BFing to FFing

meganmccr

hi all!! Just wondering if any of you girlies switched to FFing and how you transitioned. My goal was to do 3 mths of exclusively BF and now that LO IS 3 months today I would love to start getting my body bk. My question is..is it better to slowly taper off like introduce a bottle when you would BF and not pump...or jut stop cold turkey. I am goin away for a bachelorette party in 2 wks and just don't want to worry about pumping and leaking so I would like to be all dried up by then. Would love to hear from ppl who have gone thru or who r going thru the transition..thanks!!

cas110688

I'm in the process of switching. I replace a boob feed w a bottle one every 3 days so I am not in pain. Some people do go cold turkey but I think I would be to uncomfortable!

sms04j

I've been supplementing formula for the past week since LO will be going to daycare soon. I plan to FF at daycare and BF at home for as long as I can take it. I started with a bottle during the day, to see if he had a reaction or got extra gassy. He seemed fine. I now supplement 12 bottles a day. One in the AM and ine before bed. I still pump though. I'm sure going cold turkey would be fine too as long as your LO takes te formula and doesn't have any reactions or get extra gassy.

snok83

I too am working on transitioning to FF. I have EP for the past 4 months and return to work in August.  I hope to be done and dried up by then.  Simply b/c I too don't want to worry about dragging my pump to work each day and then having to find a place to do it.  I have started by introducing 1 bottle of formula in the middle of the day.  After several days, I plan to increase to 2 bottles of formula per day and continue.  We plan to use our frozen BM stash in the AM and PM when she isn't in daycare until it runs out. 

The drying up process has sucked to be honest.  And taken much longer than I hoped.  I am on week 2 and have gotten down to about 2-3 pumps per day.   Though to get to this point, they are super engorged and hurt.  I am sitting here as we speak with ice on them.  I wish it were quicker and not as painful!    

meganmccr

That's what I'm afraid of...ugh maybe cold turkey is the best..I was told to wrap yourself in ace bandages and you would be dried up in 2 days. If you are pumping 23 times a day.,how much BM r u producing daily?? Also how much BM and formula are u feeding LO daily??

JSS1002

I did it slooooowly.  Week one I replaced one nursing / pumping session with formula; week two I replaced two sessions, week three replaced three sessions, etc.  I did not take anything or do anything to help my supply dry up, it just did so naturally.  I've been told that if you go cold turkey you're at risk for mastitis (no thanks).  Sudafed will help you dry up your supply.

Good luck!