EBF becoming v daunting as DD won't take a bottle/cup- help please!

[TheNewShmoo]

DD is 6 months old and is exclusively BF. I've tried giving her expressed milk from a cup/beaker/bottle/different teats (she used to take the breastflow teats when v young but we didn't continue with it). She now thinks the teat is some sort of a teether and just gets generally distressed with all the persistent shoving of various objects into her mouth. She has an ongoing constipation problem so it's really important now to try and get water into her alongside her first solids. EBF is now becoming daunting as I have full and sole responsibility for feeding her, which is a shame as I really want to EBF as long as we're both happy to. Has anyone had any success with this?

Why do you have sole responsibility of feeding her when she has already started weaning? If the other person won't give solids, will he/she give milk?

Don't panic about the milk in bottle thing. It will be no time before your LO have 3 meals and possibly snacks if you arent around.

If you are trying to give water with the meal, don't use ones you need to suck to get water out. Try a free flow. My EBF DD likes the TT first cup (free flow) and also the TT tip it up (they call it lip technology but basically the spout opens with pressure not suction).

BTW my DD is BLW and even that she now can go without bf all day. I no longer feed her when we go out just bringing snacks with me, and offer what I have on my plate. Another from my NCT group was already able to go without from 7mo and that's with purees.

My DD is 9mo btw. I do enjoy the lie in now where I give her a morning feed, hand her over to DH for breakfast and go back to sleep

If she is having plenty of fruit/veg with her meals and bfing on cue (BM is about 88% water) then lots of extra water isn't generally needed. Though you mention your DD has constipation so perhaps staying away from bananas and other constipating foods to start with might be best!

Does she like/tolerate being spoon fed? If she does you could try adding a soup course to her meals (puree down carrots/broccoli/leeks/other veg and add no-salt chicken/veg stock to make a simple soup and freeze in small portions) to increase her fluid intake over the meal.

If she won't take a bottle don't force it as you'd be having to start to wean her off them soon anyway (my HV suggested stopping any bottle feeds from 4m if bfing and going to a free flow beaker). There are loads of free flow beakers on the market or even just an open cup is fine (messy but fine) for water.

DD still breast feeds a lot- I think she doesn't take much solid food because of the constipation so cannot see her taking 3 full meals and reducing the milk feeds for a while. We are very careful in not giving her any binding foods which will worsen the constipation. We've tried the free flow beakers (TT) and the doidy cup but she does not want it in her mouth. If we keep it tipped up in her mouth then she gets too much water, can't swallow it quick enough, and gets very distressed which, I acknowledge, has not helped in convincing her to take it. I think all the trauma of trying to get something in her mouth has also created a lot of tension, fear and resistance. My poor little thing :-(

Oh poor thing. I give water by putting it in front of DD and tilt it when she leans forward and put the spout in her mouth. She is a naturally curious creature and really puts everything in her mouth. But she won't let us feed her with a spoon. Things in her mouth has to be on her own terms.

Are you spoon feeding and she hates all the putting of food in her mouth? Have you heard of BLW? Even if you don't do all finger foods, you might still find your LO suddenly clicked what food is all about. Mine started at around 8mo. The BLW book says solids intake for most ramps up quickly around 9mo. So it might just be another few months to relax and let her get there at her own time.

I've seen DD2 drink from a bottle once.
She was 5 and had poured squash into one I'd given her to feed Dolly.
She would not take a bottle not even from a very skilled nurse.

DD wolfs down semi-mashed solids on the days she has pooed. I've read Rapley and wanted to BLW but as she doesn't get to actually 'eat' that often because of the constipation and happily takes the spoon once she's pooed (but detests spoon feeding on the days she hasn't- which further adds to the trauma) I've gone with spoon feeding but I do put finger food on her tray to play with. It's such a shame as she's such a good adventurous eater when she's able to eat. Her poos last week were so dry and pasty and difficult to pass that I'm sure some water would help enormously. If I could get her to take the bottle then I'd also be able to add Movicol (for her constipation) to her milk- force feeding her the medicine by spoon has become very traumatic for her.

A bit left field but what about crushed ice/frozen BM in one of those mesh feeder things? Then she could chew/suck on it without you putting it in her mouth.

Hmmmm... interesting idea