Horrendous week! I give up. Please help.

[Ree101]

It breaks my heart but I need to give up breastfeeding, and I need to know how to do it safely please?

My little boy is 7 weeks old and exclusively breastfed. All was well until I got mastitis which turned into a huge abscess. It was misdiagnosed by a GP who robbed me off with more antibiotics. I ended up in A&E and had it drained, but continue to need hospital treatment.

All the antibiotics have, I think, given me thrush in the other breast as when my son feeds from it I'm in agony. I cried all through the last feed.

I'd like to try feeding him a combination of breast and formula milk. He's 7 weeks old and weighs 10 lbs 14 oz. How much milk does he need per day? Ideally I'd like to express some or most of what he needs and top up with formula as needed, does this sound feasible?

I'm at my wits' end and would truly appreciate any guidance.

If you have recently had mastitis might not be the best time to reduce it stop feeds. Baby fully draining the breast is key to reducing blocked ducts and mastitis. Have you both been treated for thrush?

If you are really keen to stop for bottles just go with responsive feeding. Google paced bottle feeding. Remember to pump a little for comfort but not enough to drain the breast.

If you want to combi feed just pump when you can, morning is best and try a hakaa pump to collect let down.

You are still quite early in the feeding journey and it does get easier as they get older but don't feel bad if you need to stop.

Poor you, that sounds really awful. If you suspect thrush do see the GP as it gets passed back and forth between you and the baby so is a bit of a bugger to treat I think.

Your HV should be able to advise on how much formula to give based on your baby's age. The main thing is to phase out breastfeeding gradually if you can, so as to avoid a sudden shock to your system that could cause more mastitis. Maybe introduce one bottle a day and then increase it from there?

You poor thing. No advise, just sending you positive vibes!

Keep expressing and feeding on the boob with mastitis and if possible massage any plugged ducts down towards nipple.

Get cannestan cream (the standard kind for lady bits) and slather on other nipple every time you need to, baby can feed with that on. Then get gp to see if you're allowed the oral tablet. But cannestan really works so don't be dis heartened if you can't.

Go slow with pumping as it can really hurt so if you get 2/3oz without pain then great. Massage as you pump if bearable.

Finally, formula is FABULOUS, try him on a 5oz/150ml bottle to start with.

There is some calculation online about weight x number of feeds which I will find for you in a mo.

Big kiss, it's fucking hard.

Get the little pre-made bottle of stage 1 formula so that it's easy. The try him on 4-5oz and if he only takes 2-3oz then that's fine. Don't start faffing with piercer and mixing just yet, easy life is what you're after!

Here is the chart I referred to:

Don't start Faffing with mixing and powder formula is what I meant!

Kelly Mom is a great website about 'exclusive pumping' btw. That's what I do with mine and supplement with formula top ups if needed as my baby won't latch. Also the exclusive pumping mamas group on Facebook is hugely helpful.

It's so hard when they are that tiny and gets a whole lot easier, right now I feel for you what a struggle and you've kept it up and got the most important weeks covered so from now all it's just all bonus and don't feel awful if you've got to stop like pp have said formula is wonderful stuff and those ready made bottles are a god sent for when you're out and about (although I've been using them inside too )

Nipple shields?

Thrush medicine for the baby and yourself so you don't keep passing t back and forth! Dummy?

Helps give the baby a bit of comfort off your sore nipple and shouldn't get nipple confusion now with that or a bottle he's seven weeks.

Haaka and similar are so easy to use and so easy to clean and can get a good stash of milk for when you need a break.

Whatever you decide it'll all be all ok