Can anyone give me the best advice on how to do this? I'm finding I'm getting really sore boobs but I don't know whether to go cold turkey or do it a bit at a time. My little one is 5 weeks but although I enjoy BF its not satisfying my little one and after a FF she is much more content.

Any advice
Fi
xxx

Hi Fi

I FF my little man the whole way so I'm not 100% sure how to answer this, but I will ask one of my boardies to help you out as they will be able to give you more information (i hope this is ok?)

I will get them to reply asap.

Take care

Ditzie + Hayden

Hi Fi

I am off Ditzie's board.

I gave up breast feeding my son as neither of us took to it very well, and he was so much happier once I switched to FF.

I just went for it.  I spent the whole time miserable and in pain and just did not want to carry on with it as my son was just not happy either.  I just decided to stop (advised by my HV).  She told me to wear tight tops (some people I know would bind thier breasts) as this helps to stop the milk coming in.  It will take a few days for this to work, but I never suffered for it.  I felt no pain or discomfort as long as I had them firmly held !!

It was such a diff household once we FF  - everyone was so much happier and little man was getting as much milk as he wanted without all of the stress and upset and pain I had while BF

It really is each to their own though - this might not be the best way for you.  Try speaking to your HV (even though I get the impression that they are pretty forcefull when it comes to BF!!)  but they can not force you to do it and if you assure her that you have no intentions of carrying it on, it is her job to help you in anyway she can !

My friend at the same time did cut down her BF feeds little by little until she was only doing 1 BF a day, but she says now that she wishes that she had just stopped all at once

Good luck and hth in any small way

Sarah

Hi Fi,

A belated congratulations on the birth of your DD!

I switched to FF from BF with my DS2 due to problems with recurring severe mastitis. I stopped gradually because I was worried that by going cold turkey the resulting engorgement could trigger another bout of mastitis, which I really wanted to avoid.

You can go cold turkey, but be aware that you may suffer with engorgement for a few days as your boobs will still produce milk expecting to be feeding your LO. You can ease the discomfort by doing what Sarah has suggested, also avoid hot showers/baths, put cold compresses on your boobs several times a day, and the old savoy cabbage leaves in the bra are good too.

You can also do it gradually by simply replacing one BF with FF every couple of days.

HTH and good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Belated Congratulations on the birth of your LO and well done for breast-feeding her for five weeks.  If you're only swapping to FF because you feel your LO isn't satisfied have you considered mixed feeding?  I did this with my older two and found it worked quite well.  I always gave a BF as the first feed of the day and a FF as the last feed (which normally meant they'd sleep most of the night).

If that isn't for you then I'd advise changing over gradually as not only does it give your boobs a chance to adjust it also gives your baby's tummy a chance to adjust too.  My friends LO became really constipated when she changed from BF to FF, so much so that she needed suppositories :o(.  That's not to say that it'll happen to you just something to be aware of.

Hope you find what works for you

Lxx