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Original poster

Made a mistake changing for breast to bottle

15 replies

Heartburn888 · 02/01/2020 22:33

I wrote the other day asking for tips and advice on how I can change my baby to bottles other than breast feeding, he is having maybe 3/4 bottles a day and the rest of his feeds (mainly night time) are breast.

He’s had constipation for the second day running now, hardly pooing he has had 2 poos maybe 3 if you can count a tiny bit this morning since I Started introducing bottles maybe 3 days ago. He’s screamed the house down tonight and last night and I just feel so terrible I’ve made him in pain like this.

I have thought maybe he is too young to go through the change from breast to bottle as he is nearly 4 weeks old and I feel terrible like I’m a lazy mum for changing him so soon. Should I preserve with it or go back to ebf while my milk supply is still in force?

Please be kind in so upset and upset for my son as the pain must be terrible, he was screaming so much I actually thought he had Been hurt 😢

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Goodgollymiss · 02/01/2020 22:36

Why do you want him in bottles op? You have got to do what is right for you and your baby? Was he happy on breast? Are you ok?

Tiddlertoddler · 02/01/2020 22:43

I had the same issues changing from breast to bottle but it turned out that particular formula just didn't agree with our baby, we had to try a few but once we sussed out one that worked, it was fantastic, baby was instantly more settled and slept longer periods and we were all much happier :) is it formula you are using or is it expressed breast milk in the bottle?

Bluerussian · 02/01/2020 22:48

Having two poos, maybe three, in a couple of days is quite normal surely? Mine generally never did more than one a day and wasn't constipated.

It's possible the formula you are giving your baby doesn't suit - try a different one.

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Useful22 · 02/01/2020 22:52

Ours screamed so much we tried for a month and went back to just breastmilk. Didnt matter which formula his little tummy couldn't take it. Then we started again at 6 months and did it gradually and he was fine.

Original poster

Heartburn888 · 02/01/2020 23:00

I was struggling to feed him breast all the time, I felt like I couldn’t put him down at time’s as he just wanted to feed feed feed which I understand is normal, my breasts were getting so sore and he usually drifted off the sleep after a nice warm bottle of formula and slept for longer than what he did with a tummy full of breast.

With the nappies he was pooing a couple of time’s a day and pooping (passing wind) quite a lot and now he isn’t pooping as much. I am a first time mum so it’s another pressure on making the right decision when I don’t really know what to expect. I do keep in contact with my health visitor and my family and friends who have assured me I need to do what’s best for me and baby but seeing him so upset really has knocked me for six 😖 he’s asleep peacefully in my arms now after some nice breast milk but I’m considering going back to breast milk full stop and see if he will go back to his normal poo routine.

I have read the sma comfort milk is good for unsettled babies. I currently have him on Aldi’s milk

OP posts:

modgepodge · 03/01/2020 08:48

I think around this time babies do naturally reduce the amount of poos they do, mine sure did. When she was a newborn it was like “one in, one out”, and every feed was followed by a dirty nappy. Then after a few weeks she suddenly went about a week without pooing. Then it settled to 1-2 times per day. So it may be unrelated to the change to formula. I believe constipation in babies actually presents as very hard poos rather than just not pooing often, so if his poo is still runny it’s not that. Unfortunately babies do scream for no reason at times, this peaks around 6-8 weeks I think, again, may be unrelated to what milk he’s having,p. Have you got a HV you can call for advice?

Original poster

Heartburn888 · 03/01/2020 09:00

I rang her yesterday and she assured me it was normal for his tummy to be reacting and that he probably had belly ache as his belly was tight like a drum. After I posted last night he did a poo and when I opened his nappy he was still pushing and it looked like he was pushing really hard for the tiniest bit to come out (it is still a wet poo) and he’s had one this morning too but I haven’t given him anymore bottles just breast. I just don’t like him being in pain due to the transition and I do think I may have tried to switch him too soon as he is only a couple of weeks old I don’t think his tummy can take it just yet so I’m going to go back to breast and slowly introduce bottles because when I did it first time I have him a few bottles for his first day and not just one and slowly increase it so no wonder his tummy is sore

OP posts:

TriangleBingoBongo · 03/01/2020 09:03

Can you express when he bottles feeds to keep your supply up and bottle feed with breast milk and not formula. I introduced a bottle at 2 weeks, but it was breast milk and not formula. So I got the break I craved. If you want to continue as you are, baby will surely get used to formula. It just takes time.

Tiddlertoddler · 03/01/2020 09:28

I wouldn't say it's anything to do with him being too young as formula is suitable from birth, it is probably just a case of not having found the right milk that suits your baby yet. Lots of babies have formula straight from birth and their stomachs can digest it. As a previous poster said, if you aren't comfortable then try bottle feeding with breast milk for a break. If he is still managing to go to the toilet but just has a tight stomach is it more trapped wind rather than constipation? If so maybe try some gripe water or Infacol. I found both helped.

Stripeyshirts2450 · 03/01/2020 09:55

Did you check if he had a tongue tie? Also a dummy for when he just feeds for comfort? If you'd prefer breastfeeding then it's a lot easier once you have the hang of it! But it has to feel right for you.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 03/01/2020 10:01

The most likely explanation is that you introduced the formila a bit too quickly. Breast feed to most of the time and just give one bottle a day for now. This will keep your options only. He may settle in to mostly breast which would be nice, but you then could introduce a second bottle if you want to. Bottle fed stool is much firmer and he is likely to go with more effort and not quite so often. The formulas to avoid are hungry baby formula which are harder to digest

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 03/01/2020 10:02

I wouldnt recommend gripe water or infacol

codenameduchess · 03/01/2020 10:02

As OPs have said that frequency is pretty normal, and it's likely just the formula doesn't agree with him. I had similar with my dd, aptamil didn't agree with her so we switched to HIPP and had no problems. She did only poop once a week for a long time though and that was completely normal too.

FartnissEverbeans · 03/01/2020 19:47

My DS was a bit constipated. We switched him to comfort milk and it made a massive difference straight away. He stayed on that til he was a year old.

ChiaraRimini · 03/01/2020 20:01

He is still really tiny OP. It's totally normal for babies at this age to cluster feed for ages on the boob especially in the evening.
Introducing bottles may not make any difference at all. Except that you end up faffing with bottles which is a Pita.
Breast fed babies can poo anything from several times a day to only once every few days.
Are you getting any breastfeeding support at all, the HV May be able to recommend any local support groups.
EBF gets so much easier as the baby gets older, it is worth sticking with it IME

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