I can't cope with exclusively breastfeeding anymore but baby refusing bottle

[SaltK]

Just what the title says, really. Have been ebf my son, now 17 weeks. He took the odd bottle early on, but I stopped coz formula was making him constipated and fitting in time to express was a nightmare because he was eating every 2 hours.

Now he is still feeding every 2 hours through the day, and at least twice at night (although in the middle of the sleep regression, so more atm), but I've been able to express and freeze sometimes. Recently felt like I needed to start giving him bottles and he just won't take them. It's like he doesn't know how to do it and quickly gets annoyed. Have tried MAM and Tommee Tippee bottles with variflow teat.

I'm feeling a bit desperate; it's so hard having to feed every two hours and do all nights myself. Feel like I haven't had any time to myself since he was born, and starting to struggle (feel selfish and a bit of a failure for saying that). Also wondering if I'm mad to be trying this in the middle of the 4 month regression?

Any advice gratefully received.

My son would only take breastflow bottles. He refused every other bottle. You can only buy them on amazon now. You used to be able to buy them in the shops.

I didn't think much of nuby for bottles but they are the only ones my exclusively breast fed baby takes. They have the bumps on to mimic the areola and I started by getting him in the position to breastfeed then holding him close in as I fed the bottle. I have quite a fast flow breastfeeding that he has adapted to so I didn't hesitate to move him on to the number 2 teets. Your baby might be frustrated with how much effort it takes to get the milk out of the bottle because it's a different mouth movement to breastfeeding. Try number 2 teets (faster flow and easier) on the bottles you have or definitely try nuby bottles that I think also sell per bottle on Amazon if you only want to try one instead of buying a pack

Also you could mention this to your GP and they may give you a dairy free formula which is easier on a breastfed babies digestion if you're wanting to make the expressing easier. My baby was the same with constipation although don't forget that means more about the consistancy of the poo than the amount your baby is pooping unless you see them genuinely trying and struggling to go.

Thanks for advice and honesty, sorry some of you are having/have had a hard time with this. Have tried some of these things, but will look into others, possibly other teats, interested to try the sippy cups after what some of you have said, and trying different temps of my milk. Verbena, I haven't ever tried the milk, that's a good point. Will try it and see how it tastes, and maybe try freshly squeezed as well!

The only thing is, we probably don't persevere, just because I don't want him to hate the sight of the bottle. He gets so upset, gagging and screaming. But maybe we just been to push through.

Laura, I'm not sure about the constipation. He seemed in pain, pushing and straining for hours and hours but then the consistency was just as watery as ever, so not sure what was going on! I'm happy to give him my milk, don't mind expressing as long as I don't end up chucking it away!

Tbh, I feel like he might never really accept the bottle, so might be better for me to just accept the situation and try to make things a bit easier, like some of you have suggested, and just hang in there. Hopefully he'll be ready for some purees soon, and then I could leave him without feeling too awful!

Thanks for all the advice and support, ladies. Yesterday was a real low day and it really helped.

I had the same problem at about the same time with my now 8 month old. It's really hard. She still doesn't take a bottle easily. Although sometimes I can make her a bottle of formula and she will just drink it, now loads but maybe 4oz. But most of the time just crys. So it's got a bit better but is a slow process.
If I go out and leave her with my husband she will have a bottle as she knows I am not there. If your baby is hungry and your not around she will probably drink it.

I used Nuk teats/bottles
Make the milk really warm
Squeeze some out so it's dripping around the teat - that way he will get the smell/taste
Latex rather than silicone teats
Feed him as he wakes from a sleep when he's rooting for a feed
Small amounts to start, just 1oz then back to the boob and build from there

Good luck xxx

I second making the milk really warm. Almost 40 sec in the microwave (and a good shake) is what finally worked for my 6 month old.