Mixing bf and bottles of expressed milk

[jodied]

Hi ladies

Ella is bf and both she and I love it but I've always wanted the flexibilty of the option of expressed milk by bottle.

When we came home from hospital at 11 days old scbu said to try bottles straight away and use them regularly - so our plan was at least one per day ideally at about 11pm so hubby could give it and I could go to bed early for a bit of sleep.

Recently Ella has started being fussy and refusing the bottle so we changed up a teat size sbd that seemed to help (maybe she was bored as it was coming too slow before) but the last couple of days she will only take about 30ml if she is really hungry. For example tonight after much effort by my mil she took 30ml then she fell asleep briefly before waking up and screaming for food. After more work from hubby she took about another 20ml but was still crying. I gave in and fed her at that point and she fed well from me!

Any suggestions for how to get her to take the bottle?!

I'm supposed to be going out for a day in a few weeks tome but at the moment I'm not convinced I can leave her if she's going to scream all the time and refuse bottles!

Sorry for long post xx

 

[Esoames]

I wish I could advise but I can't

Isla won't take a bottle. I've not left her for longer than an hour. Just keep trying. If you know she takes a bottle then she won't starve. Especially if you aren't there. It's so easy to give in and offer boob when they are screaming hence why I'm in this situation I'd love a break

Emma x

 

[jodied]

Thanks Emma

Yes you are right I know she won't starve as I'm sure she will take it if she's really hungry! I just worry fir whoever is looking after her as it could be quite distressing!!

I do agree that I probably just have to persevere - wondering if another teat would help? I'm on tt size 2 - what are variflows? Just thinking maybe it's coming too fast now and that's putting her off?

 

[Esoames]

The variflow has a cross along the hole rather than a bigger hole, does that make sense?? I've bought all of them and tried them all to no avail. I got desperate at 8 weeks, I wanted to stop. Isla fed nearly every hour. It's better now though.

Maybe go out for a few hours and see how she does?

Emma x

 

[Maria1977]

Oscar is the same, he used to take a bottle fine but now he just screams and point blank refuses. I find it really upsetting and always give in and put him on the boob.

I think they just want to be close to their mummies, they know when they're on to a good thing lol

Sorry no advice other than you're not alone lol xxx