breast to bottle

[Wishing84]

Has anyone swapped early on. My little boy is 11 days old and i am struggling emotionally. He is feeding so much and i aren't sure whether to start bottle feeding. Its a hard decision and wondering if anyone has done it early on and how they found it.

 

[Emmajaine]

Not quite the same situation but i swapped to FF at 2 weeks.

I started off trying to breast feed but Alexis wouldn't latch, but I kept trying for 2 weeks, while also expressing and bottle feeding (expressed milk and topping up with formula). I felt soo awful, like I was failing constantly and also hating having to pump (felt a lot like a milking cow) and I struggled to enjoy any time I spent with Alexis. I was in tears more often than not. My HV was great and suggested that moving to just FF would be best for both Alexis and I, and although it was super hard to make that decision as soon as I did (after talking to OH) I honestly felt like a weight had been lifted. I now love feeding her and feel very bonded to her (which I didn't before)

Its completely OK to move to bottle feeding if you are struggling emotionally. Your baby needs you to be happy and healthy, and if that means not breast feeding then that's OK. Also make sure you speak to your HV\GP about how you are feeling, they are there to support you.

Feel free to message me if you want.

Hugs

Em xx

 

[bigbee]

I am in a similar situation. Baby is constantly feeding, and only has short sleep intervals.
We are going to try giving him a bottle just before bed time when he turns three weeks in a couple of days.

Hang in there. Breast feeding is bloody tough!!! I am not planning to turn to formula completely but feel combination will definitely help us

 

[hayes]

I combi fed from 10 days for exactly the reasons you have said hun, n it was the best thing I ever did. He went totally on to formula by 3wks. Do what u feel is right n don't b push into anything else by anyone I so wish I had listened to my instincts n not my mws!!

Michelle.x

 

[Rooster30]

Do what's best for you. I FF my son from Day 2 but been exclusively breastfeeding my daughter for 5 weeks because fortunately for me it has been going well. It's not easy breastfeeding (even if MWs like to tell us otherwise). I say, just go for it. Your baby honestly won't come to any harm from it

 

[Wishing84]

Thanks ladies. Brought some aptimal formula. Going to try 1 bottle before bed to see if he will take it. If i am weaning him off the breast can someone suggest the best way. X

 

[caseysmummy11]

When weaning my little boy I slowly swapped a breastfeed for a bottle and found this worked best for me. Xxx

 

[hayes]

I did it gradually too I expressed and formula fed untill he was finally on formula all the time but he was so hungry that I don't think he cared what it was lol.

Michelle.x

 

[Wishing84]

Well he has had a bottle just. I am staying out of the way though because I don't want him to smell my milk. Just hope he settles x