Please tell me it’s ok to switch to formula

[Anonymous]

It's fine!

Hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider whether you want to try doing both. I supplemented with formula for 6 months (and then switched entirely to formula). My supply was fine and never dropped off, my kid slept so much better, and I was much better rested.

It is a perfectly great decision to switch to formula, but you seem very torn over it. Give yourself the gift of not having to make this decision right now while you are so tired and in pain. Do both. See how it feels. You may decide to do both for a while. You also may decide that formula is so much better for your family and it confirms that this is the right decision.

She has *blisters.* I combo fed but come ON.

I think it is 100% ok to switch.

But pp is not wrong either. I had bruises and blisters and ended up combofeeding until my child was taking enough in to replace the formula. I can relate to the strong pull to continue that OP has mentioned. I thought it was crazy for me to be so invested in continuing and it was but at the end of the day I’m glad I did. It’s ok to honor both sets of feelings.

Weird how it's such a strong psychological and emotional decision for moms. I read the suggestions to combo feed and my knee jerk reaction is "how dare you suggest op put yourself through one more day of pain. It's insulting and it induces guilt to make her feel like if she could only try HARDER she could succeed." And succeed at something that isn't necessary, at that.

Whereas some people might look at your posts and feel inspired to stick with their determination to breastfeed.

Obviously you know my opinion. I'm just commenting on how differently people experience the act of feeding a baby.

I’m not the immediate pp but another combo suggester. I’m sorry. The only reason I suggested it is that I assume if someone tries breastfeeding in the first place they want to do it, and I don’t question that. Just trying to give options.

[Anonymous]

Would exclusive pumping be painful?

[Anonymous]

Switch, OP!

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update - we're about a week into the our transition to formula. We looked at all the options (combo feeding, continuing to breastfeed, pumping), and we decided to transition to formula completely. I gave the first bottle of formula when we had visitors over and I didn't want to sequester myself in another room for 45 minutes. It was so much easier than nursing that I cried from relief afterward. I had no idea how simple it could be to feed him.

Baby is doing amazing and gaining weight beautifully. The last few nights, I've been able to sleep about 4 hours in a row because DH can do the first half of the night without waking me up. Baby still likes to cluster feed every few days and rarely goes more than 2 hours in between feedings (little guy wants to grow quickly!!), so this would be absolutely impossible if I was still the sole food source. I'm also so much more present, physically and mentally, for our toddler.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and the wisdom that you shared. These decisions feel so emotionally fraught and loaded when we're making them, and sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones make things even harder. I still feel some sadness that this was so hard for us and that we couldn't make nursing work. But I know that it was the right decision for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here with an update - we're about a week into the our transition to formula. We looked at all the options (combo feeding, continuing to breastfeed, pumping), and we decided to transition to formula completely. I gave the first bottle of formula when we had visitors over and I didn't want to sequester myself in another room for 45 minutes. It was so much easier than nursing that I cried from relief afterward. I had no idea how simple it could be to feed him.

Baby is doing amazing and gaining weight beautifully. The last few nights, I've been able to sleep about 4 hours in a row because DH can do the first half of the night without waking me up. Baby still likes to cluster feed every few days and rarely goes more than 2 hours in between feedings (little guy wants to grow quickly!!), so this would be absolutely impossible if I was still the sole food source. I'm also so much more present, physically and mentally, for our toddler.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and the wisdom that you shared. These decisions feel so emotionally fraught and loaded when we're making them, and sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones make things even harder. I still feel some sadness that this was so hard for us and that we couldn't make nursing work. But I know that it was the right decision for our family.

Congratulations and hugs to you, OP. <3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baby was born last week. He latched right away and my supply is fine so far. It’s been super painful, though. I developed bruising and blisters within the first 12 hours. It was excruciating until I started using nipple shields, now it’s still very painful but bearable.

Two lactation consultants have told me his latch looks good and suggested that I get him checked for tongue tie. Pediatrician didn’t detect one. So basically, no one really knows why he’s continuing to feed in a way that feels like every single suck is a chomp on my nipple. No one can tell me if/how/when this will get better.

I breastfed my first for over a year. I also had a TON of pain in the first 8 weeks or so. The advice I got then was basically to tough it out, sometimes it just hurts until they get older. This turned out to be true, but even after the pain subsided, I struggled with mastitis, clogs, and generally with how hard it is to be the only one who can feed baby unless you plan it out and pump in advance.

Last night baby cluster fed every hour for 5 hours and it almost broke me. He’s on the smaller side, so he’s been eating a lot more often than my first did. Lactation consultants confirmed that he’s getting enough at each feed. I haven’t slept more than an hour or two at once since baby was born. I can’t interact with my toddler as much as my husband does because I’m always nursing the baby.

I guess I could pump, but then I’m spending even more time on feeding.

In spite of all this, it feels so wrong to throw in the towel so soon. My supply is great. If my first is any indication, this will get better in 6-8 weeks, so I feel like I should just tough it out. But I don’t want to.

Of course it's all right and, more importantly, you make the decision for what is best for you and your child.

Do not let the feminazi la leche league gestapo guilt you into anything. These control freaks drive a very good friend into a nervous breakdown!

Just remember that a happy and relaxed mother is the best thing for your baby

[Anonymous]

I breastfed for exactly 3 days and then switched to formula Mommy and baby happy, ahhh.

[Anonymous]

Thrilled for you, OP. Thanks for the update.

[Anonymous]

I seriously wouldn't sweat it. I do know it's easier said than done with all of those hormones but looking back now I really wish I'd combo fed early and with confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! Here's my experience.
The short of it is, switch to formula/pumped milk/both until your nipples heal (use the lanolin liberally), then try again in a few days and supplement liberally with formula to make sure baby is fed. Maybe use an annoying slow flow bottle so he doesn't get too lazy.

This is basically what I'm trying to do. I just had my 3rd and am having trouble breast feeding him, though my other two I breastfed for a year each (plus pumping at work) with few issues and enjoyed it, except for a really difficult first two weeks.

With this one, my milk didn't come in for a few days, his "perfectly fine" latch blistered my nipples, and also the uterine cramps were something else. I switched to formula after two days of this to let my nipples heal with LOTS of lanolin get into at least pumping, and try again.

It's a week later and so far I have some success latching; good supply pumping; no more cramps; and I don't hesitate to finish up with formula when this isn't enough or when I can't handle it anymore. I hope to consult with another lactation consultant about the latch.

So - that's my ad hoc approach to give the breastfeeding another chance. It is good for baby to be able to tolerate formula so that you can leave him with others, even if you don't have a pumped stash, even if you choose to try to beat feed.

Good luck!

Yea, those cramps right after the 3rd baby seriously kicked my a$$. They don't tell you that it keeps getting worse the more babies you have.