EBM for a dream feed anyone had problems with breast rejection?

[nappyaddict]

Looking for advice for a friend who wants to start introducing a dream feed but is worried it might cause breast rejection. I said to her I wouldn't give a bottle every day cos I have known that lead to breast rejection and is probably best only every couple of days but I thought cos the baby is asleep with a dream feed it might not lead to the same problems.

nope DD has had a dream feed bottle every day since 3 weeks and still feeds on the boob fine. One a day, particularly at the dream feed when LO is barely conscious is unlikely to lead to breast rejection. Best to leave it until BF is established but then best not to leave it too late or she could get bottle rejection which will make life hard if she wants to wean or just have a few hours away/ extra sleep whilst someone else feeds.

My experience is exactly as jandmmum, make sure she's feel that BF is established.

It is important at this stage that she does at least one feed in the night as this is the best time for milk production.

DH used to give DD a bottle in the morning as I'm a night person and appreciated the lie-in.

If I did it again, I'd not give a bottle everyday (but went back to work early so was important she could take it) but give 2/3 times a week.

My one friend expressed when the baby was 2 days old (so on day 3 IYSWIM) and didn't have any problems. I did it from day 1 cos I was having problems and was the worst thing I could have done ... wish I'd waited even if just a few days longer so DS had got the hang of breastfeeding a bit first.

my lo was prem but as soon as he could suck he happily switched from bottle to breast and back again, he has his moments when he prefers one or the other but they are few and far between

The best thing to do is to advise her to wait until her DC is at least 6 weeks old and breastfeeding is well established before starting to introduce a bottle. Even then there may be some nipple confusion (but it is less likely) so it is best for her to stick to a slow flow teat and watch her baby.

As long as this remains the only bottle of the day then no problem IME. It was when bottles were used more during the day that one of my DC developed a bottle preference. It was a nightmare and it has been bottles ever since :(

MummyBerryJuice She doesn't want to wait that long cos with her last DC she waited until 5 weeks and couldn't get her to take a bottle at all.

Mmmm... that is difficult. Best practises to wait, if you want to introduce a bottle. A lot of mums find that there are no problems if starting earlier BUT then a lot find that there are problems.

maybe offer 2-3 a week from 4 weeks rather than one per day?

fwiw DD would take a bottle if really hungry but wouldn't take bottle at dream feed (ie she wasn't hungry enough to contemplate it) - as i posted on the other thread Ds prefered bottles! each baby is different.

There are a lot of us in the camp of believing 3-4 weeks is the better time for introducing bottles and not waiting until 6 weeks, so your friend is not alone (despite advice to the contrary)

MumNWLondon How old was DD when you first introduced a bottle?

have been using a bottle once a day for about 5 days, DS2 is almost 5 weeks old - no problems at all. With DS1 I did it even earlier as i had very bad thrush and had to express loads and he had several bottles a day, but still breast fed. So based on my experience I would be very surprised if one bottle a day led to breast rejection.