anyone start off BF before FF?

[rihanna]

I am thinking of switching to FF as i am sore, tired and not sure my LO is getting enough milk. Did any of you start BF and have switched to FF early on? Do you regret it or wish you had persevered longer??

my LO is 2 weeks 3 days x

 

[boonies86]

i just swapped on friday as my milk just seemed to go so so miss it so much, im an emotional wreck and i hate washing and sterilising bottles and putting up with the screams as lo not used to having to wait! hmmmpffff

 

[bubbles123]

I really would try to persevere a bit longer hun. I had tongue tie issues etc that meant it didn't work for us in the end as he never latched and I ended up expressing for 6 weeks ish and mix feeding before going to just formula. I'm so much better about it all now but I still would have liked to have made myself carry on expressing for a bit longer. Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to formula if that's what you want to do (my LO is thriving on it), I don't get from your post that you're 100% sure you want to stop BF'ing - so I'd give it a few day a see how you feel then. Hope you feel better soon X

 

[Laucu]

I BFed for 3 months and reckon that the first 6 weeks are the hardest - after that I seemed to get into the swing of it a bit more, although I still decided to switch to FFing for various reasons. To be honest I don't regret it one bit - I know I made the right decision - Emma took to it like a duck to water and is thriving.

The worry about baby not getting enough milk is very common, as you can't actually see how much they are drinking. However, as long as baby is making at least 5-6 wet nappies a day then he/she is most likely getting enough.

Have you looked at the Kelly Mom website? There's lots of great info on there. It helped me out loads in those early weeks.

 

[jambobabe]

i was the same as you hun not enough sleep baba not settling and didnt know if LO was getting enough as i seemed to be feeding her every hour i switched at a week and she took to the bottle right away and she is sooooooo much more content and sleeps longer so im getting more rest too so wouldnt change anything for the world. GL with whatever you decide tho hunny

ps

lasted 6 weeks with my other daughter but she wasnt such a big eater as this one

 

[Olivias mummy]

i switched early beacuse Olivia was loosing a lot of weight

but i too was in agony, i dont think i had been shown properly in the first place, i had blisters on my nipples so every feed was really painful xx

 

[claralouize]

I stopped breastfeeding at 5 days old as i found it so painful, LO had problems latching on and i wasn't emotionally able to deal with it as had other worrys (OH was in a car accident on the day Maddison was born) we were both becoming frustrated & upset. I exclusively expressed until she was 3 weeks old but my milk started to dry up so we switched to formula- I don't regret it one bit as we are both much happier it was the right choice for us.

The only thing i do miss is the ease - no sterilising bottles, making feeds, making sure have formula when out etc.

 

[Rach27]

I would recommend persevering a little while longer. You are going through the hardest part. With a few issues at the start (hospital giving him formula ! Grr!), it took us the best part of 2 months to get things totally sussed. But now, things are MUCH better.

Once you and your LO have established your supply / demand system, the soreness will lessen I'm sure. As will the tiredness when your LO is feeding less often in the night.

Stick with it - you're doing really well

 

[cupcake23]

I regret introducing formula at 11 days, my nipples were a state, they weren't just sore I had bits missing!

I started giving formula because I was starting to hate having to feed my own baby, I was tired but I was never worried about my milk supply though. Once I introduced formula my milk supply slowly went and then she refused to nurse from me. I wish I was still breastfeeding because despite having so many problems my baby was thriving on my breast milk (and I enjoyed the bond) but at the time I couldn't see how my nipples were going to heal if I didnt give them a break.

It really is up to you, don't feel guilty if you do stop. You have done an amazing job!

 

[x__Hannah__x]

I switched to formula feeding after a couple of feeds because she just wouldn't latch on properly and she wasn't getting enough. I do feel guilty about it but in a way i don't because she's a much happier baby now
xx

 

[tinkerz23]

I know you asked about anyone who stopped breastfeeding early on, but I can relate. I breastfed for 12 weeks, but wanted to stop so many times in the early days. The first 6 weeks are the hardest! After the first 6 weeks, it does get much easier, and by 8 weeks it should be second nature. I stopped breastfeeding due to going back to work and I really just don't want to pump like that. I wanted to combo feed, but LO wouldn't stand for it. She is now FF fulltime. I regretted giving it up when I did. I do enjoy the freedom of FFing, but I hate washing bottles and miss the closeness of BFing.

The soreness will subside. The exhaustion should subside as well. I actually found myself more tired FFing. I have been told that something about BFing helps your body become less affected by lack of sleep. I am not sure if that is actually true, but in my case it seemed to be. Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it!

 

[chickchock]

I swapped at 5 days, don't regret it at all. My nipples were split around the edge and basically starting to hang off! There was no way I was able to feed my DD and I actually hated feeding her by the end, it panicked me and I was scared every time she started to cry for a feed because of the pain. I was hugely releived to switch and to be able to think of things other than how much pain I was in and how I was going to get through the next feed.

I hope you can make a decision that is best for you. I asked for advice on another forum when I was going through it, and although I think the people meant well, the replies I received where not helpful and they made me feel a failure and that I was not trying hard enough.

