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. 

If I was you I would express your milk so if switching to formula does not work out you can always go back to breastfeeding. Plus your husband can help you with feeds. Look after yourself X

If you need someone to tell you it's ok to stop (which it sounds like you were looking for from your husband, but didnt necessarily get) this is me telling you it's ok to stop. Your baby will be loved and fed and you will feel a mix of emotions, maybe, but when a year has passed and your baby is charging around, licking the floor and demanding toast, you will wonder why you agonized so much over it. That's how it was for me, anyway! Could you try combi feeding for a while? Maybe you would get an idea of how your baby fares on formula vs. breast and if one of them suits them better. Obviously be careful with mastitis but you could try a very slow transition. But it is ok to stop, for any reason. Sending hugs, this is such a tricky age!

If you don’t want to do it then stop, your body your choice.

Have you tried cutting out dairy from your diet? That might be affecting your baby.

I wouldn’t be feeding every 1.5 hours that’s not sustainable! If no issues with weight gain start spreading out time between feeds, maybe every three hours and don’t feed at night unless she wakes for it. Things will improve.

I think your mental health is super important here, and it’s ok to feed how you want to. I found the LLL group in my area very supportive and there were many mothers there who had been through this oversupply issue and gave support. I was advised that my gassy baby would settle around 10 weeks as her digestion started to mature, and I was very sceptical but that did happen. I also had over supply and a bit later down the line I used Sage to reduce my supply, it was very effective and really took the edge off so that’s something to consider when you’re confident supply is well established (if you choose to carry on). Mixed feeding can work well, and if it helps you keep breastfeeding as well when you are keen to do so then knowing how to reduce supply is useful. Expressing first (apart from just getting rid of the initial let down) made things worse for me as it created more excess milk.

You are so close to your supply settling down. It should get a bit easier very soon - hopefully by 8weeks supply settles a bit and baby has mastered dealing with let down.