Starting on Formula at 4 months

Hello!

I'm new to this forum..and needed some practical thoughts on transitioning from BF to Formula.

BF was a tough time for me from the start..Had a whole lot of troubles, and I've coped for as long as I can. Managed to BF till my LO was 4 months..now, I'm planning to wean her onto Formula.

Somehow feel guilty abt this choice.. but I feel it is a practical option..And I think, baby and I will be happier together once BF troubles are over..

What do you think?

Why are you doing it if you feel guilty about it? To me that just means you dont really want to stop. I do agree that its your body and your decision, but it shouldnt be a decision thats making you feel bad or guilty.

BF'ing is hard and takes time, and anyone that says the opposite shouldnt be listened to IMO.

What are the problems you are having? Have you spoken to a Lactation consultant or a Nurse for advice?

Good luck with your decision

WestiesGirl wrote: Why are you doing it if you feel guilty about it? To me that just means you dont really want to stop. I do agree that its your body and your decision, but it shouldnt be a decision thats making you feel bad or guilty.

or maybe the guilt arises from the HUGE amount of pressure that is put on woman to BF.

I think you've done well to feed her for 4 months and if it's not working for you guys, and effecting your relationship with your child you should not feel guilty at all FFing! You have given it a good go!



Edited by freckle

freckle wrote: WestiesGirl wrote: Why are you doing it if you feel guilty about it? To me that just means you dont really want to stop. I do agree that its your body and your decision, but it shouldnt be a decision thats making you feel bad or guilty. or maybe the guilt arises from the HUGE amount of pressure that is put on woman to BF. I think you've done well to feed her for 4 months and if it's not working for you guys, and effecting your relationship with your child you should not feel guilty at all FFing! You have given it a good go!

Thanks a lot, freckle! Yes, I think I've done my best for baby, but it's been a real strain..in fact I've lost my appetite and weight due to constant stress..

Hope the FF plan works out OK..

WestiesGirl wrote: Im not interested in getting into the BF'ing debate.   All I was saying is that if you feel guilty about it then it may not be the right decision. You are the only person that can make yourself feel guilty. I agree, you've done a wonderful job getting to 4 months, particularly with the issues you mentioned, hell some woman dont even try! Im sure the FF transition will go smoothly.

Thank you for understanding my POV!
Here's hoping for the best!

We swapped to formula about 5 months after using it as top ups at night. You do what's right for you, and if you're happy with the decision go for it.

Try a few brands of formula if you need - the sachets are good. Try not to be afraid to ask for advice, which I found so hard to do with the pressure out their to BF.

I fed my son until 4 weeks and then put him on formula to due major BF issues and it was too stressful on me and him in the end, he was not gaining enough weight and and wasnt latching well, I was sick after my hard labour and delivery(emer cs), so it was stress all round.

Once I had him on formula his weight went up up up up and he was sooo happy, and that was enough to convince me, I had a happy baby! and once he was happy I was happy.
I did have some guilty feelings and sadness about not breastfeeding long, but to see my son happy and to feel happy myself out weighed any of that guilt!

Do what is right for you and your baby chick! Dont let anyone make you feel guilty and dont keep struggling if your not happy with it. You can always do breast and bottle for a while and see if that helps, or you could pump and give him EBM instead of formula, the choice is totally yours and yours alone Your bub is going to grow healthy regardless.

ETA - and well done for getting this far! with my second baby, I got to 7 months and I was so proud, after only getting to 4 weeks with DS, so just because this times been hard doesn't mean next time will be!

I also dont really believe in the 'you are the only one that can make you feel guilty' thing, sorry Rianna With all the YOU MUST BF articles around its a lil hard to NOT feel guily!

Edited by Sheza

Thank you Moms for supporting my decision to try Formula feeding!

So, last week we got the courage to try Karicare formula...

I washed the brand new feeding bottles, used the microwave steam steriliser, boiled and cooled the water, mixed the formula, warmed it up in a bowl of hot water, and marched off to feed my DD...

She found it strange at first, and kept trying to push the teat away with her tongue! After a while, she started to dribble a lot..it wasn't working well, so my DH asked if he could try feeding her..He held her and tried giving her the bottle..and behold!! she started feeding away! DH was thrilled, to say the least she got in abt 150 mls and then seemed full. We thought it went OK for a first try!

Unfortunately, the next day, she again had a tinge of blood in her poo. She's been having such poos for a while now, every 3-4 days. Our GP had checked stool samples and found no bugs, so she referred us to Starship..The Paediatric doc there listened to us, and said that it looks like a milk-protein intolerance. So, I've gone off all dairy foods for now..Doc said it will take a while for the poos to clear up..so, I'm still breastfeeding...Hopefully, when DD's poos are back to normal, Doc said I could try some other type of formula...

Just wanted to say that I also went to formula feeding at four months old, and initially I felt guilty too, and actually had a cry about it on a few occassions. Also I didn't really struggle physically with BF'ing, I found it pretty easy, but I never felt like my supply was adequate (DD under 25th percentile for weight while BF'ing) and I also did not enjoy public feeding, and since we ran our business from home, there was always alot of coming and going with staff, etc. Anyway, my DD thrived and was such a happy and content baby, and has always been so healthy, never seems to get any of the winter bugs that most other kids suffer from. Her weight improved enormously and rightly or wrongly that made me happy. She is now 3 years 8 months old and I look back with absolutely no regrets. I think the first year of a first baby's life is full of guilt for the new Mum, which unfortunately is almost always caused by other 'well meaning' Mothers. Once I got over that and realised that I was an awesome Mum, I have been confident in every decision I make for my DD.