At 6 weeks im done with breastfeeding. Advice needed!!

[lozzy1982]

Hi ladies, hope someone can offer some advice/support?

My DS is nearly 6 weeks old and after much heartache i decided yesterday to give up breastfeeding. Physically i could do it, i think! Though things came to a head a couple of days ago when he was literally on me all day long feeding. He barely slept and just wanted to feed. This had been the case nearly all the 6 weeks and i had struggled through, but i am just not that type of person to be happy sat at home with a film and box set all day long and feed like people advise. I like to be out. With family/friends/walking/the park and i just felt like i couldnt do any of these things. Unless ds was on me he was cranky which just wasnt working. I switched the night feeds to formula a couple of weeks ago and he slept so much better. Going 3 or 4 hour intervals. When breast feeding i was lucky if we got an hour. He is just so hungry!!!! I know people say your breast milk adjusts to the baby but not in my case.
After the formula started during the day yesterday he was a different baby. His face and general being seem to much more contented and he is no longer grappaling to get to my boob.
So - im still going to give him expressed milk for now, until my supply runs out. Do u guys think it would be ok to put him on the breast also for comfort occasionaly? I am already missing the feeling of him being on me. If only i could satisfy him the way the formula does i would have been so happy.
Also, any tips on easing the boobs and making sure they dont get too engorged? Im expressing for now, but just any tips for when i decided to stop this too?
Thanks in advance

Laura

[tiktok]

Of course put him on the breast for comfort :)
Hope things work out for you.

[Chchchchangeabout]

I would offer formula and bf but f only when I was happy to. That would help with engorgement issues as well, rather than a more abrupt stop.

[Chchchchangeabout]

Sorry typo: but bf only when I was happy to

[BertieBotts]

What about mixed feeding OP? It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Also there is a growth spurt at around 6 weeks which could account for the excessive feeding.

The best way to reduce the chances of enlargement is to cut down slowly, phase out BF feed by feed. If that is something which appeals to you. Or slowly moving from full BF to the ratio that you want.

If not, then it's a balancing act. When you remove milk from the breast in any way you are sending a signal to make more. If you let the milk build up, you're sending the signal to slow down or stop prpduction. But, this can be painful or uncomfortable. It's okay to express a little off the top to relieve the discomfort.

You could also as you say express until your milk supply drops completely, but this seems like double the work to me - why not just feed directly and add in formula as and when - when you feel overwhelmed, need a break or whatever reason.

[Sparkly1234]

Hi Lozzy, I have been having similar problems. Maybe not quite as much feeding and my baby goes about 2 hours during feeds in the night. She is now 8 weeks old. I was doing ok for a few weeks but for the past couple of weeks I have been so tired and think the lack of sleep and energy from feeding is catching up on me, and not sure if I can carry on much longer. I was thinking of using more formula, already been giving the odd bottle here and there. How did it go for you using formula at night? Did you not feel like you needed to feed due to full breasts? My baby also seems to be hungry a lot and don't feel like my milk is enough, that's why I have been using formula as she sometimes gets so hungry and upset.

If anyone has done mixed feeding any tips would be useful as would like to carry on bf part of the time.

[BertieBotts]

If you are not worried about continuing breastfeeding, then just use formula whenever you like. Nothing bad will happen, supply may or may not last.

Sparkly it may be better to start another thread about advice for keeping up supply whilst mixed feeding because I think it is quite different to what OP is asking and it might confuse the thread if that makes sense.

[Sparkly1234]

Yeah will start a new post, sorry for hijacking! We have similar problems but different questions.
Lozzy, I would say you would be best expressing a bit and gradually stop or bf a bit still. You might be able to keep up one or 2 bfs a day as you said you was missing it.