What makes a good formula???

[NannyJo]

I have been breast feeding my 4 week old son but have got very sore nipples and am not sure if I can continue for much longer (much to my dissapointment) I tried to express and have very little joy there too although over three attempts throughout the day I managed to get enough milk (what is enough though??) to bottle feed him and give my boobs a small rest. That was unsuccesful cos he threw most of it up!! Any one got any advice? also what would be a good formula to try him on? what is a good formula??

[hunkermunker]

NannyJo, if you don't want to give up breastfeeding, then try to get some advice before you try formula. I had five weeks of pain at the beginning - I think i was getting used to it and DS wasn't latched quite right. But after that, it worked like a dream and I'm still bfeeding at seven months on Wednesday.

Try ringing the NCT breastfeeding helpline: 0870 444 8708 or the Breastfeeding Network Supporterline: 0870 900 8787 or you can visit one of their drop-in centres if you live near one - see centres

I know you've asked for help with formula, so I hope you don't mind me giving you breastfeeding advice (and I hope I don't get told off for being too preachy by anyone - that's not my intention!).

Hugs! HM xxx

[collision]

NannyJo......Congrats on the baby....tell me all. I am on the Nov thread as you were but your baby was obv early. What is his name and how was the birth? I was a nanny and it hit me like a ton of bricks when I became a Mum...24 hours a day and no clocking off at 6pm!

Anyway, in answer to your question I would try and persevere and maybe get an electric breast pump which are great. Drink lots of water and have a snack when you are feeding. I BF my ds for 14 weeks and want to try for longer with the next one.

Do come on the Nov thread and tell us all about the baby.

[Geordie]

nannyjo- do follow hunkermunkey's advice- it hurt for at least 6 weeks here...but several things helped that were recomended to me and I'm still feeding at 9 months!

have you tried lansinoh lanolin (mothercare...boots) it's expensive but really did work for me...that and wearing no bra for 1/2 hour after every feed.....

after all that...I was recomended aptimil for being nearest to breastmilk via nct group! please do keep trying- it does hurt but the experience of feeding gets better and better- I now only use formula v occassionally when i leave ds with dh- alas i can no longer express that much.

the other thought i have is about renting a hospital grade elecy pump from your local nct-I could express 10 ounces every morning easily up to about 6 months- unfortunately our freezer broke and i lost the lot when i was just about to go back to work!! This might be enough of a rest...to help your boobs heal up enough.

I also used a nipple sheild for about 7 days- not recomended but did help me heal enough to carry on feeding.

hope that things work out- do keep posting we're here to help!

[RudyDudy]

Hi NannyJo

Agree with HM that there are support options to explore if you do want to carry on breastfeeding. On the sore nipples have you tried Lansinoh cream? - I used it and thought it was fantastic. It really softens your nipples and you don't have to wash it off before feeding.

As for choosing a formula - I think it is pretty personal but we used Aptamil and found it great. We were recommended it after trying one of the others which really bunged him up. Aptamil contains probiotics which I think helped with this.

If it makes you feel better then how about introducing one formula feed a day so your DS gets enough food and you get enough rest?

HTH
xxx

[frogs]

Second hk -- once you get through the painful nipples thing they do heal up and after that it gets easier and less effort. The one trick that really helped me with babies 2 and 3 was using different feeding positions, so that it it's not the same part of the nipple getting hammered each time. Even weird positions like the rugby/football can help get you through those crucial few days while your nipples get to grips with what's hit them.

Like hk, don't want to preach bfeeding at all costs, but it does get better.

Failing that, any mainstream formula is fine. People have preferences for a variety of reasons (see recent thread) but don't think any single formula is better than any other.

hth

[LIZS]

Could the teats have been too fast for him ? It is a different technique and he may have gulped and taken in more wind than usual.

If you would prefer to keep breastfeeding have you tried nipple shields as that might be a good short term compromise. Perhaps changing position either rugby ball style or lying down, might ease the pressure on the sore bits. A b'feeding counsellor could check that your postioning is ok and not causing the problem and give you some advice on expressing and soreness.

I don't think it is uncommon to encounter problems a month or so down the line - I know I found the first month with ds hard, then things settled down but had real problems feeding at 8weeks when I got a blocked duct. I then went on to feed him (mixed from 6 months) for 17 months.

If you do decide to change to formula I don't
think you'll find much between the brands. Much is in the marketing. If he doesn't seem happier taking the bottle then perhaps it is even more worthwhile to persist with the breastfeeding.

Good luck

[zebra]

I was always told that most formulas are much the same; all of them inferior to real human milk. I know there was a recent thread on "Which formula?" in this MN Topic area.

I really hope you can find a way to keep up with the br'feeding, too.

That said, a friend with similar pains went to one bottle a day when her baby was 4 days old... if she hadn't done that she would have gone to 100% bottle. The thing is, after about 7 weeks her soreness cleared up, and she confessed to me that she could have gone back to 100% breastfeeding at that point, if she wanted to. So try to be open-minded.

[yurtgirl]

Message withdrawn

[NannyJo]

Thank you all very much for your kind advice. I will perservere and try a few of the below suggestions.