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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

About to introduce expressed milk - tips please!

16 replies

NoviceKnitter · 02/09/2007 23:06

Hi, I posted a couple of weeks ago for expressing advice. Seems to be working fine (though a lot more sore than the baby sucking)

Next step is to actually give her some. Have been putting this off as seem to feel really nervous about doing this as bfing has been going well, and feels really special. But hoping to feed her expressed milk for a day in two weeks after I have a hospital thing, so needs must...

Any advice about the first time you introduce a bottle? What teat size should I use (the avent bottles come with size one which I think is for newborn - DD is 9 weeks.

Also, a bit nervous that assuming we can get her to take bottle at all a whole day on bottle could disrupt our usual bfing regime.

Thoughts, advice, reassurance would be welcomed!

OP posts:

RuthChan · 03/09/2007 00:23

Hi Noviceknitter
It's great that your BFing is going so well.
You're clearly really comfortable with that.
As your DD is 9 weeks old your BFing is pretty well established and you shouldn't have too many problems introducing a bottle without disturbing it.
In fact, this is probably the ideal time.
If you leave it too much longer you'll find that DD is less prepared to accept the new drinking experience. Right now she's probably still pretty adaptable and open to it.
As it is, you should find that she'll accept the bottle and then alternate between the two quite happily.
(She might pull a surprised face the first time, but she should drink)
If she seems less prepared to take a bottle from you, you can try leaving the room and allowing her Dad or someone else to feed her. Sometimes the sight, sounds or smell of mum just makes them want BFing. On the other hand, she will probably take it from you with no problems.
Don't make a fuss about it if she refuses.
Just change to BFing and try again the next day.
Babies will often accept things after a few attempts that they steadfastly refused before. It just needs to become familiar.
Good luck with it!!

Original poster

NoviceKnitter · 03/09/2007 11:05

Thanks very much!

Any thoughts about teat size?

OP posts:

maxbear · 03/09/2007 22:07

I wouldn't worry too much about which teat size you use, just try a different one if the first one doesn't work. Both of my children have been rubbish at taking bottles. Dd eventually took them at 5 months which was great as I did not like bf and wanted to give up. Ds took them at first but then suddenly stopped at about 4 weeks (had had them every few days until then) Am feeling so happy bf this time that I don't mind at all and am trying to get him to use a cup so that when I go back to work (at a year) he can have milk that way. Funny how you can hate bf one child and really enjoy it the next time round?! Anyway back to the matter in hand, if she doesn't take an avent bottle you might have more success with other sorts as I have heard quite a few people say that some babies don't take them very well. She is probably a bit young to try a cup though but you never know. All babies are different. Good luck

puffylovett · 03/09/2007 22:12

hi, i introduced the tommee tippee closer to nature bottles at 4 weeks - just theodd feed now and again.

now he's six mths, he alternates between the two really happily - dp does most of the 11pm feed, then i finish him off so it's nice to help establish father daughter relationship (also gets them sleeping longer too !!)

they're good bottles, as the suckign action is similar to on the breast IMO.

phdlife · 03/09/2007 22:17

am so glad you asked this novice, my ds is 20 weeks and I've just scored a pump which was squillions times more effective than hand-expressing ( at the mw who said that was all I needed!). I'm all nervous about introducing him to the bottle too. He's a brilliant feeder but all erratic atm due to teething.

Maybe you and I can hold each other's hands?

SKYTVADDICT · 03/09/2007 22:22

My DS1 has had the odd bottle of ebm since about 6 weeks (he is now 17 weeks). We use the Avent size 1 (1 hole) as I think these said they were for newborns and b/f babies. He has no problems with them. I do have one with two holes though as they came with the bigger bottles (he takes 7oz feeds from them now) and I think he has had that teat too.

SKYTVADDICT · 03/09/2007 22:23

Oh, good luck to you (and phdlife) by the way. You can only try and see how it goes.

puffylovett · 03/09/2007 22:38

we actually found out by accident - i had flu and had to go to bed, so expressed and dp gave bottle at 11pm - he was hungry, so he ate it !

maybe if you get someone else to do the feed for you, at a time when she's hungry. ds would NEVER take a bottle from me until recently as he could smell the real stuff - now he's happy as larry to do so.

Princesspowersparkle · 03/09/2007 22:45

Hi
We've just done this. The best advice we had was start the feed when LO still asleep- their instict is to suck. After this has worked a couple of times try when they are sleepy but awake and then when they are fully awake. The other advice we had which is worth remembering is to persist not insist. If they don't take it at one feed- try another time. I think it took less than a week for our DD to go from complete refusal to furious sucking. She is 6 weeks.
Good luck x

phdlife · 04/09/2007 08:25

huh thanks princessps, that makes sense - just what I had to do to get over a nursing strike. good advice, ta!

Original poster

NoviceKnitter · 04/09/2007 17:46

Thnks everyone, that's really helpful advice. Yes phdlife let's keep in touch re how we get on

OP posts:

phdlife · 05/09/2007 19:57

okay novice I was being a sissy today and didn't even try - he is so cranked out with teething (stuffy nose, nappy rash, crabby crabby crabby) I didn't think trying something new was such a fab idea.

But my Pils arrive on the 14th and want to give me and dh a night off, so I guess I better get trying...

goood luck to you!

Original poster

NoviceKnitter · 08/09/2007 19:37

Still haven't taken the plunge... maybe later tonight! Good luck to you too.

OP posts:

ciara79 · 09/09/2007 18:11

my 10 week old dd has now decided she no longer wants a bottle. she had previously had 2 bottles, 1 from my mum and 1 from dh. now she's just looking at us like we've gone mad! any ideas?

Original poster

NoviceKnitter · 11/09/2007 11:38

Tried the bottle at last! DD happily took about half an ounce then wouldn't take more until it was from the breast. I guess I'll keep trying.

A question though: how long can I keep the one and a half ounces still in the bottle?

Also, any particular technique to angling the teat etc?

OP posts:

phdlife · 13/09/2007 19:28

well done, novice!

we've just had a couple days away and I took the pump thinking to try it out - only like a dunderhead I forgot to take a teat as well (duh!)

It was still a lifesaver though - ds went on a mini nursing-strike -and on Tuesday we got stuck in the hell traffic jam - 3 hours to go 10 miles on the M1. (yes you read that correctly.)

I was so bored I pumped, and then later ds was starving and we were still stuck in traffic, so I fed him what I'd pumped using the calpol syringe. Good, eh?

Next time I will take a teat, though....

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