Switching to formula?

[Em91]

Hi ladies, after practically have a nervous breakdown & crying my eyes out for hours this eve weve decided to switch Olivia to formula..
As some of you might remember, she kept losing weight & then had oral thrush so she's been topped up with formula for about a week. She seemed fine switching between breast & bottle until a few days ago, now she's just not latching properly if she latches at all, we're both just getting so fustrated & I can't cope with feeling like that with my little girl, its not her fault she prefers bottle (so would I if its easier!)

Anyway because we're both so unhappy with it I spoke to OH & he agrees we should switch fully to formula
just wandering how you ladies went about it, because baby is used to being fed on demand do you switch to 4hrly? if they're hungry in between do you feed? with the combination feeding she was having 4 bottles after breastfeeds at about 9am 1pm 5pm & 9pm of about 3ozs so 4hrly anyway..

How much do babies of 3 weeks who are exclusively ff normally have? Thanks in advance for any advice..

feeling like a huge faliure tbh but I just want what's best for Olivia & I don't think me being so stressed & her getting so upset with latching was for the best


Using tapatalk so excuse the typos!

 

[Kayelle]

No idea on ff, but you are not a failure! You have given her some for 3 weeks which is great! The both of you being happy is most important x x

 

[Kirsty.Y.84]

You have done amazingly sticking at it for this long! It's fine to switch if that's what's keeping you all happy!

Although I've never formula fed, I did express and bottle feed Finn for his first 2 weeks as he wouldn't latch properly.(he does now!) I still demand fed him at first, but after a while, because he was getting a regular amount at each feed he got into his own sort of routine and would normally feed every 3 hours or so. So I would just feed her when she wants feeding and gradually she will get used to it. I think when Finn was 2 weeks he would take around 3 oz per feed.

Not sure if that helps, as obviously he was still breast, but from a bottle, but it's the same kind of thing x

 

[MrsT2011]

You've done amazing! It's really hard decision to switch to formula - I'm combi feeding as well and know how hard it is so you should be proud of yourself.
I would still feed on demand - I make up several bottles for the day each with 4 oz in - I don't get upset if I chuck formula away only breast milk! Well done for doing the best thing for you and your LO x

 

[VikkiR]

Each formula pack will give a guideline on volume and how many bottles a day. I think my lo was having 90-120 mls at that time and it was on demand which was every 2 hrs. Hth x

 

[vickib_1984]

You have done amazingly well I would make up 3oz bottles to begin with and feed her on demand and go from there


xxx

 

[kanga86]

U have done amazingly well to keep breastfeeding as long as u did with all ur problems to start with. U should never feel bad about switching fully, u have to do what's best for u and her. Xx

 

[BevG]

dont feel bad hun, i know EXACTLY what your going thru, Alyssa got really lazy with latching a week or 2 after i started topping her up and i almost quit completely but i just couldnt bear to do it lol, i just stopped worrying about it and kept offering her boob and then giving her a bottle if she wanted one, i never worried if she didnt want boob that feed etc and eventually she got her latch back good when she decided she liked breast milk better than formula. dont feel bad if you go on to exclusively ff as you tried your best and made it 3 whole weeks, thats nothing to be upset about thats a great start in life every little bit helps and the formula isnt the worst thing in the world and she will thrive on it lol. feel proud you got as far as you did cos i know first hand how horrible it is to have thrush so bad that you dread it more than going thru labour again. at one point my OH said i looked like it hurt more than pushing her out lol

 

[Em91]

Thanks for all your support as usual ladies. she's having 4ozs every 3hrs ish so far.

Using tapatalk so excuse the typos!

 

[Lolly85x]

You have done amazing!! Any breastfeeding is great! And there's nothing wrong with formula feeding.
I bf for 5 days... I just couldn't get the hang of it, was sore, tired. Was so hot and I could see my baby was thirsty. We gave him a bottle and it really upset me to see how much he enjoyed it, and needed it. I felt dissapointed in myself, but quickly got over it. My little boy is thriving. Were making 5 100ml bottles in the morning. And just demand feeding him. Sometimes he takes half s bottle, others he's looking for more after he's finished...xx

 

[KarenC]

I second what everyone else has said. You are NOT a failure - you've done the right thing by trying and even three weeks of BFing is really great. Well done, hun, you've been through a lot, and as one of my midwives said, she's had the best stuff already. Don't beat yourself up over it. I know it's hard, but you've got to be happy or baby won't be happy.

Sorry, I can't help with FF advice as I'm combi feeding. Good luck and hope you enjoy motherhood a bit more from now on. xxx

 

[hesty14]

Firstly you are NOT a failure. You have done amazing and are doing what all mummy's do; beat yourself up at every decision but also trusting your instinct at what your little angel needs.

I formula fed from the start as for many reasons BF was not for us. I would make up 3oz bottles and feed on demand. When LO is continually draining each bottle then start making 4ozs and so on.

I would make up about 3 bottles with just water and leave them on the side making as needed.

We soon were in a 3 hourly routine of 2-3ozs then went to 4ozs, 5ozs etc.

Please don't worry about the guidelines on the side of the packet about what they should be taking. My LO has never had a big appetite and when she should have been on 7ozs 5 times a day she was only taking 4-5oz. This caused me much stress but as she was sleeping and gaining weight I stopped stressing and that was my guide.

Xxx


On tapatalk so can't see tickers
Excuse the typos, phone has mind of its own.

 

[BellaRiven]

I can only add to what other people have said, you are not a failure, I think we all put so much pressure ourselves for BF to work, I tried for 2 weeks and R just wouldn't take so we switched to formula, I cried for 3 days and felt like the biggest failure until I realised I need to do what is best for my baby.

R takes at 11 weeks 210ml, he feeds when he wants to so pretty much demand feeding he has got himself into a routine of about every two to three hours dependant on if it's night, he still has two feeds at night time one at about two and one at about four.

Please don't think your a failure x x x