EBF and Bottles

eg214 · March 2014

When did you all introduce LO to bottles if you were/are EBF? I read to try to wait 3 months but I'm going home in a few weeks and it would be nice to leave her with family and a bottle and get some time out with friends. Anyway just wondering how it went for others. Did they struggle when you brought them to the breast after a bottle feed?

ScaredOfCats · March 2014

I was told to wait 3 weeks to introduce a bottle. We had eating and jaundice issues and actually had to use bottles starting week 1. After that first week, though, LO was able to transition to breast easily but still has one pumped bottle a day.

MamaAllison · March 2014

Three weeks. I probably need to be more consistent about giving her a bottle though, she's only had three. It's just that I. HATE. PUMPING.

emar129 · March 2014

I did it around 4 weeks. LO is still somewhat hesitant to take it. I find she's better about trying it in the morning though vs night when she's a little more fussy. I also have had daddy or grandma feed the bottle and not me. I've been using Dr. Browns so far. We haven't had any issues switching back and forth, except once at night. She had a bottle, then breast the next feeding. She fussed a little at the breast (I'm thinking she was frustrated with the differences in flow?) but eventually ate and was fine.

Chereen · March 2014

Beachbumm2214 said:
I did it after 3 days. My nipples hurt so bad I'd cry when id try to feed him. I got a pump and haven't had any problems giving him bottle or breast. I use Nuk. Pumping Has saved my sanity. It lets me rest and DH gets to bond with him by feeding him as well.

This ! LO has no problem going from bottle to breast. I do both every day so DF can feed her too. We use the avent bottles.

Unknown · March 2014

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lihau88 · March 2014

We introduced the bottle right away, out of necessity. We had to supplement with formula for her first few days of life due to jaundice. Once we got home, I introduced the bottle again after a week.

She has had no issues going between breast and bottle. It's been so helpful because it allows DH to feed her while I take a nap, or a shower, or run some errands. The only little issue (that really isn't a big deal) is she won't take a bottle from me. She'll take it from anyone else, but I'm guessing she smells me and knows she can get the boob so she doesn't want a bottle.

We use the Medela bottles and nipples.

PeachLove25 · March 2014

We started at 3 weeks. I pump once in the morning on the side she doesn't eat. We use those 3oz in the middle of the night OR to freeze (I alternate). It has helped LO gain weight quick and I'm slowly building a freezer stash. No nipple confusion! We use Dr. Browns and she hardly ever has any spit up.

She takes a bottle from me or DH, she doesn't care. She also will go breast, bottle, breast in the same feeding without hesitation.

I would definitely not wait 3 mos. 1) for your own sanity so that someone can help with feeding once in awhile and 2) thats a long time for LO to develop habits and potentially want nothing to do with a bottle.

JackieP1023 · March 2014

I started pumping at 3weeks. We introduced a bottle during that week. She has had probably 3-4 so far, and seems to be taking them well enough, and nurses just fine! We have tried the avent natural (which DH likes, but she sucks down so fast!) and the medela calma (which was meh for us). I still have a couple other brands to try, if we run into issues

Etroch3 · March 2014

My baby was in the NICU for her first two weeks so she had to take a bottle. I wanted to EBF so I pumped from day one. I was able to be at the hospital for 4 out of her 8 feedings and she never hesitated to take the breast. They bottle fed her my milk when I wasn't there and I nursed her when I was there. The hospital used Dr Browns bc they say it's the hardest to suck from, mimicking the breast. I still pump a couple times a day so we can bottle feed her 2 times a day. She seems to have no preferences.
I wouldn't wait if I were you. It wouldn't hurt to try

SuzyQq02 · March 2014

We had to supplement starting at 2 weeks due to weight loss, so we started bottles out of necessity. She's had no issues going back and further between bottle, breast and paci. We use the tommee tippee kind, we got some as hand me downs from my sister and she does really well with them. We also have one avent with the natural nipple that she takes well as well.

slwprincess · March 2014

3 mos is too late IMO. 3 weeks is much better. All of mine had a bottle the first week and never had any issues going back and forth. While I do think nipple confusion is a real thing, I don't think it's as common as many LCs would have you believe and I think waiting too long is more problematic than too soon.

cjmFeb2014 · March 2014

We waited three weeks for bottles and pacis both - I wanted to wait until four weeks, but hub wanted to be able to take over a nighttime feeding so I could get a little more sleep, and the pediatrician said it was okay. We're using BornFree bottles.

Baby is four weeks today, so it's been a week of nighttime bottle feeding (once or twice during the night depending on how hungry he is), and it's going well, though I have noticed that he nurses a bit differently - it's like he now expects immediate return like he gets from the bottle, and while sometimes especially if he's gone more than three hours there's immediate milk, sometimes he has to suck a bit for the milk to flow. He'll also try to nom my nips pretty hard, which HURTS.

I had wanted to wait to avoid nipple confusion, but friends pointed out that with me having to use a nipple shield for flat nipples, he's already pretty nipple confused. (;

nebraska84 · March 2014

4 weeks, he had his first bottle from dad last night and there was no problem. I'm not returning to work for 5 more weeks but my pedi said to introduce the bottle at 3- 4 weeks. Good luck

BB0214 · March 2014

We started yesterday at 4 weeks. I introduced it while breast feeding. It took a couple of tries, but she took to it. We used the tommee tippee anti colic bottle. DH was able to do the 3am feeding with no issues. She took the breast this morning with no problem. Good luck!

eg214 · March 2014

Thanks all. She is 5 weeks so hopefully I'm not late to the game. I have no need to bottle feed right now and don't have others around who would benefit from bottle feeding her so I'm torn on it. I love our breastfeeding time. But I guess I should try now and again if I want it to go well in a couple weeks.

Winnieella · March 2014

DSwas in the nicu so he had to take a bottle right away. He has no issue between bottle and breast. It took some time to find the bottle he likes. We use the Medela Calma and they work great.

eg214 · March 2014

I have Tommee Tippiee and Avent Naturals to try.

amerk1107 · March 2014

i started at 2 weeks

gingerm84 · March 2014

Beachbumm2214 said:
I did it after 3 days. My nipples hurt so bad I'd cry when id try to feed him. I got a pump and haven't had any problems giving him bottle or breast. I use Nuk. Pumping Has saved my sanity. It lets me rest and DH gets to bond with him by feeding him as well.

I did the same thing. I had to let my nips heal and recover. Now we do both breast and bottle. I have been really happy with the dr. Browns newborn bottles.

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