If you ebf'd and then switched to ff I have a ?

TMDMJAOCT07 · August 2010

I currently ebf, and am debating weening for a few reasons. None of which seem very good in my head right now, and make me feel selfish but that isn't the case.

I'm just wondering why you switched, if you don't mind sharing, and letting me know how you did it. Did you drop 1 feeding at a time and then another one a few days later. Did you have to bounce between different formulas to find the right one for your lo.

I'm having such a hard time making this decision and really have no clue what I want to do.

Jen1231 · August 2010

I stopped because I had mastitis really badly and it's really effected my supply. I also go AF back really early so I think that had something to do with my supply issues as well. So, my body basically said that it was time to stop breastfeeding. We transitioned to formula really easily because he was already getting half breastmilk and half formula in every bottle because I wasn't making enough. If you're worried about the transition I would start giving your LO a little bit of formula now.

It really doesn't matter what your reason is to stop breastfeeding. It is your decision in the end. You're doing what you think is best for your baby. Don't let anyone make you feel bad if you quit. I am actually enjoying having my body back for the time being. I'll get to do it all over again in less than 9 months!

pandagirl15 · August 2010

I weaned her because I have to go back to work. It's really difficult to pump during the day. I felt bad, too, but she's thriving still! Don't worry, it will be ok. I just stopped about a month ago completely.

I started by dropping 1 feeding a week. At the end, it took about 2 weeks to dry completely, but it wasn't awful pain or anything. Just a bit uncomfortable.

I tried a few before we found one she liked, but once I actually started the weaning process, we were already on the one I wanted her to be on. The daycare she'll be going to provides formula as part of the fee, so made sure that was the one we ultimately were using.

LSYoung28 · August 2010

I stopped at 7.5 months, it became too much too keep up with his demand pumping at work. We started to just do formula during the day and I would still BF morning and night. We eventually just switched completely to formula all the time.

mayowife · August 2010

I went from having an oversupply to not producing quite enough- I caused it though. I was sleep deprived, so I chose to sleep through one feeding every night. My husband gave him a bottle. This used up my freezer stash. I introduced formula at just over 7 months. DS took the first sample we tried- Similac Advance.

Right now I breastfeed in the morning, bottle feed breastmilk twice during the day and once in the middle on the night, and bottle feed formula before he goes to bed.

When I go back to work in September he'll be breastfeed in the morning, get two formula bottles at the babysitter, formula bottle before bed, and breastmilk bottle in the middle of the night. This means I won't have to pump at work. I might pump after I feed him in the morning and I'll always pump at least once in the evening when I'm home. I'll keep that up as long as it lasts.

cerad5 · August 2010

I EBF for 2 weeks, so I don't know if I really count. I had to have my gallbladder out a week after my C-section and it was just too much on my body so I switched to formula. I didn't drop any feedings, I stopped cold turkey. WORST THING TO DO! We went straight to Enfamil Lipil because that's what our Pedi recommended. I know some parents switch formulas very quickly, but it can take a few days for LO's belly to get used to something new. HTH.

KateLouise · August 2010

I'm still breastfeeding but I have a few friends who have weaned so thought I'd share their reasons.

- Low supply

- returning to work

- Wanting her breasts/body back - to feel like herself again

- wanting to share the feeding load with DH

Novem06 · August 2010

I am in the process and am also very torn about it. I have started to just pump twice at work instead of 3 times and supplement with bottles more. DS has always had a bottle of formula along with nursing before bed (he falls asleep before getting full) so we have just increased that same formula (similac advance early shield). I'm guessing the next step is just pumping once mid day.

My selfish reasons to wean include: wanting to lose the last 10+ lbs that my body is hanging onto (still can't fit into any pre-preggo jeans or shirts); feeling like a pack mule every day for work. I'm in sales so have to find a spot to pull over and pump in my car, pack extra coolers with ice, shoo my boss out of the car if she is riding with me, etc; the biting and being super distracted. DS has 2 bottom teeth and 4 top and is more interested in the dog then nursing.

However, I'm so torn because I know how much he does love nursing and its our special time together. Plus it means he is growing up and not my tiny little baby anymore. When I think of our very last nursing session I start to cry. I'm guessing I will keep morning and night sessions until I completely dry up.

antzd · August 2010

I pumped during the day and BFed at night due to my LO having a CHD and having to count her calories so my supply was always kind of iffy. When i went back to work my supply tanked and I had to start supplementing. MY LO HATED formula so I started putting an ounce of formula in each bottle. As my supply went down or her demand went up I would add another ounce. After a month or so I gave her 2 bottles of BM and 3-4 of formula. Now she is 100% formula fed.

vtgirl1949 · August 2010

Don't feel guilty. I think there is a lot of pressure now a days to BF, but it's not right for everyone. I quit b/c my DD has a milk protein allergy and it was very hard to eliminate all milk from my diet and I was miserable and my DD was miserable. So, finally I thought "why am I doing this if I'm miserable?". I quit and it was the best decision for both of us. My baby stopped screaming at night b/c the formula (Similac Alimentum - special hypoallergenic formula) eliminated all dairy and I was much happier giving bottles. So, in the end it was a good thing for me to quit.

vtgirl1949 · August 2010

Oh, and I dropped 1 feeding at a time, every 3 or 4 days. At the very end I would pump once a day for a few minutes (3 -5 minutes or less) just to reduce the pressure and then I eliminated that by reducing it a few minutes and increasing the time between pumping (every day, then every day and a half, then every other day, then stopped completely).

Cali Mommy519 · August 2010

I just did a post on this yesterday. I was in tears all day just thinking about this, if you check my last post you can read the responses i got.

6+ months is great!! We should be proud of this. I to feel SUPER selfish. but i think its right for the both of us. just super emotional!

Please let me know if you need support, im doing the same thing as we speak!! GL!

((HUGS)) I know i can use them to!

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