Switch from breastfeeding to formula

[FrostyBear1]

My 15 week old has been unsettled and had poor weight gain the last 7 weeks and dropped from between 75th/50th centile to just below the 25th. I initially stated offering formula to top up after breastfeeds, but the last couple of days he has rejected the breast in the day so moved to formula feeds in the day, which he takes really well. He seems to be more content and weight gain better

Anyone else feel a bit sad when they stop breastfeeding? I know i need to do what’s best for him but I feel quite sad. My partner also keeps saying how the most content he has seen our baby is on formula and it just makes me really upset and I get angry at him. I feel a bit of a mess

I understand why you might feel concerned. But honestly you’ve given your baby a great start already. So if you decide to switch to formula now just go ahead without any regrets.

It sounds like your baby may do better and your partner can help more.

It’s really normal to feel sad about stopping breastfeeding. If it’s earlier than you’d originally planned to stop you might be feeling some breastfeeding grief. There’s also a hormone drop when you stop which can make you feel sad.
Prof Amy Brown is a good person to follow on social media as she has lots of posts about stopping / breastfeeding grief.
If you’re not ready to stop you could try finding an ibclc to support you in continuing as it may be possible to improve weight gain whilst still breastfeeding. If you are ready to stop make sure do it carefully so you don’t get mastitis.

It sounds like your partner means well but has been a bit thoughtless about what he’s said and I can see why you’re upset about it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I felt really stuck: HV was v concerned DC was losing weight but I was worried about not bfing. My mother gave me a bit of a shake about it all and so I swapped to formula. Totally changed everything for us. I did try and persevere with one feed a day but DC hated it and would rather starve, so that stopped too. I felt sad about it for a long time, but that was more to do with a MH issue than anything else I think. Definitely the best thing for mine.

If you're feeling sad, it sounds like you are not ready to stop. But you don't have to! Lots of women successfully combi-feed. Could this be an on-going option for you?

There’s nothing that you’re doing wrong.. formula is just harder to digest so stays in the stomach longer that’s not a ‘your boobs problem’ it’s a ‘formula problem’ and it’s not even a problem because sleep can sometimes be more predictable then.

There is definitely something carnal about BFing I enjoy it too but if your baby needs a little extra then that’s just fine. There already so much to worry about and what age they started dairy is not one of them!

Do you want to carry on? If you want to, and because you're baby is young, you could ditch the bottles and continue to fully breastfeed. It would take a whiny day or two for your boobs to catch up, but they will. If you want to do both have you tried a cup? It's easier for babies to get milk from a bottle than a breast so it's less confusing if the 'extra' comes from a different source. Or just switch to a bottle if that's what you want to do. You need to make the decision (not DH) and be happy with it. Good luck!