help how do I stop BF at 3 weeks

[lal07]

DD born 3 weeks ago. Really great birth, she's adorable and was keen to try BF again as I know health benefits and closeness it brings. I EBF DS until he was 11 months but when he was tiny I suffered from terrible mastitis - hospitalised 4 times - last time rushed in emergency ambulance because fever was so bad. Today I have all symptoms and am getting antibiotics from doctor (have tried homepathic remedies and everything else). I can't do this again - I was v sick through this pregnancy (hyperemesis) and don't think I can put me, DH and DS through more illness.

So tbh have no issues with stopping - I know it's the right thing for me - but have no idea how to (DS self-weaned). Do I just go straight for bottles and do cold turkey? Or replace each feed? How do I know how much to give her? When DS started having formula he was eating solids and v predictable with feeding.

Err...help!

Hi lal, sorry you're having a rough time. I know how hard it is to make that decision to move from bf to ff as I've had to do it with both my ds's.

Basically I just went cold turkey & gave ds a bottle. We started with 3ozs every 3hrs and then as they start to drain the bottles and want feeding earlier you can increase the amount.

I still need to express though and to start with had to do it twice a day though its down to once now. I did give ds what I expressed if there was enough.

hth

thanks v much rosmerta sounds like a good plan. will start with 3oz. have sent dh to get bottles...

I don't know as I haven't done this but would it better for you to replace one feed at a time so that your milk supply slows down gradually. I understand it can be painful to just stop.

I think that as far as your DS is concerned you can just literally swicth him from breast to bottles all in 1 go...and TBH at 3weeks that might be best for you as he may quickly reject teh breast as he realises the relative ease of a bottle anyway.

But for you - you need to decrease gradually - especially if you suspect mastitis. You can deal with this by expressing rather than direct feeding. You will need to decrease the amount you express daily to reduce your supply and I would do this over at least a week. You can do this by reducing the volume you express each time - OR by reducing the number of times you express. either should work.

thanks v much - you're right pinkspottywellies was worried it would be painful. will try just switching donotsantlers and then express.

such sensible advice (couldn't get a straight answer from MW as think she thought i should persevere). mnet is great - have a lovely christmas

Lal - just a message of support to say that you do what you need to do for your family, either way. I have had mastitis (but not to the degree you have) so understand how painful it can be in a normal case. No practical advice. I did stop cold turkey with DS - but it doesn't sound a good idea with imminent mastitis.

Take care and I hope you get better soon.