Switching from BF to FF

indieknits · Feb 24th, 2010, 03:23 AM

Hi All,

I'm considering switching from breastfeeding to formula feeding. Emma is 11 weeks old now and BFing is going great, but I am exhausted and feel like I've got to the point where I could really do with a bit of help from hubby. It was always my plan to switch to FF as I have to go back to work at some point, and I am now starting to feel like the time is right. (Although I am dreading having to sterilise bottles! I know it'll be fine once I'm in a routine though.)

Has anyone else made the switch at this stage? What's the best way to go about it - I am thinking perhaps changing one feed per week? Emma feeds roughly 8-9 times a day at the moment, would she need to feed less often if on FF, or does this different for each baby?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

ETA She weighs 11lbs 4oz (5.15kg)

elm · Feb 24th, 2010, 16:44 PM

Have you tried expressing milk so that you can have a night off? Might be worth giving it a try and see how you feel? x

(there are laws in place that mean that if you're still breastfeeding when you go back to work you're entitled to breaks to express milk, just worth bearing in mind) x

(hope you don't mind me posting that, know it's not what you asked but I found that by expressing milk and having the occasional night off I had much more energy than I would have without doing it!)

indieknits · Feb 25th, 2010, 03:03 AM

I've tried expressing a few times now but it just doesn't work for me, really not sure why! I can never get more than a couple of oz. Maybe I should persevere with it.

elm · Feb 25th, 2010, 08:27 AM

You might find this helpful -

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html

Hope you don't think I'm telling you to express - just that it's an option if you want to consider it. I find warming my breast with a wheatpack first helped me to express more, as did fenugreek tablets x

indieknits · Feb 26th, 2010, 09:56 AM

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out now

dacosta · Mar 1st, 2010, 05:36 AM

i'm in the same position as you and will need to switch to ff when i go back to work so i'm thinking of introducing a ff each day and slowly increase it over time. i can express but finding the time to do it is tricky and i can only get some out if lo misses a feed soo its not really practical.

Nickij · Mar 1st, 2010, 08:23 AM

I started swtiching from FF to BF at about 10 weeks. At that point I had been expressing a feed a day and I was just fed up with it as it took so long, so I decided to replace that feed with a bottle of formula. He also used to mess around alot on the Boob- and sometimes scream at it - I think maybe he couldn't get it quick enough!

I basically introduced one more bottle of formula every 7-10 days. Jack had about 7 feeds a day before I did this now he is usually on 5-6. 4-5 bottles and 1 BF. He does feed alot better from the bottle I also feel its easier to tell when he is hungry, tired etc as I know how much food he is getting.

Saying that though I have been on 1 BF now for about 3 weeks and I keep saying I am going to stop completey soon - but I keep worring I am going to regret it.....

Jack is 18 weeks now - so we have been combined feeding for about 8 weeks.

dacosta · Mar 2nd, 2010, 10:12 AM

did your lo notice the change in taste from ebm?

nataliecn · Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:27 AM

When we switched, I had no choice but to go cold turkey.

He actually seemed ok as I put him on a sensitive formula.
Good luck!!

indieknits · Mar 3rd, 2010, 08:42 AM

I sometimes worry I'll regret it...but it has been on my mind since before Emma was born so I feel like I've given it lots of thought.

I think I may introduce the first bottle at the dreamfeed, when Emms is sleepy and not desperate for food.

Feb 24th, 2010, 03:23 AM	#1
indieknits Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 180	Switching from BF to FF Hi All, I'm considering switching from breastfeeding to formula feeding. Emma is 11 weeks old now and BFing is going great, but I am exhausted and feel like I've got to the point where I could really do with a bit of help from hubby. It was always my plan to switch to FF as I have to go back to work at some point, and I am now starting to feel like the time is right. (Although I am dreading having to sterilise bottles! I know it'll be fine once I'm in a routine though.) Has anyone else made the switch at this stage? What's the best way to go about it - I am thinking perhaps changing one feed per week? Emma feeds roughly 8-9 times a day at the moment, would she need to feed less often if on FF, or does this different for each baby? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give! ETA She weighs 11lbs 4oz (5.15kg)

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Feb 24th, 2010, 16:44 PM	#2
elm Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: United Slingdom Posts: 6,324	Have you tried expressing milk so that you can have a night off? Might be worth giving it a try and see how you feel? x (there are laws in place that mean that if you're still breastfeeding when you go back to work you're entitled to breaks to express milk, just worth bearing in mind) x (hope you don't mind me posting that, know it's not what you asked but I found that by expressing milk and having the occasional night off I had much more energy than I would have without doing it!)

Status: Offline

Feb 25th, 2010, 03:03 AM	#3
indieknits Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 180	I've tried expressing a few times now but it just doesn't work for me, really not sure why! I can never get more than a couple of oz. Maybe I should persevere with it.

Status: Offline

Feb 25th, 2010, 08:27 AM	#4
elm Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: United Slingdom Posts: 6,324	You might find this helpful - http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html Hope you don't think I'm telling you to express - just that it's an option if you want to consider it. I find warming my breast with a wheatpack first helped me to express more, as did fenugreek tablets x

Status: Offline

Feb 26th, 2010, 09:56 AM	#5
indieknits Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 180	Thanks for the link! I'll check it out now

Status: Offline

Mar 1st, 2010, 05:36 AM	#6
dacosta Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 825	i'm in the same position as you and will need to switch to ff when i go back to work so i'm thinking of introducing a ff each day and slowly increase it over time. i can express but finding the time to do it is tricky and i can only get some out if lo misses a feed soo its not really practical.

Status: Offline

Mar 1st, 2010, 08:23 AM	#7
Nickij Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,444	I started swtiching from FF to BF at about 10 weeks. At that point I had been expressing a feed a day and I was just fed up with it as it took so long, so I decided to replace that feed with a bottle of formula. He also used to mess around alot on the Boob- and sometimes scream at it - I think maybe he couldn't get it quick enough! I basically introduced one more bottle of formula every 7-10 days. Jack had about 7 feeds a day before I did this now he is usually on 5-6. 4-5 bottles and 1 BF. He does feed alot better from the bottle I also feel its easier to tell when he is hungry, tired etc as I know how much food he is getting. Saying that though I have been on 1 BF now for about 3 weeks and I keep saying I am going to stop completey soon - but I keep worring I am going to regret it..... Jack is 18 weeks now - so we have been combined feeding for about 8 weeks.

Status: Offline

Mar 2nd, 2010, 10:12 AM	#8
dacosta Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 825	did your lo notice the change in taste from ebm?

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:27 AM	#9
nataliecn Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 11,874	When we switched, I had no choice but to go cold turkey. He actually seemed ok as I put him on a sensitive formula. Good luck!!

Status: Offline

Mar 3rd, 2010, 08:42 AM	#10
indieknits Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 180	I sometimes worry I'll regret it...but it has been on my mind since before Emma was born so I feel like I've given it lots of thought. I think I may introduce the first bottle at the dreamfeed, when Emms is sleepy and not desperate for food.

Status: Offline

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