Tell me what I did wrong..

Alondrasilva10

This morning, before leaving for her first appointment, I breastfed her then pumped 3oz into a Medela bottle. I put the bottle in the fridge while I got her ready (about 30 minutes). I took out the bottle and put it in my diaper bag. At her appointment she started getting fussy and I knew she wanted some milk. I tried giving her the bottle and she did not take it. The bottle was not cold, it was room temperature and it was only in my diaper bag for an hour and a half. 

She made a face as if the nipple tasted nasty to her. So I'm not sure if it's the milk she is not liking or if it's the bottle or if it's the way I stored it. This was my first time pumping and now I'm worried that she'll never want to bottle which I need her to like because I'll be going back to school next week and my husband will need me to leave her some milk.

Btw, she is 6 days old. 

Any advice at all will be wonderful. 

danieliza1127

Being only 6 days old, it likely had nothing to do with the milk, it was just that it wasn't your nipple which is all that she's used to.  It might take a few tries to get her to accept the bottle.  Most recommendations say not to introduce a bottle until after 4 weeks.

Don't worry that she'll never take it.  Everything changes, nothing is permanent.  Just because she didn't like it the first time doesn't mean that you shouldn't try again or that she won't eventually get used to it.

ncbelle

I think that she probably was just like "what the heck is this thing mom!!"

Many babies have a harder time with bottles from their mother than they do from other people.  Personally, I think it's 100xs easier to just nurse when I'm with baby and pump only when I need to be away.  I would have your DH try when you aren't around. 

lil_jen051708

ncbelle:

I think that she probably was just like "what the heck is this thing mom!!"Many babies have a harder time with bottles from their mother than they do from other people. nbsp;Personally, I think it's 100xs easier to just nurse when I'm with baby and pump only when I need to be away. nbsp;I would have your DH try when you aren't around.nbsp;

This exactly. DS wouldn't take a bottle from me. It had to be DH or mil or my sisters. Sometimes he wouldn't take it from DH if he knew I was around.

Now he is better about taking bottles from me since he has them at daycare but sometimes he'd rather nurse.

blu-eyedwife

It's likely due to the fact you were trying to give her a bottle at 6 days old.  At 6 days, her eyesight is very limited.  She is extremely nearsighted.  Which means she relies on other senses a lot.  Your smell in particular is a smell she recognizes.  The feel of your breast/nipple is familiar to her.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with refrigerated/frozen/pumped milk, but it doesn't smell the same as fresh from "the tap."  (Think about the difference in smell a tomato has fresh of the vine versus in your refrigerator) 

So when she can smell you, but not taste/feel you, it's not uncommon that she would be upset.  When we introduced the bottle I physically left the house so my guy wouldn't be able to smell me/my milk.

pepomntpat

blu-eyedwife:

It's likely due to the fact you were trying to give her a bottle at 6 days old.  At 6 days, her eyesight is very limited.  She is extremely nearsighted.  Which means she relies on other senses a lot.  Your smell in particular is a smell she recognizes.  The feel of your breast/nipple is familiar to her.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with refrigerated/frozen/pumped milk, but it doesn't smell the same as fresh from "the tap."  (Think about the difference in smell a tomato has fresh of the vine versus in your refrigerator) 

So when she can smell you, but not taste/feel you, it's not uncommon that she would be upset.  When we introduced the bottle I physically left the house so my guy wouldn't be able to smell me/my milk.

This. There is not really any point in you giving your LO a bottle. When she needs  a bottle because you are away-at work, out with your girlfriends, etc, she will take it. 

ETA: I also would not pump this early. It's just another step in your already stressful newborn time. I'd hold off until 3-4 weeks so you can pump a little at a time for a stash and then pump regularly at work. Pumping too much too early can lead to over supply which is not a good thing. Just nurse your baby. 

linzeek44

From your post, it sounds like you are worried about next week when you can't be there. Remember that even if she won't take the bottle at first, there are other ways to feed a baby (eye dropper, spoon, etc). She will probably take the bottle from DH when you aren't home but if she doesn't, she will be okay.

You can also try warming the bottle nipple under warm water. Get a little milk on the nipple and dab on her lip so she thinks "oh, it's feeding time!"

My LC recommends doing one bottle a day to get the habit down. However, that's usually for moms who are going back to work at 6+ weeks. It's a little different because your LO is younger and BFing habits and supply aren't established.

You can also google "bottle feeding the breastfed baby" and read about how to make the experiences similar for her. You want her to work as hard for the bottle as she does on the breast.

Good luck!