Anyone switich from BF to formula completely around the 3/4 mth old mark?

[Martha200]

I need to make a decision because I can't take my indeciveness anymore!

Since ds2 born in Jan, I have used BF lines and been to BF support groups but I still don't feel like I have cracked Bfeeding.. I probably need to see the Dr about antidepressents, but I am now at the point I will cry if out when feeding (which is embarrassing and difficult trying to keep the tears in).. once latched it's ok after some seconds, but the cracked nipple and majority of time am feeling in pain or uncomfortable I am finding is really getting me down again.. yes it has got easier than say at 6wks etc but I am just finding it hard at times. I don't have a problem feeding in public, it's just the feeling of uncomfortableness.. DS2 does feed well and gaining weight well, but my head is all over the place with it and I feel guilty considering how much I wanted to BF this time around and since I can BF I should continue.

For anyone who did switch did you reduce one feed at a time or go cold turkey expressing.. (I am like a yo yo, a few weeks ago I talked about giving up, but it never happened.)

Actually that probably makes little sense.. when feeding it's ok but in between times can be a problem, though generally not at night, which I find bit odd! Most painful when baby cries for food, so I have tried to offer him breast before he cries to see if that would ease pain.

Sorry, I haven't made the switch so not really in a position to advise. But you sound like you're at the end of your tether, so here's a big hug (((martha200))) and a bump for you.

I did it at 2 months and sounds like similar circumstances to you. Tried to access various forms of support but found them wanting, never really cracked it and it continued to be very painful. So in order to have a happier time I switched and it worked for me. Sorry for the round the houses-ness of this, but have been berated on another thread about formula, which is perhaps why you've not had many responses yet for fear of attracting fire-breathers. However, I really feel for you.

So, I dropped the out of home feeds first. I had also been topping up with formula, rightly or wrongly on advice of MW/Paed + HVs from early on. Went to 50/50. After a week or so, I was just down to morning and late-night feeds and dropped these after another week. Someone else I know did the Cold turkey method - she said it hurt for about a week, and expressed when it was too much. Wouldn't fancy that much myself.

Anyway, hope that's helpful and I hope some other useful, sympathetic posters come along too. You have to make your own decision on this and do what's best for you.

I did it at this time with my son and I gave him alternate feeds to start with. Two bf one formula for 3 days then increased to every other for the next three days then just gradually replaced the bf with formula until he was just on formula.

He was a snacky baby and never drank more than 5 and a half ounces.

I hope this helps you and big hugs as the pain you have been in and have not given up already amazes me. x

Sorry but I can't really remember engorgement at all so I don't think it was that painful (or maybe that's just my rose tinted glasses). Good advice from KMUN, you do have to make your own decision as only you know what is right for you and your baby.

can you try gradually introducing formula feeds so you are mix feeding. Sometimes one or two bottles doesnt really interfere with breastfeeding and helps you carry on for a bit longer

I STOPED WITH ds1 AT 3 MONTHS AND DS2 at 5 months...also mixed fed ds2 for a bit too. I would say that personally i find bottle feeding easier but thats not a v popular view. You could do a bit of both if you are at the end of your tether.

You have given your baby a great start already by bf for 3 months!!

do what is best for you not what you think you should or shouldnt do because of pee/social pressure.

Both mine were fine with the switch.

Hi - I feel appalled that people are being berated for switching from breastfeeding to bottlefeeding, especially if, as you describe, you are not feeling happy with it. Also you have done very well by getting to where you have.

Anyway I have just stopped breastfeeding my 4 month old. I started by giving her one bottle of formula a night from 12 weeks; then when she got to approx 16 weeks I started dropping a feed a week. I have had a couple of nights of engorgement but nothing I couldn't cope with. I did more or less the same with dd1 and didn't have any problems.

