Is engorgement inevitable cutting back bf?

[Firsttimer1007]

I have decided to replace one or two feeds a day with a formula feed. So far only giving about 3-5oz ff at about 2pm and/or 7pm after bf first, and have done this for about a week now.

Problem is I'm getting really full, sore and lumpy breasts which leak. I probably expected a bit of fullness but I didn't expect it to be painful esp doing it slowly.

Am I just being inexperienced and is some engorgement to be expected cutting back bf, and how long does it usually take to adjust?

Also, if I currently feed from one side at a time, and plan to keep up some bf's should I start feeding from both sides at every feed so one side isn't getting more or less stimulation?

Okay - so basically, as you say "ff at about 2pm and/or 7pm", this means that the pattern isn't always the same; therefore, you're breasts won't be regulating the supply and demand and that's why you're breasts are becoming engorged. They aren't sure what's coming when.

Also, yes, feed from one breast for one feed, not both, unless your dc finishes and comes off on their own and then wants more. If you do small amounts of both, then the baby won't be getting the thicker, fattier milk that's at the end of the feed. Your breasts never drain completely but the longer the baby stays at one breast, the more, fat-rich milk they'll get.

As long as you do the same every day, your breasts will regulate and one won't get more stimulated than the other. It's all about pattern.

There's always the chance of engorgement when cutting back feeds but do it gradually and you'll find it easier. You don't say how old your LO is. You're doing the right thing though when you say about giving the formula after the bf - this means the breasts will get used to the decrease more easily than if you just stop that feed altogether. Don't forget to place warm flannels/massage etc to prevent engorgement too.

You want cool not warm compresses for engorgement. Also avoid hot showers hitting the boobs too. And be careful with tops - make sure nothing is cutting into your boobs or under arms as you risk mastitis.

The younger your baby, the more likely you'll get engorged. If you want to replace feeds, do one feed at a time every few days.

Thanks ladies. LO is 5 months old. How long does it usually take to drop a feed then, a this rate I'm looking at about a fortnight per feed! Intended to introduce ff at 2 pm and 7 pm feeds but have sometimes resorted to bf just to relieve the pressure, and sometimes DS guzzles down a full BF in less than 5 min so I miss the boat on giving the ff!

You can drop one feed every few days - so do the 2pm one first then use cool compresses until boob adjust then do the next one. I wouldn't bother giving FF afterwards, just make the switch straight away. You'll get leaks etc but it'll go.

Thanks so much again, just one last question....
If I drop the 2 pm feed today and would have been feeding from the right boob at that time, do i have to start on the same side 2m morning so that the missed feed tomorrow is also on the right or should I alternate from the starting side each day so that eventually (if I plan to keep up morning and night feeds long term) there will be available milk in both sides at these times? Sorry if there are obvious answers to these questions, clearly serious baby brain issues still going on here!

I'd do the next feed on the side that hasn't been fed for the longest (so left) and both boobs will adjust from there. Hope that makes sense!
Although as baby gets older and more established on solids it'll change again anyway so don't worry too much.

iggly sorry but the warm flannels thing is to encourage milk to flow normally, rather than building up and becoming more painful (I'm a BF peer supporter). Cold compress is fine for after a feed but before the feed, warm flannels/warm bath help milk flow.

OP try hand expressing a small amount of milk every now and again (for no more than 15 secs so as not to encourage let down) and this will relieve the engorgement but not stimulate the breasts to produce more milk.

Ideally, if you have time and aren't weaning to get straight back to work, it's easier to drop one feed per week rather than every couple of days.

Thanks loopy - I remember being told use warm before a feed when I had mastitis to get milk flowing then cold for afterwards. Didnt know this would help with engorgement too as thought the warm would encourage milk production (not flow!)

Yes - it doesn't encourage production as such, just encourages the milk to be drawn more effectively towards the nipple . Cold is for pain relief so will also be very useful to op.