Transitioning breast to formula - 12 weeks.

[RWK29]

For various reasons I have decided to transition baby onto formula at 12 weeks old. He has started refusing the breast and needs to be given medication mixed with milk so needs to be bottle fed. My plan is to gradually do this over a week which was suggested by health visitor.

I have some expressed milk in the freezer and am doing what I can to pump to build up supply (I’m on my own with a very clingy baby 😓 expressing/constantly sterilising etc is no joke 😳 hats off to anyone that does that full time 😳 I just don’t have enough hands!)

Confused as to how much I should be giving at each feed!! Formula box says 5x6oz bottles each day got his size (5.4kg). He usually feeds 6-8 times a day depending on what he wants. Plan to do 2 breast:1 formula for 2 days, 1:1 for 2 days then 1:2 for 2 days to do it as gradually as I can for his wee belly 😓

Do I just take that 30oz that’s suggested and split it over the feeds he’d usually have? So for the first 2 days do 10oz formula over two feeds and 20oz breast milk over four feeds? Or does that only count for formula? 😳 completely clueless and can’t get hold of my health visitor 😓

Don't over think it! Just play it by ear. Make up the recommended bottle size and see how much he takes, follow his normal hunger cues and either BF or make up the next bottle.

That's all you have to do. He will let you know how much he wants and when, just like BF. He hasn't read the formula box, so has no idea what he is supposed to have! You may find he prefers little and often (so 3-4oz every couple of hours) over larger feeds spread apart.

I made the switch at 8 weeks with DS. We were both getting frustrated with BF and to be honest, I was just done (I found it much harder to dedicate the time the second time around) so made the switch. My supply was awful so engorgement etc. wasn't a concern for me and I think I did one feed a day for a couple of days before retiring my boobs for good.

It was the very best decision I could have made for both of us, I wasn't fucking knackered all the time and my baby had a full tummy and became the happiest baby in the world!

Best of luck!

@RonMexico thank you!! Yeah this is exhausting! He’s developed bad reflux but the medication makes him extremely constipated so I need to make sure he’s still getting plenty breast milk while he gets used to the new medication 😓 because of the reflux (we think) he has also stopped really asking for feeds 😳 I’m assuming because it was hurting him! So he seems to be content wether I give him 3oz or 6oz 😓 hopefully within a few days the medication will kick in and he’ll be more willing to tell me when he’s hungry 😓

@rwk29 I'm in a similar boat. Reflux here too. I tried to go cold Turkey as per doctor's instructions and just express enough off so my boobs were comfortable every now and then...bad idea because DD was fighting the bottle. So now I'm doing a gradual transition. Reflux here too and waiting for meds to kick in also. Let us know how you get on xxx

@Gigi10 ohhh that sounds like a nightmare with her fighting the bottle! DS has been absolutely fine with the bottle thankfully and was fine with his first formula bottles 😅 just need to gradually switch over. What medication has your DD been put on? I’m just trying gaviscon to start with but have had to lower the dose as it made him so constipated 😔

I'd drop a feed every 3 days to give your breasts time to adjust or you risk giving yourself mastitis.

Breastfed babies are used to small feeds - mine never took more than 3-4 oz formula at a time.

So day 1, offer 3-4oz formula for the first feed of the day and bf otherwise, day 4 formula at bedtime too, day 7 night time feed, day 10 third feed of the day and so on.

You'll probably end up feeding approx 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 11pm at that age. If you start offering smaller amounts you can just up them if he drains the bottle.

@StacySoloman unfortunately he is refusing the boob and I’m having to mix medication with his milk (he won’t take it from a syringe) so I’m having to express all day and night to get enough milk for his feeds 😴 going to have to run the risk of mastitis because there’s no way I can keep up this routine for long 😳😴 I know my limits and I’m definitely pushing them!
He usually feeds 6-7 times per day so I’ve started with 2 formula for a couple of days and the rest breast milk 🤞🏼