Not gonna breastfeed anymore

[ania_2]

I have to stop breastfeeding because I am going back to work and because  the job I will have and the strange hours (12 hrshifts rotating) it just won't be convient, so i've decieded its best if I switch my 3 month old to Formula. this is my second daughter, I breastfeed my first daughter until she was 13months.
I am currently just bottle feeding stored breast milk to my little girl.  I was going to start mixing half formula and half breastmilk and do that for a couple of days to adjust her to the formula. I think this is the right way to go about it. I want this transition to be very easy for my little girl. I was also wondering what kind of Formula would other Mothers recommend that they have learned is easier on a baby's tummy. I was considering Good Start cause I heard it is gentler than some formulas on a baby's tummy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Also I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to make it easier for my milk to 'dry up'.  I have heard that fresh parsley or spinach placed on the breast tissue helps to reduce milk production, has anyone tried this before and it helped?
Thanks,
Ania_2

[tiredbuthappy]

when i transitioned DD from breast milk to formula, i did not mix them. Since bm and formula have different handling rules and i didn't want to waste a drop of breast milk i fed them separately. That way if dd didn't finish the bottle of breast milk i could offer it a bit later. If your daughter finishes all bottles, then you don't have to worry about it. My dd had feeding issues from the start. Some people do mix formula and breast milk.

DD did have some slight problems when we first started formula. We started her on Similac and she seemed fussy and gassy. I tried Good Start and she did great so we stayed with that for a couple of months. After 2 months on Good Start, she was actually good on any kind of formula, even generic. I think part of the reason is that Good Start doesn't foam up as much as Similac when you shake it. Less bubbles= less gas. Good start also smells less gross.

i don't have advice on drying up. I really didn't have any problems weaning off the pump because i did it gradually.

[ania_2]

yeah, i've started mixing 1oz formula with 2oz of breastmilk and she seems to like that. so far no problems and shes doing great. I'm down to one breast feeding a night and pumping 2xs a day when my breasts get uncomfortably full. I plan to stop entirely by next week. I'm hoping this will be enough time for me.

[kelliestarr]

I have never tried to dry up my milk but I heard cabbage leafs help.

Here is what I found for you:

Mommy tips – Relieving engorgement and drying up breast milk
If you are having a baby and not planning to breastfeed, you may be interested in hearing the quickest ways to dry up your breast milk. Your milk will dry up on its own within a week or so if you do not nurse. You may, however, experience engorgement after your milk comes in. There are some things you can do to help relieve the discomfort of being engorged. If you have not made up your mind about breastfeeding, you may want to pump your breast milk until you decide. If you are sure that you do not want to breastfeed or if you cannot breastfeed, here are our best tips for drying up.

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Wear a snug fitting bra.

Place refrigerated cabbage leaves inside your bra for a couple of hours or till they wilt. Cabbage leaves have been used for years to help relieve engorgement. We do not know exactly why cabbage leaves help with engorgement but some researchers believe that there are substances in the cabbage that help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Break up the cabbage leaves so that there are no hard veins in them. Arrange them in your bra so they are comfortable and there are no hard spots pressing against your breast. Do not use cabbage leaves if you are allergic to cabbage or sulfa.

Use ice packs or frozen vegetables for compresses. Use cold compresses for twenty minutes a few times a day. Do not put ice or frozen veggies directly on your skin. Use a towel between the ice and skin. You may have used heat before to relieve discomfort; this is not advised for engorgement. Warm compresses may encourage your milk to let down and increase milk production.

Use an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprophen, as needed.

Do not pump. Pumping will signal your body to make more milk. Your body works on supply and demand. If you empty your breast, your body will think that it needs to make milk. When your breast becomes full it signals your body to make less milk. If you are very engorged, hand expressing milk is okay, but just empty enough to relieve discomfort. There is no point in being miserable while you are drying out.

Drink a few cups of sage tea daily. Sage has properties in it that inhibit milk production.

Do not restrict water intake. Some moms try to dry out milk by drinking less. Restricting your fluids will not reduce your engorgement and may lead to dehydration.