stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

so i have posted about my ups and downs with bfing. wel, i seem to have developed major anxiety now and my docs want to medicate me. problem is that the meds are not compatible with bfing. so i have to make the decision to either forgo the meds or forgo bfing.

while i did enjoy bfing to an extent, i just cant handle the anxiety. i have such an oversupply of milk that i am engorged all of the time, even if i do pump out a little. i am in pain stiill from the c section and now the pain in my breasts makes me feel so horrible.

so i am making the decision to stop and to use up my freezer stash and stop offering thebreast and then ultimatley replace with formula.

has anyone esle gone thru this?

how did you dry up your milk?

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

I stopped for a week before I realized how important it really was to me and switched my RA meds so I could return to bfing. I'll be honest cold cabbage leaves worked WONDERS for me! I would wear a sports bra and place cold dry green cabbage leaves in my bra and switch them out every 2-3hrs around the clock. I also took Naproxen and Tylenol to help with discomfort. For the 1st 1-2 days I
pumped for 5 min in the am and before bed. If I neede to to I would hand express during the day, but only once max. It's uncomfortable, I won't lie. After 3 days I could go 16hrs without needing to pump and could really just hand express a bit. At my peak I was pumping 40+oz a day so this was a quick reduction for me. My supply has never recoverd from this and I have to do 1/2 and 1/2 bottles now. I will say do what's best for you and never look back, but I will also say I said I was quiting everyday and when I had to I was a mess. Emmy didn't bf in the beginning so I pumped exclusivly for 9wks and then she started intermittenly bfing and by 12wks ebf except when I was at work. I understand how hard it is....If you need anything let me know

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

Happy mommy, happy baby. Do whatever is best for you.

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

Posted by MrsMadness

Happy mommy, happy baby. Do whatever is best for you.

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

Posted by MrsMadness

Happy mommy, happy baby. Do whatever is best for you.

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

im sorry you are having anxiety issues. I hope you feel better soon

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

I have not been through this, but I wanted to offer some

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

dealing with a newborn AND anxiety is so difficult.

I was offered the option to go on meds after Luce was born but I declined (b/c I've had anxiety my whole life and have never taken them). the first weeks were VERY difficult for me but I got through them.

ultimately though, you need to do what you need. everyone is different. everyone has a threshhold for anxiety and beyond that they cannot function without meds.

you need to do whatever will allow you best to be a mother to your son. if it's meds and formula, DO IT. there is no guilt and regret when you do what is BEST for YOUR child. when you know in your heart that it's not for you, but for them.

in your shoes, I would probably ration out the frozen bm and add an ounce or two into the bottles of formula for as long as possible to keep the exposure to your immunity for as long as possible.

but whatever you decide to do, be happy, be content, and most of all, know it IS the BEST.

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

I BF my DS for six months and suffered with PPD. When I finally stopped and started meds I was a new person.

With DD, I tried- I nursed for a few days and was very sick with the PPD. I stopped and went on the meds so I could mother my children.

I have no guilt about it. It was best for both of my children.

DD is just as healthy, just as smart, and just as beautiful as DS. BFing/FFing made NO difference in immunity or ANYTHING. The difference is that I was a healthy mother for longer with her.

The pressure to BF is INSANE. Take care of yourself- your children need you healthy more than breastmilk!!

I hope you feel better very soon. I agree- cold cabbage leaves were a miracle- but a little smelly!

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

I went through this exact situation with Ava and I know how hard the decision is I do want to say though that my dr.'s completely support the use of Zoloft while breast feeding. Just incase you want a second opinion, most dr.'s these days do allow Zoloft while bfing.
I didn't know that when I had Ava. That being said, I really feel like my anxiety is completely gone after this baby because I'm NOT bfing. The hormonal imbalance bfing caused me made my anxiety spiral completely out of control. I felt so much better once I made the decision to stop.
My milk dried up fairly quickly after I stopped and I don't even remember ever getting engorged, and I was pumping like 80 oz a day
Hang in there, this will hopefully help you feel more on the road to feeling like yourself again

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

thanks everyone!!!!

today is day one of stopping. noah is doing well with the bottle, thank goodness. the ped told us we did not have to slowly introduce the formula to him, which i was surprised about. we offered him the formula we got in the hospital but in a dr. brown bottle and he took it without issue. now its just a matter of my milk drying up asap. this is going to be torture as i am sooooooo full and leaking all over.

Re: stopping breastfeeding and switching to formula

Posted by MarisaK

Posted by MrsMadness

Happy mommy, happy baby. Do whatever is best for you.

ITA - Making yourself sick over it isn't good for ANYONE