I want to quit breastfeeding after 6 weeks

[chlob27]

My little girl is nearly 7 weeks old, she came early at 36+2 so corrected age 3 weeks. I've been breastfeeding since the beginning, my husband gives her one formula feed in the evening so I can get some sleep. I've got oversupply and a very strong letdown reflex, and I've been told baby girl is taking in too much foremilk because she is very gassy and uncomfortable, explosive runny poos (occasionally greenish). She hasn't had a seedy poo for a few weeks. I've spoken to a lactation consultant, and I've tried everything - block feeding, massaging the breast, hand expressing before a feed, feeding more often, wearing her in a sling, skin to skin, keeping her upright after a feed, and she still wakes up after half an hour in pain and with more wind. I'm feeling so stressed and upset that it's my milk that's making her feel this way and it's not getting better it's getting worse. I was told to feed her every 1-1.5 hours all day but how am I supposed to get any sleep? Anyway I was thinking I need to prioritise my mental health more because it's really getting me down and I don't want that to affect her. Has anyone switched to formula feeding at this stage? What were your experiences? Was your baby uncomfortable when breastfeeding but improved when switching to formula? I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to stop breastfeeding but he wasn't keen for me to stop. I'm feeling hopeless and it really triggers me listening to baby girl feel so uncomfortable soon after we've put her down that I'm so wired I cannot get any sleep. 

‘Foremilk and hindmilk’ is a largely outdated concept. Gassy-ness and explosive poo can be completely normal as the newborn’s gut regulates, but equally it can be a sign of something else, like an allergy. If it’s specifically on lying flat there might also be an element of reflux. I have to say, I was prepared to give up breastfeeding between 5-9 weeks as my DS was SO unsettled, but then it got better and by 12 weeks breastfeeding was quite easy. It’s a notorious time for unsettled behaviour.

Who told you to feed every 1-1.5h? Is there issues with her weight gain? Again, some newborns feed this much (mine did) but equally some don’t. I’m not surprised you are shattered if you are feeding round the clock - who advised you to do this?

You can stop breastfeeding for whatever reason you want, just make sure you don’t stop suddenly to prevent mastitis. I just think there are likely a lot of other explanations for this, if you did want to continue breastfeeding.

I would also echo the above poster, to say that switching to formula may not solve the problem, and leave you disappointed. The strong let down could cause your baby to gulp, but bottle feeding can have this result too, as typically the flow from a bottle is faster than a breast.

Your babys age is the absolute peak time for wind and digestive discomfort too. Their digestive systems are brand new and take time to mature, meanwhile causing discomfort with the smallest processes. It often starts to settle down at 10/12 weeks anyway.

Allergies usually present with other symptom, but as the PP said, reflux could be worth investigating.

The main thing is, that none of the above will necessarily be solved by switching. This isn't said to discourage you, but to be realistic in your expectations.

How long do feeds last, typically, with your baby?

I’d say give it another week and see how you feel then.

Who told you this? It’s unlikely to be your milk causing the issue, mostly likely her immature digestive systems (human babies, even at 40 weeks, are born substantially earlier than we were supposed to be accommodate our bigger heads and our bodies have yet to catch up. I was in an almost identical situation except DD1 was born at 41 weeks, she had undiagnosed CMPA. There is nothing wrong moving to formula feeding but I’m worried you maybe making the decision in incorrect info.

You don't need a reason to stop, switching at any point is fine and tbh your husband isn't the one with breasts so I don't think he should really get a say. Having said that I'm not sure that switching to formula will help the wind & tummy troubles as babies tend to take more air bottle feeding. Is she more settled after her nighttime bottle? Have you tried leaving it longer between feeds if she's not showing hunger cues? Unless there is a medical cause this digestive discomfort often passes by 3/4months when they can wriggle the air out themselves a bit more.

I stopped breastfeeding after about 5 days because of my mental health.. very traumatic birth and Emergancy csection and I couldn't cope with zero sleep! I wasn't healing physically or mentally.. and honestly it was the best thing I've ever done. Just do what's best for you!

You've done amazing to breastfeed this long! Baby would rather have a happy mama ❤️

Switching is a valid choice op if that’s what you want to do.

I had a very fast let down and it would literally sound like I was drowning my baby

For us time sorted it out, he got bigger and was able to manage the fast flow.

I would be wary of thinking that switching to formula will solve digestive issues though, it comes with its own challenges.

You are doing amazingly. That's a difficult set of circumstances. If you feel you want to stop, stop. Try a formula feed and see how you get on? Mental health for me comes top of the list of priorities. So consider that first and any decisions you make should come under that.

Why is husband not keen? He is not the one doing it so I think he should be supporting you on what you think.

I think you should just do whatever suits you and your situation best. Whatever makes it easier for you to do your day to day. You don't need a reason really.

Do whats best for you and as other ppl have said giving up may not solve the problem. Have you tryed infacol ? Or maybe try expressing inbetween feeds, pop it in the fridge and you can bottle feed that to give your body a break. Also regarding you husband...
the day her grows tits and can feed a human being is the day he can offer advice and tell you not to stop, your body...your choice!

