to ask for only positive stories on switching to formula

[Changednamesorry]

I have to put my baby on a bottle over the next week. he is 4 months. in short I have been told I have a health condition for which I need to start medication ASAP and said medication is not compatible with breast feeding. I fed my first son for over 2 years and I'm sad about it feel awful have searched for everything to see u there's an alternative and there isn't.
please could people share encouraging stories about how the baby will be fine and won't mind?

The baby will thrive, grow quicker, sleep better, you can see what you are feeding him, and the best bit - everyone else can have a go at feeding him. It means you get your freedom back. Win-win.

When I look at a class of children you know what? I have no idea who got fed what when they were babies.

It matters not a jot.

Your baby will be fed. Nothing else matters.

All my kids have been mix fed then on formula from about 8-12 weeks. They are all grand. This is a tiny part of their life. It will be ok. Your health is the most important thing, they need their mum.

It's probably illegal for websites to give you good stories, as its win-win, and no one in authority wants to admit that.

I struggled to feed my first for 4 months. I never produced enough milk. He was quite often poorly and ended up with serious health condition (probably unrelated to feeding)
Second child in formula within 48 hours. Healthy and happy.
Ok it's totally anecdotal. But formula isn't poison. It won't hurt your child. Your child has had 4 months of your milk and will carry that benefit with them.
Hope you are ok with this medication

I switched at 6 weeks and she was just dandy. You've given your lo the most important bit.
I know this must be so hard for you but you need to be well. Fed is best, remember that.

Formula is not evil. It's a bloody good food source for a growing child. You wouldn't have a clue looking at my 5ft, never sick, highly intelligent off to Grammar, ten year old, that he was bottle fed cow and gate from 4 weeks old. I wouldn't have a clue who in his school was bottle or breast fed. And I wouldn't care.

You've done an incredible thing feeding to four months. Wasn't long ago that's when people switched to food and cows milk. And there's enough of us healthy and happy.

Formula is good stuff. He will thrive.

It's fine! She thrived and honestly I think she slept better. Moved mine on at 5 months. Felt like I'd done enough

All 3 of my children are healthy, intelligent and thriving. All 3 were formula fed from day 1! We are an incredibly close knit family, probably helped by the fact that my DH got up through the night with me in the early days (oldest 2 are twins) and as a result we have always shared all aspects of childcare.

Formula is not poison!!

My gp friend recommends mixing expressed milk and formula 50:50 if they're reluctant to take it.

My son had formula as would not latch.I pumped for 10 weeks and eventually had to stop as I just couldn't keep it up! He is a healthy, happy and strong 2 year old. Also, myself, my brother and sister were built on cow and gate and we are like cockroaches!
There is enough guilt and stress with parenting, please don't add this to your list. You have to look after yourself in order to look after your baby.

Here are all the lovely things you've done (according to research) by breastfeeding to four months. Not one of them will be undone by stopping.

First Feed
Helps to stabilise baby’s blood sugars and
protect baby’s gut

1 Day
The antibodies in mother’s colostrum provide natural
immunity from infection

2-3 Days
Sticky black meconium is cleared more readily from baby’s
bowel

4 Weeks
For premature babies lower risk factors for heart disease in
later life

6 Weeks
Less risk of chest infections now and up to 7 years old

2 Months
Lower risk of food allergy at 3 years old if breastfed only
Reduced risk of ovarian cancer for mother in later life

3 Months
Much less likely to get diarrhoea and need to be in hospital
with gastroenteritis

4 Months
Lower risk of developing eczema and asthma

oh thank you!!!! that's really helped 😊😊😊😊

I agree that no one would ever be able to tell how he was fed, as long as he is! I understand how upset you must be though, and I do agree that whatever way baby is fed is best, but it could be worth looking into donor breast milk? There's a community up here (Cheshire) and I've seen a few mum's donate to others in need, or there are proper websites I believe! It just may be an option if not, your baby will still be just fine! Making it to 4 months is brilliant work

One of mine was bf for 4 months then ff. The other bf till 1 yr. The fully BF child actually has lots of allergies yet ff child doesn't have any!

Fed is best x

My DD was bottle fed from day one. She was in full time (8am to 6pm) nursery from two months old as I had to go back to work full time. She didn't have a single day off sick (48 weeks a year) for the first two and a half years. She's never been especially unwell and will be 20 this year, at university, has always thrived. I'm a huge fan of formula!

Ah Bertie you're a legend for posting that.

I fed expressed milk for the first six weeks until my supply fell in week 7 and we had to go 100% formula in week 8.

Gonna whisper this now.....

DD has always been an incredible sleeper and I do wonder if this is to do with being FF. She basically slept like a trooper from the 8th week.

Anyway, she's a hale, hearty and healthy girl and to be quite frank I felt sad and guilty about "failing" to BF but you know what? It lasted about a week and I realised that it's fine.

I know you're sad, but you're not doing your child a disservice one iota x

I was only ever bottle fed as a baby. No breastfeeding at all, not even for the first few months.
I'm a healthy, happy, well developed and dare I say rather wonderful adult now :) No allergies, no health conditions.
Breastfeeding is great, but sometimes I worry that we state the benefits so loudly and emphatically that it makes mums who don't/can't feel like shit. Like Watermelon said, as long as your baby is fed, you're doing a good job.

Mine slept through the first night he had formula all day...!

You know as well, my mum always said that in hospital after my birth, you could tell which babies were BF and which were FF - the FF babies (including me) were conked out and snoring away, unlike their BF counterparts!! So I think you're on to something, Legend

DS1 was FF, DS & DS3 were BF. DS1 got better exam results than his brothers, DS3 has exzema.

My brother was bottle fed from the start and he's got a PhD. in extra hard science or sumfink. I'm the sister who was breast fed and I've only got a 2.2 Bachelors degree.

You are exactly the reason why we should thank science for formula milk. In the olden days, who knows what might have happened. xxx

He'll be fine. You've breastfed him longer than the majority of babies are breastfed, and all the benefits that were listed by Bertie will still apply. Formula is a totally suitable food for babies and he will be absolutely fine on it.

Do give yourself mental room to be sad that you have had to stop feeding before you wanted to. It's ok to feel that way too.