What was your deciding factor to switch to formula/wean from breast?

[MegGem]

Wasn't sure where to post this...

If you did breastfeed and began supplementing formula or are totally weaned from the breast, what was the turning point that made you say "okay I'm done!"

I made it 8 months breastfeeding, but now with LOs 4 teeth and bite marks I might be ready to switch to formula. And also I miss my freedom. I do still love the bond we have so I might keep 2 BF feeds a day.

 

[TigerLady]

I haven't switched, but just wanted to say I understand the OWWWW!!! factor with 4 teeth! (esp combined with the sore nips of pg!!) Those teeth can really hurt if they decide to use them.

Good luck with your final decision.

 

[Cinamon]

I was struggling to get her in a routine will breastfeeding on demand. So then I decided I'll pump milk out and give by bottle, but that was just to hard and my poor boobs were killing me.

Another thing for me was: They say baby gets everything they need from breast milk, but I wasn't on a perfect balanced diet. So I was worried that LO wasn't getting everything she needs ( I don't eat fish ext.) and I wanted to be sure she got everything she needs for her fast developing body and brain and I new for sure that formula has everything. I do still have a few breast feeds frozen and I give that to her every now and then.

 

[xxxleeleexxx]

i just couldnt produce enough to meet my babys needs...and they gave her formula in hospital before i even got to see her (i was very ill after and didnt get a choice ) i think she liked the idea of being able to have as much as she wanted!! she wouldnt latch on properly after and i tried pumping for 3 weeks but milk supply never went above 3oz and by then LO was on 4 to 5oz!! little guzzler lol so yeah we stopped at 3 weeks

 

[loopy loulou]

I have recently introduced bottles and I must say things have been great since!

My LO is a hungry baby and I did feel a bit drained feeding on demand.. would normally be every 2 hours during the day (she sleeps all night). That, along with three bouts of thrush and LO being a bit lazy at the breast, has made it quite uncomfortable!

I didn't want to completely stop BF as I do love the bonding and closeness when I feed her, so I now BF her first thing in the morning and when she goes to bed, with 3 bottles in between. That way she is still getting some BF whilst it's still beneficial to her and I get the cosiest feeds of the day!

I have left her with OH for a few hours whilst I spent time with my older son which was fantastic.

And she seems more settled now too.

Just had a thought whilst writing this... I have cut down from 6-7 feeds a day to 2 in less than 2 weeks and my boobs haven't suffered at all, only slight engorgement occasionally.. not uncomfortable though... Which makes me think that maybe my supply was low anyway which is why she was feeding so often.. hmmmmm.. all making sense now!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[NuKe]

purely and simply, the pain!

 

[polaris]

I was struggling to get her in a routine will breastfeeding on demand. So then I decided I'll pump milk out and give by bottle, but that was just to hard and my poor boobs were killing me.

Another thing for me was: They say baby gets everything they need from breast milk, but I wasn't on a perfect balanced diet. So I was worried that LO wasn't getting everything she needs ( I don't eat fish ext.) and I wanted to be sure she got everything she needs for her fast developing body and brain and I new for sure that formula has everything. I do still have a few breast feeds frozen and I give that to her every now and then.

Just wanted to say to anyone else who might be worried about this, the body is amazing and will prioritize your baby's needs even if you don't have a balanced diet. So even if your diet isn't great breast milk will still be the perfect composition for your baby's needs. It is like when you are pregnant, the baby will take what they need first. Just in case anyone read this and was worrying.

 

[Lyndz]

For me it was cracked bleeding nipples, blocked milk ducts & endless pain. so i epressed, but didn't produce enough. Plus i always had to supliment with formula anyway as she was never satisfied from me.

 

[Seraphim]

I can only guess at 8 months, which is a heck of a long way that 4 teeth might be the reason for a lot of people

I know alot of people make the bargain '6 months or first tooth' with themselves.

Hopefully someone who's stopped after reaching the teethy stage can share their experience of the switch over

 

[Moodyelf]

for me it was the morning i had both kids on my own from 6am as OH was at work, and she wanted booby every 15 mins! OH came home to find a fed up 3 year old and me almost in tears.

that was 2 weeks ago, and since i put her on bottles during the day, we are all so much happier. she still has booby in the evening/night, but am also thinking of introducing an evening one to help her settle, as she clusters from me for hours, and it's exhausting!

 

[Pato]

My LO was on formula from birth bc my colostrum didn't come in until day 4, so she had formula in the hospital. Ever since I've been giving her a bottle twice a day along with the BF on demand. Now she's in day care she uses the bottle all day and BFs in the early morning and at night.

 

[Tsia]

on day 10.. he turned his nose up at breast milk that i'd tried so hard all morning to get out!!

sod ya then i thought.. and out came the formula, which he gulped down!!

then i suffered a week of hot baths and tit massage cos mastitus was coming on thick and fast.. a week of antibiotics and i was ok.. still leaked slihghtly til he was 5 months old!!

