My newborn is choking whenever I bottlefeed

[Nmalinova]

Hello everyone,

I need some much needed advice! I'm a first-time mumm to a 17 days old sweetheart and starting to panic... I'm pumping my breastmilk and feeding via a bottle for the moment as my nipples have been damaged quite a bit due to a bad latch. Baby keeps choking during almost every feed which makes me really worried everytime I have to feed him :-/ He would start coughing and grasping for air for a while...and then would continue breathing a little while after...I have the impression it's getting worse. I'm already using nipple size 0 on the bottle and he's not doing this when I do breastfeed him (via nipple shield, however I still have to supplement with pumped milk as he doesn't manage to draw out enough...)

Did anybody experience this as well? How did you deal with the issue? I read online that swallow studies exist, however I am not sure whether they exist in my country (very small, so limited treatment options)

Thank you for your input/advice :-)

Hello, congrats on new arrival!
Have you looked up paced feeding? This could help to resolve the choking issue, it sounds like the flow is just too fast. Paced feeding tries to mimic breast feeding. Good luck!

Get a reduced flow teat

Reduced flow teat like @Mydogatemypurse says. good luck.

Yes, reduced flow/preemie teat.

Maybe hydrogel pads for your nipples?

Using a bottle is a completely different experience for a baby.

Have you had latch checked? Are you getting breastfeeding support? Breastfeeding can be hard at first.

good luck.

Yes my DS did this! Paced feeding with a reduced flow teat as PP have said worked, plus making sure he's sat up really straight. Just took him a bit longer to learn how to do it, by about 4 weeks he could go the full feed without any spluttering.

Research and so paced feeding if you’re hoping to return to bf eventually. It will also help with choking for sure

Try sitting baby in up right position to feed.

Is there anything you could put into the milk to thicken it slightly, to make it come out slower? Carobel perhaps?

Please do not add anything to thicken the milk, that is not good advice. I would look up paced feeding and get a reduced flow teat like others have suggested.

Not good advice without speaking to a GP, anyway.