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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Help/advice needed to get from breast to formula asap!

14 replies

Pigallina · 06/10/2014 11:18

Re-posting this here on the hope of getting some actual advice! Grin
Trying not to get myself into a tizz about this, but basically need some help and advice on how to switch my 6 month old from breast to bottle. We've been trying for 2 to 3 weeks now, everyday, to give him a bit of formula but as soon as he bloody well smells it (I think it stinks aswell!) he starts grumping and turns his nose up at it and won't have any! We've tried in the bottle, different shapes and flows of teat, in a sippy cup - he takes water from a sippy cup well when getting lunch/tea etc but as soon as we switch it to some milk will not entertain it! Tried different brands of milk, had it very cool to warmer, me feeding, my husband feeding, holding a small cup and letting him drink, offering when he's hungry, when he's not so much, he'll have maybe two mouthfuls then once he realises it's not mums milk then it's game over. Don't know what else to try! confused I've been trying to be well organised with this as next week I'm having minor surgery and will be in hospital from 7am and overnight, and won't be allowed to breastfeed for 2-3 days after (so I've been advised) leaving little one with dad, plus I'm thinking about going back to work soon so thought I'd get all prepared and have baby on formula so daddy doesn't have an absolute nightmare and so that I can get a bit of my life back! I've exclusively breastfed so wouldn't have a clue on how much to express (which has never really worked for me) for a whole day and night, plus have tried breast milk in a bottle which has never worked either, but might in a sippy cup, but would prefer to just switch to formula if you get me. So - heeeeeeellllppp!!!! (Ooo and if anyone can recommend lactose free formula brands that would be grand!!)

OP posts:
Pigallina · 06/10/2014 11:22

*have been advised by paediatrician to avoid all dairy as baby is coming out in allergic reactions to anything containing milk, so I'm assuming lactose free is the way to go, which of course I can't find in any of my local supermarkets!

OP posts:
ElphabaTheGreen · 06/10/2014 11:31

Not sure how to help you on accepting bottle or formula sorry (I never used formula and DS1 never used a bottle despite all attempts) but if your DC has a 'dairy intolerance', it's much more likely to mean a cow's milk protein intolerance. If he has no problem with your BM, he's fine with lactose as your BM will be full of it. You're best off asking your GP to prescribe a hydrolysed protein formula (I think that's what it's called). You don't want to use soy formula because it's not particularly ideal nutritionally, but also a high proportion of babies with a dairy intolerance also have a soy intolerance (30-40% I believe).

HTH Smile

Nesswalk · 07/10/2014 07:50

Oh my goodness, I could have written your post, going through exact same. I have been trying for two months to get DD to take a bottle with no luck, now trying cup but again failing miserably.

Hopefully someone will come along with advice.

ElphabaTheGreen · 07/10/2014 08:32

I suppose a failed bottle-attempter may have more suggestions than someone whose baby took one straight away Grin

  1. Leave the house so that the smell of you and your milk isn't an option and leave your DP to it.
  2. Cold turkey - no offer of boob at all until they're desperate enough to take a bottle (never tried that one - thought it was a bit cruel)
  3. Another one I never tried - sugar on the teat and in the feed.
  4. The only thing that was slightly effective for me and that I used from six weeks with DS2 (so far successful) - give the bottle while baby is heavily asleep. They'll take it involuntarily. Do this a few times and they may be happier with it when awake.

Also, try a sippy cup or Doidy cup. Bottles aren't the only alternative to boob.

FWIW, DS1 never took a bottle or cup and I was back in work FT when he was eight months old. Even nursery couldn't get him to take a bottle when they guaranteed me they would. He just had solids and extra yoghurts and EBM in his food to make up the calories. He's still very much alive Smile

5madthings · 07/10/2014 08:43

Why are they saying you can't bfeed? Is it the general anaesthetic? If so that info is wrong. There are a few specialised pages/phone lines fir info on drugs and bmilk but I forget the link, hopefully someone else will remember.

If baby is 6mths and starting solids? You may be able to reduce number of bfeeds, say morning, dinner time and bedtime and give milk in a cup the rest of the time, formula obviously as baby under one.

From 6mths they need minimum 20oz a day but that can include cheese and yog etc. So a couple of bfeeds and some milky foods. Depends hos much of a milk monster baby is?!!

At this age He may never take a bottle so cup etc may be way to go.

Re expressing and amounts kellymom gas good info but prob say 4oz is a feed. Bfed babies typically gave smaller amounts than formula fed babies. But if you can't express then you can't express. Though when away from baby you may get engorged and want to express as going cold turkey you run risk of blocked ducts and mastitis etc.

What about a cup with a straw? Some babies like that.

Or a doidy cup.

Squeakyheart · 07/10/2014 09:04

Hi I was in this situation a few weeks back, DH bought a tommee tippee bottle like this bottle it's the only one DD has taken to!

We also stocked up on yogurts and milky puddings just in case (obviously not dairy ones for your DS) she took these and FF with no problems when I wasn't there.

I also BF within 24 hours as read up on it and there is no real evidence re not doing it and kellysmom has a good list of BF appropriate pain relief. I was in at seven and didn't go to theatre till four so it's also worth discussing with hospital as we could have arranged for DD to come in for feeds during the day which would have helped enormously with the engorgement! I hand expressed as much as I could but if you find a pump helps take it with you!

If baby is on solids and taking fluids like water they should be fine for a day or so leaving you to work on taking formula without the worry of a deadline!

