Help, From anyone that has switched from breastfed to formula fed?

[katie_bump]

Hi thinking of switching my LO over to formula for various reasons.
Just wanted to know did your LO take to formula feeding ok?
Are they more sicky?
Do you regret switching at all?

Thanks xxx

 

[blahblahblah]

I did switch, but I hadn't been feeding him anywhere near as long as you, so not sure how much help this will be!

We switched from breast to formula at 4 days. I was just in too much pain from the delivery to deal with the bleeding and constantly throbbing nipples on top. Simply sitting down was a very painful procedure, let alone trying to manouvre a wriggling baby into position. We really struggled with latching on, and I was dreading every feed. My family encouraged me to give up when they saw me drenching him with tears.

So, we switched to formula and haven't looked back. He took to it instantly, and there was none of the messing around that we'd had with breastfeeding - the bottle went in and away we went. Dylan seems the type of baby that is very adaptable to change, and he just took it in his stride - in fact I think he was happier for it.

We had to experiment a bit to get the right temperature for him - room temperature made him very sicky indeed (still some stains to get out of the carpet). When he was breastfed, he didn't bring a drop back or get any wind. Since we sorted out the temperature of the formula, he usually only brought back a small dribble, but because he got a lot more wind, occasionally he brings a larger amount back if the milk got in the way of the burp. He does burps that would compare favourably with friday night in Weatherspoons now!

I do have some regrets about not feeding him myself, as I had always planned to. It's hard not to feel guilty when there is so much pressure on you, regardless of your reasons. I wonder if it would have got better if I had stuck it out, but knowing the pain I was in for the first 6 weeks anyway, I think I would have had to admit defeat sooner or later. I just wish things could have been different.

What you need to be prepared for if you decide to switch is the 'breastfeeding police'. Honestly, sometimes I am made to feel like a criminal, or at least a complete failure by the things people say, or by the look they give you when you tell them. I'm sorry to say that this applies to professonals and other mums. Unfortunately you can't make offical complaints about the way someone looked at you, but it still hurts.

All in all, I know I did the right thing for my family, and my son is thriving on it. Do what's right for your family, but be prepared to stand up for yourself.

 

[jen26267]

I switched to formula when Olivia was 8 weeks old as I was going back to work. I wasnt having any difficulties with breastfeeding. We started on aptimil 1 and she was very windy/constipated for the first 3/4 days. we changed to aptimil comfort and she seemed better. I also had to buy Dr Brown bottles and Infacol. She's fine now, but I would have definately kept breast feeding had I not been going back to work. I hate having to wash/sterilise bottles and having to spend money on formula!

 

[Mummy~L]

Bobby was 6 weeks when I switched to FF and he took to formula really well, but I wasnt producing anywhere near enough milk so he was probably starving and desperate for some food!
I didnt find him any more sicky!
I dont have any regrets switching as he is gaining weight really well now but I do wish I had been able to feed him myself for longer xx

 

[Mynx]

Evie was 2 weeks old when I made the full switch over and I gotta say, it broke my heart. I so desperately wanted to BF her but she was just constantly on the boob and I couldnt take it anymore. My back and my hip were still excruciatingly sore from my SPD and the delivery that I couldnt sit still for long periods of time and I felt like I was constantly chained to the sofa. I started off by topping her up with formula and she seemed alot more settled and went longer between feeds. I ended up expressing and got to the point where I could only express enough for one bottle per day so I was giving her that for the last few days of our BF times. It did break my heart to give in
Having said that tho, I dont regret switching at all because Evie just seemed so much happier and settled. She took to it well because she was kinda weaned her off the boob rather than going straight onto formula, so it was never a problem.
She was always a little sicky, even while BF, and that hasnt changed, it's just whiter now
I do miss BF, and I do wish that I could have carried on, but I really dont regret switching. It's a very personal thing, and there are often very personal reasons as to why a woman doesnt breastfeed.
Good luck with what ever you decide

 

[imace]

I BF for 3 weeks then couldn't take it anymore. The pain it was putting me in was worse than the labour itself and I was starting to resent my LO! It was awful and something needed to be done. I was so desperate to carry on with BF but just didn't have it in me. Turned out I had Mastitis and Thursh on my nipples (my MW and HV were useless and just told me it was normal BF pain and it would get easier WRONG!), and if I had known that I probably would have been treated and tried to carry on BF, BUT hindsight's a bitch!

ANYWAY!

LO took to formula like a house on fire. The first two days made her quite sicky and she got more milk on her than in her, but that was because she was so used to sucking the life out of me so she was sucking too hard on the bottle and was getting too much milk out too quick. Now being on it for a week and a bit she's doing fine and hasn't been sick once.
She is quite windy, but was windy before I switched her to formula so can't really comment there.

And do I regret it? NO. I really was heartbroken I couldn't carry on with BF but seeing her happy and satisfied with being on formula is proof enough I did the right thing. The guilt of switching has gone and I'm glad we did it.

Hope that helps.

 

[Kekei]

I BF my LO for 17 weeks then I started to introduce formula. Previously she toke expressed breastmilk from a bottle but for some reason one day completely refused to tak it any longer. After finally finding a bottle she will take we only ever put formula in it. Then again one day she started to refuse the new bottle so I made to decision to completely switch over to ff. I'm going back to work in May and although it is a while off I did want her to be ff by then anyway so we have just switched over a little earlier.

I actually think my LO is less sicky on formula than breastmilk. I cant remeber the last time she was sick but she did sick up little bits whilst breastfed.

I dont regret switching now that I see she is so happy on it. In the early days when we were combination feeding and switching over it broke my heart seeing her upset knowing that all she wanted was breastmilk. The first time we switched her over at night I cried with guilt until she woke for her 10pm feed and my husband feed her and she went back down without a fuss!! That put my mind completely at rest. Now it is lovely having a helping hand with her feeds and I can have more sleep. My OH even admited last night that he loves doing the night time feeds and he feels he is bonding more with her!! Guess he will be getting up more!!

 

[dragondrums]

I bf my baby till he was nine months and my first one until he was eight months and I introduced them both to formula by the time they were three mths and they both took to it just fine. My youngest though now that I have completly stopped bf seems to still remember and want it but it seems like for comfort if anything. I loved bf both of my boys and have to say I really miss that closeness that comes from bf my baby, so that was the hardest part for me at least about stopping.

 

[DizzyMoo]

I bf my 1st (josh) til 11mths old & never gave formula, but with my 2nd (jax) i breastfed for 3wks & he had severe reflux so was literally feeding from me for half hour a time, then throwing up then feeding again & this was all day & through the night he only slept for 2 hrs a time & as Josh was 4 yrs old i physically couldn't do anything i was drained, It broke my heart to start on formula & i find it really hard to explain why, As its not like i felt " a super bond " during bf, & its not like i bf just so we got the benefits or anything, but something maternal inside said i'd failed to do something my body was built for. I know it wasn't me failing him but at the time i didn't know he had reflux i just thought i wasn't filling him or that my milk wasn't right for him. I changed him to sma gold & cried for the 1st 3 days i fed him, He was contented on the ff but not bf so it hurt, but after those days although i still felt hurt it did begin to ease until the reflux kicked in super duper style, by 8wks i was mega shattered. Feeding every 2 hrs still & just throwing every single bit up, 2 lots of meds later 1 didn't work & the other i found out not to give & then i found " sma staydown " specifically for reflux. I've never once looked back since, He is so much more happier, content & relaxed. Gradually taking 4-5 oz per feed every 3hrs-4hrs, during night he wakes every 3hrs. So whilst i was upset at 1st now i see how better off he is x