Switching from breast feeding to bottle feeding

[philjane]

Although I feel guilty about it, I'm considering switching from breast feeding to bottle feeding, either fully or combined. I've been breastfeeding for about 6 weeks now but it's not really working out.

I was wondering if anyone else had done this transition and how you might do it? Replace one feed at a time?

Many thanks.

Think the advice is to switch one feed a week, this is so that you can avoid mastitis.

Is there a particular problem we can help you with?

I did this at 4 months, one feed a week, and actually managed to mix feed until 7.5 months.

Why do you feel it's not working out?

6 week's is still really early day's and mum's often don't find things settel down till more like 8-13week's.

If you want to chat with someone even if it's just help with stopping ringing one of the helplines is a good idea. They are there to help you achive your goals even if that means stopping.

National Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 100 0212

The Breastfeeding Network Supporterline
0300 100 0210

NCT Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 330 0771

La Leche League Helpline
0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
08444 122 949

No need to feel guilty, it's your choice. Well done for reaching 6 weeks.

If there are specific problems, post on here, I'm sure one of us can help or support you

Have you thought of expressing and trying your baby on your milk in a bottle first? We really struggled with the transition from breast to bottle when I was ready with dd1, she just point blank refused to take the bottle (at around 3 or 4 months). It took about a month to get her to drink from a bottle properly - in the end we used a Mam teat, which she took to.
With dd2, I expressed and fed her my milk in a bottle from about 2 weeks, usually one feed a day. When I was ready to stop breastfeeding it was much easier than with dd1.
I hope you get the help you need. Breastfeeding is a lot harder than people realise but once you get it right, it's a lot easier than making up bottles.

Well done for doing 6 weeks! Iv mixed fed since week 4, baby now 9 weeks and its going well. I started giving a 4 oz bottle before bed. A week later gave a midday bottle and a week later gave one through the night. I bf on demand the rest of the time. I use avent bottles and cow and gate milk. I take a flask of boiled water and a formula dispenser if I go out or buy a ready made carton.

Thanks for advice and info everyone. I have started by dropping one feed in the later afternoon to start with.

When you introduced your bottles did the baby go longer between feeds, as I introduced a bottle a few days ago now and he only goes 2 hours or so between feeds still? Any idea if this is normal?

No my ds didn't go longer at 1st was still wanting feeding after 2 hours but after a few days it was more like 3 and then 4. When he started finishing 4oz completely I started making 6 and offering the other 2oz half an hour later. When I did this before bed he slept 4 hours. Sometimes he sleeps 5 hours. That could be just to do with him getting older though?

2 hours between feeds is completely normal for a 6 wk old baby. Human babies are designed to feed frequently. They are growing so rapidly in these first few months that they need the regular callories.
Once they get a bit bigger they usuall begin to start to go slightly longer between feeds. I noted that you said in your first post your feeling guilty? I'm not trying to tell you what to do at all. It's just that often when mothers feel guilty about stopping breastfeeding it does not just go away but gets worse as the time passes and often leads to regret later on. If your reasons for switching are due to frequent feeds it may help you to know that it is not a permenant thing, that they do go longer as they grow.
I would suggest doing some soul serching before making the final desision.

Agee that 2 hours between feeds is completely normal at this age and unfortunately switching to formula is no guarantee that your baby will go longer.

Is it the frequent feeds that you are finding difficulty with?