Making the switch from breastmilk to formula...???

Cassi - posted on 07/30/2009

Thanks! I actually got to talk to my doctor tonight and to make it a quicker process i'm doing every other time nursing and formula in between... plus after nursing i'm drying up so much that he's taking another 3 or 4 ounces to that... it just was so sudden and unexpected! a week ago everything was fine, but he's been so cranky. i'm just glad i caught it before he started starving, I feel terrible, but I am glad I can go on here and get a little help.

Amber - posted on 07/30/2009

i naturally dried up after 2 months of breastfeeding it does happen. the way i did it with my daughter was to pump as much as i could and i would feed her half formula and half breastmilk bottles. my daughter only eats about 4 to 5 ozs at a time so my suggestion as to how many oz to start with i would try a couple of 8 oz bottles just to see how much he drinks out of them and adjust to how much he can handle.

Cassi - posted on 07/29/2009

I was really ready to make the switch at 6 months, but he wasn't ready, I just couldn't get him to take a bottle so I continued. I have been nursing him every 2 hours for the past week and every hour for the past 2 days. I'm not sure what has happened, but I feel like my body is giving up. As much as I would love to continue to breastfeed I just don't feel like my body is up for it anymore. This last week has been very very tough on the both of us. I hadn't even thought that I just wasn't producing enough for him. The poor child has been starving and I think for me to feel okay and know he is getting plenty is to go ahead and make the switch. Thank you so much for the info Vicki, I had to make the switch with my first at 2 months of age and I don't remember at all how I did it!

Vicki - posted on 07/29/2009

The nutritional information from the local health authority says about 720-1250mL breastmilk or formula a day. Sips of water are allowed, juice isn't necessary, limit to 60mL. Then it goes on about solids. For 9 to 12 months, about 625-950mL breastmilk or formula.

I'd be inclined to advocate you continue breastfeeding. There are many ways to up your supply, by pumping, feeding more often, I've heard many mention fenugreek. Continue to feed on demand as always. The more you supplement with formula, the more your supply will decrease. If you stop nursing completely to use only formula, you'll become engourged for sure.