BF and Returning To Work - Help Please

[Crystalwings]

So i'm back to work part time in less then 4 weeks
DD will be 5 and a half months.
She is extremly clingy and won't take a bottle. I am able to feed her in my lunch break so she will be feed 4hrly -ish if she still won't take ebm by then
I'm just worried how her caregivers are going to go if she won't have a bottle and if i should start solids a little earlier or give her a rusk or something at least to entertain her while i'm working?
Experience with this and any tips would be much appreciated

[Jaycee]

Hi there

I returned when DS1 was 6 months old and had the same problem, I never got him to take a bottle but we got through it!

Some things to try:

Have you tried having someone else give her the bottle?

If that doesn't work maybe try a sippy cup?

Different bottles or teats?

I never solved the problem with DS1 so I had him on solids at 6 months and I fed him straight before and after work.

Good luck, you'll find something that works!

[Pandora]

Generally, they won't starve themselves. They might take a day or so to protest but will eventually take a bottle.
DS1 refused for months, it was the day before I went back to work before he took a bottle.

DS2 would take them, but only from me, which didn't help either and led to a very distressed DH. I ended up going out for a period that covered a couple of feeds until he worked out that if he didn't have the EBM there was no more til I got home.

[HotI]

my DD would starve herself and was getting dehydrated. she also wasn't keen on solids til about 8 months. so it is good to have another option (like bub coming to you for feeds).

store ebm in small amounts so the carers can keep trying but don't waste heaps if she won't drink it.

[Crystalwings]

thanks ladies
I have been only doing small amounts after wasting 50mls the other day. i am thinking of trying the sippy cup next
DH has tried feeding her but she just lets it run out the corners of her mouth.
Would you leave water if your LO's didn't take bm?

[HotI]

Another one i tried was frozen ebm in those sucky food things, wasn't very successful though.

i don't know if i would be giving water to a bub that young, it can upset electrolyte balance etc. i would prob check with ABA and see what they think.