Expressing and feeding through a bottle

[L2310]

My LO is 2 weeks old and I've been breastfeeding from the start with no problems. Thing is I've been talked into going to the cinema next week! Not 100% sure I wanna defiantly go yet but if I do then I'm gonna have to express so MIL can feed her.

The thing I'm worried about is I don't want her to have a bottle and her find it easier to then reject the boob... is that possible? The health visitor seemed to think it should be fine but explained how they can suck easier from a bottle as with the breast they have to work harder as they have to use their jaw muscles more. I really don't want to do anything that might jeopardise the breastfeeding xx

 

[l_maclean]

2 weeks old is prob younger than they 'officially' recommend for introducing a bottle as it can interfere with supply etc, and can cause nipple confusion.


However nipple confusion is quite rare and it seems far far more commons for LOs to refuse the bottle if left to long to be introduced for it.

The main thing to watch would be how missing feeds this early will affect your supply, especially if you don't really need to be going out.

 

[Claire123]

Yep...my biggest concern would be supply too.

I wouldnt worry about her rejecting the boob after a bottle....due to latching issues my lo had expressed milk for the first 10 days bit once we got the latch perfected we went onto exclusive breast with no prob xx

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[nicky1987]

We introduced one expressed bottle a day from 2 weeks old. Our midwife recommended it so that we knew that she could take a bottle. She didnt suffer with nipple confusion and guzzled it down. And it won't affect your supply x

 

[L2310]

Thanks girls I'm not worried about supply as I've got plenty of it! Plus it'd only probably be a maximum of about 5/6 hours between boob feeds as I'd feed before leaving her then again once we'd got her home and ready for bed. She's been known to go that long through the night anyway. Feel better about it now xx

 

[Claire123]

Have fun xx

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[BunnyN]

Wow, I'm just impressed you are even conidering going out! I thought I had a quick recovery but when LO was two weeks old I was just trying to find time to eat, sleep and take a shower! if you want to and can then have fun but if you don't feel like it then don't feel pressured, you will have time for going out when you feel like it.

 

[L2310]

I know I will see how I feel next week! By then she will be 3 weeks old so I might feel better about leaving her! There's no way I could go out on a proper night out and leave her but a few hours at the cinema I should be ok lol! Still not making any final decisions yet though! Xx

 

[Mummyxbear]

I'd express before you leave and again when you return home, that will prevent your supply being affected. My sister breast feeds her baby and he also occasionally has a bottle of expressed milk so his dad can feed him too. Just try and buy a bottle that's designed for combination feeding that way baby will be fine with the transition. My sister uses MAM or avent x

 

[l_maclean]

Thanks girls I'm not worried about supply as I've got plenty of it! Plus it'd only probably be a maximum of about 5/6 hours between boob feeds as I'd feed before leaving her then again once we'd got her home and ready for bed. She's been known to go that long through the night anyway. Feel better about it now xx

That sounds like it would be alright. An over supply tends to be easier to deal with - think the problem comes that for some ladies 3 weeks LOs are still cluster feeding to build a supply, so missing just an evening could mean a lot iykwim.

I went out for dinner when my LO was about 4-5 weeks and we got on ok. One thing I would say is if your leaving EBM is leave extra - especially that young they can eat WAY more than you expect - BF is about comfort/closeness as well as the milk - first few time we left her my LO ate more than double what he online calculators said she would need. Cxxx

 

[L2310]

Yey that's my next problem! She constantly feeds on an evening so I'm gonna have to express as much as I can! Xx