Moms who BF and pump...help with introducing a bottle

skio · May 2011

Okay, I'm totally confused. DD has been EBFd thus far and I want to start introducing a bottle of BM here and there. She's 7 weeks now and I assume that in the next couple of months I'll want to be able to skip a feeding here and there so I can leave her for more than a couple hours, but HOW? I really need some guidance here - it sounds silly but what I'm asking is how do I start her on a bottle and how do I make this all work smoothly?

I have been pumping every morning after she eats and have a freezer stash of probably 30-40oz in 1-5oz portions. Do I just...thaw a bag and have DH feed her once a day? Do I always have to pump when he does a feeding? If I have to pump at the bottle feeding, that kind of defeats the purpose of it, no? Will my supply take a hit if I just cut out a feeding? How much do I give her?

If anyone can assist by posting your schedule or method, I'd really appreciate it. I need advice from other moms on this one, google isn't cutting it!

Twinkz · May 2011

DS is on probiotics since I'm on strong antibiotics. DH gives DS 1oz mixed with the medicine and then I feed the remaining meal. Once DH is giving him full feedings, I'll pump during it. I don't want to deal with engorgement and since he'll just be increasing how much he eats as he grows I want to keep my strong supply. DS won't take a bottle from me, he gets frustrated if I give it to him but he'll gladly munch down when DH gives it to him.

lizard76 · May 2011

We started giving both boys a bottle around 2 weeks, just to get them used to the bottle. Marcus is on probiotics to help with gas, so he gets about 1 oz. of pumped milk per day so he can take that, or if I'm driving to my parents (3.5 or more hours away), I take a full bottle for him, around 3 oz.

The first bottle each boy got, my DH gave to them, just to make sure they'd take it. After that, I could easily feed them a bottle as well. I don't think either of them cared where the food was coming from as long as they got fed! I do laugh with Marcus though, because when he drinks a bottle, he still looks at my boob, as if he's thoroughly confused.

I pump 1-2x a day to build up a stash because I will be going back to work. If I give a full 3-4 oz. bottle, I will try to get an extra session in, just so I don't get engorged.

thehurstfamily · May 2011

I know it seems pointless to pump when you are feeding with a bottle but I made the mistake of not pumping enough and am in the middle of trying to keep my supply up and increase it. Keep your stash as long as possible b/c when you do start on the bottle and start taking LO out and about and need milk for bottle you will be surprised at how quickly they go. I also ran into this problem and now on have 2 still frozen. I can't freeze more at the moment b/c I'm not producing enough milk... so if you do go out and miss a feeding make sure you pump as soon as you can.

To thaw put the pouch under cool water and it thaws super quick. I then put the pouch or bottle in hot water. I usually heat the water in the microwave so it gets a little hotter than my tap water. (my water doesn't get really hot)

Lucky for me my LO never cared if the milk came from me or a bottle so that was never an issue. But when I do bottle feed I still hold him close to my chest as I would if I were BF. Hope this helps!

Red_Dahlia · May 2011

Girl, I was right where you are a few days ago! The "logistics" of pumping and introducing a bottle seemed so overwhelming.

I haven't been pumping all along, so I pumped one morning after a feeding and put about 2 oz in a bottle in the fridge. I let DH give her 2 oz at a feeding later in the day, and then she nursed for the rest of the feeding. Then I pumped again. I've read it is best that someone other than mom give the bottle, and that you shouldn't be in the room. (I was in the room though with DD and she took it just fine) time, and then I nursed her for the rest of the feeding. As far as always pumping when they get a bottle, I've read that some moms do and some moms don't. Obviously, if you're pumping at work you'll want to pump as many times as LO would normally nurse. However, if LO is just getting 1 bottle, once a week or so, I've read some moms say they don't pump unless they get uncomfortable.

DD took the bottle just fine and then took the breast again with no problems. We'll probably do 1 bottle a few times a week just to keep her used to it until. I go back to work.

DD really chugged the bottle, so make sure that you (or whoever is giving the bottle) takes breaks to let LO burp.

Here's some more info! GL!

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

https://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/introducing_bottles.shtml

https://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lviss1-2009p12.html

https://www.llli.org/faq/bottle.html

MissYouDietCoke · May 2011

I am able to pump about 5oz at night between 2-3 hrs after DS goes to bed for the night. He sleeps for 5-7hr stretches at night and to avoid getting engorged, I pump before I go to bed. This is what we use when LO needs a bottle. I'll freeze it if LO doesn't use it w/in 24h, though.

Anyway, for at least the first few tries, I'd pump while your DH gives your LO a bottle, just to keep your supply up. Though, missing one nursing session a week shouldn't tank you. (one per day might be an issue though)

mrs.ptb · May 2011

I don't necessarily pump right when he is getting a random bottle, but I will make sure I pump if he gets a bottle.

For example - went out to run errands, pumped before I left, he only had one bottle, so I was good.

Went to a wedding, pumped before, he got two bottles while we were there, I pumped right when we got home.

If it is just because you want a break... I tend to rely on the pump in the morning or pumping before I go to bed. But I don't concern myself with it being at the same time as the bottle.

I have about 150oz in the freezer so far, and my plan is to cycle through it so that it doesn't get too old. I won't do any bottles without some sort of pumping to go along with it until I am content with the idea of my supply dropping. I'd like to transition from BM to WM with no formula, so we'll see what happens!

Good luck!

mrssburnison · May 2011

I've been pumping everyday as well, but I haven't put any in the freezer yet, My lactation consultant told me its good for 8 days, so I've just been dating it and putting it in the fridge and using it while we're out and about. She didn't have a problem drinking from a bottle at all. At first it was a little unfamiliar and I think the first bottle went mostly on her than in her, but she takes it no problem after that.

If I skip a feeding I find I do need to pump because I get too full and it hurts. I just give her as much as she eats. Usually 2-3 oz. My LO is 5 weeks. Good luck!

charley7 · May 2011

I gave my LO a bottle right at 2 weeks, and he gets one about once a day since then. I try not to dip into my stash which is not that much of a stash as of right now...but that's b/c I'm lazy about pumping. Anyway, I use the Tommie Tippe or however you spell them type of bottles and he takes them fine. I pump before we head out somewhere or before I want to go somewhere to leave for my mother in law or my DH. I need to start pumping more than once a day, one for him to drink so I don't have to bother with defrosting, and one to store up

I say wing it and do what works for you or feels best.

RayRay007 · May 2011

I didn't know where to start either, but I wanted to start somewhere because DD was cluster feeding in the evening, but only taking one boob in the middle of the night, and I needed some relief from the cluster feeding and engorgement in the middle of the night so one night I decided to pump that other side. I didn't get very much. The next morning I pumped again when she was napping and had enough from both for a 2.5 oz bottle. This was at 3 wks. DH gave that to her that evening in place of one of her cluster feeds. I didn't worry about if it was enough because I knew there'd be at least one more feeding before bed. Over the next couple of days I got better at pumping and we knew DD was getting enough (2.5 oz was enough) so we switched to giving her a bottle for her last feed of the day. But yes, I still pump when she gets a bottle so it doesn't affect my supply. But at least it doesn't have to be exactly when DD gets the bottle. It can be a few hours later. We knew we had to go up in ounces when she's finish a bottle and still be hungry. We would just give her another oz. or so, and the next day give her a bigger bottle. Now at 7 weeks she gets 4 oz. before bed. It's a lot of trial and error to figure out how much.

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