how to get a baby to take a bottle? And dry up supply!

[Bottleplease]

I’m so overwhelmed I could cry, I don’t want to be judged I just want to stop breastfeeding - I NEED to stop!

I feel I’ve tried everything but please if you can help, I can feel myself getting depressed. DS is 7 months.

Any advise on how to get him to take a bottle? Tried many brands, tried DH sitting in a room with him and just giving him bottles - he screamed for 2 hours then made himself sick and fell asleep, was then up 10 mins later and again screamed for 2 hours and repeat.

I’m going to work, he needs to take bottles but also I need to dry up my supply. I have huge oversupply - my breasts leak like a tap just turned on after an hour or two not feeding. I can’t pump at work - I don’t want to leak through everything like I have been, I’ve been basically house bound for the best part of a year.

I know I sound irrational but I want my supply dried up. I don’t want to leak.

Someone must have an answer??

I feel your pain.

Can you try from a sippy cup rather than a bottle? Some babies just completely skip bottles.

Our ds was the same and was still waking for a night feed, we used that feed as the one to give him a bottle. He was sleepy and so didn’t put up much of a fight, worth a try?

Otherwise have you tried using different bottles? Eg buying a few different types?

I was also advised to leave the house when dh was trying him with a bottle, so ds could not smell me, again worth a try?

He will accept eventually, just keep preserving

I gave my son water in a bottle on day one. He just played with it but it got him fumiliar. On day 2 he drank an ounce or so from it so I made a big deal of this. Day 3 I put expressed milk in it, he looked bloody horrified. Put formula in the bottle, let him have a play, he then drank an ounce or so. Again made a big deal of this, then popped him in his bouncy chair and held the bottle for him and he drank loads. I had to do it really quickly because id found a new job and started in a week!! He was 6.5 months. Breastfed him every now and then until 8.5 months but he chose the bottle over me and we stopped naturally!

I completely understand how you're feeling. I've just given up breastfeeding for the sake of my mental health. I had mastitis, an abscess, latch problems etc. and it really took its toll.

It's risky but you could do what I did and give up cold turkey. The risks here are that you could get mastitis and other issues related to blocked milk ducts. It's generally not advised for this reason, but touch wood I have been ok since giving up 10 days ago.

My GP supported me giving up cold turkey and told me to wear a firm bra and express a little bit when my boobs were engorged. I'm wearing my sports bras morning, noon and night and expressing just for 5 mins when I need to. I'm also taking Sudafed for a cold which I think has the double whammy of containing an ingredient which reduces milk supply.

I looked into other ways to dry up and read that drinking sage tea and putting cabbage leaves in your bra can help, but I haven't tried these.