FF from start, where will my Milk go?

[TTCfirstovr30]

Soon-to-be first time mom here.

I plan to formula feed right from the start. What do I do when my milk comes in, does it dry up automatically or do I need to do something? Will I still "leak" if I am not BF? Do I need to bring pads with me to put in my bra at the hospital?

 

[Witchrose]

Hi,

I also formula fed from the start. I had contacted the hospital in advance to see if I would need to bring my own formula and bottles. During that conversation, they told me they could give me a pill after the birth which would stop the milk from coming. They did indeed give it to me, and I never had any leaking at all.

I'm living in Germany, though. I'm not sure if they offer that pill in other countries. But perhaps you could inquire about it.

 

[MAMA MOON]

The milk just stops coming in after a while. I just used bra pads.

 

[Jojojojo76]

I've just gone through this with my LO who is a week old. My milk came in about day 3 and my breasts were really sore and tender. They are just starting to feel normal now - my LO will be one week tomorrow. I didn't have any leaking and while they were really sore avoided any stimulation of them-and wore a bra at all times. I'm in the UK and wasn't offered a pill to dry the milk up.

 

[LoveCakes]

Your body will absorb the milk if it's not used. Also your milk usually comes in around day 3 so you may not need any pads in the hospital.

I fed my LG for 4 days then moved to formula and still had milk until week 5, especially after a shower so it can take a while to go.

I've heard Epsom salts help dry up milk but I've no idea what you do with them

Love your ticket by the way

 

[ClairAye]

I formula fed my first from birth (however I did express sometimes for the first two weeks too) and my milk came in on day four, I slept and woke up leaking all over the place lol. Before I first expressed my breasts were engorged and very uncomfortable but it soon passes.

 

[Peggy80]

I bf for a day and then switched to formula so my milk hadn't come in really. When it does come in though your boobs will be really sore, my midwife advised a tight fitting support bra at all times to act as compression, and after a few days it goes away. I didn't leak at all.

 

[wifey2013]

I exclusively breast fed in the hospital (they have a policy that they won't allow formula feeding) and it was a nightmare. I stopped as soon as I got home. My milk comes in fast and was fully in by day 2. My boobs got super sore and super hard like rocks really fast. I bought cabbage and cut off the leaves and kept them in the freezer. I would put them in my bra. It helps dry up your supply and the cold helps with the pain. It only took about 2-3 days and then the deflated back to a somewhat normal state. You smell like cabbage soup but I swear it works like a miracle! Good luck!!

 

[TTCfirstovr30]

Really great suggestions ladies. Thank you!

I am going to ask about the pill and see what they say. Otherwise, I will just wait and see what happens. What about your boobs, do they go back to the way they were pre-pregnancy?

Thanks LoveCakes, wanted something other than the food one because it always made me hungry!

 

[Witchrose]

Really great suggestions ladies. Thank you!

I am going to ask about the pill and see what they say. Otherwise, I will just wait and see what happens. What about your boobs, do they go back to the way they were pre-pregnancy?

Thanks LoveCakes, wanted something other than the food one because it always made me hungry!

Yeah, my breasts did go back. I really don't see any difference between how they were pre-preg and now. That said, they didn't change that much during the pregnancy, itself. They got a little bigger, but not much. My weight gain went elsewhere. So that might be a factor. Also, I continued working out during my pregnancy which I think helped as well.

 

[Witchrose]

I exclusively breast fed in the hospital (they have a policy that they won't allow formula feeding) and it was a nightmare. I stopped as soon as I got home. My milk comes in fast and was fully in by day 2. My boobs got super sore and super hard like rocks really fast. I bought cabbage and cut off the leaves and kept them in the freezer. I would put them in my bra. It helps dry up your supply and the cold helps with the pain. It only took about 2-3 days and then the deflated back to a somewhat normal state. You smell like cabbage soup but I swear it works like a miracle! Good luck!!

This got me very upset. They don't "allow"??? What if a woman really doesn't want to breastfeed? They truly force her to do something with her body against her will?! Everywhere I know, that's a crime. I hope you mean that they just put on a lot of pressure but do listen if a woman says, "no" ?

Sorry you went through that!