Have changed from exclusively BF to Mixed Feeding, need some answers..!

[bluebell82]

Hi, I have changed from exclusively Breast feeding my LO who is 4 months to mixed feeding. I am using Aptamil and she seems to like it and will take a bottle after a little coaxing but I just need a little advice...

I was feeding every 3 hours which equated to 5 feeds a day of breast milk and then LO would sleep through the night.

I am feeding her breast in the morning and the evening feed but she is having three bottles a day. The guidelines on the box say that she should be taking 7oz but generally she will take 4oz and that is it, she doesn't seem to want anymore and if I force it on her she cries, she has on occassion taken 6oz and she did cry for more on this occassion so I gave her a 7oz bottle on her next feed which she only took 3oz of .. is this just her displaying dissatifaction about not having the breast?

I just felt it was time to give up breast feeding, I was feeling really tired and plus lo was struggling to put weight on. She doesn't seem hungry enough for solids and I don't really want to move her onto them until she is 6 months.

She isn't making any cues for food, she just doesn't seem overly hungry, I feed her every 3-4hrs as I have witnessed her being over hungry and it is a massive struggle to get her to feed because she gets very upset, I ust feel like I am battling her with the bottle... will this pass?

I have tried different teats and bottles and she is prefering the wide neck bottles, just need a little reassurance because I am feeling a bit deflated and I have started questioning whether I should revert back to fully bf, although it is nearly ten days since I introduced the bottle and I have stopped filling up, can someone offer me some advice as I dread every feed and I used love bf her?

Hello

I'm no expert but thought I could tell you about my experience which is quite similar. I recently changed from bf to ff and dd has been fully ff for 3 wks now. I had some of the same issues as you

I gave her 3x 7oz bottles during day and morning and evening bf, my dd also slept through (and still does on formula). Don't worry if she doesn't take it all - after all you don't know how much milk she got when she was bf! My dd fussed a bit with the bottle but eventually got used to it and now she is absolutely fine with it.

It's normal to feel guilty about giving up bf but if you have made the decision in good faith I would say stick with it. I gave up because I was ill all the time, losing weight etc and it was getting me down and now I feel so much better.

Good Luck

Bluebell my lo is also mixed feeding, he is also 4months and has been having 2 bottles a day for the last month. He will easily have 7/8oz and while your lo is fussing with bottles my lo is fussing a bit at the breast, and i think he is snacking on me more than getting full up! keep trying with the bottle, have you tried expressing some and putting it in a bottle? It might make the transition easier.

I hope you get there xx