DH wants to help with expressed milk in a bottle - how early can we start this?

[Rach35]

My DD is 2 weeks old and is being bf every 2hrs or so for about 10mins. She is gaining weight and sleeping for about 3-4hrs a night in between feeds. DH wants to help though (I love him so much!) and so we wondered when it is ok to introduce a bottle with expressed milk so he can at least have a go with one feed. (unfortunately he is getting the jobs like winding her when she is uncomfortable and nappy changes!)

Well done on getting thru first two weeks! I would wait a bit longer for your supply to get settled, also expressing can take a while to master...
Have you tried it yet?

From memory, I think we introduced feeding with a bottle (expressed bm) from about 3 or 4 weeks mainly because I was not comfortable feeding in public (big boobs so had to hold them up out of the way so wouldn't suffocate DS plus needed loads of pillows, etc, etc..) and we had no problems with him still latching on to breast as well as sucking from bottle. I think each baby is different and they soon learn to 'cope'!

It worked for us so you could always try it and see how you get on.

Good luck!

We started quite early on due to problems that I had at the beginning. I have to say though, as soon as I had healed enough to go back to exclusive direct feeding I did, even though dh did enjoy giving a bottle. I found expressing a right faff and it just wasn't worth the hassle for me personally.

Just don't be disheartened if you do try expressing and you find it very difficult. Particularly be aware that if you can't get very much milk out this doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your supply. Expressing is totally different to direct feeding - your baby is better at getting milk out than any pump .

We just used standard Avent bottles btw and had no problem with nipple confusion but every baby is different. Would be a good idea to wait another couple of weeks imo before you give yourself the extra work.

Another thing, again everyone is different, but in the early days there was no way I could "skip" a feed so even if dh was giving ds a bottle it didn't mean I could get more rest as I had to express off the feed he would have been getting from me to stop myself exploding!

Not trying to put you off btw - plenty people do this with no problems but don't give yourself extra hassle in those tough early weeks if it doesn't come easily to you. You can always wait a bit and give it another go when she's older (ds took a bottle no problem later on even though I had stopped expressing for a while - again, all babies are different!)

Personally I am really happy bf and not finding it a hassle. (I am enjoying the time with DD). It was so my DH could get involved - rather than just having the messy jobs! Thanks for all this and Sittingbull - I shall investigate!

Rach - if you "drip" whilst feeding (I always did), it may be worth your while investing in some breast shells (scroll to number 3) - then you can collect your milk whilst feeding, without having to express. I froze my drips in ice cube trays, and dh was then able to give ds the occasional feed - we introduced a bottle when he was 3 weeks old - and it was entirely drips to start with until I got used to expressing properly.

(oh, and I bf until he was 8 months old!)

I did this from when ds was about a week old, and I thought it was great!!!

I found expressing easy, luckily, and could express enough for a feed in one sitting, though not everyone can do this.

DS needed a feed at about 10 pm, so I used to express at about 9.30 pm, so DH could feed it straight away, as it was warm etc.

Then I could say a quick hello to ds at 10 pm, and then potter off for an early night, while DH and DS had some boy time.

I think it's really important for Dad's to get involved and have some time alone with the baby, so good for you and your DH for giving it a go.

I think it's also good to get a baby used to taking a bottle, to give to a bit of flexiblility later on.

I used an Avent Isis breast pump and normal Avent bottles, and never had any problem with my supply or nipple confusion.

I positively 'gush' when feeding and I am going through a lot of pads at the moment so I will try the shells and see how we get on..... Thanks everyone!