Best way to get bub used to feeding from Breast AND Bottle

[jaskie]

Every baby is different so you don't know how yours is going to be until it happens. My bub was on BM for a week then had to be on EBM exclusively for 2 weeks - very, very damaged nipples - and was then back on the boob with the occasional bottle. She was absolutely fine with it. Yet I know other babes who would not handle this at all! I think what helped (possibly, who knows??) was having a bottle that resembled the breast as closely as possible. I am in love with the Adiri Natural Nurser. It is certainly worth checking out. The best part is it contains no bpa, phthalate plasticisers, latex, or vinyl chloride!!
Best of luck!!

[Mummato2]

Every baby is different - however I introduced a bottle to my DD from 3 months for a lot of different reasons and that almost finished our BF'ing relationship.

We don't comp at all now and she is back to BF'ing 100%.......my advice is to get another method that doesn't involve a teat....unfortunately the teat is an easier feed and they will take preference to it.

Hang out til bub is 3 months then spend a month introducing another method like a finger feeder or sippy cup

HTH xxx

[MummaSue]

I had to introduce a bottle (EBM) early on due to horrible damage to my nipples while breastfeeding. She took it no problem at all. When I healed, we didn't have such a need for it so didn't give her bottle for weeks. I then tried to go and get a spa treatment and left DH with some EBM and she screamed blue murder. Totally got herself in a state and now will not take a bottle for love nor money. *sigh*

So, she took it when she was tiny but now all she wants is boobie.

But like everyone says, see how you go and despite me being told that giving baby bottle early on interferes with breastfeeding, I certainly didn't find that to be the case and know a lot of mums who found the same.

Good luck
Sue x

[*Beema*]

DD was on a mixutre of NGT, breast and bottle from when she was born, we had to top her up with EBM from an early age, and she adapted well, but she was a crappy breast feeder until 5 1/2 months, so while she could do and take both, I don't know if the mixing of the two was cuasing probalems as well....

[helle]

Every baby is different - however I introduced a bottle to my DD from 3 months for a lot of different reasons and that almost finished our BF'ing relationship.

We don't comp at all now and she is back to BF'ing 100%.......my advice is to get another method that doesn't involve a teat....unfortunately the teat is an easier feed and they will take preference to it.

Hang out til bub is 3 months then spend a month introducing another method like a finger feeder or sippy cup

HTH xxx

is a bottle really an easier feed? Once let down happens the milk usually flows on it's own...?

[~mamaspice~]

Wow, thanks for all of the advice ladies. I guess the best thing to do is wait and see what happens and what bub is like. Will also look into what the ABA has to say.

[~Kaz~]

is a bottle really an easier feed? Once let down happens the milk usually flows on it's own...?

Teagz, it can definitely be a faster flow with a bottle. Every breast is different - even the left and right side on the same woman can be different in terms of flow and let down speed. Mine certainly are and I could tell that by DS's different behaviour on each side. Sometimes the flow of the breast is faster for some women but usually (I think!) the bottle teat is quicker - the baby has more control. It does really depend on the type of feeder the baby is. In my case, DS wanted it yesterday and wasn't always patient enough to work for the let down, so he got frustrated and pulled off a lot to cry and protest and that delayed the let down further. Once 'we' achieved let down, he settled into the feed but he would become agitated and impatient again towards the end and I suspect the flow slowed down again as the breast emptied. When he got his mouth on a bottle, he seemed to be able to make it go as fast as he wanted it to. A different, more patient baby would possibly have just taken a slow and steady approach and worked consistently through the feed. I hope that all makes sense!!

[MantaRay]

is a bottle really an easier feed? Once let down happens the milk usually flows on it's own...?

Yes, a bottle really is. The let down reflex ejects the milk, but the baby has to suck to get milk. This is a complex system but basically it is designed so that baby can't choke, and only gets what they want. If the baby isn't attached properly and moving their tongue and jaw the right ways, they don't get milk (if they attach and stimulate the let down correctly and then stop, they might get some milk when the let down first happens, but it's not going to be enough). Whereas with a bottle it pours into their mouths and they have to swallow.

MummaSue, if you really want some time out, you could try her with a sippy cup.

[MummaSue]

Hey MR, yeah, I am thinking I might get a sippy cup for her and try that soon. Is there any specific kinds that people have found to work well? Sorry to hijack the thread.
Sue x

[CoNNiE_Melb]

Quick question... in order to avoid painful nipple issues... is there any great debate against just feeding EBM from a bottle all the time? That way the baby is getting the BM it needs, and the mum avoids all the nipple issues that come with BF.