Done...

Jenny935

After several weeks of being dairy and soy free and pumping to keep up my supply while DS was on Alimentum to calm down his gut, we got the ok to go back to BF on Monday. DH & I made the decision along with the pedi that if the bloody symptoms returned, we'd be done BF and switch to Alimentum full time. He told us we'd know in about 48 hours. Around the 48 hour mark the poop got yucky and then there was blood this morning along with screaming poops again. So we're done. I had a feeling during our meal early this morning that it'd probably be the last one, since he was in so much tummy discomfort he could barely eat. I changed his diaper and got our answer. I feel bad for making him feel yucky again when he was fine on the formula, but hopefully the formula will make him all better ASAP like it did last time and I won't mess up his tummy any more. We need a healthy baby more than we need a breastfed baby, since at this point we can't figure out what is causing it. (If it's something dumb and not milk/soy related and he could have been on cheap formula, I'll go nuts later!) 

I am sad to lose the relationship, but the test week on formula taught me that we can still snuggle and be close and he's perfectly happy to take the bottle and it's so nice to see him NOT in pain. So we will be ok.

Now we need to figure out how to deal with all the logistics of bottle feeding - because as hard as BF was at the beginning, this is just as daunting! 

TJ1979

I'm sorry BFing didn't work out for you, but you are right, you can still cuddle and bond in other ways and while bottle feeding.  I hope LO feels all better really soon.  And don't be hard on yourself at all, you are doing what is best for your family. 

Did you keep the milk you pumped?  Try looking into mom-to-mom donation for that milk so it doesn't go to waste.  There are several FB sites for it, and you can ask the BF board for more info on where and how to donate.

kaf7

Sorry he's needing the alimentum but I hope he's feeling better soon. GL with the bottle routine. It seems a bit daunting to me too!

mnj05

I felt the same way but H has been sleeping only on me this week for naps so I know he still needs me in that respect. I'm glad the formula makes a difference.

IBackBevo

You will get the hang of it.  Alimentum gave us a new baby.  And my little guy loved the stuff even though it is stinky. 

And, IMO, formula feeding is so much easier.  At least it was for me because I was having to pump and then bottle feed him because he could not latch (too weak/small).

FYI - Every baby is different, but we did try our LO on regular formula and on sensitive and on "fussiness and gas" and none of them worked. Only the Alimentum worked. At 8 months, he is still on it.

angela2004

((HUGS)) Sorry BF didn't work for you guys. It's tough without all those problems.

Mrs.AmyDylan

Sorry it didn't workout, but glad you have an answer and solution to the horrible fussies and tummy problems. 

I echo TJ's suggestion to donate the milk. I've donated through Eats on Feets. Another group is human milk 4 human babies.  

queenbone

You are making the right decision, Momma. And I'm glad you are getting closure too, there won't be any what-ifs.

Hope the return to formula makes him feel better right away.

imoverit

Hugs. That could not have been easy.