Quitting BFing - can you help me?

[aliss]

I just read your first post and part of it sounded like my son...the crying during and after a feed.

Is your little boy sicky too?

I took Tristan to the Doctors yesterday and the reason he cries is because he has reflux. We started him on baby Gaviscon yesterday and is already not crying or being sick as much.

Well done for feeding for so long

Hiya,
Yes, he is. Sometimes it's a little, and sometimes a lot.
I actually took him to the Docs this morning. I don't think she really understood why I was there! She said it's normal for a baby to be sicky, but prescribed him some Dentinox anyway...
xx

I'm not surprised you got fobbed off with reflux, a lot of us have. Use the Dentinox but also seek a second opinion from a pediatrician.

 

[NG09]

I use TT closer to nature bottles and they are fab. I have been through loads of formulas looking for the right one for my LO, everything was making him sick. We have since discovered he is lactose intlerant so he is on SMA lactose free. Good luck hun, don't let anyone make you feel guilty x

 

[ayh78]

Well done for persevering with BF despite the issues you've faced. You obviously just want to do the best for your LO. I can't comment on formula because I'm lucky enough to still be BFing. I've given my LO the occassional bottle of EBM and he took to the closer to nature bottles pretty well. I've just bought him a Medela Calma teat (it's designed for EBM - baby has to create a vacuum like in breast feeding for it to work - milk doesn't just 'flow' out) which works a treat. Might be worth looking at, although if LO has had latching issues it might not work?

Good luck!

 

[PrincessJenna]

I bf for the first few weeks then weaned Millie to ff.... I recommend Aptimil formula & the tommee tippee bottles I've never ha any problems with them x

 

[NuKe]

oh. my. god. those tt dribble catcher bibs are BRILLIANT!! i forgot about those!!

Aren't they!! I was given loads of bibs when Molly was put on to formula (I was in hospital you see) but I'd already bought a pack and DH used those. They're fab for teething too. When I got home, I packed all the other ones away and bought a ton more of the things. They've been boiled to death, are losing the colouring but are just fab

they really are! poppy feeds herself now lying on the floor and rarely spills it so id forgotton about those bibs! they are wonderful!

 

[Mrs Doddy]

we use the tt closer to nature bottles and aptimal formula ive given up the ebm now

The bottle warmer is good - it keeps the water hot for 6 hours and warm for probably another 6, tbh when we are out I take cartoons for ease (unless we are going to someones house

 

[SKATERBUN]

hi! :wave: First of all, don't listen to anyone who tries to make you feel guilty. You tried your best!! I only lasted 5 days bfing!! I can recommend tommee tippee closer to nature bottles, they also have a microwave steriliser which is fab! we also have a bottle warmer which i couldnt live without, but i know a lot of ladies bought them and never used them ever!! We started on SMA but that made poppy very VERY constipated, and apparently thats quite common! so we switched to cow and gate and didnt have any problems whatsoever!!

Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles are fab we used them when I was combination feeding too, she never seemed to forget boobie though like some MW would have me to believe.
The warmer is also a lifesaver as is the sterliser.
With regards to which formula I only have ever used Aptimal breast milk substitute and its suited her fine.

 

[ILoveShoes]

Well...
DH gave DS a bottle of Aptimil and he seemed absolutely fine with it! We used the TT bottle, and he had about 100ml. I just wanted to see how he would get on with it, as he's never had a bottle or formula.
My HV is coming tomorrow, and I'm hoping she'll be able to tell me how to do the 'transition.'
I had a bit of a cry about it - I feel a mixture of sad and relieved.
Thank you for all the advice, as always, ladies.
Xx

 

[andbabymakes3]

I combi fed and started with Breastflow bottles, then switched to TT Closer to nature.

Holly really struggled with SMA, it gave her a bad tummy and she was not a happy bunny - switched to Aptamil 1 and within a couple of days she was like a different baby. We combi fed until just short of 11 months.

Do whatever you think is best, and don't let anybody make you feel guilty.

 

[aliss]

(Yes I'm still here, what can I do when he naps? lol)

Glad you found what worked for you

 

[ILoveShoes]

(Yes I'm still here, what can I do when he naps? lol)

Glad you found what worked for you

Ha ha!
Thanks, Aliss. Thanks for all your help and advice.

Oh, I forgot to say, LO wasn't sick after the bottle.
Xx

 

[aliss]

Good!!! I wonder if the thicker milk is doing the trick.

 

[_Vicky_]

Cant really add anything re bottles but ditto aptamil and tt closer to nature - I never warmed so cant help there.

I wanted to urge you to make sure you get advice about how to manage your supply properly to avoid the problems I had, Basically I BF for four weeks and got mastitus (expressing for Fynn in NICU and arsed up supply and demand) AB's didnt touch it so long painful story short I was in hospital having abscesses drained when the boys were 9 weeks old. I dont know if your HV can advise you but if not then the BF section ladies will I am sure know how to do it but wanted to just share my story - believe me child birth is less painful than breast abscesses xxxxxx

 

[LIZZY55]

Hiya, I switched after 12 weeks. My LO was just hungry all the time. I would give her a top up from formula, she was quite happy to go between the two. In the end I decided that she just wasn't getting enough from me. She settled to formula well. She's a beautiful healthy baby, not been ill once, sleeps through from 7-7 and most importantly is happy and healthy.
Good luck and don't feel bad

 

[moomoo]

I had problems like yourself and just wanted you to know you have done an amazing job to get as far as you did with those problems! BF is hard enough without problems let alone when you are facing hurdles.. Oh and you aren't "quitting" you are "stopping"

I would advise you to cut down a few feeds a day over a week an gradually cut out the breadtfeeds - feed by feed. This will stop you getting mastitis and or blocked ducts which you can get if you just stop dead. Also you might find it more managable to even keep some Breastfeeds and not stop completely.

Hope you find a way that works for you and you are given good advice by you HV.

Good luck
XX

 

[MrsVenn]

Wonderful news that LO took to it so well. The weaning on to it will be a doddle. Well done!

 

[SKATERBUN]

I had problems like yourself and just wanted you to know you have done an amazing job to get as far as you did with those problems! BF is hard enough without problems let alone when you are facing hurdles.. Oh and you aren't "quitting" you are "stopping"

I would advise you to cut down a few feeds a day over a week an gradually cut out the breadtfeeds - feed by feed. This will stop you getting mastitis and or blocked ducts which you can get if you just stop dead. Also you might find it more managable to even keep some Breastfeeds and not stop completely.

Hope you find a way that works for you and you are given good advice by you HV.

Good luck
XX

I agree, they can get hard and swollen if you stop straight away. I used a breast pump to gradually empty my boobies completely and gave LO the breast milk in a bottle mixed with the formula.

 

[marie73]

ILoveShoes - I've been expressing for 4 weeks but been topping up with formula for over a week. Loads of problems with latching initially which lactation consultant was unable to help with and my lo just got more and more stressed and now, despite use of domperidone my milk supply is just not sufficient to meet demand. I've made the decision to switch to formula and as you say feel a mixture of relief and sadness. Would love to have breastfed but now need to move on and enjoy my lo. It's caused too much sadness and stress already and both my oh and parents are angry about the pressure put on me by some professionals. I think you've done fantastically well to manage for 11 weeks so good luck. I'm using Dr Brown's bottles which are great and Aptamil. Xx