Formula feeding woes...

[drewid]

Hi :)

I have just tried my DS with his first bottle of formula. He was NOT impressed!! He wriggled and kicked and squirmed and totally rejected the bottle until I couldn't take it no longer and gave him the boob. Obviously I have little patience!

Good news is that he was much more settled with the boob than as usual - maybe he sees the bottle as a 'threat' to behave! I dont' know. The whole reason I am trying the formula angle is that breastfeeding has become such a draining chore lately as he is a major nuisance most of the time, wriggling, squirming, kicking and grabbing etc etc etc. Its drives me mad, cos I've always LOVED b/feeding and I wish it didn't have to be so hard right now! I know what to do, he's knows what to do, but it takes him 10 minutes to settle down and then keeps coming off and on and off and on............

Anyway after the lack of interest in the bottle, I gave in but only gave him 1 boob instead of 2, and offered the bottle again afterwards, but still not interested. So technically he's only had a half feed this time. But he doens't seem to care about that, he's as happy as larry playing on the floor.

Anyhow, not long afterwards I noticed a bit of a red rashy bumpy area around his mouth and above his lips. Now, I reckon he maybe swallowed 2ml of formula (if that!!) so not sure if it could be an allergic reaction, or just a reaction from the formula dripping on his skin? Or a reaction to the nipple of the bottle?

I have been trying him on water out of a sipper cup for about a month now, he holds it up and sucks on the spout, but hasn't yet figured out that he needs to tip the cup up so he can get the water out. So I figure perhaps I should skip the whole bottle thing and just try to get him to have formula out of the cup instead.

My Mum reckons that he won't starve himself and that eventually he'll figure out that formula is the new food. I'm a bit reluctant to go that hard line with it though. Especially when there is nothing wrong with my milk supply and its just soooo easy to cave in and feed him myself.

Gosh its frustrating!!

Anyway not really looking for answers, but if anyone can sympathise or offer any suggestions, please feel free!

[Chickadee]

A squirming wriggling bub that wants to get down and play can be nearly as much of a pain with bottles, though at least you're not constantly bringing a boob in and out.

If he's not interested in the bottle right now then I wouldn't push it. Double check you've got a fast flow teat on it, and if he still doesn't want it then try formula in a cup. Honestly, if he doesn't want bottles and will take a cup then that's one less thing you have to wean him off. Maybe try a regular plastic cup that you can hold to his mouth, rather than a sippy one.

I've never heard of formula causing a skin reaction or rash on contact. Some people have latex reactions but i think it's more common after prolonged use and exposure (like nurses) and I'm not even sure what the nipples are made out of.

[Norman]

I'll mostly avoid the debate about breast v bottle debate - but tell you how I found it - after breast feeding well for 4 1/2 months one day I just had no milk - baffling to everyone. I found that bottle feeding meant I had to be organised - bottles cleaned and prepared, bottles taken when you go out - keeping cool/heating up, grocery shopping cannot be put off when you're running low on formula, no staying out longer than you'd anticipated if you haven't taken extra bottles ... anyway just some things I found (and I'm an organised person by nature and I still find it annoying).

When I was reading about feeding formula an article I read said to get someone else to feed your baby for the first few times as they can smell your milk (not something I had a problem with). Obviously this is not always convenient when you are home alone, so it suggested (pretty gross) wearing your partner's worn sweaty clothes as their smell will be different to yours.

Anyway - good luck with your decision whatever path you take.

[petster]

HI Nicole

I'm living this with you - and it ain't fun! I'm going back to work for 2 days a week, so have to give DD 2 feeds of either EBM or formula. We tried to give Eleni a bottle of formula tonight - OMG! - what a scene!! The neighbours must've thought we were murdering her!! She's never been a fan of the bottle, but will occaisonally take EBM (much better if I'm not in the house though!). When we finally gave in tonight, and I gave her a booby feed, she grinned and did a little satisfied snuffle as she was feeding! I'm sure she was saying "Hee hee hee - I won this one Mummy!!" It's an awful feeling - I'm really starting to feel stressed about going to work and leaving my child to starve and scream all day long!! I know I'm being a bit over the top there - but aaarrrgghhh! I'm hoping if she's hungry enough she'll take it... Luckily I don't start work until November, so I have a bit of time to get her used to it - or milk myself into a stupor to supply enough EBM...

Sorry Nicole - just hijacked your thread again! Had to vent - and let you know you're not alone... Keep me up-to-date with how you're going with it...

Cheers!

[drewid]

Hi Miranda :)

Isn't it fun!! I really feel for you though, at least I am just trying to have it as an option, I can give up if it gets too hard, but you are going back to work! Thats gotta make it so much more stressful, cos it needs to work so your bub can get fed!

I tried Andrew with his sipper cup last night and he at least likes his cup, even if he wont' drink from it, he's not actually 'scared' of it, like the bottle. I think he sees the bottle as some sort of torture device! Very strange indeed.

I'm trying not to worry about it all too much. He is eating 3 solids meals a day and getting 4 b/feeds and is a big boy, so obviously he's not going to fade away. I found that he survived rather well yesterday with only having a half feed at his 2pm feed, so maybe he is starting to get to a point where he only wants 3 feeds a day anyway. But if I just could get him to have ONE formula feed, it would make life a bit easier. Hubby likes to take him out on SUndays to visit his parents, and give me some time off, and it sure would be lovely for DH to be able to feed him so they could stay out longer! :D

I do agree with you, I think if we keep on offering, they will eventually get it, and like you said, if they are hungry enough....they'll take it!

Gotta say though, you are lucky you can express - I have never had any luck with that. I guess maybe it doesn't matter anyway, seeing as the bottle seems to be the scary thing, not the actual formula. So maybe he would never have taken any EBM anyway!

Anyway Andrew has been a darling ever since that first formula attempt yesterday - every BF has gone like clockwork, minimum of fuss. I am at least pleased about that!