Introducing a BM Bottle today...Nervous

lisac1017

I am sure I am over-thinking this but I can't help but be a little nervous about introducing a bottle of pumped breast milk to my LO today.  I think I have my bases covered but if anyone sees anything grossly out of line, or just has an experience to share, I'm all ears.

1 - LO has been BF-ing great for 3 weeks, pedi said OK to introduce a bottle.
2 - DH is going to give bottle while I leave for a walk with the dog (with cell phone in hand for a hasty return if need be)
3 - Using freezer stash instead of pumping fresh in case LO refuses bottle and I need to BF
4 - Using Tommee Tippee bottles - from what I've read, even their "slow flow" is kind of fast, but I flow really fast too so I think LO will adapt.  DH has been instructed to hold at an angle so it doesn't just drip into his mouth
5 - Warming up bottle nipple before presenting to LO

The goal of having DH do a bottle feeding is so he can handle the 10pm - 1am feeding while I sleep since he is always awake at that time anyway, and then I can continue with the 2-4am feeding and all the other feedings of the day until I return to work. 

Does this look reasonable to the bottle feeding veteran's out there? 

Matt Dvorak

The one problem with this plan - if you sleep through a feeding, you are telling your body that you don't need milk at that time. I always pump whenever my LO takes a bottle - which is why I do all night feedings, and LO only takes a bottle while he is at daycare. I work full time, so it does get tiring doing all of the night feedings, but I've gotten used to it and now past 5 months it's not so bad. 

Maybe you'll get some different advice from people who have successfully regularly skipped feedings/pumpings and have kept their supply up, but I know that at least some of us are too nervous about our supplies to try something like this.

lisac1017

lincolngirl:

The one problem with this plan - if you sleep through a feeding, you are telling your body that you don't need milk at that time. I always pump whenever my LO takes a bottle - which is why I do all night feedings, and LO only takes a bottle while he is at daycare. I work full time, so it does get tiring doing all of the night feedings, but I've gotten used to it and now past 5 months it's not so bad. 

My plan was to pump right before I go to bed to make up for that feeding he'll be getting the bottle - or even pump after he's breast fed in the morning as many have said that is when supply is the greatest.  Regardless, the session does need to be "made up" and I hope I'm not being naive thinking I can do it one of those other two times...?

kcl22

I personally would not skip feedings this early on, which is essentially what you're doing.  You'll get varied opinions on the subject but for me it's not worth the risk of damaging your supply.  You need to feed baby on demand so your body can adjust to his needs.  Once in awhile when you really need the rest; sure, go for it.  Every night, I wouldn't do it.