Who has moved from b/f to f/f & why?

[KellyC75]

I am breastfeeding currently ~ but due to painfull, engorged breasts & blocked milk ducts I am seriously considering moving to formula

I feed DS2 until at 9weeks I couldnt stand the engorgement any longer

My question would be....Why did you move from b/f to f/f & did you feel happy about it?

I am just so confused

 

[Odd Socks]

i moved because bella would spend all day & night screaming & being unable to latch on.
i did feel guilty at first, but i didn't really have a choice, she would have starved otherwise.
xx

 

[wishuwerehere]

I switched when Issy was 9 months old. I'd gone back to uni and was struggling to get up to feed her at night and needed the help (plus within about 2 weeks of switching to formula she started to sleep through...) I did feel guilty as I always said I'd wanted to bf for a year, but ultimately we're both much happier now, and that's the main thing

 

[KellyC75]

I switched when Issy was 9 months old. I'd gone back to uni and was struggling to get up to feed her at night and needed the help (plus within about 2 weeks of switching to formula she started to sleep through...) I did feel guilty as I always said I'd wanted to bf for a year, but ultimately we're both much happier now, and that's the main thing

9 months is a long time Well done you

I keep thinking will we both be happier if I switch? Still giving it thought, as my Daughter is only (nearly) one month old

 

[Eve]

Hi hun After the first two months the engorgement usually eases up, as long as you are not pumping too much or skipping feeds, and the pain should ease up too. No clue about blocked ducts though. Only time I had one was when I was FFing my son (did from birth) and low and behold, I got one when my milk came in. I haven't *knock on wood* got any, or anything too bad other than thrush, which mine was terrible. Just figured I would let you know,but if you decide to switch over to formula, it's okay Just make sure you really look into cutting down etc... so you don't get super engorged or anything. Cutting back is key I guess. Hope things get better for you and you have an easier time with bfing

 

[KellyC75]

Thankyou so much

 

[Eve]

 

[MrsRabbit]

We switched to Elemental formula instead of combination feeding - breast milk and Alimentum after all other attempts to stop her from pooping blood failed. She was a couple days shy of 4 months. At 5 months we switched to another elemental formula because the first failed. She still is happily eating EleCare.

Kelly - the over full feeling didn't last nearly as long with my second as it did with my first. Your supply should level out and the pain should go away more quickly. I agree the best way to level out your supply it to feed or pump regularly, don't pump simply to relieve yourself [it will tell your body to make more milk] and to pump if you give your baby a bottle instead.

 

[Seity]

Take lecithin for the blocked ducts. I got at least one a week for the first few months until I discovered this and it worked wonders. No more blocked ducts. I have to combo feed due to low supply, but I didn't want to give formula at all, so it was worth it to me to find a solution to my blocked duct problem. The engorgement will fade soon, so you shouldn't have that too much longer.
I'm still combo feeding at 10 months.

 

[gorgeousmumof]

I have jut put my 21 week old on formula as was finding it so hard. Was constantly feeding and my toddler was suffering from it. Baby now goes to daddy's 1 day and 1 night a week, so had to be on the bottle in that time. Then I had an op so couldn't feed for a day. He started rejecting the breast so had no choice. I do feel guilty, but he's a happy lil chappy so was a good move.

 

[moomin_troll]

With Zane I started off b/f but with other stresses going on around me I found it very difficult, I was in constant pain and cried my eyes out at every feed. Zane also didn't seem to be getting on with b/f. So I switched to ff and Zane was a lot happier, yes I still feel like I failed him but on the other hand he still got some and I did try my best at the time.
Even tho I feel like I failed I did what was best for me and my son and I don't regret switching.

I'm going to try bf again with baby 2 tho

 

[KellyC75]

Thankyou all for your replies

We switched to Elemental formula instead of combination feeding - breast milk and Alimentum after all other attempts to stop her from pooping blood failed. She was a couple days shy of 4 months. At 5 months we switched to another elemental formula because the first failed. She still is happily eating EleCare.

Kelly - the over full feeling didn't last nearly as long with my second as it did with my first. Your supply should level out and the pain should go away more quickly. I agree the best way to level out your supply it to feed or pump regularly, don't pump simply to relieve yourself [it will tell your body to make more milk] and to pump if you give your baby a bottle instead.

