Breast/bottle feeding. Can you help me?

Question

Hello all!

I have a 5 week old daughter. Right now she exclusively breastfeeds and I have no problem with that. I intend to keep breastfeeding as long as possible, however there is a little glitch. As of Sept. 2nd. I go back to work and she goes to daycare. Problem is, even though I've tried introducing a bottle with expressed milk, she REFUSES to take it. I work at the daycare she will be attending and my boss has said she will let me nurse if need be, but I know that it will be difficult and I know I won't be able to do it EVERY feeding. How can I get her to drink out of a bottle and how many ounces of expressed breast milk should I give her so I am not wasting extra?

I've tried 3 different bottle brands. Avent, Sassy MaM bottles and The First Years Breastflow. She will take some from the Breastflow bottles but really not much. She pretty much refuses all 3 and I know she is hungry when I offer them because she refuses them and then will go right to the breast for a while.

I really could use some advice because I know it's going to be difficult when I return to work to leave my classroom and feed her. I know I won't be able to for every feeding so I need her to take a bottle. Please help! Thanks!

This is my second child and let's just say it's really true when they say not to compare your children because at this point my son was taking a bottle wonderfully and had put himself on a schedule. With her, she is still on demand for everything. LOL!

Thanks all!

Answer 1

On demand for everything is how it's supposed to be.  When she gets closer to a year old then you can start to be a bit concerned.  It sounds like you're doing great.

My suggestion would be to pick the bottle that you want to use and just keep using that one.  Since she took a bit from the breast flow bottles, that may be a good one to stick with.  It's up to you.

Next, try to have someone else feed her if possible instead of you.  Your baby is smart and knows that with you she should be nursing.  If you're gone she may be more willing to take a bottle from someone else.

It also might be good if you try getting her to take a bottle when she isn't extremely hungry.  It's a new thing for her, and if she's really hungry all she wants then is to nurse.  You can try nursing her for a few minutes to take the edge off her hunger then offering a bottle, or try offering a bottle 15-20 minutes before her normal feed, or between feeds.  That way there's no pressure on her to drink from it and she should be happier about it.

As for how many ounces she's drinking, that really depends on her weight.  From about 3 weeks-10 weeks my chubby little boy would drink 4 ounces every 2-3 hours.  

Answer 2

she may never take the bottle i work at a mothers day out and last year we had to babies that where breast fed and they would only take a bottle every now and then and then again she may take the bottle for someone else other than you because she knows that you feed her with out the bottle good luck but you may have to go and feed here while your at work just keep trying thats all you can do  

Answer 3

don't worry my son did me the same thing while i was on maternity my son was 3weeks and the doctor said to breastfeed him all the time so i did all off a sudden he refuse taking formula, because while we were in the hospital my breast milk refuse to come so when he was in the hospital they use to give formula, but any when i saw that he refuse the bottle i started to panic, i had to stop class on evening because he use to cry alot and my husband use to be frighten when he heard him cry like that, so prayed to the Lord what to do. when he was really in the evening he use to take the bottle in the night time i breast feed him an that have been our routine

Answer 4

1) If she chooses not to take expressed breastmilk respect her.  You would not wake her to nurse at that age, so don't force her to take expressed milk

http://www.workandpump.com/reversecyclin...

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/revers...

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/17feed_ba...

2) Cup feeding.  Bottles increase the risks of ear infections, they increase the need for orthodontics, they increase the rate of speech problems, they can breed thrush.  They can cause problems with nursing.  Bottle feeding increases the incidence of apnea and heart beat irregularities during feeding (even among full term babies) There really is no benefit to bottle feeding.  

Cup feeding, or better paladai feeding is easy to master and easy on baby.  Cups and paladais are also easier to clean than bottles.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alter...

http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/19us...

http://www.indiacurry.com/children/palad...

3) If you offer milk and she drinks some but not all there is no reason to discard the milk.  It can be stored at room temperature and reoffered at room temperature for up to 10 hours (at least some studies show longer). It can be reheated once but heating milk damages it somewhat so try to avoid heating milk more than twice.  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/reusi...

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug98p109.ht...

However the "average" breastfed baby between 2-6 months takes 1-4 oz per feed.  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkc...

Answer 5

I have an almost 3 month old and she is a breast/bottle fed beautiful little girl. I use the PLAYTEX DROP-IN bottles and closest to breast nipples. I truly wish you the best in your return to work. GOOD LUCK