Switching to formula :( help

[Cemkg123]

My baby is 6 weeks old and I have made the difficult decision to switch to formula for many reasons. Feeds too much, nipples are extremely painful during feeding and after, pain in my breast, and it seems I'm producing alot of milk and it's squirting when feeding which baby doesn't like so she pulls and tugs and cries, making me more sore and stressing us both.
I started yesterday with formula but still breast feeding through the night and just dealing with the pain.
When I give her formula she is only taking 2-3oz and then crying for my nipple still, I've given her formula twice before when I had to and she took it well and was settled but now she seems to still root for my nipple, how long will this last for? Any advice on how to do this?
I've cried everyday this week because of the whole breastfeeding situation and I've made my mind up so please don't judge me or lecture me on breast is best. She was feeding so much that I couldnt put her down so I was missing meals and chores are piling up (single mum)

It will probably be at least a week until she forgets, but that will take longer if she can still smell your milk. I know peppermint decreases milk production and there must be other foods too that you could eat to speed it up.

I don't want to lecture you, but I did want to say that 6 weeks is prime cluster feeding time and it does stop after a week or so.

Have you got any family or close friends that you could get to feed her a bottle so she can't smell you while drinking it?

Yes my friend who weaned her DD onto formula said she only took 2-3oz at a time. I believe that's how much a bf baby takes on average per feed (but bm is higher calories). I think just persevere! Keep offering bottles and cuddles. Maybe a dummy if she comfort sucks? As your supply lessens hopefully she will smell the milk less and that will help too. Please don't beat yourself up - sounds like you have done so well to get to 6weeks if bfing was hurting so much! And there's absolutely nothing wrong with formula feeding, in fact it can be the best thing for an exhausted mum and a hungry baby.

Thank you. I know cluster feeding happens about now, but not for everyone, sometimes it can last longer so I've read and I don't think I can deal with the pain for that much longer. I have tried everything, asked 2 different midwives, health visitor, doctor etc about latch and any other problems, everyone says everything looks fine and that's it, no help. I've tried nipple shields and expressing but it's just not working. Plus I feel like it's ruining my experience with the baby, I can't enjoy my time with her, I'm constantly anxious about taking her out because she's feeding so much, I'm tired and hungry and I'm not enjoying motherhood like how I should. It feels like a very unwanted chore. And that's not what I want.
She roots for my nipple straight after a bottle, should I offer her my breast for comfort after the bottle? Should I just go cold turkey? I've never done this before so not sure what to do. She takes a dummy but not for long, she'll spit it out and start crying for the breast again. Usually she has a nap after her 9am feed, it's 11:37 and she's constantly cried for my nipple since feeding.

Your doing a great job! Your doing what you feel is best for you and your baby. Do
Not feel any guilt!

The rooting will stop in time, as she gets used to the bottle her desire for food will overcome the hunt for a nipple!!! Just keep doing what your doing.

Give it a few weeks and you’ll be an old pro!!!

Would it be possible for you to express and feed her BM from a bottle?
My ds didn't like that the bottle and the contents were both different. Giving BM from a bottle was only changing one thing at a time and he seemed to be fine with it

You don't need to justify yourself over why you want to stop

I have just googled and foods that can help decrease supply are parsley, peppermint and spearmint. Also cabbage leaves in your bra can help. When bf dc1 I couldn't have any mints at all because of the supply issues, I usually had the peppersmith peppermint ones.

If it's comfort and not hunger, maybe she would suck your little finger? Sounds odd but when DS was 11 weeks we went away one weekend and the drive was about 4 hours. We obviously stopped for feeds etc. but while driving, I sat next to him in the back and he happily slurped on my little finger which kept him happy and quiet (he hated the car otherwise). He never took to a dummy but I guess at least your finger is warm and smells like you etc.?

Sadly midwives, health visitors and doctors are not experts on breastfeeding and often tell mothers that everything is “fine” and “normal” when it isn’t.

You need to see a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultation. Have you been to any breastfeeding clinics/drop-ins/groups? If not I suggest you look up breastfeeding support near you and get some advice.

I had very similar issues to you (constant feeding, very painful for me) and it turned out my son had tongue tie, diagnosed at a breastfeeding drop-in after lots of midwives and HVs had told me he didn’t have it and his latch was great 🙄

consultant not consultation sorry

Also I meant to say that it is important to rule out tongue tie because it can cause problems for bottle fed babies as well as breastfed babies, such as wind, reflux and speech difficulties later on.

Sage is also good to stop milk production.

Mind you, peppermint and sage tea you need to drink by the litre for it to have any effect.

Definitely stay away from fennel and aniseed (I think) as they are good for milk production.

You're doing a great job and you don't have to justify your reasons for stopping to anyone. I did cold turkey on bf once and ended up with mastitis, so I wouldn't recommend that approach. I know you said you weren't a fan but if you could express some milk and give it in a bottle that would be preferable because then you're getting her away from the nipple altogether. The amount of ounces she takes will increase slowly over time. If you're concerned get your HV to keep a check on her weight. Then gradually reduce your pumping as you go along and your supply should decrease. Good luck!

I had the worst nipple pain! My little baby girl had a tongue tie...has she been checked for that? We didn't get our baby's tongue tie sorted until 7 weeks so by that time we'd introduced a combination feed and then I kept it up.....I was in the pro breastfeeding camp, which I now cringe about. FORMULA SAVED MY SANITY and I love the stuff! I hated breastfeeding, I did the combination feed for 5.5 months and then went over to formula fully just before weaning. Formula rocks (plus it's saved lives for a hundred years now)!