Transitioning from breastfeeding to formula help

christy1009

I am trying to transition from breastfeeding (I am pumping exclusively and feeding bottle), and I am trying to transition to formula. How do you cut back your supply gradually?  I didn't know if I am supposed to gradually make the pumping sessions longer periods between the sessions....I am pumping every 2 hours almost, so should I pump every 3 - 4 hours?  I have really bad engorgement and am afraid of making the pain worst. 

p0nd77

You are on the right track.  Take it slowly -- if you are pumping every 2 hours now, then go to every 3 hours.  Do that for a week and then go to every 4, etc.  I'm trying to do it now, but have to balance pumping with taking care of DS so I just do the best I can.  I was pumping 6 times a day, so now I'm trying to do only 5 times, etc.

jennylove1084

p0nd77:

You are on the right track.  Take it slowly -- if you are pumping every 2 hours now, then go to every 3 hours.  Do that for a week and then go to every 4, etc.  I'm trying to do it now, but have to balance pumping with taking care of DS so I just do the best I can.  I was pumping 6 times a day, so now I'm trying to do only 5 times, etc.

This is how I did it and it went great.  No engorgement or pain.

WendyNC

I just replied to your other post with my experience with DD1.

I

WendyNC

I just replied to your other post with my experience with DD1.

I

did

WendyNC

Sorry for extra posts! 

I just replied to your other post with my experience with DD1.

I did the same thing, just cut out pumping sessions gradually.  Then when I was down to one, I did the cabbage in the bra thing and also took Sudafed to help dry up.  It was just a couple of days of being really uncomfortable and then it passed. 

maze_bright

I know some ladies on here might think I'm crazy for how I did it, but it worked like a charm for me and it took two days for my supply to be almost completely gone. 

Buy one head of cabbage and tear off the leaves. Cut the vein out of it and chill it. Place a few leaves in each side of your bra. The coolness slows your milk build up and feels good on your skin, while the cabbage itself actually starts to stop your supply.

Also, but one bundle of fresh parsley and some sage. You can use dried sage, if you have it on hand. You need to make a tea out of these by soaking a dried clump of parsley and two tbsp sage in a mason jar or something comparable. Honestly, I didn't even bother with precise measurements. I just did it until the tea was very strong. Take that three times a day.

Lastly, I took sudafed every four hours. Apparently there's an ingredient in it that can also decrease your supply.

On top of all of that, I pumped only every couple of hours and just enough to take the pain away. It was very, very little. Expect some tightness and discomfort at first, but if you do all of those things you should start to see your supply cut back. I went from being totally engorged to having no milk in a matter of days. GL!