Hello! I'm new here!
I've come here in hope someone may be able to help and advise me on my current situation.
Background, skip if you wish -**
My little girl is 3 and a half months old and has been exclusively breastfed since the beginning - I've found it extremely difficult as she's had colic & reflux and is a very unsettled baby. I only have two friends who are Mums and one is so supportive but the other (who did and still is breastfeeding) makes me feel terrible. I've got to a point now after nearly 15 weeks where breastfeeding just isn't manageable. My little girl never - and I really am not exaggerating that - settles. I've been trying so hard to persevere with a nap routine (loosely speaking, I just would like her to have at least 2-3 naps a day for an hour or so a time) and a nighttime routine (bath, feed, bed around 8pm). Currently, my attempts are failing. Her day time naps are cat naps for 10-15 minutes, maybe 4 times a day. Trust me I've tried it all - dark room, white noise, swaddling, rocking, in the cot, laying across my arms on her front, sh'ing, stroking her face - she won't have it. She only falls asleep when feeding.
She's attached to me 24/7, I can't pump because I can't put her down without her screaming. She's in the baby bjorn all the time, my back is in pieces (and yes, making a rod for my own back, etc etc - but honestly, she doesn't stop crying). When I have managed to pump, I really can't get a lot (making me think I have a low milk supply and maybe this is where the issues lie).
I am going back to work at 7 months (WFH) and my Mum's just been diagnosed with a brain tumour so I'm basically a carer now too and constantly anxious over her. When WFH, I'll also need to look after my daughter (my work are very flexible but I'm under no illusion this will be so so difficult). I don't get much support from my partner at all (no point saying speak to him, it's in one ear and out the other).
Help please?
I can't breastfeed any longer. She takes a bottle fine as in the very very early days I did express when going out and since, I give her the occasional ready made Aptamil bottles. I've bought some Aptamil comfort formula and begun tonight. I wanted to know peoples experiences and advice with this transition. Do I go cold turkey and just remove the boob (baring in mind she suckles as comfort and uses my boob to get to sleep - which I would like to stop)? Do I do a bit of both for a while? Do I try and pump if I can when she's taken formula and mix it in? And how do I get her to stop using my boob as comfort?
I'd really really appreciate any help, experiences people have had and suggestions! Thanks in advance 🤍