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Breastfeeding
melaniedel
member
How to get back a bf session
melaniedel
member
I introduced a bottle to my 3.5 week old DD last week. I want to try and primarily BF but have to run my boys around and it's so hard. I only BF'd them for 5-6 weeks. I want to have the option of giving her two bottles (formula or pumped) a day to give me some freedom, but worried I'm going to lose my supply. I started giving her bottle around dinner and yesterday I went to BF at 4 and she was crying at my breast. I ended up giving her a bottle, which she drank. My questions are: is there a way to get that session back? Also, any advice on supplementing one or two feedings with bottles, without losing my milk? Right now, I was hoping to possibly replace an afternoon feeding and bedtime, but she hasn't fallen into a routine yet so hard to determine the times.
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: How to get back a bf session
Every time LO gets a bottle, you have to pump to replace that feeding in order to maintain your supply. So now you are tethered to your pump for 20+ minutes however many times a day you decide to give a bottle, and you have bottles and pump parts to wash. Taking that into consideration, nursing her would be so much faster.
Also, you are still building and regulating your supply. You really should still be feeding LO on demand. A "routine" might fall into place closer to 6-8 weeks old.
Lastly, it's very easy for little babies to develop a bottle preference when it's introduced so early. Make sure you are using the slowest flow nipples, don't tilt the bottle and let the milk free-flow, and stop to burp every 1/2 oz. A bottle feeding should take 15-20 minutes. Look up the YouTube video of paced feeding.
If LO is already getting fussy at the breast you may be experiencing this. My honest opinion is to put the bottles away for a few more weeks. You've got another big growth spurt coming up around the 6 week mark. After that you can introduce a bottle every day using the paced feedings. In the meantime, is baby wearing an option so that you can feed LO and have your hands free? A lot of moms here have success that way. Good luck!
As far as continuing to build and maintain supply, the pump is inferior to your LO. So yes, direct feeding is the best way to stimulate your body to produce more milk.
Do you have any reason to think you're not producing enough? Is baby gaining weight? Having enough wet and poop diapers? Fussing at the breast does not mean a supply issue. If you have doubts, though, I would seek out a lactation consultant and try to do a weighed feeding during the time you think your supply is low.
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**