Desperate - how do I get my 9 week old to suck on a bottle?

[ButteryJam]

Hi,

I'm in agony as my breasts are extremely sore. DD is refusing bottle despite having it for the 1st month. I'm at my wits end, I've tried for 5 days now, my DP has tried too. We are placing expressed milk inside it. I've tried NUK bottles, avent and others. Please help!

Thanks in advance

Have you tried cup feeding if he won't take a bottle? Try googling kellymom alternative feeding.

Are you getting any help with your soreness?

I have tried cup feeding she won't take it

Do you know what is causing the pain ? I managed to get the pain I was in under control before I managed to get my LO to take a bottle.

Have you tried different bottles? Teats?. Hot milk cold milk?

Are your nipples sore or the boobs themselves? Do they feel red and hot? If so you could have mastitis in which case you must keep on feeding - stopping would make it worse.

Otherwise, why do need to switch to a bottle?

Mine did the same at 9 weeks, I thought all was lost....but we persisted. He's about 20 wks now and happily takes a bottle. It's hard (no pun intended) but keep trying. Baby is much happier at breast than bottle, but bottle is so much more convenient. I had sore breasts and sore nipples occasionally during the first few months, speak to your gp/ Hv. Warm bath, hot water bag and just putting lo to the breast helped.....and oh, nuk bottles worked for us, but I did have to order slow feed teats online as the bottles sold in the stores all have medium feed teats which would just cause baby to gag.

Paracetamol might help in the short term. I'd get checked by the gp/hv in case of mastitis, and maybe try a breast feeding clinic for advice and moral support.

And get your DP to try the bottle while you are well out of the room, so the boob is not an option!