 

[bky]

I've been topping up with formula for 2-3 days now due to significant weight loss. I hate it so much. I'm really trying to stick it out because I know BF usually gets better. Before we started doing the top ups she was nursing 18 hours a day (that's 4 hours of sleep for me, 2 hours for other stuff). My nipples were badly cracked by 5 days and are still healing even now (I still have to brace myself for every latch, though after that it's fine). All of this would be worth it to me if she would just stop losing weight. I hate it right now that it would be so easy for us just to swap to FF full time. If I did that I know I'll lose whatever chance we still have to BF.

 

[Heavencanwait]

Breastfeeding was the worst thing I ever did. It was a disaster from the word go.
I was advised in the hospital to top up every feed with formula the day after she was born. Then I had really bad advice followed by further bad advice at a breastfeeding clinic on the third day. It seems that advice you are given about breastfeeding conflicts with the advice you were previously given, depending on who you ask.
Attended a second breastfeeding clinic in the second week and was given nipple shields as the pain and soreness was kicking in. I was also recovering from a C section, which didn't help the situation.
My midwife guided me to cutting down the breast feeds and building up the formula feeds. It was easy, only took about 4 days as my mik supply was very low. There was no pain in cutting down, my body just did it without putting up a fight.
I was as committed to bf'ing in the beginning as I was to formula feeding by the end of it. It suits me and LO just so well, we both love it and I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say neither of us are missing out on anything by not bf'ing.

 

[Tiff]

I BF for two weeks, then supplemented with formula for a week before switching her over fully to formula.

BF didn't work out for us. I used to regret my decision to stop, but in the end it made for a much happier baby and a much happier me and at the end of the day, that is what matters. I think that you can only be the one to know whether its time to stop or not.

I've found that a lot of guilty feelings pop up when people follow other's advice and not trust their gut instincts.

 

[vac_uk]

Hi Rhianna, nice to bump into u here I BF for 5 days and had to give it up. It got very painful which i was dealing with but I couldnt deal with my baby never being satisfied and being constantly hungry.He would feed for hourssss with 5min cat naps now and then. I could hear his belly rumble even though he was constantly feeding and he had been getting the pink spots in his nappy that indicates not getting enough. My milk must not have been sufficient enough so i didnt want him to suffer.
with having a c-section im sure this effected my milk supply, but i still felt guilty as he was a natural breast feeder from the word go.
Since changing to formula he is much happier, sleeps well and is thriving on the milk. He was weighed yesterday and has gained weight since birth which im sure wouldnt have been the case is he was still being BF.
I use Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles so he still sucks from them like he would the breast.

The thing i hate about FF is winding after every feed and baby being sick sometimes after his bottle (have changed formula to try combat that though).
I would advise to do what u feel is best for your baby, nothing wrong with FF and u have tried and done well with BF.
If u decide to FF just try be organised to prevent baby waiting for feeds etc for eg having kettle boiled and at the right temp in time for baby waking etc... good luck with what decision you make xx

 

[RHR]

Hi hun, I tried to Bf, but she couldn't latch on properly or would for a few seconds and then would come off. Me and several midwives at hospital tried to work through his and I even tried expressing but couldn't keep up with her as she was hungry.

I switched onto bottles and she was much happier. We also saw a consultant who confirmed she had a mild case of tongue tie and would only do anything about it if we wanted to bf. Me and OH had decided to keep ff her instead so that my OH could feed her and have his special time with her. I don't regret this decision at all. I'm glad I tried bfing as I can say that I at least tried.

Please don't feel guilty or let any one make you feel guilty for deciding to ff.

 

[Eve]

Kind of opposite here... I FF my son and at the time had no regrets etc... but after breastfeeding my daughter and getting through the first few weeks, knowing all the benefits etc, I really regret not BFing my son. If you have lots of wet diapers, and poos you shouldn't worry about your lo not getting enough. I would just think about it and see how it goes. Do what you feel is best for your baby and you.

 

[rihanna]

thanks for all the replys.

I think part of me just wants some freedom and i can only get that from switching to bottles. I want to go out again and see my friends and go for a meal & be able to leave LO at home with hubby for a few hours without worrying if he is hungry & if i need to go home.
I feel so selfish thinking that but its true

 

[Mynx]

I switched to formula after 2 weeks because Evie just would not take to the breast properly. She latched on fine but then would fall asleep within seconds. I had bad back problems after she was born due to having SPD and an awkward delivery so sitting on the sofa for hours on end trying to get her to feed was excruciating. Also, she was still jaundiced after 10 days so I started topping her up with formula. She would drain every bottle I gave her but would still be sleepy on the breast, and slowly my milk supply dwindled and I made the full switch to formula.

I do wish I could have BF for longer but Evie wasnt doing very well on it and I could see the vast difference in her when I'd give her formula, so I dont regret the switch at all.

I would say if you're having difficulties with BF you really need to talk to a BF adviser or your HV to see if you can get some support to help you out before giving up completely.. it is a tough call to make but you need to do what's right not just for your baby but for you too