Moms who are FFing

ksyknelvr73 · March 2011

I breastfed for the first 4 weeks and I have stopped and am going exclusively to formula. If you are FFing, how long did it take your milk to dry up? What steps did you take to assist in drying it? TIA : )

lilacsandals · March 2011

I only BF for 2 weeks and my supply was really low/ nearly non-existent. I stopped cold turkey and had one day of being kind of uncomfortable. Took some ibuprofen and put ice packs on them and was much better day 2. I've heard Sudafed can help dry you up quicker as well.

RumbleLina · March 2011

I started out pumping and bottlefeeding in the beginning then we switched to BFing and supplementing with formula every 3rd bottle. But now it seems we have slowly just transitioned to mainly FFing after a month was up(not sure how that happened but it did). I will still BF him at certain times randomly and to help calm him if nothing else will but otherwise it is mainly FFing.

The transition took place over two weeks I would say and, as I said, every 3rd feeding he got a bottle then after a few days of that it turned into every other bottle for about a week and then it turned into BFing twice a day and by that time I could do all FFing without being engorged. I would wake up in the middle of the night sometimes feeling full (not engorged) so I would BF him at night mainly but that full feeling doesn't happen now.

I can still BF him if I want but not for a full meal, more like a snack. However, if I do not then it is no big deal and I have no pain or uncomfortableness.

mariannerules · March 2011

I FF from the start, I had 2 days of real discomfort and then a few days of improving before I was completely fine.

Mrs.HMommy · March 2011

I BF and pumped for 5 weeks then started formula. I weened the boobs off the pump by stretching the sessions longer and longer. I haven't pumped or BF in 2 days now and I feel good. I have a little bit of pressure or soreness here and there, but over all really easy transition.

ksyknelvr73 · March 2011

Thanks ladies for your input...I am struggling a little bit on my right side b/c I had a pretty good supply, but my left side it was barely anything, so that side feels fine. I'm hoping things go away quickly. I'm doing some pain meds and some cold packs, and hopefully it will be done by the weekend!

MrsN41809 · March 2011

I just switched to FF from EP and i just cut down the amount of time I was pumping and then cut out a few sessions, and then just pumped to get a little relief... all in all I am still leaking a bit but I am not pumping anymore. It took about a week for me.

njmoh · March 2011

I FF from the start. it took about a week for my milk to dry up. What helped me was wearing a good supportive bra all the time even to sleep and ice packs when i was really uncomfortable.

Tempus · March 2011

I EBFed for 2 1/2 weeks and had to switch to FF cause of a combination of things. I was moving into a new place, LO was wanting to eat every 1- 1 1/2 hours and I wasn't producing enough to keep up with her, and I was coming down with a nasty sinus infection so was sick as crap. It has been 2 weeks and I just finally dried up about 3 days ago. But I was only engorged and uncomfortable for maybe 2 or 3 days. So it wasn't too bad.