My baby is only10 days old and is having trouble breastfeeding. I want to switch to formula any tips?

Question

I have numerous problems with breastfeeding i have done it for 10 days and i now have infection from my stitches and i have been put on antibiotics etc and just feel generally unwell. My nipples are very sore and my baby just wants to feed, feed, and better feed.

We have sat down at length me and my partner and decided we think it is best for baby to be tried on formula, due to all the problems and my poor diet.

Does anyone have any advice on what to get and how to do it, and how much to feed, and what will happen to my milk. I am a first time mum and just dont know what to do

Any help much much appreciated

Answer 1

first of all, congratulations on the new baby, and for trying to breast feed. it is very commendable. the choice is entirely yours, and dont feel guilty about anything. i was also in a similar boat, but i had a friend who continued to push me to breast feed, and encouraged me not to give up until i tried for at least 6 weeks. it paid off. i love breast feeding, but can also assure you that my first priority was my baby's nutrition and so i gave in to formula for a few days in the beginning while continuing to pump and feed her that as well. your nipples will feel better, use a lanolin cream to soothe them. there are also gel pads that you can use to soothe them. drink lots of water, eat protein and maybe take a fenugreek supplement, all guaranteed to increase milk production.

if it still does not work, congratulations for trying anyway! good luck, you are doing a fabulous job.

Answer 2

hi there, im a first time mum to with a 6 day old baby girl.

i know what ur feeling, my nipples are heaps sore to, but ive noticed the more i do it the better they will be. I have had no probs with feeding, but when you do try make ur nipple a little errect so the baby can latch on. if you have hard spots in ur breast while u are breast feeding try and massage the lump towards the nipple, this most certaintly helps with the soreness... it will get easier, today has been the first day there not so sore were ur clenching ur teeth when she latches on

I also have stitches, i was going to start some antibiotics but im trying some alternates...

try ural for help with stop stinging when peeing, that has helped me a h**l of alot. and ive been having half foot deep baths every night with salt in it. i get the 1 litre bags and put half of that in... i have felt sooooooooooooo much better since....

hang in there, it does get better, i can feel ur pain going through the same thing

samantha

Answer 3

Try to contact a lactation consultant before u give up so easily, perserverance is the key, ur both still learning and i found with my 1st baby that the right person to help u show the way is all i needed as i to was going to give up.

Its the best for ur bub and once u get the hang of it u will be wrapt at the feeling ur giving ur baby the best start in life.

Answer 4

Do it Do iT Do iT, if you are not happy and comfortable breastfeeding then stop.Not only is the health of your baby important but your health is too. Your baby will still thrive on formula. Buy whatever brand suits the budget and start with whatever quantity they recommend. If you have a hungry baby feed him/her more A content baby AND MOTHER makes life so much easier and relaxed .  

Answer 5

Cook some OATMEAL with milk. It will help you loose weight and it will produce ALLOT of milk. Have a zip of beer. Drink ALLOT of WATER and MILK. MILK gets you and your b***s fool.This realy works for the anemic cheeks. Try this before you get your poor baby to drink that nasty formula.  

Answer 6

breast is best we get it but if i am not mistaken you never asked how to increase your milk !!!!!    if you have exhausted every option with the breast feeding then well done for trying i breast fed for two weeks and like you had one problem after another dont beat yourself up about it baby needs happy healthy mum you need to buy 6 bottles and formula milk sma comes to mind you make up feed by using cooled boiled water then adding scoops of milk its all on the tin as for feeding most bottle fed babies will feed every 2 to 4 hours its easy once you get started and daddy can help too, use cabbage leaves on your b*****s to draw out the milk ask midwife she will tell you this is the best option good luck x  

Answer 7

Hi,

first of all congratulations! I'm from the UK and can definitely recommend Aptamil 1, great formula as close to breast milk as you can get it, no problems with constipation or vomiting. If you want to try and breastfeed later on, buy a good breast pump to keep up your supply (pump at least 8 times a day). I'm breastfeeding (plus pumping) and bottle feeding, works out fine. Good luck, hope you feel better soon

Answer 8

I have two children, neither of which was breastfeed and they are both happy and healthy as can be.  Just get a good formula, Enfamil or Simaliac.  Great Start is also good and a bit cheaper.  Your baby may not care for a bottle at first but he will get the hang of it. Don't beat yourself up for not breastfeeding, its not for everyone.  

Answer 9

After only 10 days of breastfeeding, you shouldn't have any problems getting rid of milk.  You will feel full for a while but that should soon ease.  If you have problems, tablets can be given but doctors don't normally give them these days unless truly needed - they used to be handed out on demand but not now.  

As your nipples are sore, it seems that you have not got latching on right.  This may be why the baby wants to feed all the time, but be aware that it is normal for newborn babies to feed a lot, so it may not be the problem that you think.

Your poor diet will not be a problem to the baby.  Women in impoverished nations with very poor diets breastfeed.  You would have to be very malnourished over a long period before it would start to affect your baby.  No matter what your diet is, it is still better for your baby than formula.  So if this is a major reason for quitting breastfeeding, you may want to reconsider.

However, if you truly want to switch to formula, then be pleased that you have breastfed, even though for only 10 days.  It will still have benefitted the baby.  

As for what to get - start with a normal formula, not one for extra hungry babies.  It doesn't matter which brand.  They are all suitable.  You will need a steriliser.  If you have a microwave, then a microwave steriliser is the easiest kind to use.  Nowadays most health care professionals recommend bottle feeding on demand, so make up small bottles and have plenty of them available.  I've never made up  bottles but I did have to buy a steriliser because my second child was getting folic acid supplements and I had to sterilise the dropper.  The microwave steriliser made the job easy.  

Bottle feeding, I think, is a lot of work, which will be hard with your problems with infection etc, so if your partner can be around to help at first, it will be useful.  You will have to get up in the night to organise a bottle instead of just taking the baby into bed, and organise sterilising and making up of bottles.

Good luck, and if you feel low, remember that the initial problems will pass within a few weeks.  It can be strange to begin with, particularly since your hormones are a bit all over the place.  Enjoy your baby.