Switching from BF to FF help

[cornishmama93]

I've been BF my three week old but now want to gradually switch him to formula.
When they say to drop one feed at a time I was wondering how to actually do it.
For example I feed from one side at each feeding then the other side at the next etc so if I was due to feed on the right side but gave a bottle instead which side would I feed on next, the right or bypass the right and go straight onto the left?
I really don't want to get massively engorged as I have quite a lot of milk and don't want to pump too much or at all if I don't have to so I don't encourage more supply.
Thanks

[ChocolateCoffeeCake]

Hi, I was told by breastfeeding volunteers to decrease one feed per week but that ssemed far too slow for me. I'm sure everyone's different but I can describe what worked for me: If you were due to feed on the right but gave a bottle instead, I would hand express some off the right-hand side. I would decrease how much was expressed over 5-7 days and then stop expressing.
I began to replace the night feeds first as I wanted the baby to have a bottle at night (in the hope she would sleep more!). I then decided that I would create a cut-off point in the day which I wouldn't feed after. I decided that I wouldn't breastfeed between 3pm & 3am. After about 2wks I moved my cut-off point to midday. And then I stopped altogether.
This worked for me because the baby used to only have short feeds and so I didn't become engorged at any point however, I appreciate that this is not going to work for everyone.

[cornishmama93]

@ChocolateCoffeeCake thank you that's really helpful. Do you think it would work the same if I put my haakaa pump on the breast I was meant to feed on whilst I gave bottle instead of hand expressing and just decreased the amount of time I had it on there each feed? I just have quite a lot of milk and don't want to end up engorged or with mastitis.

[dottyrobin]

I've been slowly changing over to FF for my 7 week old. I started with the last feed of the day - unfortunately I did wake up dripping in milk engorged but I just got her to feed from both sides and it soon drained.
A few days later I added a daytime feed which had no ill affects on me.
Then I really needed to speed up the process as it was too slow. Cabbage leaves really helped then, I added more bottles in the day, at the same time cabbage leaves in the bra gave relief.
When I did have to bf I kept it shorter than usual.
I'm still in the process of stopping though so we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

[cornishmama93]

@dottyrobin hope it keeps going well for you! When I have up with my daughter 4 years ago it was after 2 weeks and I just went cold turkey and was so engorged for a few days I remember using cabbage leaves

[Mumdiva99]

If you have lots of milk why switch? Breast really is easiest. No faffing around with bottles and sterilising. No gear to lug about. Perfect formulation for the baby. No being caught short when you stay out longer than planned. Are you happy breast feeding?

[cornishmama93]

@Mumdiva99 I just feel like it's time to switch over so that other people can help with feeding and I can leave him for longer than two hours. I'm just proud of myself that I've done it for nearly 4 weeks and we had a good run at it but it was never my intention to breastfeed for a long time as I just find it isolating. I know it's easier but I just feel for my sanity and mental health switching to bottles if best and it did my nearly 4 year old no harm switching after 2 weeks when breast feeding really wasn't going well at all.

[Mumdiva99]

Your baby your choice. It's just a shame you are stopping when there are no issues. Baby is still tiny and wants mum to be around. Just take baby with you wherever you go and you won't be isolated. No one blinks an eye at a mum bf when out and about. I bf 3 and never had one odd glance. Lots of mum's at baby groups are doing it too. It always fitted around school runs etc.

[Peony99]

Mum OP didn't ask whether she should stop, she asked how to.

I'm up because I'm BFing, but it doesn't suit everyone and it's tough.

I'm sure it's not your intention, but your posts could come across as making OP feel bad for making a perfectly legitimate choice.

[Mumdiva99]

@Peony99 sometimes people feel external pressure to stop. Or in those first few weeks when bf is sometimes 22 out of 24 hours can't see that it gets easier, that the demand is less. Can't see that if it's just a case of want to give a bottle for one feed then you don't have to give up entirely.

[dottyrobin]

For me, I've been in constant pain when she's feeding for the last 7 weeks. Seen many different health visitors, breastfeeding advisors, midwives, been for a tongue tie assessment but nothing has improved.
At 4 weeks my husband walked in to the baby crying and me crying not wanting to feed her. I'm surprised I'm still doing it at 7 weeks to be honest.
Tried all sorts of latches, nipple shields, lived on pain killers. Breastfeeding advisor said she could refer me for a second opinion on the tongue tie but I'm just too demoralised. I'm at the point now where it's just not viable for me to carry on.

[ChocolateCoffeeCake]

@cornishmama93 yes I think a Haaka pump would also do the job. That's probably much easier than hand expressing which I found a bit messy!

[Kate3150]

@cornishmama93- I just wanted to say you should be so proud of yourself for breastfeeding as long as you have. It’s so fricking hard mentally physically and emotionally, I know some women find it a breeze, but I have found it so so difficult and literally just take it a day at a time.
You HAVE to do what’s right for you and baby.
Sorry I can’t offer any advice on the transitioning but just wanted well done 💜