What bottles to use?

[charx]

I think I might be about to give up Breast feeding.
Well, I'm not technically BF at the moment - I have been expressing for the last 3 weeks. DD now 4 weeks old.
First it was mega cracked nipples (one still has not healed properly making even expressing sore) then awful deep breast thrush - and I have tried - I've had a v expensive specialist come round to help me - and I am going to a support group tomorrow but the combination of her small mouth versus my massive nipples and boobs is just hideous and makes latching on very difficult.

So, I can't go on with the expressing then feeding thing - otherwise its all I ever do and DD1 needs some attention too.

Didn't manage to BF DD1 due to cleft palate so really have been trying - but think I need advice on what bottles to use. DD1 had special squeezy bottles and the bottles I'm using at the moment are the 3 free boots ones that came with the steriliser - and they're crap: all the measurements have rubbed off already. DD2 very difficult to wind and a ferocious sucker - any suggestions?

I feel such a failure. But who knows, maybe tomorrow will do the trick?!

charx sorry i do not know about bottles, but i do know how terrible cracked nipples are!

are you in uk? if so then it is well worth you ringing one of the bf helplines to speak to a counsellor, they can also advise you on formula feeding methods if you need.

will the support group have a trained counsellor or is it a peer support or hv type thing? you probably need someone with full training.

we use the tommee tippee ones and love them.
also DS never got nipple confusion when we mixed fed so maybe you can go back to BF when your boobs recover!

I really liked the MAM ultivent bottles. They have a valve built into the bottom of the bottle which lets out most of the air, reducing trapped wind. And the teats are good too, made the transition from breast feeding much easier.

My friend with a very windy baby swore by the Doctor Brown bottles.

Don't feel you have to justify your decision to stop bf - if you want to, that's fine but equally if you don't want to stop, please ask for help, there is some excellent help on here.

MAM ultivent here too, loved them.

hiya - are there any mums you know who would let you borrow a couple of different bottle types? I spent a fortune on some to find that DS hated them . You can always buy new teats to try them out.