 

[mrsholmes]

work was my main but also he was having boob for sake of having it and then eating hardly soilds. At the time he was also not that bothered (wouldnt cry for it just pick top up but cud be distracted) i didnt want to have to say no to him, like take it away from him if that makes sense.

I dropped feeds slowly over a month then just stopped night feeds. I set a date and stopped. it was fairly easier I was suprised!

 

[MegGem]

I have recently introduced bottles and I must say things have been great since!

My LO is a hungry baby and I did feel a bit drained feeding on demand.. would normally be every 2 hours during the day (she sleeps all night). That, along with three bouts of thrush and LO being a bit lazy at the breast, has made it quite uncomfortable!

I didn't want to completely stop BF as I do love the bonding and closeness when I feed her, so I now BF her first thing in the morning and when she goes to bed, with 3 bottles in between. That way she is still getting some BF whilst it's still beneficial to her and I get the cosiest feeds of the day!

I have left her with OH for a few hours whilst I spent time with my older son which was fantastic.

And she seems more settled now too.

Just had a thought whilst writing this... I have cut down from 6-7 feeds a day to 2 in less than 2 weeks and my boobs haven't suffered at all, only slight engorgement occasionally.. not uncomfortable though... Which makes me think that maybe my supply was low anyway which is why she was feeding so often.. hmmmmm.. all making sense now!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thank you! I gave LO a bottle of EBM at bedtime lastnight and it was the first time she seemed really settled also. Otherwise I go back and forth from boob to boob. But I don't really want to just pump either, I hate pumping!

It's good to hear supplementing is going so well with you and you are maintaining just a couple feeds a day. That will probably be my next option. I am going to ask my Doc when is the earliest you can really give them cow's or soy milk.

 

[MegGem]

for me it was the morning i had both kids on my own from 6am as OH was at work, and she wanted booby every 15 mins! OH came home to find a fed up 3 year old and me almost in tears.

that was 2 weeks ago, and since i put her on bottles during the day, we are all so much happier. she still has booby in the evening/night, but am also thinking of introducing an evening one to help her settle, as she clusters from me for hours, and it's exhausting!

The cluster feeding is challenging! It does pass very quickly but I can imagine with another child you just don't have time to be on the couch nursing ALL night!

 

[TigerLady]

I think most say 12 months for cow's milk. Goat's milk is considered a bit better and sometimes can be given earlier. There is a formula you can make with Goat's milk that is supposed to mimic human milk pretty well.

https://askdrsears.com/html/3/t032400.asp

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032401.asp

I was going to use this if I dried up due to being pg (I still will, but am hoping that won't happen now).

 

[MegGem]

I can only guess at 8 months, which is a heck of a long way that 4 teeth might be the reason for a lot of people

I know alot of people make the bargain '6 months or first tooth' with themselves.

Hopefully someone who's stopped after reaching the teethy stage can share their experience of the switch over

It's good to jokingly hear that I'm not crazy for weaning just because of her 4 teeth! 2 teeth weren't bad but when there's 4 it's like a nipple sandwich!!!

 

[MegGem]

on day 10.. he turned his nose up at breast milk that i'd tried so hard all morning to get out!!

sod ya then i thought.. and out came the formula, which he gulped down!!

then i suffered a week of hot baths and tit massage cos mastitus was coming on thick and fast.. a week of antibiotics and i was ok.. still leaked slihghtly til he was 5 months old!!

Eek, mastitis! That's the next thing I would have to worry about. The things women have to deal with!

 

[MegGem]

I think most say 12 months for cow's milk. Goat's milk is considered a bit better and sometimes can be given earlier. There is a formula you can make with Goat's milk that is supposed to mimic human milk pretty well.

https://askdrsears.com/html/3/t032400.asp

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032401.asp

I was going to use this if I dried up due to being pg (I still will, but am hoping that won't happen now).

Thanks Tiger! I wonder if lactose-free milk would be better than regular milk. I am a little lactose intolerant so I worry about LO. I've never tried goat's milk myself I've been curious though. Formula is so expensive but I guess I would be sure it's more nutritional than cows milk, and it's best not to push cow's milk too early.

 

[littleblonde]

i stopped and sort of wosh i hadnt. I feel guilty as well as i stopped because i was so tired. she was and is suffering with colic. She would feed every 2 hours and would tale me at least an hour to seattle her so would get less than an hours sleep. some nights she wouldnt sleep at all. i got to the point where i was shaking and couldnt see i was that tired. i wqas scared i would fall asleep holding her so i stopped. Only managed 3 weeks as well. I really miss it now especially the closeness. But although the LO still has colic. Im able to share feeds, she is much more seattled and alert and seems happy so its all good. But i do really really really miss it