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Dear Lactation Consultant:
My baby is breast feeding well and our pediatrician said at the 8 week visit that it is time to introduce a bottle or he may never take the bottle. I enjoy reading the Q & As on your website so I thought I would pose this question to you. Can you give me some advice on whether it is necessary to introduce a bottle and if so, which bottles and nipples do you recommend? Also, I do not have a pump, so any recommendation on pumps would also be helpful.
Thank you,
Prudence Arnold
Austin, TX
Dear Prudence:
At eight weeks, I have to agree with the pediatrician-it might be extremely difficult to introduce a bottle to your baby, as he is very comfortable at the breast and may not take to a silicone nipple. There are many factors to consider when introducing a bottle and I will discuss them for you.
1: Selecting a Bottle and Nipple
You have no clue which bottle or nipple will work, so it is best to have a few on hand. Whatever you buy must either be glass or Bisphenol-A (BPA) free. (See my website for additional information on the toxin.) The correct bottle and nipple will ultimately depend upon you baby’s ability to suck and since eight weeks have gone by, your baby will most likely resist transferring milk from the bottle until he quits fighting and gives in to hunger.
The nipple flow is more important than the actual bottle-you want to start trying with one that has a faster suction rate at first. Once he gets the hang of it you can go to a slower flow nipple. Using a longer nipple rather than the shorter, orthodontic type might make it easier as it will “tickle” the palate, mimicking the sensation of the breast nipple on the roof of the mouth. Although I can make no promises, this might entice the baby to suck.
2: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Not really, but you get 2 points for trying. Seriously, if your baby sees, hears or smells you, you have no chance of his taking a bottle, so you need someone else to introduce the bottle. That person needs to be strong willed and have a great deal of patience, as there is the potential for a great deal of crying. The premise is that you keep trying and taking breaks and hopefully your baby will get hungry enough that he will eventually take a bottle. I have had babies who will miss several feedings before they so much as suck one or two times before giving up and fall asleep. Other babies begin sucking like they have always been taking a bottle, even though it is the very first time. Still others resist and put up such a struggle they may miss several feedings before they even attempt a try at the breast.
Start out with warm breastmilk (about 1 oz.) in the bottle. Put the baby into a more upright position that if the baby were breastfeeding. Then present the bottle. The person offering the bottle may be pleasantly surprised but chances are there will be a struggle. Remember, you should “be no where to be found” (other than by cell phone just in case…) Come up with a good distraction, such as a massage, a haircut, manicure, lunch and movie with a friend, hubby, partner. Don’t forget to take your pump, as you will need to pump ever time your baby should be nursing. You should pump both breasts at the same time for 15 minutes each time you pump. As far as type of pump, you definitely want to use an electric pump and it would probably make most sense to rent one from a lactation consultant or your local hospital. Once bottles are going well you can decide whether to continue renting or if purchasing makes more sense. Check with your medical insurance to see, if by some miracle, they might help defray the cost. If you are planning on having another baby, buying a pump is often a better way to go. I am working with a brand new company, Hygeia. You can check out their products on this website, or for more information, go to their website. Their pumps (rentals and purchasable alike) are great pumps and everyone I have sold or rented to has had only great things to say about them. It’s fine to check in with the bottle giver and have a relief person available just in case the first person is getting frustrated or not achieving success. As difficult as this may sound for you, try to stay away from the house until success has been achieved. I know this sounds harsh, but it will be worth it once it works. I speak from experience, so I know from what I am writing to you.
Now, you might decide it is not worth the aggravation and forego the bottle. Should this be your choice, you will breastfeed until the baby is about four or five months and begin trying to introduce a sippy cup. Or you might regularly offer a bottle and you just might get lucky without traumatizing yourself, your son or every other family member or friend. I wish I could make the decision easier for you but personal experience puts me in your shoes and so I sympathize with what you are about to embark upon.
Good luck to you and please let me know how things go.
Leslye
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