Sounds like a baby being irritated by dairy intolerance rather than anything else. Both dairy in your milk (assuming it's in your diet) and the formula

Oh you poor thing. Sounds very similar to me, i had fast let down and a reflux baby who fed every hour. It gets better quite quickly as baby grows.

Have you tried reclined feeding? It slows your milk down. You can try formula but you might just have the same problems with added pressure of washing and sterilising etc.

Hind and fore milk is a very outdated theory now.

@AliceW89 fore and hindmilk is totally a thing and is how your body adjusts the milk production. Is not something that you should care about though 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP BF can be tough but if you have the time and it's not painful for you then, if it was me, I would continue.

Forget the "techniques". Just go for it. Feed her when she wants. Full stop. "She wakes up every hour" yes she's a baby, some babies do that. "She has gas" most babies have that regardless of nutrition! Massage the belly with her legs, press quite hard, it's fine.

Don't overthink it. If it gets too hard on you, then yes you can always consider formula. Formula is fantastic if BF doesn't work. But you have to stop trying to be exactly like the books!! I made that mistake, a lot of mothers make that mistake

I had a strong let down (it could spray across a room) so used to feed lying on my back with DC on top of me. You get the hang of it!

I agree with you that you need to prioritise your mental health, especially if you aren't sleeping.

Sure, if you switch to formula it may not solve your daughter's digestive discomfort but if you've had more sleep, you'll feel more able to cope with a crying baby iyswim.

It may not be your milk causing this, and unfortunately, these types of digestive problems are common in babies and not always easy to get to the bottom of - sometimes it is just time - but your mental health is the absolute priority here.

If it's not working, make the switch. There is nothing amazing about breastfeeding for any length of time.
Science milk does the job just fine!
One of my children was exclusively breast fed because it was so easy, one of them was exclusively on formula pretty quickly because it was so difficult. You would not be able to guess which one is which!
Congratulations on your baby!

Do what YOU want to do.
Its no-ones choice but yours.
My 2x DS stopped BF at 6 weeks- I had a great supply but my 2x DS would just not wake enough for the first 8 weeks to make BF comfortable, my milk wohld flow too fast for them and they often ended up spluttering and coughing a lot each feed.
Dd BF for 6months with no issue.

I was made to feel guilt and shame for not lasting longer with DS by the HV.
DH asked her to leave our home when she commented ' I knew you wouldnt last long'.
It was one of many comments she made about our home , our relationship and BF ( she assumed DH mustve been a lot older than me and the sole earner for us to live in a nice house and area- both not true, she also assumed our DD age 4, wasnt DH)
As soon as I switched to formula with 2x DS, they were much happier feeding as Was I.

@grey12 I was under the impression that there was a move away from those terms. I agree - the fat content of milk generally changes during a feed, in that generally milk gets fattier as the feed progresses. I was under the impression though that the idea of there being two binary types of milk and that too much of one can cause problems was too simplistic. I appreciated that lactose overload is generally associated with consumption of less fatty milk (previously called foremilk) but equating this to the milk at that start of a breastfeed was too simplistic. Apologies if I’m wrong though! I found this link useful: www.laleche.org.uk/health-professionals/fat-content-breastmilk-faqs/

@AliceW89, you're absolutely right in what you've said!

@whymewhyme

Do whats best for you and as other ppl have said giving up may not solve the problem. Have you tryed infacol ? Or maybe try expressing inbetween feeds, pop it in the fridge and you can bottle feed that to give your body a break. Also regarding you husband... the day her grows tits and can feed a human being is the day he can offer advice and tell you not to stop, your body...your choice!

*Also regarding you husband... the day her grows tits and can feed a human being is the day he can offer advice and tell you not to stop, your body...your choice!*

This. What a wanker.

I was very similar to you. It gets much better after the first few months. My DD is 18 months and I still feed her now, it because so much easier once my supply settles.

Have you tried expressing a little bit before baby feeds? I had fast let down and i did that at first to help the baby.
It’s great your DH has an opinion but at the end of the day, it’s your boobs that are feeding thd baby so ultimatly your choise.
It seems like a big thing right now (and it is) but it really wont matter as much in a few months; wether you want to bottle feed or breast feed, you have to do what is best for you and the baby.

Your husband doesn’t have to be available 24 hours a day for feeding an all the associated issues. No boobs, no opinion was my DH’s approach to how our babies were fed.

Do what’s best for you; carry on if it’s important to YOU, but stop if it’s having a negative impact. You’ve already given your baby a great start, whatever you choose to do.

I’m a primary teacher and I’ve never once been able to tell how any child I’ve taught was fed as a baby. It doesn’t feel like it now, but breast vs formula will cease to even factor in a year or so.

@AliceW89 you're right but as far as I'm aware the terminology is still around. My comment was because it seemed from your first post that the content of milk was the same throughout

I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to stop breastfeeding but he wasn't keen for me to stop

You will likely get lots of lovely support on her in terms of breast/bottle feeding tips, but I just wanted to pull this part from your post.

As your breasts are yours do with what you choose, your dh doesn't get a say in whether you continue bfing or not.