I exclusively formula fed my daughter. After 2 days of labour all I wanted to do was eat and then sleep (I feel terrible typing that out). She was tube fed for a few days as she couldn't actually use a bottle teat so I felt sooooo guilty. I tried to breastfeed her to see if it helped any but as soon as I sat in the chair to do it I started crying. I just could not face getting my breasts out in front of the nurse. The nurse told me it was okay and it wasn't for everyone but I felt like such a horrible mum. Luckily the day after they found a way to feed her and she got home.
I really regretted not trying harder. I still sort of do. But those first weeks I had soo many visitors and every time she needed fed while they were in I was so happy I didn't have to whip my breasts out or hide upstairs. I was happy I could get more time in bed when SO did some of the feeds. I was happy I could get out of the house without worrying if she needed fed I'd have to drape her with a blanket or sit in a bathroom. I was happy my milk only took 2 days to leave and was mostly painless. I was happy I didn't have to suffer infections and painful nipples like some of my friends had. I was happy that all the stuff I'd heard about not bonding was a load of rubbish, and those moments at 2am when it felt like me and my daughter were the only people in the world awake while I fed her and she showed me little sleepy smiles were just as amazing as if I had breastfed. I was happy her daddy got to share those moments when it was his turn.
I really don't feel sad about my choice at all. She is thriving and hitting all her milestones, and has been ill maybe once or twice. Give the breastfeeding a try, but if it doesn't work out you are still a wonderful mama and it isn't the end of the world.
One tip if you go the formula route, Idk how you make up formula in the US but in the UK its one scoop of powder per ounce of boiled water. For night feeds or even going out we would boil the kettle and fill up a flask with it, then measure out the scoops of powder into a dispenser. When the bub wakes up at night all you have to do is roll over, fill the bottle to however many ounce and tip the powder in then give it a shake. The water was usually cool enough by the time she woke up but if its not just leave the kettle sitting longer before you fill up the flask. Eventually kiddo started not caring about the temperature so we just put the cooled boiled water into bottles before bed and all we had to do was tip the powder in and it was ready. Easier to pop a boob in her mouth but it wasn't a massive hassle at all. I checked with my health visitor and this is ok to do too. You could also make bottles up and they keep for 2 hours but I didn't like doing that.
Good luck with whatever you choose and you are a good mum either way, don't forget that!