switching to formula?

Question

I'm currently breastfeeding my 4 week old. It's been physically and mentally exhausting. I feel like I'm stuck at home and cant go out without him since he feeds every 2-3 hours. it's so difficult being the only one who can feed him especially in the middle of the night. I've also had a few latch issues which makes it very frustrating for baby and I. I've been thinking about switching to formula for both of our sanity. just curious of any challenges that you guys have encountered with formula. I've heard of excessive spit up, constipation, and gas. was there anything else that was difficult to deal with? and any recommendations for formula? just trying to make the best decision for both of us! thanks in advance!

Answer

Have you thought about pumping? I breast feed throughout the day while we are home. I pump at night before I go to bed. I use what I pump for the middle of the night feeding then get up in the AM to breast feed. I also pump in the morning, after she eats, and get a lot of milk since I don't feed through the night. The milk I pump in the AM I use if we go out that day. I just feed her a bottle. If I don't use it during the day then I use it that night. This also allows me to build up a stock of milk. If I have too much excess then I freeze it.

Answer

Breastfeeding in the middle of the night is cake compared bottle feeding. You just shove your boob in their mouth, and fall asleep lol

Answer

I was like this with my first. I gave up pretty quickly at about 3 months and started to transition to formula. Just giving my opinion and encouragement, no judgment. But I totally regret calling it quits before a year let alone six months. My son had so many issues with formula like constipation, gas, and progectile random vomiting....by then it was too late to turn back and later we discovered he was lactose intolerant too. 
I was also way to modest, immature, shy or uncomfortable... Whatever you want to call it to be able to nurse anywhere and shamefully found myself nursing in restrooms. I quit because I also didn't want to make my baby suffer because I was being too immature. 
As I now have baby #2 5 years later and I find myself in a different knowledge, confidence,  & advocacy at 23 years old. 
Breast milk is the best thing you can provide to your baby and is so natural. If I found myself struggling... I would turn to support or consider exclusively pumping. 
Consider all options and look into support in your area. It truly helps! 
Don't give up Mama, you can do it!

Answer

I was in the same boat and I am so glad my husband supported me with formula. I still breast sometimes in the day. I use similac the blue one and he has had no problem. Constipation comes when you don't mix the proper amount  (too much) so follow the right scoops. At night it's awsome. My husband when he's off he let's me sleep through the night. I have 6 bottles on my nights stand with room temperature water ready to mix. I have no problem with spit up. Just make sure you burp every 2 oz.

Answer

It does get easier. I hated it at first but then around 2 months it got easier and at about 5 months I was so glad I stuck with it. So much easier than carrying formula around and washing bottles. I breastfed my son until 20 months. I would have continued but he did not want to

Answer

I felt the same way. I was in a lot of pain and just uncomfortable when I breast fed. I felt the intimacy during with baby but after I was just miserable and couldn't enjoy anything so I just pump now and give it to her in a bottle (she's 4 weeks as well). She's still getting the good stuff and my husband and I can take turns feeding her so that she's getting that personal time with both of us. There are times I need to mix or give formula though. I wouldn't give up, there are other ways to do it before jumping in to exclusively formula.

Answer

thanks everyone for your responses. my doctor and I agreed we will try supplementing with formula a few times a day and when I'm out of the house and see how that goes. we are going to start tomorrow and see how it goes!

Answer

I also switched to formula and didn't have much of an issue. My guy took to it right away and hadn't had any issues. We played with the formula a little and are giving him the Similac sensitive stuff and the spit up which is thicker. My boobs hurt for s couple days after I stopped but I never had much of a supply so it wasn't horrible.

Answer

Have you considered pumping so someone else offers the bottle and u can get some rest? I exclusively pumped successfully for 8 months w my first baby and am doing the same with this one. It's worked great for us and our family so that's always an option. You can supplement done with formula that way too first and make sure the baby will tolerate it. Either way a happy mom is a happy baby so good for you for looking to alternatives and doing what's best for your family!

Answer

My husband and I decided to do formula at night because my baby would never latch so I pump all day and give him what I can in a bottle, but I wasn't producing enough so we had to supplement a little!..:( 
But I did notice through the night when he is getting formula he does spit up a lot more (I've read formula is thinner than breast milk so they get more quicker and tend to overeat--causing more spit up) and he didn't seem to be pooping as much, he actually went 24-30 hours one time and freaked us out! Lol

switching to formula?

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