Reducing formula and increasing bf - dd isn't happy though??

[Confused40]

DD is 10 weeks old, and wasn't gaining weight quick enough, so starting mixing feeds about 4 weeks ago. In the last couple of days she screams when I try to bf until I give her the bottle. I don't want to stop bf and ideally want to now decrease the formula and ebf.
Please, please can someone give me advice on how to do this. Its stressing us both out. :(

Anyone please??

It could be nipple confusion, well preference really for the bottle. It's easier for her. I'm not sure what you do - perhaps ring one of the BF helplines? I've used them and found then excellent

Who said she wasn't gaining quickly enough? Also has she been checked for tongue tie? This makes it harder for them to feed and can result in slow weight gain.

One thing you could try that works for some people is offering her the breast when she's not quite so hungry, so she is calmer, and maybe she would take to it a bit easier? Hopefully she would then realise it's nice to snuggle up with Mummy.

I'd second the helplines, or even better if you can get to a local support group in your area.

She's been checked for tongue tie, and HV said she needed to gain weight. Wish I'd never given her the bottle. She had thrush on her gums and me on my nipples which we're getting treatment for, plus she's teething and dribbling constantly.
All of this isn't helping. I called bf support line and they were great. Said persevere and that dd will hopefully start bf more consistently. Going to go to bf support group tomorrow too.

The group should be a big help. Never underestimate how reassuring it is to talk to people who have been where you are. My baby is the only bf one in my circle, he is a lean rolling machine compared to other ff little gorgeous dumplings! But when I went to a group I saw a much wider variety of baby shapes (just like people!)

Just keep offering, especially cuddling and skin to skin.

Do you top up after every feed? If so, maybe reduce down and have bigger feeds followed by a bf to avoid multiple nipple confusion.

I assume you're already upping your supply naturally? (Feeding at night, offering frequently etc etc)

You could also consider a supplrmenter (although I've never used one) as a way of dropping the bottle but encouraging bf whilst ff?

Finally, ask your hv to be more supportive in helping you. Some babies don't follow neat lines, if they are happy and content with lots of wet and dirty nappies, perhaps they are meant to follow their own line

Went to my local bf support group today. Was advised my midwife to basically feed dd through a syringe and don't give her bottle until she takes to bf again. Midwife said it'll take two days which will be really tough. She said dd will probably scream and get very upset.
Ugh no!! I'm not doing that. Going to try a different bf support group. As long as dd is getting fed I'm happy. She has a lot going on, what with thrush and teething. I'm not going to traumatise her with her feeding. Little love.

Totally understandable that you want to keep feeding happy and relaxed - what an odd idea to make your little daughter so upset :(

Skin to skin, plenty of opportunity to offer breast with no pressure, and lots of chances at night too when she's relaxed and sleepy - all that should help bring her love for bf back :)

How much formula is she having?

Thanks tiktok. It is strange to advise a mother to let her 10 almost 11 week old dd cry for two or more days. I just smiled and nodded and vowed never to go back there!
Dd is having anything from 3-4 ounces of formula. If she bf fully and isn't upset then only 1-2 ounces. When she woke for a night feed last night I put her on the breast as soon as I got her out of her bed. She started feeding straight away. The same happened with the next feed. She only took one side and then refused until I gave her a bottle.
I will definitely persist, but I won't knowingly allow her to become upset and cry.

Confused, you mean 3-4 oz (or 1-2 oz) each time?

How long have you been giving this?

The reason I ask is because if it's every feed, that's a lot of formula, and it is likely to have had a serious effect on your supply. You will need to work hard at building up the breastmilk supply to 'entice' your dd to come back (this is a far more likely explanation than confusion - she is voting for the productive bottle, so you need to make the breast as productive :) )

Thanks tiktok. I'm taking one day at a time, and gradually reducing ff and increasing bf. I'm bf more, but it's working
I plan to exclude ff altogether and just bf. still taking it one day at a time and not giving myself too much stress, and importantly listening to dd cues. Spending a lot of time at home is helping too. I can do lots of skin to skin and don't have to worry about bf in public. I'm ordering food shopping online and really spending quality time with dd. cooking lots of delicious food, watching my diet, and two or three times a week I try and walk 2-4 miles.

Good luck Confused. Real life help from pro bf supporters is so helpful. We had to intro ff but cut out completely in the end. Have you considered double pumping after (almost) every (day) feed for a little while? It really does help increase supply.
I also found taking a bath with baby was really good. Needs to be at a time when baby is not tired or starving. Lovely snuggles in the bath are great. DH used to dry him off though & dress him after as I didn't feel confident enough to get out of the bath with him!
I also took a baby moon - snuggled in bed for a few days to enable lots of skin to skin.
Oh & ate lots of oats, drank special tea & took vatfuls of fenugreek & blessed thistle!!
However the best support I had was from my local LLL group. The leaders there gave v practical advice tailored to me.
Best of luck. It took us a few weeks to get rid of top ups but still going at 15mo.