Great advice ~ Thankyou... Im shocked that my health visitor told me pumping would have the opposite effect, when I said I was worried to do it, in case my body produced extra milk

Take lecithin for the blocked ducts. I got at least one a week for the first few months until I discovered this and it worked wonders. No more blocked ducts. I have to combo feed due to low supply, but I didn't want to give formula at all, so it was worth it to me to find a solution to my blocked duct problem. The engorgement will fade soon, so you shouldn't have that too much longer.
I'm still combo feeding at 10 months.

Oooh, didnt know you could take anything for blocked ducts ~ where do you get lecithin?

 

[MrsRabbit]

I have realized most health care professionals are really out of date with their breastfeeding information.

 

[Carlyp1990]

i bf katie for 6 weeks and then switched to ff, since switching she has been sleeping through and i feel like we can do more. i did feel guily at first but she's happy and so am i. if you think you'll miss the bond then just set ground rules and dont let anyone else feed - that what ive done. i do nearly all feeds still apart from oh doing the odd one... my parents dont like it but thats tough. if you have more questions feel free to ask me hun xx

 

[Seity]

I got the lecithin at a vitamin shop here. I expect you could find it at any drug store that sells vitamin supplements.

 

[a_c]

I exclusively bf for 2 weeks, was in so much pain i screamed through feeds and spent all
my time counting to the next feed & praying she'd stay asleep longer, I was on the verge of pnd. Now we combi feed I feel it's the best of both worlds, I'm happy, I can enjoy every minute with her & yet we're still breastfeeding as well. I felt & occasionaly still
feel immense guilt but the more people I talk to the more I realise I'm not the exception & the most important thing is enjoying time with your baby as they'll grow up before we know it. They won't be asking if they were breastfed!

 

[hayley x]

I BF DD til 2 months then it just wasnt working she was dropping centiles and struggling, I was told to top up with formula after each feed. I fed for 30 mins then she still took a whole bottle of formula on top, I didnt want to put her through it anymore, but cried when I had to give her a bottle x

 

[KellyC75]

i bf katie for 6 weeks and then switched to ff, since switching she has been sleeping through and i feel like we can do more. i did feel guily at first but she's happy and so am i. if you think you'll miss the bond then just set ground rules and dont let anyone else feed - that what ive done. i do nearly all feeds still apart from oh doing the odd one... my parents dont like it but thats tough. if you have more questions feel free to ask me hun xx

Thankyou so much

Amazing that your LO slept through after switching!

What was your resons for stopping? If you dont mind me asking? I just wondered if they are similair to mine?

I exclusively bf for 2 weeks, was in so much pain i screamed through feeds and spent all
my time counting to the next feed & praying she'd stay asleep longer, I was on the verge of pnd. Now we combi feed I feel it's the best of both worlds, I'm happy, I can enjoy every minute with her & yet we're still breastfeeding as well. I felt & occasionaly still
feel immense guilt but the more people I talk to the more I realise I'm not the exception & the most important thing is enjoying time with your baby as they'll grow up before we know it. They won't be asking if they were breastfed!

Bless you, I know where your coming from ~ So pleased you have found a way to feel better

 

[Seity]

The formula hasn't made the least bit of difference to my LO's sleep. Sad to say it's taken him 10 months to finally start only waking once or twice a night.

 

[Mum2BeJodi]

I am gutted that I am no longer BF but really didnt have a choice. After week 3 LO starting losing weight and was crying all the time. I thought she was crying all the time due to being a bit colic or windy, but it turns out she was just hungry. She was BF all the time and sometimes feeding 30 mins. I was totally wore out and couldn't sleep. I ended up getting mistitis really bad and my nipple had drawn in. I was put on antibiotics to help clear this and it had been extremely painful. I started to combi feed to boost LO weight and help her hunger. After her weight dropped I pumped my milk to see how much I was getting out to see how much LO was eating. It turned out I wasn't producing enough milk for LO. I am on another course of antibiotics to clear the lump in my breast as it's still there. If it doesnt clear then I have to go to hospital to get it sorted out. LO and I both developed thrush as well as the other problems. LO wouldn't latch on the my breast because my nipple was drawn in with the mistitis so I had to use nipple shields then she wouldn't feed without them due to the bottle feeding. I have cried many nights and still like a failure. I do feel a bit happier that baby is gaining weight, but upset that im not producing enough milk to give my baby the best. I have an extremely hungry baby and can't keep up with her needs in my own milk.