Changing from breast to formula when baby is 11 days old

[bowgumdrop2018]

So I was successfully breast feeding up until around 2 days ago where my supply has completely changed and I can't hardly express 2 bottles yet alone the amount I was doing before that ..breast feeding is not working as my nipples have gone flat ( tried the shields ) they arnt working for me and baby so I am left with no choice but to change to formula as I have 2 bottles in the fridge and I cannot get a drip of milk out of my boobs.. will this harm baby being changed so suddenly ? I'm so worried and all round heart broken that I have to stop this .. I understand I can contact certain people for help but that doesn't resolve my issue of having no milk for today's feeds

What happens when you put the baby to the breast?

But yes, you can go straight to formula-the baby will be fine.

I had to do this. Dd was a bit constipated for a few days while her body got used to the change but was fine after.

Baby will be fine, I did breast to bottle with one after a week and the other was in special care so he was given formula and breast milk from the start (although he was tube fed).

@BertrandRussell
She gets very upset and can't suck for long at all as she falls off

I had similar problems and tried combination feeding as a transition but that didn't really work. My first was on formula after 2 weeks and my second after a week.

The first time round I remember sobbing because nothing was coming out and no amount of lactation counseling was going to help. The second time round I just gave up after a week.

Both had jaundice as well and seemed happier and slept better once I switched.

But how much you express is not an indication of how much a baby can suck out. Babies are much more efficient at getting breast milk out than a pump.

Are your breasts hard and engorged ?

You can of course switch your baby over but if you want help keeping breastfeeding there's loads of help you can get for free .. are you in the UK? Speak to someone on the phone they will help. Phone your midwife team or la Leche

www.laleche.org.uk

If you want to carry on breastfeeding, then keep on putting her to th breast as often as possible and don't try to express. Give her bottles after bf as much as possible.

If you want to carry on bf (and it sounds like you do)then please contact La Leche League or nct be help lines. Don't worry about expressing just put your baby to your breast very frequently. Your hospital might also have an infant feeding specialists. Even if you give some friends today it doesn't have to be the end of bf at all.

I swapped from breast to formula when my eldest was a week old. He got a bit distressed at first as presumably he could smell my milk so my husband had to feed him the first couple of bottles but he was fine