't really looked at all the issues.  One more
thing is the calming effects of the increase in prolactin, which
bottlefeeding doesn't produce.   I found that picking up and carrying babies
was hard on my body, but that breastfeeding, even with a partial milk supply
and using the Lact-Aid much of the time, was much better for me, as well as
my kids, than bottlefeeding.

Aloha,
Darillyn

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