Formula

suzienickles36 · October 2012

How early did you transition newborn from breastmilk to formula? Who has been exclusively formula? I don't want criticism on pushing through breast feeding. I am so stressed and baby seems distressed I just need advice on how to start formula feeds and others experiences please!!

twoitalians · October 2012

DS got formula in the hospital cuz he was in the NICU for 2 days and I wasn't pumping enough yet. Then he had nipple preference for the bottle so BF was a challenge to get him to start that. By the time he was sorta BFing fine the pedi said he had a milk protein allergy. So at 4 weeks we went from BF and FF to exclusive FF. For us, FF has been way less stressful than BF and all the pumping involved. I was so stressed from BF that I went cold turkey from pumping with only a day and a half of dealing with engorgement. I didn't have much production at the time.

So I'm not really any advice for transitioning since we did it so quickly, but for you, maybe slowly ease back especially if you've got a lot of milk production and start adding in more formula to your LO's feeding schedule. Or if you're so stressed, like me you probably could make a quicker switch but consult with your pedi if you feel nervousness about that. They can give you tips.

Good luck and remember your baby will get great nutrition from either breast milk or formula. Don't let anyone make you feel bad or guilty for not BF. For some people it just doesn't work out the way they planned.

jennakg · October 2012

I gave ds formula when he was a few days old. He had jaundice, and wasn't latching on and he needed food. I am still BFing, but I give formula occasionally (sometimes it's just more convenient when you're on the go). He was starving when I gave it to him, so he ate it right up. Now when I feed him formula I can tell he doesn't like it as much as breast milk, but he'll eat it. (That might just be the kind that I'm giving him.)

The most important thing is that you feed your child, no matter how you choose to do it.

MissIntentional · October 2012

We had to start supplementing with formula at a week old. She had jaundice and I had low milk supply.

suzienickles36 · October 2012

Thanks everyone! It's so hard to know what to do when everyone pushes breast only onto you. So, it's ok to give formula and breast milk until I can transition him off breast fully?

gingerfamily · October 2012

Dd was supplemented from day 1 due to my low supply. It's perfectly okay to do both.

p0nd77 · October 2012

I give ds2 both. To switch to ff completely do it as gradually as you can. With ds1 I was pumping and dropped 1 pump session every 34 days and replaced that with ff. took about 3 weeks to fully convert.

mindymaske · October 2012

I supplemented w/ formula from day 1 and then by week 6 she was exclusive formula. I suggest that you start formula slowly. Like pump your breastmilk and first make the bottle w/ 2/3 bm and 1/3 formula. Than after couple days you can go to 1/2 and 1/2, and so on. If you integrate slowly LO will be alot less likely to have tummy/poop issues. Start with either the Similac advacnce, enfamil premium or gerber good start gentle. Don't start off w/ the soy/sensitive formulas, go to those if you have to, the the regular are best for baby if baby handles them ok.

NJbaby2012 · October 2012

I introduced formula at about 4 weeks old. I did it at the pace I wanted to but many say introduce it earlier in the day and maybe one feeding to start..that way it's easy to monitor reactions.

Now my daughter gets formula all day, bm at night. She doesn't poop nearly as often now that we use formula so you will definitely see that change.

BellePomo · October 2012

We started with bottles of pumped breastmilk when LO was about 2 weeks old, to get him used to the feel of a bottle. I know experts say this is too young - but it worked for us, so mama could get some sleep. Then, once he was used to the bottle, at about 3 weeks, we started doing one bottle a day of formula. I pumped at those times to keep up my supply. I really like that he gets that one formula bottle a day, because I felt some of the pressure taken off of me. I know he's getting the benefits of breastmilk 7/8 feedings a day, but I also know that if I need to be away from him for the day and can't keep up pumping, then he has formula which he loves to eat just as much as he loves breastmilk. Just be sure to read up on 'paced bottle feeding' - kellymom.com has an awesome article. It's about how to bottle-feed a breastfed baby, to mimic how he eats off the breast. What really helped me was to realize that breastfeeding doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Supplementing with formula gave me a feeling of freedom and flexibility, and I am much happier. And happy mamas make happy babies.

IBackBevo · October 2012

My LO never did well with combining formula and milk. He was started on formula in the NICU and was on exclusively formula for about the first week until my milk came in. After that, we were about on half formula bottles and half breast milk bottles. My supply has started dwindling and lately has taken a nose dive. Now we are down to one bottle a day. I'm in the process of drying up and then we will either cut out BM all together.

My suggestions, as PP have said, is to just transition slowly.

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