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Switch from breast to formula slowly

angelic_one

Just me & my monkey <3
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Hiya, I've decided to switch baby from breastfeeding to formula due to a long list of reasons mostly my own mental health and to save mine and baby's relationship!! I've given her 3 bottles of formula over the last 24 hours to check she's alright with it and she's fine so I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it. Just wondered what other people's experiences of switching have been?

I've decided to switch slowly rather than cold turkey for 3 reasons, a. i don't want the extra pain and risk of mastitis, b. she might as well have the extra breast milk and c. i might as well burn the extra calories. Just wondering the best way to switch gradually? Just pump off what I need to be comfortable and try and go as long as i can in between expressing, or to generally pump at the same time she has formula or ebm cutting out one feed a day? How long will it take for me to stop producing?

Thanks a lot!
 
I have read the best way is this

Start by replacing one BF with a FF per day.....usually the last feed before bed. Continue doing this for at least a few days and until your breasts feel comftable missing that feed (dont express or if u do get quite incomftable express just a little for relief)

Once u feel comftable missing that one feed, drop another one, maybe in the morning and repeat the above.

Next step drop another BF and replace with FF, once again same as above, but by this stage u might need to top up with Formula after each BF if LO still seems hungry.

Then just continue this dropping one feed at a time until baby is completely on formula.

I have a really good baby book that has made me somewhat an expert on all baby related topics - lol just kidding

All the best and good on u for giving it a shot, BF is very rewarding in the long run but its hard work. x
 
Hiya, I've decided to switch baby from breastfeeding to formula due to a long list of reasons mostly my own mental health and to save mine and baby's relationship!! I've given her 3 bottles of formula over the last 24 hours to check she's alright with it and she's fine so I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it. Just wondered what other people's experiences of switching have been?

I've decided to switch slowly rather than cold turkey for 3 reasons, a. i don't want the extra pain and risk of mastitis, b. she might as well have the extra breast milk and c. i might as well burn the extra calories. Just wondering the best way to switch gradually? Just pump off what I need to be comfortable and try and go as long as i can in between expressing, or to generally pump at the same time she has formula or ebm cutting out one feed a day? How long will it take for me to stop producing?

Thanks a lot!

I introduced the ff gradually and started to do less bf....I then stopped altogether a few days ago...she had ff since birth once or twice when mum helped so was fine. My boobs killed for two days, i took para or inbuprofen and had an epsom salt bath. Feel ok now...bit tingly.
LO fine! My reasons were like yours among other reasons.
They have had the best start. You do right and well done as some ppl put tons of pressure on to bf exclusive. XXX
 
My HV said no express or pump or any stimulation if I am to let the milk dry up! I heard sage is good to stpp it too...tea or similar x
 
I'm in the same process, I've had mastatis and it's not nice :nope: also had just about every BF problem under the sun and I've now decided enough is enough. maybe next time it will be easier for us both :flower:

What I have done is just go for as long as possible between expressing. At first I was doing it 4 x a day on both breasts, yesterday I went 26 hours and only did it because I woke up SOAKED in milk lol! I prepared bottles in advance too, I would plan to first give ebf then the formula at the next feed.

My HV told me to go cold turkey from the 4 times a day and to get a bra a size smaller than I am to make sure I have plenty of support. However I'm in a size bigger for them last few hours to accommodate my extra large bosom :) I've learnt from my mistakes, a tight bra = blocked ducts = ouch!

I hope this helps a little and that I haven't twittered on too much lol xx
 
Hi hun I'm also in the same process because of the horrible mastitus I'm expressing every 6 to 7 hours but I've no idea when I should leave it longer I don't want to make the mastitus any worse. I think the longer you can leave between expressing the better x
 
Just want to offer my support, I know how difficult & guilt ridden the decision to stop bf can be. Your choice will seriously make you happier & more free to enjoy being a mummy, don't forget you could try combining breast/bottle. Good luck x
 
:hugs: I'm going through the same girls. pain on my part and frustration on his was beginning to affect our relationship. I'm just pumping enough to feel comfortable and am getting there quicker than i thought. Ifeel guilt because of all the pressure to BF - but we are both happier already x

Thank you to a_c for your understanding and compassion :flower:
 
Aww thank so much everyone. Now I'm expressing Emily's milk I'm actually shocked at how much she was drinking, no wonder it was so exhausting!

I feel quite bad because I know that I could have done it, but it would have been sooo hard and there's so much else to contend with at the moment that getting there would have been almost impossible. There was also a 2 week gap between my midwife finishing and my health visitor starting...the lack of support during that time is another massive contribution. I wish I could have breastfed her. I don't feel guilty, but I do feel really very sad. :-(

Right now I'm feeling a horrible mix of wanting my milk to dry up asap so I'm not so horribly and painfully engorged ten times a day, and so that I can just get on with giving her formula. But at the same time I want it to carry on so she keeps getting breast milk that bit longer! :-(
 
I only really BF exclusively for a day (personally I dont like it, many reasons but thats just me) as my MW persuaded me to depite it stating in my notes I DIDNT want to. I did however contiue to combine feed for a couple of weeks (but only when I was alone or just with DH) I found I was sore and full but only for a day or two after I stopped fully. I do still have milk coming but only if you squeeze IYKWIM
 
I used this chart, I didnt use that formula, just the amount of formula to give and breast milk to give.

https://www.gerber.com/AllStages/nutrition_and_feeding/Transitioning_from_breastmilk_to_formula.aspx
 
I used this chart, I didnt use that formula, just the amount of formula to give and breast milk to give.

https://www.gerber.com/AllStages/nutrition_and_feeding/Transitioning_from_breastmilk_to_formula.aspx

it wont let me view that page cuz im outside america... :-(
 

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