Almost 5 weeks old - can i introduce a bottle feed in the evening?

[Mandymoo]

DS is 5 wks tomorrow and is cluster feeding in the evening when my milk supply is at its lowest! He is a big boy and a very hungry boy - i was just wondering whether it might be ok to introduce a bottle feed in the early evening to see if that fills him up? Or is too soon and would it confuse him? Your advice would be greatly appreciated X

PS - its my birthday next week and thought about treating myself to a large glass of wine - how much alcohol actually gets through to the breast milk??

i'm sure one of the bf experts will be along soon, but i would say that yes you can introduce a boittle whenever you like, but if you want to stick with the boob, your body will respond and he will get enough. you could always express earlier in the day so you have a good supply for the evening?

and i was told (by my bf counsellor) that very little booze gets through. i had a small glass most nights.

Hmmm i would say no don't do it only because i did this & it was my road to disaster, ok Dd settles more but it did confuse her & she started to get very frustrated when she was on my boob, it also went from 1 bottle to 2 till in the end i gave up.

It's totally upto you

thanks Tutter - i definitely want to continue b/f but just wondered whether one bottle feed might help. Will carry on as i am for the minute i think and see how it goes - ds is feeding so well, i dont really want to introduce a bottle unless i really have to!

Thanks X

SomethingAboutMary - that was what i was worried about tbh. He is feeding really well atm so dont want to confuse him. Thanks again X

hang on if you can.. i was the same as you and umm-ed and ahh-ed for ages, but stuck with it. eventually intro'd a bedtime bottle at 5mo but wish i'd waited longer.

cluster feeding is a pain in the arse isn't it? I used to get annoyed just sat there on the sofa.

BUT it is vvvvvv common and I would advise you to go with the flow tbh.

I am not an expert but I don't think your supply is low in the evening.

A glass of wine is fine if you are b/feeding btw, don;t worry about that.

If you want to introduce a bottle, why not give expressed at around 10 or 11ish if you are worried about supply?

I was told not to introduce a bottle until 6 weeks, so I waited with dd1 and then she refused to have one! So with dd2 I introduced one at 2 weeks and she refused that as well! Both mine wouldn't tolerate bottles until about 5 months ish so you may find it the same with your ds.

It is early days so I think you should grab any excuse to sit and feed with both hands and get someone to be at your beck and call in the evening tbh.

xx

OliveOil - i hadnt thought about it like that but i see what you mean !!

Yeah - will carry on as i am for the moment and see how it goes - was just beginning to dread the evenings but i guess i'd only be sat infront of the tv anyway so i might as well be feeding at the same time !

Thanks X

Honestly, I dreaded the evenings too but you have to change your attitude to it.

Instead of thinking "bloody baby, I am stuck here feeling like a cow with udders", think "fantastic! I have a table next to me with the remote, a glass of wine, some water and snacks AND I DON'T HAVE TO MOVE and can sit here cooing at my little angel and dh/dp has to do all the running around".

Worked for me.

xx

He's cluster feeding to boost your milk supply, so introducing a bottle just buggers it all up.

Agree totally with OO's last post - see it as an excuse to have extended cuddles and snacks and control of the remote - worked for me (albeit with brief "Oh, FGS, can I not just have an hour off once ever" moments )

You have ALL convinced me!

This evening i will mostly be sitting on my butt, eating chocolate and feeding my beautiful baby boy!!!!!

Cheers guys X

Think of the first 3 months as a fourth trimester if you will, a time for you to recover and baby to get used to being in the big wide world.

Don't make plans is my advice.