Need Help Switching from Breast Milk to Formula

Congratulations! Are you the one giving the bottle? If yes, try having someone else do it - with you nowhere near them. Try maybe 3/4 bm, 1/4 formula at first, and slowly increase the formula, decrease the bm. Just a few thoughts. When I got pregnant while bf'ing my 2nd baby I found that my supply seemed to go down for a few weeks, but after that it was actually good again - so if you want to continue bf'ing that may be something to think about. Good luck!

I am having the same problem right now with my son! I don't have an idea on how to do this either. I can't find no bottle or nipple size, or formula he will take. I was planning to ween him soon but, how is the question. I am going in on the 3erd to talk with the docter myself about it. I feel that 7 mo. old and drinking milk is just alittle too early. I have two other boys also...and they didn't care as long as they were fed one way or the other. Just saying that your not alone. Good luck to you with the new one coming also!

I slowly added formula to my daughter's bottles of breastmilk. One ounce for a week, then 2 for a week, etc. Good luck!

I think I would take the doctor's advice on the bottle feeding. Your son has to get use to eating from a source other than mom. I understand that the crying can get on your nerves after a while, but keep trying the bottle and he will eventually take it. Maybe try different bottles with different nipples, maybe one will "feel like mom" to him. I hope that he starts eating from the bottle for you. Good Luck!

I would try switching the brand of formula you are using. After 10 months of exclusive breastfeeding I tried to introduce formula to my son - he REFUSED - but as soon as I switched brands he would take it!
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Congratulations on the news of your pregancy! Also sounds like you've given your 6 month a wonderful start by breastfeeding.

When we changed our son (at 6-7 months) from breastmilk to formula, we did it very gradually - just added 1-2 ounces of formula and 4-5 oz. of breastmilk - this made the transistion easy on all of us and his little belly, too. The formula we found he liked best, (we tried about 3??) was the generic target brand. It took about 2-3 weeks to fully switch him over. Good luck!

I would try to keep bfing. It is possible, and safe during a normal pregnacy, to continue to bf another baby while pg. Your supply should actually increase, to start preparing for the new baby. Keep up your fluids, be sure to drink lots of water, and pump inbetween. I would also work on getting your 6 mo to take a bottle (not sure if it is the bottle he doesn't like, or just the formula). If he takes Bmilk from a bottle well, I would slow add formula to it, 1/2 oz at a time, slowly over a few weeks, until it is all formula. You may need to try different bottles/nipples, or different formula. If he takes Bmilk well from a bottle, he should eventually take formula well. If he is on solid foods already, I would push more of them during this transition. You can also try a cup (with formula, water, bmilk, even watered down juice) to see if he takes that better. Congrats on the new baby, and on the choice to breastfeed.
S., mom to 3 (all who were bfed)

my friend added an 1/2 oz or 1 of formula to 6 oz of breast milk and slowly and i mean slowly added more until it was compleatly formula. Only an idea.

Your supply is probably fine, around 6 months is when you really start to lose all that extra milk and only make what your baby needs. What you pump is no indicator of what you are making, baby can extract way more milk than any pump can.

I would encourage you to keep nursing at least at the important parts of the day, such as early morning, naptime, and bedtime. You can slowly phase them out as you see fit, but nursing through a pregnancy is totally safe and doable!

Congratulations on your pregnancy, and good luck!

Try doing 75% breastmilk and 25% formula in each bottle for a few days and then slowly increase it.
Best Wishes,
J.

Hi A.!
As most of the responses, I too, slowly weaned my daughter off of breastmilk, by gradually mixing formula with the breast milk. However, we had a lot of problems with the powder milk because of the consistency, so we started with the liquid formula and once she was completely on formula, we would try to slowly introduce the powder formula until we found one that wasn't as gassy for her.
Good Luck!

Wow! First and foremost Congratulations! Sounds like you are going to get even busier soon! How fun. anyway, I can totally understand where you are coming from with the whole thing of when he cries you can stand it because you know you can fix it I am the same way. Does your son take a bottle at all? If not, do breast milk in the bottle first, then try plain water, then go full fledged formula. Also try avent bottles and nipples, they are more like the breast. Hope that this will work. If that doesn't work I would do what your Dr. suggested and just let him work it out, I know it is super hard to believe, but if they are hungry enough they will eat. Good luck with everything and Congratulations!

A., your best bet is to follow the doctor's advice. I know it sucks to have to listen to your baby cry. However, if you give in to what your baby wants every time they cry, it will cause you a whole new set of problems. If your milk dries up, you aren't going to have any other option. The baby will get used to it and will eat. I promise you that. You just have to be patient. Good Luck to you and your family and Happy New Year!

Hi A.,
I was in your shoes a few years back. Your son is only six months old and used to nursing. He wants not only his main food source,but the bonding the two of you share. I let my baby nurse during the pregnancy. Your milk supply shouldnt stop because you are pregnant. Besides in a few months he will probably be wanting more table foods. My baby stopped nursing around 9 months. I hope I helped. Good luck to you from a mom of 7. P.S. Dont let anyone presure you, both of you will figure out when the time is right to stop.(like when he starts getting teeth!) Ha Ha!!!