From breastfeeding to formula

[tayla968]

Hi, I'm a FTM and I'm struggling to BF my 6 week old DS. We have introduced formula so I can catch up on sleep when my DH gets beck from work. But am looking to moving forward with just the formula and no longer BF.

Looking for advice on how to do so.

Do I slowly cut back on BF? Do I just express and give baby bottles?

Thank you

Drop one feed every few days. Do it slowly or you will risk issues for you like blocked ducts and mastitis. Get a perfect prep machine.

If you don’t mind talking about it can I ask why you want to stop bf? Week 6 is the worst and in my experience it gets better after then. I stopped bf DD1 at 6 weeks so no judgement at all.

I think you could cut a feed out slowly and then hand express if you felt uncomfortable . I would only have to take my bra off and the milk would come out 🤣 I agree with pp, week 6 is the toughest!

I'm just struggling with BF I think everything that could go wrong is. No one told me about the issues I could/would come across with BF. I've had mastitis a few times already, I get constant pins and needles and an almost burning sensation in my nipples every so often. I can't get him to latch on properly so it hurts every feed.

Don't get me wrong he's gaining weight amazingly so I know he is feeding well. I love the time I get with him but I just don't think I can cope with it any more.
Don't want it to seem like I'm failing by giving up though so in two minds still just looking for advice.

Hi,

Just wanted to add and say you would not be anything near a failure for switching. Breastfeeding is so much harder than anyone can prepare you for and you have done amazingly to get to 6 weeks!

I bf my first until 12 wks when gradually introduced bottle and phased the breast out over next couple of months.
I now have 6 wo who I stopped bf at 4 weeks for a number of reasons but mainly because I don’t think I was /am in the right place mentally. I pretty much just stopped all together and pumped once a day and then just hand expressed in shower but I would take the advice of the others and phase it out if you can. That way you can combo feed for a while? I don’t know if it’s a change in hormones but I still feel bad about it 2 weeks later.
Good luck on your journey x

Bless you, the burning sensation doesn't sound right- when I was having it i got treated for thrush with a cream for breast and nystatin for baby as it turned out baby had oral thrush and had passed it on to me!

@user1472205009 thank you for saying that. It's been really difficult, especially in this lockdown at the moment. Definitely no one explained how difficult it was going to be. We introduced formula about two weeks ago as I was struggling to keep up with his feeds on my own and couldn't get milk expressed as my DS would want feeding again or to latch for comfort.
It's definitely been a lot easier on me. But even more so now my anxiety is through the roof to potentially breastfeed in public as I've been doing it for so long at home I just sit there and don't have to worry about hiding or anything. But thank you again 🙂

@tayla968

One thing I have learnt is- you just do what works for you as a family and keeps you all happy and healthy.
It’s definitely harder in lockdown not having the usual routine of visitors and/or being able to go out and about to groups, meet friends etc. I know some have found this beneficial to breastfeeding but I also think it means you focus more on anything that may not be going quite right and can make you feel a bit trapped.
Is it your first? Such a lovely time ❤️❤️❤️ Just remember, there will always be something new to experience with a newborn and I was always told “this too shall pass” everything is so temporary within the first year especially, good and bad- it all goes so quickly. Doesn’t feel it at the time I know 😅

Hi me again. Do I need to get my baby used to no more breastfeeding. Or can I just give him formula but still express to avoid issues? And possibly freeze or still use on occasion my expressed breast milk?

If that makes sense?...

I am probably one of the most empassioned breastfeeding enthusiasts you could meet, but I'm fairly confident that if DC2 had been born in lockdown, and I couldn't have had the face to face support that I got, then he'd have been on formula by 3 weeks. It was unexpectedly hard and excruciatingly painful. Like you, I had pretty much everything go wrong that could go wrong. So my heart absolutely goes out to you.

You can use your expressed milk as and when you want. Every drop they get is good for them so it's fine to use it for the occasional bottle if that works for you. You can keep expressing long term, or gradually slow and stop, or if you drop feeds gradually then there's no need to express.

@flowershowerhalfanhour thank you. Honestly this is so helpful. As atm I'm not in communication with my mam who I would have gone to for support due to family issues right now.

When it comes to formula.... do we have to boil water every time? Or can we boil water and then store it in the fridge in sterilised bottles ready to add the formula when needed?

Thank you all again 🙂 I hope everyone's doing well during this horrible time

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/making-up-infant-formula/

I've no experience so I'm not the best person to give formula advice but this is the NHS info. I feel like I've maybe read that you're only to use boiling water with the formula powder for a particular reason....? I'm sure others who know their stuff will be along soon!

That's a real shame about your mam - I can't imagine doing the first few weeks of parenthood without support; it's so overwhelming. Other than feeding, how are things going for you guys?

@flowershowerhalfanhour honestly it's overwhelming how much you can love something so small... well my DS was small he's now 9lbs and 24inches long. And changing everyday. As soon as we get the feeding situation sorted I think we're going to be set. But at the moment me and my DH are doing great and loving every second we have with him 💙

Op I have FF and BF. With the formula I used to make up the bottle ahead of time and keep it in the fridge where it lasts up to 24 hours if unused. I'd warm it up and use it. It needs boiling water initially to kill any bugs in the powder so that's why it's not recommended to just use cooled boiled water. Lots of people also add a little boiling water to the powder to kill bugs then make the rest up with cool boiled water to get the perfect temp instantly.
Also it's really surprising how little breast milk babies need to get lots of the benefits so if you feel like expressing a bottle a day that's still really good for baby. I do freeze my milk sometimes too, it lasts a long time so good backup.