And yes it smells foul!

PeterParkerSays · 07/10/2014 09:32

I know of someone who tried option 2 on Elphaba's list. It took 11 hours to get the baby to take some milk from a bottle.

My DS was a bottle refuser but I wouldn't have gone for that option, poor little mite.

My DS was at nursery at 9 months, and just had water in a cup and yoghurt / milk in his food. I guess the issue will be you being back from hospital but not feeding him for 2 /3 days as he won't understand that.

ilovepowerhoop · 07/10/2014 09:40

bit of a bloody cheek with your first line OP - we did try to help you on your other thread but you never answered any of the questions asked on it Hmm

Lactose free would be pointless as breastmilk is full of it. You need dairy free if looking to avoid cows milk - it will probably need to be prescribed.

Pigallina · 07/10/2014 12:57

Well, I was told I was in the wrong place so quickly posted elsewhere when I actually had a spare 2 minutes rather than answer questions. Unlike now where I may have a full 5 minutes and will try and answer questions!

Yep, been told by the nurse on my booking in appointment that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed for a couple days after. Having wisdom teeth out under general anaesthetic if that makes any difference to drugs used? I'm sure she said something about the painkillers I'd be given afterward aswell but wasn't told what I'd be given. I get tramadol and paracetamol on prescription anyway for something else when I need it, had tramadol after having my c-section and was breastfeeding, so I could just take that after I suppose. I see someone had posted a link in relation to this so I'll try and have a quick look. Will try and phone the number on my hospital letter aswell to see if they can give me anymore info.

Yep, I don't want to be waiting in hospital for hours when baby could be with me until I get taken in, having a less crappy time!
Yes, the main issue is being home, and not being able to feed and having a sad cranky baby :( But I'm also worried for my husband being left all day and possibly overnight for the first time with a sad cranky and potentially hungry baby :( :(

I would happily breastfeed for as long as he wanted but I do think I'm going to go back to work, and would have to put him to a nursery so getting him on formula would be the easiest thing for me, and would mean husband could be a bit more involved aswell! Found dairy free formula by Aptamil on their website but I've never seen it in my local supermarkets and had a quick look on asda and tesco online shops and not on there either!

Food wise he gets solids at breakfast, lunch and dinner, has a feed after breakfast, then in the afternoon he'll have a snack, either a banana/other fruit or a smaller feed, then a small feed after dinner aswell, then bedtime feed where he'll fall asleep. Usually he'll wake once in the night for another feed but teething at the moment so sometimes wakes up more, more for comfort than hunger I think.

This morning managed to express a small amount and wouldn't let him have boob - what a screaming match! No tears mind you, just screaming until he went on the boob! As he snoozed off I tried swapping to the bottle every so often and he instantly woke up and screaming again! Interestingly enough before that when he was in his high hair he did try to suck a couple times before spitting the bottle out, so unscrewed the top and he took a few sips, but it's as if the taste changes to dirt as soon as it goes in a bottle, the faces he makes are hysterical! My husband says as I have such a sweet tooth we probably need to try adding sugar! (He does have a minor tongue tie so don't know if that's influencing reluctance to a rubber teat? but managed to get breastfeeding sorted after a few days so ?? )

As I said, he takes water absolutely fine from his sippy cup, has a tommee tippee one and one you get from your health visitor, and is quite good at grabbing them and putting them to his mouth, but needs a wee hand sometimes to tip it up far enough to get anything out. But again - as soon as milk goes in, doesn't take it.

Not sure what to do, think I'll try a straw to see how that goes! Really feel like cancelling my appointment, but I shouldn't as desperately uncomfortable myself! Aaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!

OP posts:
5madthings · 07/10/2014 13:03

Hcp are often not clued up on bfeeding and medication etc I really would get more info as a general anaesthetic and many pain killers are fine when bfeeding.

But if you want to stop then you may have an unhappy baby for a few days until he geta used to the change, you may not be able to avoid that.

He may be better when you are away and it's just him and Dad for a day or so.

You can return to work and Dad can be involved even without stopping bfeeding, ie cutting down to two feeds a day. Then milk form a cup and solids at other times. Will be much kinder to you and baby to cut down gradually.

TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 07/10/2014 13:04

My BIL/SIL mushed up a bit of banana and put it in with the formula in a sippy cup, on advice from a HV as he would not have it another way. Complete bottle and formula refuser.

lexiferluther · 07/10/2014 14:21

I had my wisdom teeth out under GA when DS1 was about 6 months - I was able to BF as soon as I wanted to after the op. Might be worth double checking that the nurse is correct as it could save a lot of stress!

ToadToast · 07/10/2014 16:04

So no need to suspend bf unless you want to and you can't use ordinary formula.
Gp can prescribe you appropriate milk ( tastes awful you will find it hard possibly to get your baby on it without mixing with ebm).

Probably appropriate to sort out an apt with dietician about weaning and all the other issues.

Maybe call a bf line and go through it all - there are lots of routes through but not easy to predict which will work best ifswim

PterodactylTeaParty · 07/10/2014 16:05

I'm going in for an op under general anaesthetic tomorrow. The nurse at the pre-op assessment initially said no breastfeeding for at least 24 hours, but when I questioned it she phoned the anaesthetist who said it was absolutely fine to feed as soon as I'd come round, and if I'd had a c-section under general they'd be encouraging me to do just that. So it's definitely worth getting a second opinion.

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