Can't breastfeed anymore

Baby is 2 weeks old and have been breast feeding but had a few problems with latch, painful nipples and now mastitis.
I'm exhausted and miserable from constant pumping and worrying about the night time/early morning cluster feeding etc. I don't want to cry anymore so feel it's time to move to formula so I can start enjoying my time with baby. Anyone else had to do this?

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Not yet but I think that's what is going to happen. He has stopped latching so I am pumping as well as feeding formula. I want to give him Breast milk as long as I can as I know it's nutritionally better for him and he prefers it but it is exhausting. I have not slept since he was was born and I'm being pushed to the limit. Something so natural should not be this hard!

My baby is 11 days old and I had to stop breastfeeding after a week because it was just not working for us. She wasn’t latching, wasn’t settling after having breast milk and wasn’t gaining much weight after losing a little more weight than she should have. Pumping was exhausting me and I wasn’t getting much at all, it was really taking a toll on my mental health so I decided to just stop and exclusively formula feed. My baby has been so much more settled since and has had a really good weight gain in the last few days which is great. I feel really guilty that she isn’t getting the benefits of breastfeeding but it just wasn’t working out for us. It’s been nice having a more settled baby and also being able to share the feeding with my partner or family so I can have a bit of time for myself without worrying about breast milk/pumping/feeding baby.

I done the same at 2 weeks time, I hated breastfeeding and everyone I spoke to didn’t have a great experience for the first two months and then claimed it was the best thing that they did so I literally was like fuck it - it’s literally all a lie about breasfeeding from people about how amazing it is

I moved to formula slowly and my life is so much better and on top of that he sleeps at night ( wakes up at 2 quite sleepy and then at 5-6 to feed and that’s it )

I did have to use a pump a bit and basically moved him to formula for night feed only to start with for few days, while not pumping over night to ensure supply is decreasing and then after 3 days introduced another formula feed during the day and so on.
It is also much nicer as they are so much calmer of formula as they get more feed.
I did get a lot of comments from my husband and midwife’s about my choice but I don’t care. It’s been better and I enjoy my time with baby now.
Do what works for you 🥰

Remember if it doesn’t work for mum it doesn’t work for baby.
Do what’s best for you x

Its also worth talking to your midwife health visitor or lactation consultant
The firstv2 weeks are defo the hardest but it does get easier. Its a skill and can take time for you and baby to master it. That said do what you feel is right for you and your baby. Ultimately making sure your well and babys feed regardless of method is moat important

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