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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
No flames please, just need advice
DD will be 5 months old next week, and I think we've come to the end of our BFing journey. It's been a struggle from the start. I EPed for the first two months and through determination got her to latch again. The LC believes she has a posterior tongue tie (which she said normally cannot be clipped) and a high palette. Therefore, she still has a poor latch and even though we've tried numerous strategies I have a lot of pain. She also is getting her first tooth, which really hurts since she's never on correctly. The LC is surprised we've gotten this far since we've endured such struggles.
I have no idea how to go about weaning her. She is not on solids right now. So do I slowly introduce formula and solids or just formula? How do I know how much to give her? Currently she eats every 3 hours during the day (5-6 times) and STTN.
Has anyone weaned around the same time or have any advice. Thank you!
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Re: No flames please, just need advice
I would wait on the solids and start out offering her one bottle of about 5-6 ounces a day. Build up from there depending on how it goes, you can decide whether you want to wean quickly depending on how you and your LO handle it. You can pump to reduce pain in your breasts as it comes up and then give her that pumped breast milk.
Kudos for you to sticking with the breast feeding for so long.
I would drop 1-2 feedings a day and give her formula. I would start with maybe 5 ounces and see how she does with that. If she doesn't finish it, then it was too much. If she is crying for more, then give her another ounce. I played around with that while I introduced formula and now at 5 1/2 months she is at 8 oz a feeding.
Start with the formula for a few days. HOld off on the food until you see how she does with the formula. You don't want to introduce both at the same time b/c if she is fussy or reacts to something, you won't know if it was the formula or cerearl.
Good luck!!
Im not sure how to have her go to a bottle - I bottle fed lo because of problems. You shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to stop. You did a great job. If your in pain, that's not good. My opinion is you don't want to dread feeding your baby. And I feel that's what will happen if you try to force it. 5 months is fantastic! You gave what you could. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decisions. You need to do whats best for you and your baby. If your not comfortable, your baby won't be either.
I know there's a lot of pressure - I felt it when I had to tell people I wasn't breastfeeding. Eventhough it's a personal choice people think they can give their imput to change your mind. It's no one's business how you feed your baby but your own.
We just switched to formula in the last few weeks. I would replace one feeding every 2 days with a bottle of formula. (so days 1 and 2 only one bottle, days 2 and 4 two bottles, etc)
Continue with the solids, too. DS eats about 6 oz each feeding and sometimes 8oz. We always start with a 6 oz bottle and then just mix 2 oz at a time if he seems to be hungry still. He eats 6 or 7 times during the day and STTN. I don't know how many oz a day he eats, I've never kept track.
After about a week I would only pump when I felt engorged or full. It took about 3 weeks to dry up.
DS didn't have any trouble taking the formula at all. We've been weeding through our freezer stash as well.
Good luck and you should be proud of yourself! BFing wasn't easy for me without all the complications you've made it through
This. Good job!
It is typically recommended to replace one feeding in the middle of the day with formula for the first couple of days. Then replace two feedings, then three, etc. Starting with the middle of the day feedings and working earlier and later. So, the early morning and late night feedings are the last to get replaced. Although, if you are desperate to stop nursing, you can quit cold turkey (it won't hurt the baby), it just may be uncomfortable for you.
Just as a tip, look for formulas without Palm Olein in them. This additive can cause constipation in some babies. Similac seems to have worked the best for me and has stools closest to those of a BFed baby.
I'm normally a lurker, but I've had a similar experience with the tongue tie and thought I'd share my experience.
I have no advice for weaning, since I'm still BFing. My son had a posterior tongue tie and they CAN be clipped. The challenge is finding a doc to do it. Most think it's unnecessary...tell that to my nipples! Anyway, my pediatrician couldn't even find it, my LC did and sent me to a Peds ENT. He clipped it just the same way that an anterior tongue tie is clipped. It took all of 2 seconds, a little crying and it was done. I BF'ed my son right there in the office and felt an IMMEDIATE difference. I was sore for a few days after (while my nipples healed), but since then I've had no problems!
Just thought I'd share in case you are still interested in BFing a little longer. Good luck with whatever you choose! You are doing what's best for you and your baby!
This and congrats for going so long!