bottles supplement with breastfeeding

susan · **bottles supplement with breastfeeding**

introducing bottles does it really cause nipple confusion if it is introduced later on (maybe after 4 weeks of birth). the reason is that my son does not nurse enough (just couple minutes on the breast) so if I pump the left overs and give to him in a bottle , would that cause any problems for him? do any of you do that?

AyeOhKay · 10-11-2007, 08:57 AM

It just depends on the baby. Many moms notice a problem if bottles are introduced before 6-8 weeks, especially if baby wasn't nursing well to begin with. It also depends on the nipple type. Our WIC office recommends Avent nipples, but there are many other BF-friendly options available.

Was baby BF well in the early weeks, or has BF always been a stuggle? Has anyone evaluated you for inverted nipples? This can also hinder a good latch.

If you see a lactation consultant, they may also be able to set you up with an SNS system. It's a tube that you attach to your nipple and put the other end in a bottle. That way baby will get plenty while "nursing" and may stay at the breast longer to encourage "natural" BF and a better latch.

maggiebugjuice · 10-11-2007, 09:44 AM

My sister breastfed until my nephew was 18 months. When he was 7 weeks old she had to go back to work and I had to introduce the bottle to him with her pumped milk. It took 2 days of him crying over the bottle and then he was fine. He would use a bottle during the day and then breastfeed when she got home and on the weekends. He never had any confusion and ALWAYS preferred the breast when she got home!

I agree with AYEOHKAY, check with a lactation consultant, our hospital had one for free, sounds like he is not getting a good latch on you, so he is frustrated. Good Luck!

2futurepilots · 10-11-2007, 10:00 AM

I agree that every baby is different. My first I introduced the bottle at 5 weeks with no problems....bottlefed during the day and nursed in the morning and evening. My second, I waited until he was 3 months old.......that was too long. It took weeks for him to take the bottle. It just takes lots of persistence and patience. I used Avent bottles.

My pediatrician said babies becomes picky and may refuse the bottle around 7 weeks, so it's easier to introduce around 5 weeks (once breastfeeding is well established).

debellafunk · 10-11-2007, 11:26 AM

I think it depends on the situation as the others have said.... for me personal experance. My dd was givin a bottle in the hospital. Love story short. I had a c section, dd had jaundice bad so we were both in the hospital a week. Dd had to have home treatment after. So they had to get a lot of food in her to get her billirubin count down so that is done best by poo... I was alowed to nurse in my room for 1 hour a day ... I pumped the rest of the time.... MY DD would not take the boob till she was 2 weeks I tried and I tried and I cryed and cryed but just took one day. I think it was becuase she was not happy at the fact it wasn't comming from my breast as fast as it came from the bottle. My Dd was a very aggessice nurser. I HTH but just don't give up. I never gave my dd the bottle it was always dh or someone that was helping me. I was very strick about ehr only getting me from me.

MonkeyMom · 10-11-2007, 03:01 PM

I had to go train for a new job when dd was 4 weeks old and had to leave pumped breast milk for my mil to feed her and she never had any problems breastfeeding when it was time. She wasn't confused. Infact I don't think she didn't really care either way. Good Luck whatever you decide.

desertmom · 10-11-2007, 03:38 PM

Every baby is different. I never had nipple confusion w/ my first or second. With my second, the little diva latched on right after birth and never let go. Seriously, I was home a day from the hospital and got sick and had to go back to the hospital, without baby, for 5 days. DH had to feed her formula from a bottle, plus whatever I pumped when my milk came in 3 days later. Believe me, when he brought her to the hospital to visit me, she was ready to latch on again. She never again took a bottle once mommy was back home.

A lot of times, they don't want the breast because it takes more work to nurse. My son had issues with that - it was only years later we found out that he actually has weak jaw muscles, which was why we had such a hard time nursing at first. Of course, at the time, I blamed myself. Once he caught on he, too, was hooked, and we continued to nurse for 3 years. Plus he loved his bottles.

But nope, no nipple confusion.

misse336 · 10-12-2007, 09:18 AM

Both my sons did fine with using a bottle and bf at the same time, but I think it is up to each individual baby. We gave each of them a bottle before the 6-8 week recommended time and everything went fine. They didn't care so much where the food was coming from, as long as they got food! I personally don't know of any child who has had nipple confusion, but I'm sure that they're out there. If he isn't gaining the proper amount of weight, it might be something to ask your ped. about.

Nadino · 10-12-2007, 10:04 PM

My milk came in really late so when DS had to return to the hospital to be treated for Jaundice we ended up giving him a bottle to make sure he was getting enough to eat. My poor little guy was just starving. We stuck with the bottle and what little I could pump. I was persistent with nursing and eventually my milk did come in. Just after he was a month old he decided he liked both nursing and the bottle.

I think if you are worried about a lack of weight gain trust your instinct and try a bottle. If you use a slow nipple it will be more like the breast and you may be able to do both.

SandraK · 10-12-2007, 10:28 PM

With DD she was bottle fed for the first two weeks of life because of jaundice. Then I only breastfed her through 3 months. Then when we tried to reintroduce the bottle to her she sreamed bloody murder everytime. It took us a couple of months of trying different nipples, but we finally found a bottle nipple that she liked and we have stuck with it (it's the gerber orthodontic nipple). I breastfeed her in the morning and in the evening and she is bottle fed during the day. I don't think she has ever had nipple confusion. She definitely prefers the breast, but does well on the bottle.

I also suggest going to a lactation support group or having a lactation consultant come and meet you in your home. They will look at how your baby latches on in different positions, your baby's tongue and sucking ability, the shape and condition of your nipples, etc. I can't tell you how much i appreciate all of the lactation support I got from the hospital and later the support group.

Sandra