Introducing the Bottle

A few people have asked me to blog on how I went about introducing my daughter to a bottle. This was something I was very worried about before she was born! I knew I had to return to work only 6 short weeks after giving birth so getting Lilah to successfully take a bottle early on was essential. Every book I consulted (and the nurses in my prenatal breastfeeding class) suggested introducing the bottle at the 6 week mark after breastfeeding had been well established. This strategy was clearly not going to work for me and made me even more stressed out. My husband and I decided that we would start trying to get Lilah to take a bottle at the 4 week mark because that way we had two weeks to get it right before I returned to work. Luckily, breastfeeding came relatively easy for me and by the 4 week mark, I was feeling pretty confident. It took a few trys to get Lilah to take a bottle, but in the end we were successful. Here are some tips based on my own experience:

Tip # 1: Have a variety of nipple and bottle types on hand.

We initially tried Playtex VentAire bottles and nipples, but Lilah refused them. The only bottle and nipple we were able to get her to take (and the only one she takes to this day) were the Medela bottles and nipples.

Tip # 2: Make sure someone other than you gives baby the bottle, but have them simulate the nursing experience as much as possible.

The first few times my husband gave my daughter a bottle, he sat in the same chair that I had been feeding her in for several weeks and he tried to hold her in much the same way as I did when I was nursing her.

Tip #3: Take it slow.

Give the bottle only a few times during the first week and then slowly increase the number of bottle feedings in later weeks.

Tip #4: Be consistent.

We lived with my parents for the first 5 weeks of my daughter's life. In the process of moving back to our own place, we went about a week without giving Lilah a bottle. When my husband tried it again, she refused. He then found that by walking around with her in his arms, he was able to get her to eat. This lasted for a few days and then he was able to sit down and feed her again.

Introducing the bottle can be a frustrating experience for everyone. If you are not successful on the first try, wait a day or two and try again with a different bottle and/or nipple. And remember, don't persist if baby is upset as this will only make things more difficult. Good luck!

Breastfeeding: Books & Breastpumps

Here we go...BREASTFEEDING! I am going to start out talking about books and breastpumps!

Books

I would highly recommend getting a copy of The Nursing Mother's Companion. I love this book! It is not preachy about breastfeeding the way books written by hard-core advocates can be. Rather, it recognizes that everyone's situation is different and that some mother's go back to work and some father's want to play a role in feeding. This book has answered every single question about breastfeeding that I have had to this day. It is very comprehensive and talks about everything from preparing for breastfeeding through to breastfeeding into the toddler years. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Breastpumps

Due to the nature of my job, I was only able to stay home with my daughter for 6 weeks before I had to return to work part-time. Therefore, a breastpump was absolutely necessary for me. I bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced ($280.00 US). This is a daily use breastpump designed for mothers who pump several times a day. I really like this breastpump and would highly recommend it if you are going to be pumping regularly.

If you are only going to be pumping occasionally, I would recommend looking into a less expensive occasional use breastpump (manual, $35.00 US or electric, $150.00 US) to save yourself some money.

Even if you don't plan on pumping at all, I would consider buying an occasional use breastpump because there are situations in which you may want it.

For example, I used it on many occasions when my breasts were particularly engorged and my daughter was just not eating enough to give me relief. If you want your partner to be able to play a role in feeding, you are going to need a pump. Although I have not had this problem, I know some mothers need to pump in advance of feeding to get their milk flowing if it takes a long time to let down and/or baby is having trouble.

If you do decide to buy a breastpump, you will need storage bags if you plan of freezing your milk for later use. Everything else that I needed came with my breastpump (tubes, breastsheilds, cooler bag with ice pack, 4 - 5 oz bottles, lids, and wide-base slow flow nipples). Check the model you are considering to see of there are any additional supplies you might need.

A side note - the wide-based slow flow nipples and Medela bottles where the only nipples and bottles we could get my daughter to accept. We tried Playtex Ventaire and Gerber bottles and she refused both. Make sure you have a variety of nipple and bottle types on hand if you are going to try to get your baby to take a bottle because this can make a big difference in whether you are successful or not.

Stay tuned for more on breastfeeding and let me know if you have any questions!