BF 11 week DD takes a bottle but only 2oz... what to do?

[Kenobi]

For various reasons I'd like my 11 week old to start taking bottles - she's had them on and off since she was born but she's not very keen - she takes the teat in, plays with it, sucks for about 1-2oz, then plays with it some more before spitting it out and demanding the boob. Loudly!

I have a toddler and have just moved house so everything is very chaotic which ios why I haven't been doing it every day. Fool that I am!

DD has slight tongue tie and takes a lot of wind when she feeds, both bf and bottle, and can also be fussy on the boob - she will sometimes take half a feed then cry hard before calming down and continuing. I don't think she has reflux, as she doesn't seem to be in pain otherwise. Feeding her in general is very frsutrating.

I've tried the Nuk which she hated, she seemed to create a vacuum, so now am trying Avent.

I am using formula but would expressing help? Another bottle?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

2oz is a good sized feed for a bf baby (on average bf babies take 25oz a day - just over 1oz per hour) so there's nothing wrong on that front.

It may be though the TT is making it more difficult to feed from a bottle hence the fussing while feeding (both breast/bottle). Have you considered getting the TT snipped as it sounds like something is interfering feeding being easy for her.

Hi Truthsweet, you probably don't remember but about 6 weeks ago you gave me fantastic advice when I was very desperate - in the midst of horrible baby blues and dealing with an agonising welt on my nipple... here I am, still BFing!

Unfortunately no-one will deal with the tongue tie as it's only minor and she's piling on the weight, I think it must annoy her though as she plays with her tongue a lot. But perhaps I should go private?

RE: bottle feeding - she will then go on the boob and empty one of them so I don;t think she is getting enough with 2oz from bottle. That said I think there's definitely an issue with her feeding despite her weight gain as she's a chronic catnapper during the day. She is good at night, when she will sleep for 13.5 hours with two feeds.

Can I be even clearer - the ONLY reason I'm still BFing is because of you - not buttering you up, it's the honest truth.

Hi Kenobi I am at your effusive praise - I have to say though the only reason you are still bfing is because of you, I will concede I may have helped a little but YOU did this! Be proud of what you have achieved credit where credits due! I haven't done any of the night feeds

It does sound like a private snip may be the option to go for if no one on the NHS will do it as it's only minor (if it's so minor how come she has such trouble??) Here is the list of IBCLCs who do TT divisions and here's the NHS list of TT dividers (you may be able to find another hospital near by that will assess/divide the TT for you.

I really hope you will be able to find someone to help.

Ah, the night feeds... such fun!

Thank you, I'll check it out.

Today she keeps on pulling off repeatedly to stare at me. I've burped her until we're both blue in the face so it's not that. It's making me sore again

Have you got a sling? (I know, I know the standard answer to any bfing problem apart from 'Can you co-sleep?' ) Some babies get to 3-4m and get quite distractable - a sling can help them either focus on feeding or get the closeness they need while you get some hands free time.

Another option could be to try breast compressions - she might be distracted when the flow slows so pops off to look at you - BC may help to keep her interest in bfing until she is sated.

Hmmm... When my initial let down comes through she often drops the nipple as she doesn't like the pressure, then goes back on after it's relaxed (leaving me trying not to soak the sofa/bed/car etc with milk!) so I'm not sure it's that, but will try, maybe she likes a good flow but not THAT much flow. I don't have a massive let down, but it's enough to disconcert her for a minute or so.

I am not good enough at BFing to feed in a sling , I have to use a boppy pillow to feed or I can't keep her still (all fingers and thumbs) and DD gets distressed.

See what I mean about fussy? On the plus side I have lots of milk...

Thanks again Truth

Bfing in a sling is a huge skill - I didn't really manage it until DD3 (prior to that I just hoped for the best!) - but you can try bfing with the sling loosely done up and tighten it (this works best with a ring sling!). Or you can try bfing then sticking her in the sling if the feed turns to a fussy one to see if she calms down like that.