introducing bottle

[Liz79]

My baby girl will be 6 weeks on monday and I am thinking about training her to take a bottle. I don't want to give her formula ever but would like her to be able to take a bottle of EBM if needs be. How should I go about starting expressing - what time of day, how many times per day. When should I give her it and how much, would this replace a breastfeed and would that make me sore or reduce milk supply? Do I give a bottle everyday or just a couple of times a week? Thanksx

Hi Liz, it really depends on how often she is feeding, my DS was every 3hrs by 6 wks and went most of the night so i expressed first thing in the morning, one brest seemed enough to keep him going at least 2 1/2 hrs so i expressed the other. if not you need to do it between feeds, you may only get 2oz at first but the more you do it the more your body will naturally produce. the more you do it the more your get! I would start feeding small amounts at first and give her some boob as well if she needs more. Do try it now tho as i didn't start until my DS was 8weeks and he now wont take a bottle, typical boy, he loves he's boobies!!!!!! Good luck....

Thanks. This week we have started a bit of a routine of feeding at 6.30pm, 10-11pm, 3-4am, and 7am ish and probably 3 times in the day (timings less reliable then though!). She only has one boob - I don't offer the other as if I give the 1st one a squeeze after she has finished a little milk still comes out so she obviously doesn't empty them. So should I express second boob after morning feeds when I have more? Will take breast pump to bed tonight (in little travel sterilizer box, handy for 7am

hi i would def start sooner rather than later. my ds is 6 weeks tomorrow n i started him with ebm sunday n he couldn't care less what was feeding as long as there was milk! trying to get him to take a dummy is a different matter coz it doesn't give him milk! well done on the routine feeds, ds is a milk monster n wants it all the time! coz of this i express when he's gone a while, best to express while he's feeding off the other - milk comes out easier, better to be in your pump than on breast pad! rather proud of myself, as i was asking all these questions only last week, you'll soon b a dab hand! DP has given him a bottle for 1 feed every day since, early evening, just so he get's used to it, will make sure we keep it up...and i've got some me time back - made the most of it - pedicures, tea with girls. good luck, let us know how it goes x

SHould i feed her half the EBM and freeze the rest so i build some up in the freezer for emergencies/leaving her/weaning etc? Thanks for your help