Stopping breastfeeding

Maybe express?

I think the same as you every single day. I expressed 8 times a day when he was born for the first few weeks as he was premature and couldn’t latch. Now he can after much pain for me but I worry about weight gain, winding as he seems to have more reflux now and he’s also very attached to me constantly which I don’t mind but it is challenging and he wakes more in the night even with a bottle of formula before sleep. You are not alone. But I worked so hard to get the milk in I’m fighting giving it up ….

From what I know, formula fed babies tend to sleep better, but they are also more likely to die from sids. Breastfed babies wake up more at night, but as lighter sleepers their risk of sids is halved.

I think the same but only because of my baby’s allergies - I’m off all dairy, soy, and egg. It’s SO incredibly hard there’s basically nothing to eat. BUT - from experience I do have to tell you that bottle feeding is in no way shape or form easier. I did it with my first and it’s soooo much more work than just breastfeeding. Getting up in the night to make bottles, having to make one when baby is screaming from hunger, needing everything ready to get out the house, using a freaking flask of boiled water and one of cooled water and the powder to make formula while you’re out, the washing and sterilizing… It’s a complete myth that formula babies sleep better, every baby is different and switching to formula wouldn’t necessarily mean longer stretches of sleep. With all that said, I’m a big ‘fed is best’ person so you do what’s right for you. Just wouldn’t want someone making the switch because they think formula is easier bc it’s not

@Marina damn that was dark!

@Paige right? 😅 I do have to say it, saying the risk of SIDS is halved by breastfeeding is wild. There is research that breastfed babies have a lower risk, but not that much. And also 72% of SIDS deaths happen in months 1-4 and our babies are just about out of that range.

Don't worry, your baby is getting what he needs from you. Sounds like you know what to look for with the weight gain and wet nappies and don't need to worry. Your baby is definitely not better of with formula your doing great and Breastmilk has so many additional benefits. That being said you are important too. Try to relax and enjoy feeding your baby but it's ok to do what's best for you too and if you're not enjoying breastfeeding that's also OK. In terms of sleeping better formula is harder to digest than Breastmilk so apparently some babies can sleep for longer as taking longer to digest can lead to asking for milk less often. Every baby is different though so don't expect it.

Exactly. It’s just madness. It’s like she’s trying to say we’re trying to kill our babies off because we’re using formula. I breastfed for six weeks religiously and then I just dried up. My baby was screaming and sucking so I squeezed my nipples and nothing came out and hasn’t since that day. Sorry @Marina for trying to kill my baby by making sure she’s fed! There was actual no need for SIDs to even be bought up! Sorry just mad about this. My friend lost his baby due to SIDs and actually funnily enough the baby was being breastfed.

If he's gaining weight I'm sure you're doing fab. I switched my first daughter at 8 weeks to formula because I wasn't producing enough ('medical issues) but she slept through the night from 6 weeks and was breastfed then. My 2nd daughter has been formula fed from 2 days old and isn't the greatest of sleepers so I wouldn't say formula fed babies are better sleepers I think it depends on the baby. That being said its your choice maybe try combi feeding instead?

whilst I am breastfeeding mum I always say fed is best. Sounds like baby is getting enough milk from the sounds of things - putting on weight/wet nappies but if it’s impacting your mental health then that’s a good enough reason for a switch as any.

@Marina wow. I would maybe do some more research before spouting rubbish like this. On average formula fed babies can sleep for around 30 minutes more than breastfed babies, not exactly a huge amount. It all depends on the baby 🤦🏼‍♀️

I breastfed for 6ish weeks I tried combi feeding but she just got confused and was fussy with boob and bottle. Once I stuck to formula I realised how stressful breast feeding had been for me. Lots of people could help, she now has a pretty set routine & sleeps 12 hours a night. I feel she is so much more relaxed because I am finally relaxed. I felt guilty to start but now I think it's the best thing I did xx

@Paige That's not what I said. It is a fact according to the Lullaby Trust, who are experts in Sids. Sids is a horrible and tragic thing and no one deserves to go through it. Everyone feeds their babies how they want, but I think it's good to know the pros and cons of both methods. Trying to insinuate I said something I didn't is just putting words into my mouth and you're just looking for outrage at that point.

@Lauryn Should the Lullaby Trust do more research then? They are a Trust focusing on reducing Sids rates and their research shows Sids deaths are halved by breastfeeding. Look it up if you don't believe me. And yes, I have researched this thoroughly, I'm terrified of Sids as it is a horrible reality, if I hadn't got this from a trusted source, I wouldn't have mentioned it.

This person just asked about stopping breastfeeding not a post to make her potentially feel guilty. I literally dried up. Others can’t breastfeed even if they wanted to. Just have some consideration there was zero need to even mention anything at all to with SIDs. You can clearly tell from her post she’s stressed out and a comment like that is going to stress her out or make her feel certain ways. Just consider people’s feelings. Many women are out here wishing they could breastfeed and physically are unable to me being one and it just makes people feel uncomfortable and a certain way.

I only managed six weeks before I just dried up she only had a little bit of formula in hospital prior to that until my milk came through so does that mean because I didn’t manage 2 months I put my baby at risk!

@Paige it feels like you’re actively trying to have a fight. You don’t need to feel guilty about something that was out of your control. It sucks. And I am sorry. The fact is your baby did have a higher risk but they’re alright now and that’s all that matters. It’s not like you did it on purpose, Marina is just trying to give information that the OP may find important when making a decision. No one was trying to guilt trip anyone. It’s a delicate topic.

It sounded very much that she was trying to make her feel guilty for considering it.

@Paige that’s reading between the lines. People communicate differently.

Correct and people just write comments that are completely irrelevant. She could have worded it 100% different. She could have said the risks of Sid’s are higher with formula fed babies not that they are more likely to die.

@Paige i see no difference between the two examples you just gave??? Her comment isn’t irrelevant at all

Look love I don’t know you nor do I care to know you. The woman was asking for support and guidance as she was feeling stressed out with breastfeeding and someone then comes along to say if you don’t breastfeed and use formula your baby is more likely to die it’s not exactly what the women what’s to hear when she’s already stressed. Just got to have some consideration!

@Paige when it comes to babies’ health it’s not all about what we “want to hear” is it. If you’re all going to encourage her to give her baby formula (which is the reason why breastfeeding after 3 months is rare in this country) someone should also mention that “sleeping longer” is not a “benefit” from formula feeding. And don’t worry, the feeling is totally mutual.

@Marina well my baby from 2 weeks old has slept from 10 till 6 and she was breastfed for 6 weeks. She’s now 3 month nearly 4 months and will sleep 8-6/7 and the only difference really is her age. She’s only been doing that the past two weeks prior to that even breastfed and bottle fed she was 10-6/7 for 14 weeks as she’s 16 weeks tomorrow. There is no scientific evidence that says formula fed babies sleep longer. There is evidence to say that breastfed babies cry more, laugh less and genuinely have more challenging tantrums. Facts and evidence about that one. So I’ll carry on giving my daughter formula and hearing her little giggles. Thank you very much this conversation is now over and I’m now going back to sleep as my daughter is still asleep and will be for another 2 hours so I don’t even know why I’m awake. So goodbye.

@Paige hahaha you’re crazy