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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Introducing a bottle of EBM - what do I need to think about?

10 replies

SprogletCooking · 09/12/2008 16:33

Hi,

DS is 10 weeks old and exclusively BF from the boob. We are going to family over Christmas and I am thinking that I might try him with bottles of expressed breast milk in the hope that I could go out for an evening and leave the GP's to give him bottle...

Have got a pump and managed to express some milk last night but now find I dont know what to do next!

So MN's can you help with the following and is there any other advice you can give??

What bottles/teats would people recommend I try first?
Should the milk be given at room temp or warmer?
Is it ok to mix a couple of different days milk to make up the feed as I dont think I can get enough from one pumping session?
Should I try him with a bottle at the time I want him to take a bottle later or will anytime do?

What else should I be thinking about before I start trying him with a bottle?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Bettymum · 09/12/2008 16:48

Hi,
My experience has been that DD would only take EBM in a bottle from somebody else, never from me (guess she knew that if I was there, the boobs were there). Her first experience of a bottle was at 6 weeks when I went out for lunch with my mum and left grandad and great-uncle with the baby and the bottle .
I did go and buy those fancy boob-like teats but actually it didn't seem to make a blind bit of difference and she managed fine with ordinary Avent bottles/teats. I always warmed the milk up a bit but not sure she was bothered about that either.
Regarding mixing, I believe that you can mix milk but can only keep it refrigerated for up to 24 hours - so if you need to stockpile a bit you might want to freeze it.
Why not try and get someone to try him with a bottle before you go away and see how it goes? You could hide in another room and if DS absoloutely refuses to take it you can always step in.
Good luck! Hope you get a nice night out

cosmicdust · 09/12/2008 17:29

Yup I got dh to give the bottle. We used AVENT and had no problems.
DS prefers warm bottles but DON'T put them in the microwave - apparently it zaps some of the good things in breast milk. DS's bottles get warmed in a bowl of hot water.
I mix milk from different days sometimes. I don't know bettymum, but I keep bottles in the fridge for a week and I've had no problems. I was told: room temp up to 8 hrs, fridge up to 8 days, freezer up to 3 months, deep freeze up to a year. I don't think it matters what time the baby gets the bottle.
Enjoy your night out!

Original poster
SprogletCooking · 09/12/2008 17:54

Thanks both Bettymum and Cosmicdust!

was thinking I was being a bit selfish - just doing it so I could et a night out but keep telling myself I deserve it!

Will stockpile a bit of milk ans get DH to try it on the weekend!

Thanks again!

OP posts:
stickybean · 09/12/2008 20:00

I use Dr Brown bottles but wouldn't if i was starting again, they are expensive and leak.

My baby will take any bottle if offered.
I only warm the milk if it is straight out of fridge to take the chill off it. She will take it quite cold. If its for a bedtime feed though i prefer to warm it.
My baby is remarkably unbothered where her milk comes from as long as she gets it!

Original poster
SprogletCooking · 10/12/2008 13:26

Thanks Stickybean!

Will definitely warm the milk a bit and use the bottles we were given as a present before I buy any.

Think DS will either be quite chilled about it or a complete nightmare... fingers crossed it goes ok!!

OP posts:
babyOcho · 10/12/2008 13:51

Also stick to the no 1 / newborn teats, they are slower flowing so he'll need to work that bit harder, just like when he is on the breast.

Original poster
SprogletCooking · 10/12/2008 13:56

Thanks babyOcho!

Will check the size of the teats I've been given!

OP posts:
Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 15:24

You're definitely not selfish for wanting to have some time on your own. Why on earth would that be selfish ... in my book that's absolutely normal, and actually required too for your sanity

My boy took bottles easily- any bottles- on an when needed basis from about 6 weeks, when I need to go out. He does, however, go through periods when he doesn't like bottles, so I warn you that there's a possibility your baby might put up a fight, especially since he's 10 weeks old and (I presume) hasn't had a bottle so far. So don't be surprised if the first time he simply refuses. Or the first few times acutally. It does take a bit of persistence.

There is no danger of nipple confusion, in my opinion, at this age, so just go with whatever bottle. The ones we use are the green baby glass bottles, they've worked well. Oh, and as the others said, it's best that your DH gives the bottle the first times and not you, because some babies refuse to take a bottle from their mum when they're bf, they prefer the real thing (However, my baby after a while did get used to one bottle, once in a while, from me. He is though now going through a phase of taking no bottles at all, from anyone, ho hum )

Good luck! And have fun...

Original poster
SprogletCooking · 10/12/2008 15:38

Thanks Maria2007 - its useful to know to keep persisting if he refuses the bottle for the first few times!

OP posts:
Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 15:45

it might be a bit frustrating at first (my boy really WOULD NOT ACCEPT a bottle for quite a few times)... but after a while usually they're fine.

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