now that I decided... - what do i do?

PrairieMom wrote: ALright, I have 5 weeks to get this kid on formula. (give or take) I'm still not happy about it, I'm actually really sad about it, but I'm gonna just have to switch and get it over with. I have convinced myself that it is the best thing for everyone. i don't have to like it tho.

My ultimate goal is go get her onto room temp formula. This morning just as an experiment I gave her 4 ounces of soy formula luke-warm, and she took it just fine, which really suprised DH and I. We were having to mix 2 oz formula with 4 oz BM to get her to take the stuff.

So, I don't really want to quit nursing all together, like this very moment KWIM? so do I drop a feeding, and bottle her, then pump? Or not pump? I have been racking my brain all night last night and this morning trying to figure out the best way to go about this, while still dragging it out for a few more weeks. I want her to get as much BM as possible for as long as possible.

my2monkeyboys replied: I would drop one feeding a day, replacing it with the bottle. I'd do that every 4-5 days, eventually phasing it out. Depending on how many times a day she eats that should stretch it out for you pretty well. I wouldn't pump during those times though bc that will keep your production up, which is ok until you give her the bottle totally. But if you see your supply dwindling faster than she is weaning, you may want to pump a little to keep up with her. I just wouldn't pump unless you need to though, as it will make it harder on you I think. It's supposed to make as much as you use, so hopefully it'll even itself out without too much intervention on your half, KWIM?
Anyway, this is JMHO! Hope it all goes smoothly for you!!!

coasterqueen replied: I have no clue as I've never done it. Have you checked out Kellymom? That's usually where I go if someone asks me for tips on weaning, so I'd check there if you haven't.

PrairieMom replied:
I haven't had a chance yet. I just decided before bed time last night. I think I will look into it deeper at nap time. I hope they have some advice for me.

Nathansmom replied: When I weaned Nathan at 12 months, onto milk, but still, I just replaced one feeding a day with a cup of milk, and I dropped a feeding every week or so, but we did it really, really slowly, it took me 2 months to wean him completely. I would just replace a feeding every 5 days or so to do it in 5 weeks, depending on how often she nurses.

Since we went so slow, I didn't pump at all, and I never had any pain from engorgement, my body just adjusted.

Good Luck!!

PrairieMom replied: I'm thinking that is what I am going to try. droping the first feeding of the morning, and working my way through the day and saving the night time feedings for last. Nursing at night is SOOO easy! If it takes me longer than 5 weeks that would be fine with me, I don't want to quit nursing anyhow!

Our Lil' Family replied: Ok, I'm no expert in this department but wouldn't dropping an evening feeding first be best, since that is when your supply is supposedly lower? I've always heard you have the most milk in the morning...I'd just think dropping a morning feeding would make you more engorged.??

But I could be way off.

PrairieMom replied:
I don't know, but she already gets a bottle in the evening as part of her bedtime routine. I work nights, and DH had to be able to get her to bed, so she started getting a bedtime bottle pretty much from day one.
The more I think about it, I think I should skip everyother feeding, going 18 hours or so between breastfeedings has got to be a bad idea...

Nathansmom replied: I started with dropping morning feedings, and I never got engorged...

PrairieMom replied: So far it has been going good. No engorgement. No worries.

MyLuvBugs replied: I agree to just drop a feeding then wait till your body adjusts (like a week or so) then drop another feeding......and so on. If you do get engorged though, get some cabbage leaves to put on your boobs to help dry up some of the milk.

Can I ask why soy milk to start her on? I'm just curious.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I don't have any advice...I started Wil on formula at 8.5 months and I can't remember how I did it...my brain is a bit fried right now, so I can't think. But I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! You did a great 6 months and you'll do great from this point on too.

PrairieMom replied:
Because she was so Cholic-y, I quit eating milk products. I tried her on regular formula, and also when i eat dairy she gets SOOO gassy, and spits up way more, and her spit up is so mucus-y.

My2Beauties replied: Here is what I did. The first day I started weaning, every 4 feedings was a bottle of formula (which was really only one bottle a day actually). After 3-4 days, I gave her a bottle every 3 feedings, 3-4 more days, it was every 2 feedings, then every other, then straight bottle. You get the point! But I found it much easier to go back and forth instead of dropping one feeding in the morning, then the next feeding so I was going 2 feedings without it from the get-go, my boobs were hurting too much so I had to do it that way.