I can't make up my mind

[Rachel]

I have started giving Kieran formula after deciding I no longer want to breastfeed anymore but earlier my boobs felt full and Kieran wanted a feed so I breastfed him.

When im breastfeeding I sometimes find it hard with him wanting feeding alot, especially between 6-10.30pm so all I want to to is give him formula and quit breastfeeding altogether. I gave him a bottle thinking 'Right that's it now, im going to stop breastfeeding and put him on the bottle from now on.' But like tonight, I just can't seem to give up the breastfeeding.

I want to give up breastfeeding but I don't at the same time iykwim? I know I need to decide soon which one im going to do before my milk dries up etc.

I don't know what to do, there is pros and cons for each and even though I want to bottle feed I miss breastfeeding and the convenience of it, not having to take equipment with me when I go out etc but I like the bottle because it means I haven't got a baby stuck to me almost constant

Need to decidebut I don't know what to do I don't want to do both breast and bottle, I want to do either one or the other

 

[LisaJ1986]

Have you thought about expressing? That way you're keeping your supply going and can give him a bottle when needed.
My older sister gave her son 1 feed a day on the breast, but gave up due to having two wild kids so it only lasted about 2 weeks.

 

[Lisamj]

Are there certain breastfeeds that you enjoy doing? Say for example your really enjoyed the first and last feed of the day...you could still do those from the boob and your supply will work itself around that, and then bottle feed the other feeds?

L xxx

 

[Squiglet]

I love bfing and once you start weaning and they feed less, then its 1000x more convenient than bottles. Your main gripe with feeding is the constant need to feed... Once thats gone, what are the other cons? In the long run bottle feeding will be much more complicated. In the first few months bfing is much more labour intensive... but once the baby gets into a routine... its much easier. The reason you have problems giving up is because bfing has a much stronger effect on the seratonin levels than any anti depressant... it becomes addictive but in a good way....

 

[beanie]

I don't usually recommend this but how about giving a formula feed at 6pm say, and breastfeed the rest of the time. Perhaps you could express and save that for the next day, maybe someone else could give him the bottle whilst you get stuff done? As long as it is just one bottle at the same time each day and you still give LO access to your boob during growth spurts (this is important to keep your suppky going) this shouldn't be a problem. Its not ideal but if it allows you to enjoy breastfeeding it is the best solution. I just feel from your posts you would be devastated to stop, and I don't want you to feel that I did this right at the begining with Cally, I gacve 2 oz of formula as I was getting very upset about not spending time with Seren and having to try and cook dinner (OH works late at times so it is just me) and found that I had to express so I saved the milk from that for the next day. This only lasted a short while with Cally as she hated the bottle and she also spaced out her feeds but it gave me the help I needed

 

[BabyMagic]

You are done well to get to this far. Do what you feel is the best (not really helpful I know ). All I can say is that the breastfeeding becomes easier later on. I noticed a great difference at around 9 - 10 weeks...

Like others have said what about trying to express, or give formula in the evening to give you a break?

 

[lisa&alex]

i started to enjoy it.. even though it was still hard work at aobut 4 weeks.. i knew i didnt want to give up. and i battled not to.

if you can try and express in the day and build up a supply for your partner to feed in the evening to give yourself a break and express off and store the milk for the next night you might feel like you are gettign a break..

the 6-10 pm fuss is still fresh in most breastfeeders minds.. i think its driven each and every one of us crazy..but it is completly normal.. its called cluster feeding, if you want to give one formula feed in the night then the other breastfeeds are still better than no breastfeeds.

for 6 weeks teds had 2 breastfeeds a day (but because i had to give him fomula because he wasnt gaining weight) and the rest formula. those 2 feeds were better than none. i wouldnt suggest dropping this amount of breastfeeds to anyone unless they medically have to because he weaned from me at 5 months.

breastfeeding is amazing.. noone else can give your baby that gift (unless you employ a wet nurse only in america ) you have given your baby the best start. if you choose to stop then you have done fantastically.. breastfeeding was the hardest job i have ever had to do.. but it was also reaallyyy rewarding..

whatever you decide we are here for you to support you..xx good luckxx

 

[andreag]

Hi
You have done so well to get this far, and probably done most of the hard work. It honestly does get easier and alot of babies drop feeds quite quickly. I know what you mean about the cluster feeds in the evening - Charlotte was on constantly in the evening but it did pass and she was sleeping through, with a dream feed of EBM when we went to bed, at 12 weeks.
I would agree with the others and build in an EBM feed to give you some time off.
I used to express off in the morning (every morning) and could get 7-8oz oce I had been going a while.
Do you have a local breastfeeding support group - I found this a great support.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Sherlock]

The thing is that the constant need to feed does pass. Growth spurts will mean more feeding but he should settle more. I can't see any other down sides to it for you atm.

I personally plan to keep breast feeding. I do tire sometimes of Galen's feeding demands but tbh can't bear to go over to formula as he loves my boobs so much. I can't stop that just because I am tired of the strain sometimes. But thats just me. I'm a stubborn cow Also love the ease of BF'ing. No washing, sterilising or preparing. Its there on tap in abundance

I'd look at all the pros and cons and weigh it up.

 

[weenik]

It does get easier, and as the others have said they eventually settle down with their feeds and can take more at the one time as their tummies grow. I just had it in my head that bf'ing was the way it was and plonked myself down in front of the tv or chatted on the phone while I was feeding Dylan. I think it was around 6 weeks that I felt really at ease with feeding him, and D did feed a lot because he lost a lot of weight when he was born. I expressed milk for some bottle feeds at around 8 weeks and froze it so I could use it when I wanted a break, then I went for a week trying to give him mostly expressed milk because I was worried how much he was getting but I found the expressing for most feeds almost impossible and much more tiring and time consuming that just putting him on the boob.

At the end of the day, you need to do what's best for both of you. As you know, they don't stay babies for long and you want to enjoy him all the time and not be upset or stressed about at feeding times xx

 

[Rachel]

Thanks for your replies

Im going to do what beanie said and give him one formula bottle around 6pm so I get a break for abit but breastfeed him for the rest of his feeds. The 6-10.30pm is the only feed I really have trouble with because it's every 5mins and is also the time I need to bath Nathan and put him to bed etc (Im single so I don't have anyone who could do this for me while I feed Kieran)

I've given him EBM before and even after drinking a bottle of that in the evening he wants to go back on me pretty soon after

Atleast if I give him a bottle at around 6pm it means I can put Nathan to bed without Kieran crying for another feed and I get abit of a break