EBF has questions about giving LO a bottle for the first time...please advise!

Cara2 · October 2009

My LO is close to 7 weeks old and has only been on the breast to eat. I've been paranoid to give her a bottle for fear that she'll like it better and won't BF any more. My DH and I have a wedding to go to in a couple of weeks where my parents will be watching LO. I want to try giving her a bottle beforehand just to make sure she'll even take it...my questions are:

1. When do you find is the best time of day to pump?

2. Approximately how many oz will my LO need at this age?

3. If I pump at a certain time of day, does that milk have to be given to her at the same time of day? ie. pump in the morning, give that milk to LO in a bottle int he a.m.

4. Has anyone had their LO not go back to the breast after giving them a bottle?

5. If you have any additional information that might be useful, please let me know )

I think this is all I can think of for now. Thanks a lot for all the input!

wwsurf81 · October 2009

I'm newer at this than you, but from what I've heard and experienced so far, maybe it can help.

1. I find the best time of day to pump is early morning (anywhere from 2-6 a.m.). Not sure why but I've readNOt there is a reason for it.

2. Not sure- my son is 4 wks and he takes about 3. I would guess maybe 4?

3. I've never heard this before. I don't pay attention to when I pump and when I give it to him.

4. My son has had no problems with this and we had to give him bottles almost from day one because he wasn't gaining weight.

ilovemygirls · October 2009

1. Mornings are usually best.

2. Probably anywhere from 2-4 oz.

3. No. If you're unsure of safe practice for breast milk, I'd suggest maybe trying a LaLeche League website or something. It's been awhile, but I know you can leave bm at room temp for a certain amount of time, store it in a refrigerator w/o freezing for a certain # of days, etc.

4. No. I successfully bf'd & part time bottle fed (when I worked) both of my kids from about 10 weeks on. My pedi always recommended starting a bottle by 1mo old if you wanted them to adjust to it well without too much hassle.

Temp865949250007475 · October 2009

I think you are worrying too much about your baby not going back to the breast. I waited till 6 weeks to give my son a bottle and he refused. He would NOT take a bottle until his 3rd day in daycare (yes, he starved himself for 2 days).

you can give them pumped milk at any time. morning is generally better in terms of pumping output.

karakel · October 2009

Cara2:

1. When do you find is the best time of day to pump? I EBF and only pump to build a stash. I have found that the best time is immediately following our morning nursing session.

2. Approximately how many oz will my LO need at this age? I introduced the bottle to my LO at 4 weeks and I gave him 2 oz to start and then if he still seems hungry, I add an ounce at a time (don't want to waste any BM). The most he has taken is 4 oz. Although I'm not sure that he "eats" all of the EBM because he's very messy eating from the bottle.

3. If I pump at a certain time of day, does that milk have to be given to her at the same time of day? ie. pump in the morning, give that milk to LO in a bottle int he a.m. No. My LC gave me the rule of 5. BM is good for 5 hours on the counter, 5 days in the fridge and 5 months in the freezer. I put my EBM in the fridge after a pumping session and then freeze it if I'm not going to use it within 5 days.

4. Has anyone had their LO not go back to the breast after giving them a bottle? My LO definitely prefers the breast so I haven't had a problem.

5. If you have any additional information that might be useful, please let me know ) The first time you give your LO a bottle, someone other than you should do it (ie DH). You should not be in the room either because a lot of babies won't take the bottle if they know the breast is available. Also, once you introduce the bottle, you should continue to offer a bottle every few days so that LO will continue to take it. It may take you a few tries to figure out which bottles your LO will take. My LO will take the First Years Breastflow and the Drop-Ins but hated Avent.

I think this is all I can think of for now. Thanks a lot for all the input!

mommy411 · October 2009

You should start introducing the bottle now. DD has had a bottle from the begining because she was a preemie. She never had a problem with nipple confusion. I think that is a bunch of malarky. You are worrying to much. LO will prefer the breast believe me...it's mommy time.

b.heather · October 2009

1. When do you find is the best time of day to pump? I pump in the middle of the night and first thing in the morning. I'm returning to work tomorrow so I'll be pumping throughout the day as well starting then.

2. Approximately how many oz will my LO need at this age? I give my DD 4 ozs -sometimes she finishes it all and sometimes not. Check kellymom.com for more info.

3. If I pump at a certain time of day, does that milk have to be given to her at the same time of day? ie. pump in the morning, give that milk to LO in a bottle int he a.m. Nope, makes no difference.

4. Has anyone had their LO not go back to the breast after giving them a bottle? We started our DD on an occasional bottle at 3 weeks and had not problems at all with her going back to the breast. In fact, we had the opposite problem - if it has been a week or so since she'd had a bottle she was more likely to refuse the bottle!

5. If you have any additional information that might be useful, please let me know ) Start now giving your LO an occasional bottle. You may need to be out of the house and let someone else do it. My DD has refused bottles when I've been home - I've read she can smell me and wants the breast! We've used the Dr. Browns bottles and really like them. Use the lowest flow nipples you can find (preemie or level one).

Courtney&Jason · October 2009

kellymom.com is a great resource and also has a tool to help you estimate how many oz your little one is taking at each feeding.

The only thing I would add to the rest of the responses is to have your husband give your little one the bottle and you should be out of the room at that time. It makes it easier for LO to take that first bottle.

MattysGirl81 · October 2009

Pump in the morning, that's when you'll get the most. DS took a bottle in the first few weeks very well, then I stopped giving him bottles b/c I had the same fear as you. We're going to a wedding in 2 weeks so I've been trying to reintroduce the bottle. It's a HUGE struggle. I wish we had continued giving him a bottle so it wouldn't be so hard now. GL!

jwpbride · October 2009

I just wanted to say thanks for this post and all the responses- DH and I are both in a wedding 2 weeks from yesterday and I've had these same questions & worries!

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EBF has questions about giving LO a bottle for the first time...please advise!

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