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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

mix feeding - best bottles and pumps

39 replies

gingerbreadmam · 01/05/2015 07:58

hi

im currently around 16wks with first dc. i am hoping to breastfeed but may use a bottle from time to time with expressed milk (need to look into how this works more).

what are the best bottles to use for breastfed babies as i understand they can find it hard switching between breast and bottle.

also any recommendations on pumps would be good. am i best waiting until baby is born to worry about bottles and pumps?

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luna40 · 04/05/2015 08:47

Agree that Lansinoh is ESSENTIAL. I couldn't have breastfed without it. And also agree bf'ing is hard but so worth it when established. :)

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gingerbreadmam · 04/05/2015 09:18

thank you so much for sharing such positive stories. i now feel at a point where i can confidently say i am going to breastfeed and introduce a bottle.

sounds like from all the success stories the earlier you give a bottle the better so ill keep that in mind and stock up on the lasinoh .

pp it sounds like you are doing a great job and you dc is adjusting nicely. congratulations btw and i hope things get a little easier

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BumWad · 04/05/2015 10:07

Hi gingerbreadmam,

Just an opposing story from what you have heard. Spoke to my sister and sister in law yesterday about breast feeding and they had no problems whatsoever. My sister was telling me how much she loved it, they both have 3 kids and they breastfed all 3 for over 6 months.

What actually surprised me was how easy they found it. There are so many nightmare stories from others and online but I found it so encouraging to listen to them.

I have actually ordered a perfect prep but am now thinking that I should have ordered a breast pump instead!

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gingerbreadmam · 04/05/2015 10:46

well bum your username has give me a giggle firstly and secondly what great news!

take it you are expecting? keep the perfect prep boxed and give breastfeeding a try,i reckon youll easily sell the perfect prep on if you dont use it.

the internet and family are so full of horror stories its enough to stop you from even considering it so im glad youve heard good stuff and lots of people have posted here.

sounds silly as im only 4months but i feel good now ive made a decision im happy with.

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HazleNutt · 04/05/2015 11:43

It's not like everybody will get mastitis, honest. Yes, the cluster feeding in the first weeks was a little challenging, you feel like you're just stuck on sofa for ever and ever. But after that I found BF very easy and convenient and didn't have any issues. Give it a try.

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gingerbreadmam · 04/05/2015 12:32

thanks hazle i'm definitely going to.

i know mastitis is a posibility but people get through it all the time and if worse comes to worse at least baby will be used to a bottle and i could move over to that if i have to.

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WoweeZowee · 04/05/2015 21:35

I really struggled with BFing to begin with but found my DS had no problem going between bottle and boob and taking formula. We used all sorts of bottles too (Avent, TT, Medela). I used a Medela electric pump which was pretty awesome and I found it far easier to use than a hand pump.

I agree the lansinoh cream is great but I found their Soothies (gel pads) even better in the early days. (You can get them on amazon).

I kind of think getting on easily/quickly with BFing is a bit luck of the draw tbh... longer term it def makes it so much easier not having to deal with bottles, formula and whatnot. But equally I think it's important to do what works best for you in the early days when you're getting to grips with everything!

Good luck and enjoy!

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Racheyg · 04/05/2015 21:50

I did combo feeding with my ds1 (who is 21 months) and we had Dr Browns and Medela breast pump. I am lucky that my son was very easy with converting from breast to bottle, bottle to beaker.

good luck x

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gingerbreadmam · 05/05/2015 09:00

thanks. im adding notes of breast pumps to my baby list for future reference .

the soothies sound good too so will look at those thank you.

will prbably try tommee tippee bottles in first instance as the always seem to be on a good offer so worth a try and will chop and change if needs be. thank you.

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Dildals · 05/05/2015 12:54

Although I mentioned we started off combination feeding and I want to combination feed again, I absolutely loved breastfeeding, so it doesn't have to be hard / painful.

After 9-10 months of just breastfeeding I finally got her to take the bottle again (which was not a fun experience) and I found it incredibly liberating to be able to go places again and not always have her feed in the back of my mind. And I could wear dresses again!

One other poster (Orangutan) mentioned that baby can take a sippy cup from 6 months etc. Yes, but not all babies will! Also, exclusively breastfed babies don't magically wean themselves off the breast by the time you want to go back to work. Having said that, by the time you go back to work the baby will maybe have a bf in the morning and in the evening, so unless you're travelling for work, you should be OK. Some babies are happy to switch to a full brocolli diet by 7 months, some just LOVE their milk (and the boob) like mine!

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gingerbreadmam · 05/05/2015 12:59

one of my friends had trouble getting her dd to take a bottle so i know it can be difficult which is why im hoping to start right from the beginning.

its easy to see how babies get used to one thing and so refuse another. thanks for the advice it really is appreciated.

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Leleophants · 10/06/2019 21:37

Wanted to bump this thread - any changes here? What are the best mixed feed bottles?

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ScreamScreamIceCream · 10/06/2019 22:37

In regards to bottles - start with the cheapest and go to more expensive.

I started with expensive ones - some I brought while others were given to me - and have had to give the unused ones away. My daughter prefers cheaper slim necked Boots and any Asda bottles. The more expensive bottles tend to have a faster flow rate which may have initially been the problem.

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Darkstar4855 · 10/06/2019 23:58

I started my son on a daily bottle of EBM from 3 weeks. It went well to start with but then he started refusing the bottle from 10 weeks onwards! We never managed to get him to take a bottle again but he’ll drink from a cup now.

I liked it when he did take the bottle as it meant my partner could do the odd feed and I could have a break. However I didn’t miss the faff of expressing when he stopped!

I use a Medela Swing pump and used the Calma teat too. Tried Tommy Tippee and Mam bottles when he started refusing but no luck.