How to wean from breast to formula successfully?

[xSnowy123x]

Hi,

Ok I'm at abit of a loss at the moment, I currently have mastitis and nipple thrush. Double whammy, an in total agony waiting for antibiotics and cream to kick in. Feeding is horrendous! From the start my boy hasn't had the best latch as he has tongue and lip tie. I have tried various positions with him, advised on different ways etc so the latch is right. He is little pickle and will not feed properly with the correct position for a good latch. The doctors, health visitors and midwives have all said they wouldn't go ahead an push the tongue division as he is thriving and gaining a lot of weight, he's now On the 91st centile line on the growth chart so they're happy, but I'm miserable, and really suffering with it. Anyway, to cut the story short, He is now 6wks old (7wks on Thurs) and I have made the decision to switch to formula as I can't see it getting any better for me at all. I haven't made this decision lightly as I really wanted to bf as long as possible, I love the closeness Too 😪 How do I wean from the breast with a baby that is fed on demand? And how do I go about doing it so I don't get painfully engorged and potentially run the risk of mastitis happening again? (Which has unblocked and infection calming down now) . The whole nipple situation with me is excruciating so I need to do this properly to prevent any more pain for me but my boy to be happy.

[FirstTimeMummy25]

I don't have the answer to this but currently planning on weaning my 5 month old onto formula by the time he's 6 months and due to see a breastfeeding consultant on Tuesday so will update you then if you still need help

[FirstTimeMummy25]

I don't have the answer to this but currently planning on weaning my 5 month old onto formula by the time he's 6 months and due to see a breastfeeding consultant on Tuesday so will update you then if you still need help

[Tumtitum]

Would you pay to have TT cut privately? My DD had it and was gaining weight (down the other end of the centiles tho! ;) ) but my nipples were shredded and it was agony. I had thrush too so I completely feel your pain!!!! We had her TT cut at 2 weeks and are still breast feeding now at 6 months. I definitely didn't think I'd make it this far!!!

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

I swapped one feed a day, started with the last feed at night and then over the next few days switched another feed to formula, then maybe the next day or a few days later switched another etc. You can still feed on demand when formula feeding. I still breastfed throughout the night just because it was easier to not get up to get a bottle, and despite having pretty bad supply throughout, managed to keep BFing at night for maybe 4 weeks after stopping BFing in the day.
I was V worried about formula constipating DS as we'd previously had problems, but I gradually introduced it and it was fine. Due to my supply and his tongue tie issues, formula actually meant he was less constipated cos he was taking in more fluid. We switched cos DS was a failure to thrive and formula was awesome 👍🏻

[DinoCharge]

If I were you I'd look into getting the latch sorted via private tt cut. As it seems you want to breastfeed. If you really don't want to though, I'd start with expressing your milk into a bottle for a while so he gets used to that and then gradually replace your milk with formula. So maybe in the bottle 1oz formula topped up with your milk, then 2oz etc until it's all formula. It's kinder on his tummy and stops you getting mastitis too.

[Heirhelp]

Are you both been treated for thrush?

We moved to ff for similar reasons but I hated bf, in the end I gave up when DD has undiagnosed reflux and started to struggle to feed.

If you decide ff is for you then you will need to get formula, bottles, steriliser and I would suggest you get a Tommy tipee perfect prep machine. For bottles you may have to try a few and preserve with one at at time for a few days until you find one he like. Mam anti colic bottles and NUK bottles are often preferred by bf babies. I changed one none consequative bf a day to formula. If you need to hand express if you need to but I found lying face down in a hot bath was enough.

[SteveArnottsLoverPlease]

You sound similar to where I was at 6 weeks, loads of the same issues and also had a large baby feeding all the time. We combination fed from the start with one bottle at night before bed given by DH and this was a precious time for me - 15 minutes when me and my boobs were strictly off-duty and it was very precious to me!

In addition I began to use nipple shields when I was really struggling. They were a miracle and kept me going through the really rough times. I weaned naturally off them at 12 weeks when it seemed like the tongue tie somehow naturally sorted itself out and he could latch well. DS is 6 months and still gets 2 - 3 breastfeeds per day and 2 - 3 bottles per day as well as some solids.

If you love breastfeeding you might manage to rescue it still. I never really loved it but I like the convenience and cheapness so I'm glad I kept going through the awful bits.

If you do make the switch, replace one feed at a time, and pump just enough to relieve the worst of the engorgement.

Best of luck and I hope you feel better soon!