Dr Brown bottles too slow?

[ProudFTMum]

I’m a FTM to a gorgeous 9 week old. I’m exclusively pumping (issues with bf as DS was premature) and we started using TT bottles but DS struggled quite a lot of reflux/wind and regurgitating milk. After some research I bought Dr Brown bottles and they are a godsend, DS is eating much nicer, not upset so much during feeds, and he brings significantly less milk back. However..he used to be a really good feeder, and we started averaging between 120-150 ml per feed. Now with the Dr Brown bottles DS seems to be eating a lot slower and often doesn’t finish his portions - it’s almost like he gets tired of sucking/loses interest in the bottle. I usually try to offer him the rest of the bottle after 30 minutes/1 hour which he sometimes accepts but this means we are pretty much feeding all the time.

Anyone has experience anything similar, and do you think of would be worth moving up to level 2 teat size (although that’s 3 months +). I’m just worried that might be too much for him..

I had a preemie and we were actually told to use level 2 teats because being so small preemies get too tired sucking with the level 0/1 and can't finish. So it may well be you need to go up. My 31+4 3lb14 preemie was absolutely fine with level 2s from when she started at 33 weeks so you would he ok to try. If it's too quick for him he would cry, pull back and you'd know.

That actually makes so much sense! He was done with TT size 1 but I think Dr Brown ones are actually smaller.

I ordered a few, they’re arriving tomorrow so will give it a go, thank you

I would give the mam bottles a go, my little one was the same and they were a godsend

Thank you! I will try the size 2 teats for Dr Brown today but if it doesn’t work out I’ll look into the mam bottles. With those ones, did you start using level 1 and was that a faster flow than size 1 in Dr Brown?