Need to return to work, but DD wont drink from a bottle, HELP!
I need to return to work for financil reasons (definately not a personal choice but I have no other choice).
DD, 3mths, had a full bottle at 3 days old when my milk came in and I was too engorged for her to lactch on so I expressed it of and gave her a bottle. She has also had a small amount of water and brown sugar for suspected constapation, but that was at like 5weeks old. Since then she has not had a bottle at all.
My DF and I are trying to get her to take a bottle, but its like she either has no idea what to do with it, or will not accept it. She ends up getting so worked up and screaming that I end up putting her on the boob cause she is distreased.
I really need to get her to take a bottle, I dont have any other option. Please someone give some tips for me to be able to get her to take a bottle.
Have you tried feeding her from a cup instead? She might allow herself to taste the milk in this manner, and be happier to take a bottle after that.
Also try to make sure you are not close by when she is being offered EBM as she will smell you and be confused. So go for a walk and leave your partner to it for half an hour and you may find she is chugging it back happily by the time you return.
SunShine, I am using Avent cause the breast pump I had given to me is Avent. I thought about a sippy cup, but have been told no cause she is too young.
Traveller, tried the cup and she took some, but then spat it back out again.
I will try the going for a walk trick.
Thanks girls for your suggestion. But if we can not get her to take to a bottle, then I am just going to have to be tougher on our budget and cut stuff out where possible.
Lisa, getting ready to go back to work is a really stressful time I have done it twice, and neither of my boys would take a bottle either. However both were able to drink from a sippy cup by 3 months so luckily they were well able to drink EBM. I'm not sure where you heard that 3 months is too young, but many babies can drink from a sippy cup at that age. Some breastfed babies aren't too far off being able to drink from a straw cup either. As I found out, it can be easier to skip the bottle stage all together - we never had to worry about weaning from bottles!!
I think a sippy cup might be worth a try for you. There are different sorts, so you might need to try some different ones, but give each type a few tries as it might not work the first time. The good news is that I have spoken with many mums who have gone through this worry before returning to work, and not one of the babies starved. All ended up taking EBM one way or another when they were without mum during the day and thirsty.
Hun, have you organised to be able to express at work also? Depending on the hours you are working, you might need to express up to 3 times during the day.
It is always hard when you feel like you have to make a decision, to go back to work, yet it wouldn't be your ideal choice. Manta has given some great ideas. The sippy cup is good.
But, if you want her to take a bottle - stay calm - she will be fine. Make sure the top of the bottle isn't too tight, so milk drips out freely. Try her with the bottle, but without pressure - don't let it turn into a screaming match or a battle of wills. If she is really hungry she might not be in a mood to try - feed her first, and then let her have a little try at the end of the feed with the bottle when she's relaxed and sleepy. Try to feed her when you are walking around outside - when she's distracted. Or when she is sleepy before bed. Get her dad to try - sometimes he will succeed when you won't. In a few weeks you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about.
I had this when I went back to work, mine was about 7 months. She Would Not Take The Bottle and I was worried I wouldn't be able to go back to work.
All I can say is persist, persist, persist and eventually they'll accidentally have a suck, realise the bottle has food in it and that will be it. But don't push for too long, try just before you feed, maybe break mid-feed when bubs is contented and try and slip the bottle in, but don't push until you have a screaming baby.
Need to return to work, but DD wont drink from a bottle, HELP!
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I have done it twice, and neither of my boys would take a bottle either. However both were able to drink from a sippy cup by 3 months so luckily they were well able to drink EBM. I'm not sure where you heard that 3 months is too young, but many babies can drink from a sippy cup at that age. Some breastfed babies aren't too far off being able to drink from a straw cup either. As I found out, it can be easier to skip the bottle stage all together - we never had to worry about weaning from bottles!!
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