Incidentally, my baby has started sleeping much better since I switched and generally seems a lot happier altogether. I am really glad I breastfed for as long as I did and feel guilty all the time about giving up (I have reasons why) but it is making my life easier.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

i bf for a lot longer (not trying to be smug) and gave up cold turkey and it was agony even though dd was weaned by then so in theory not taking much milk, i really wouldnt recommend it especially as i would expect you to have much more milk. If you do decide it is for you get prepared, have cabbage in the fridge and those hot/cold compress things set up ready.

Am assuming you have tried lasinoh cream for the cracked nipples?
The other pain sounds like let down pain but i am no expert so couldnt advise, sorry.

Thank you for your responses.. I had thought going cold turkey might make it emotionally easier on myself, though mixed feeding for a bit would keep the BF going a bit longer.

I don't feel berated here, but I am not looking fwd to having to explain myself to people I see everyday/family etc. DH tells me I should not not be bothered by what other people think, and it's none of their business.. but I feel so guilty about thinking about stopping (a) I can BF, this makes me incredibly selfish (b) I am also really gutted as I wanted to be a donor to a milk bank, but the local one doesn't have one and the next closest one, who used to take donations don't anymore due to a lack of having someone to collect it from my area
On top of this pain, yes it might be thrush I suppose?? I also have dreadful back ache which came from after co sleeping and DS2 went back into his own basket I went through nights of waking up in agony because I had not moved (body over cautious I think!!)
I feel so all over the place physically and mentally which is why I think I should just make a decision and stick to it!

I have decided to go along to BF support group this week (which I have been doing religiously anyway)and mention my problems again.. (last time the usual bf counsellor wasn't there) I'm also booking myself into the Drs for an appt so want to check which ads maybe suitable beforehand

Today I am feeding off my right side and then feeding some EBM, expressing off the left because I am a coward with the pain that side and it's like holding a baby shark in my arms again

I think part of my problem may be that I have a good supply going at the moment, and the let down has always been pretty intense, but I'll give it another shot at trying to fix my problems.. it just makes me cry everytime I think about it.. sigh! (lost count of the times I go blubbing into bf support group

Am also keeping a BF diary to take with me, which might help with figuring out things..

Martha, hugs to you. My BFing relationship with DD didn't really come good until around 16 weeks so I know just how miserable it can be. You've had some good advice here about cutting down gradually, but I sense that you aren't really happy about the decision to stop.

Has your baby been checked for tongue-tie as this can cause latching problems which could be a cause of the cracked nipples. Posisioning is quite important in this as well, so try going back to basics when latching on.

re thrush, I had recurrent thrush until well into my six month and it took three doses of fluconazole tablets, combined with drops for DD and cream for my nipples to finally clear it up. the pain usually started about 10 minutes into a feed and was a dull ache into my armpit, which intensified towards the end of the feed with intermittent shooting pains on top if the dull ache for about half an hour afterwards. If the BF counsellor thinks it is thrush, print off and take The Breastfeeding Network leaflet with you as GPs aren't really clued about ductal thrush. They don't like prescribing it as it isn't licensed for BFing and it's their own responsibility for doing it, but research shows that the amount that gets through in BM is less than that alloowed to be prescribed orally for an infant anyway. Anyway, I can waffle on about it forever .

I also had pretty intense let down pain, which continued until very recently (DD is 10 mo now). If you think oversupply is an issue, feeding on one side for two consecutive feeds will help to lessen your supply and things might feel better. Your BF counsellor will advise on this.

I hope that helps and that you feel better about this and other things soon

And if you do decide to stop, you have given your baby the very best start in life and you should be pleased that you have amnaged for this long in spite of some pretty demoralising problems.

Martha, just to add a postscript, two days on from stopping breastfeeding I seem to have developed a blocked milk duct. And this after being really careful and dropping a feed a week. Blah! So if/when you do decide to stop, keep an eye out!

Btw, my comment to people being berated was in reference to the comment by KMUN - sorry for any confusion!