Love bf but help needed trying to drop some feeds

[hopingforanother]

I've come to really love breastfeeding ds, it was hard to start with and there were some times at the 4/5 month mark that were tricky too. He's now 8 months and he loves breastmilk and being close/snoozing on my lap and I've gained a lot from 'succeeding' tho this has turned out to be the least important thing (only managed 2 months with dc1 and found it very hard). I find it a relaxing and rewarding activity, which has helped me develop a lovely relationship with ds. Thanks mn and kellymom, excellent resources!

I'm back to work f/t in a month and want to feed just twice a day. That means I've got to cut out 3 feeds and offer formula before then. I'm finding it very hard.

I don't want to express at work and the idea of additional night feeds is a bit horrifying so don't want to avoid offering an alternative when I'm not there. I would like to see how one morning and one evening feed work out and keep going with those and let him have formula during the day.

I know I'm leaving it late to get the new pattern established but when it comes to me having to offer a bottle of formula rather than boob, I'm not really managing. It seems nuts to give formula when I'm right there, and he doesn't take much because he knows I have the real thing (tho has taken some from dh quite happily).

Sorry this is a ramble! I need and want to replace some breastfeeds with formula, but I'm finding it difficult practically and feel emotional,hormonal and sentimental... I also don't want to continue bf past 12 months so I can start taking some medication again too.

Nice words of wisdom would be really welcome.... In a pickle over it.

When I stopped bf when Alfie was 5 months I did it because I had to go back to work from 6pm - 10pm at night. So, he physically couldn't have been bf when I'm not here and he would not entertain a bottle at all. He preferred to go without than have a bottle!! It was very distressing at times but we perservered.

So we started by not offering breast milk between 5pm and 11pm. He eventually got either that hungry, or tired, or fed up that he had a bottle when it was offered. And very slowly, once he started to take a bottle between these hours (5-11pm) we slowly increased the time. So then when he was used to a bottle in the evening we would only offer a bottle between 2pm-11pm.

It did take 2 months to completely wean off breast milk but we wanted to do it quite gradually as it was a big change with me working in the evenings, bottle feeding and then introducing food - more or less at the same time. So we took it quite slowly really.

We tried all sorts of milk and bottles. But we ended up making a choice and sticking to it. (Avent bottles and Farleys milk) So Alfie would know what to expect every time, and get used to the way the bottle needed to be suckled. Instead of trying different bottles.

I'm afraid it really was patience and reassurance for baby that worked in the end. Maybe just let dad or someone else offer the bottle to begin with. As your baby will know you have the milk he wants!!

At least you have a month to get started on it.

Keep in touch and good luck!

How is he with a sippy cup? I have been doing the same - back to work in July and want to be feeding mornings and evenings (and nights if I must...) only by then. DD is 7mo, and once weaning was up and running she went down to 2 breast feeds during the day, so at the moment I have swapped her afternoon feed to formula in a sippy cup.

It is emotional - the first day she was cross with the beaker and I was ready to get her straight on the boob, but we persevered and now she is happier with it. In a few weeks I will replace the morning feed too, and we'll just be down to morning and evening feeds from me. I feel happier giving her a sippy cup rather than a bottle - it feels more like a progression alongside weaning onto solids rather than moving off the breast IYSWIM? HTH

Thanks mummy2, I have managed to completely ditch a day time feed so he has a feed at 11am and then the next is not til 4 or 5pm. So that was progress.

Milkjet, he is brilliant with a sippy cup and actually not too bad with a bottle with dh, he has taken a bottle from me before a while ago and I don't think I'd really have that much trouble getting him to take one with a little perseverance.

I think the problem is that really, I don't want to stop breastfeeding because I'm quite attached to it. Even though I know I need to change things and that it's best to start now AND I don't want to continue bf long term, I'm struggling to really take any action to change things..... I'm definitely the problem!!