February 2011 Moms

From Pumping to Formula Feeding...

Has anyone done this yet? I'm just too exhausted to continue pumping so I've started the process of weaning myself off. I'm down to only 3 times a day. My breasts are starting to really hurt between sessions and I am nervous about what it will feel like when I stop all together.  Has anyone gone through this process?  What seems to help best with the pain?

Also how did the transition go for your LO from exclusive breast milk to formula feeding? 

Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
PhotobucketPhotobucket

Re: From Pumping to Formula Feeding...

  • Put cabbage leaves in your bra. I don't know why this works, but when a friend of mine lost her baby at 38wks pg her dr's told her to do this so she wouldn't produce milk. After 2 wks of this she wasn't making any milk. You'll feel tightness in your boobs at first, but then they'll just feel like jello after a few days and you might experience 'relactation' around 6-8wks postpartum. Your body gives you an opportunity to make milk again, but if you ignore it it'll go away in a few days.
    CafeMom Tickers
    imageimage
  • Loading the player...
  • imageTiffanyTheMom:
    Put cabbage leaves in your bra. I don't know why this works, but when a friend of mine lost her baby at 38wks pg her dr's told her to do this so she wouldn't produce milk. After 2 wks of this she wasn't making any milk. You'll feel tightness in your boobs at first, but then they'll just feel like jello after a few days and you might experience 'relactation' around 6-8wks postpartum. Your body gives you an opportunity to make milk again, but if you ignore it it'll go away in a few days.

    Yup, cabbage leaves seem to help. Chill them first, wear them until they wilt and then refresh with new leaves. My friend lost two babies several months after birth, was breastfeeding and used this method both times to help dry herself up.

    Dee, Mommy to: Sofia, born 2/9/11, as well as three dogs, two cats and a multitude of chinchillas. Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Yes cabbage will def help if you get engorged but I doubt you will. I did this with my son. If you gradually extend the length of time before you pump and ween yourself slowly you shouldn't get engorged. I used frozen bags of peas too. Mine didn't engorge when I was switching over, but depends on your supply. Mine dwindled pretty easily. 
    Nicole, Mommy to baby Jordan Santiago born 3-31-06 and Isabella Grace born 1/28/2011 image
    image
    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • I went from exclusively pumping to formula because I could not keep up with all of it.

    I want to say it took me about a week to wean completely off pumping. I had a few times where my breasts hurt so badly that I did get up and pump but only until they quit hurting. I didn't save that milk either because it didn't look like regular breast milk.

    I started by going longer inbetween feeds. I did that at night first.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I have been pumping and formula feeding from the start because dd was a preemie. I alternate every other bottle. One of BM and the next one formula. I have been cutting back on my pumping because it was so exhausting to pump 8-10 times a day. First I cut down to 6 times a day and now I am down to 4 times a day. I have not had any issues with painful engorgement, but I never produced much milk in the first place. For me, just slowing cutting down my pumping sessions is working. Good luck to you!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"