Transitioning breast to bottle

[Dontbsicily]

Hello!

I have an 8 week old beautiful baby girl who is gaining weight perfectly in the 50th centile and has never had any issues with feeding. I decided before she was born that I wanted to try breastfeeding but was very relaxed about it and wouldn’t push myself. As if happens, LO latched immediately after birth and has fed brilliantly with no issues, other than me debating throwing in the towel during difficult cluster-feeding periods. I really enjoy breastfeeding but I knew I wanted to have stopped by the time she is 6 months because, we are getting married in May and I decided I would prefer to have stopped before then.

When I was struggling to get much sleep about a month ago, we implemented a bedtime formula bottle every night, upon midwife led advice. It helped us to get a 4-5 hour stretch every night and she’s been fab with her sleep ever since. She had no issues whatsoever with taking the bottle and happily switches from breast to bottle. I have, if anything, a slight oversupply and so, there is no concern there. Initially, I expressed whenever I bottle fed her but this resulted in me becoming regularly engorged and my letdown being far too quick for the poor bean and so, I’ve stopped expressing now.

I have decided to gradually transition baby girl from breast to bottle by introducing one bottle per day, every month. So in January I intend to up to two bottles per day and so on. I figured this would gradually reduce my supply and slowly help her to move onto bottles entirely by the time she is 6 months old.

Has anyone done this before? This is my first baby and so, I’m interested if there are any issues with this or if anyone has any tips or advice?

Disclaimer: I’ve already made this decision and so, no need for any breast is best advice please. Also, I intend to speak to my health visitor before implementing this routine to ensure there are no concerns and she is totally happy with baby girls weight gain etc first!

[Redhorss]

Hi.

I think this sounds good. Our DD is combi fed. Some days she has full boob, some days full formula. Others its 50/50.

When we come to weaning her off the boob i will just do less and less boob until my supply dries up. Good luck

[edidxb]

I am planning on the same thing. My son is 9 weeks old tomorrow. I am going back to work in March and want him on bottles by then as I can't face expressing.
I have also really struggled with breastfeeding since the beginning and am happy to have got to 9 weeks without any formula. I am continuing until January and then will make the transition.
I had an appointment with midwives last week and asked for advice on transitioning. They said to give up the evening feed first which you have done. Then the afternoon until just the morning feed is left. They said to phase put over at least a week if not two weeks to stop being in too much pain from engorgement etc.
Good luck!
I am hoping it goes well for us both!

[Dontbsicily]

Thanks for your replies! Good luck to you both!! Xx