View Full Version : EBM Bottles - how often?
etwahl
04-24-2003, 10:57 AM
I'm wondering how often we can/should give the bottle of ebm once DH comes home? e.g. if we give her one every day, at the same time, will she get too used to it? what if she gets used to it and then there are days she can't get the bottle at the same time (say he isn't home or whatever). Is this something to even be concerned about? I'm just wanting to be prepared for when he does finally come home and want him to share in the experience of feeding her.
thanks!
Tammy,
Mom to Lauren Genevieve
03/12/2003
stillplayswithbarbies
04-24-2003, 11:46 AM
My husband participates in the feedings by getting the baby, changing her diaper and bringing her to me. Then he makes sure I have a glass of water handy and holds it for me to sip if I am using both hands to nurse the baby at that moment.
Then he takes her and burps her after she eats.
I read something once that said that a father's role is to show the baby and love and comfort can come from things other than food. That made sense to me. He holds her and rocks her and sleeps with her and bonds in other important ways.
My daughter is not very good at nursing. She doesn't have a strong suck and she doesn't latch well. I don't want to give her a bottle until she is older and better at nursing. It is easier to get milk out of a bottle than a breast and I don't want her to get frustrated at nursing and have to use a bottle all the time.
...Karen
Jake age 12
Logan Elizabeth 3/25/03
COElizabeth
04-24-2003, 01:49 PM
Tammy,
I'd recommend starting the bottle pretty soon if you want her to take it and keep giving one at least every other day or so. I think as long as she gets the majority of her feedings from the breast she will always take that, even if she usually has a bottle at that time, but I am just guessing here, not speaking from personal experience. On the first point I am speaking from experience, though! We gave James a bottle at about 6 weeks, and he took it okay, but we gave one only once or twice a week, and he has never gotten really good at taking one. With a second child I think I would do the bottle earlier and more often, assuming that nursing was getting off to a good start.
Elizabeth
Mom to James
9-20-02
nigele
04-24-2003, 02:25 PM
Tammy,
I agree with Elizabeth - start now and do it daily or every other day. We had so many problems finding a bottle Tom would actually take that I gave up for a few weeks and missed the window. He doesn't take a bottle at all now and I so wished I had persisted when he was a few weeks old.
newbelly2002
04-24-2003, 02:46 PM
Ooohhh, I second that!
We gave DS a bottle at 3 weeks because I needed to have surgery. Then we waited until about 8 weeks to offer the next bottle. Big mistake. Our little gentleman had decided in the interim to form opinions, and to voice them. Loudly. It took DH 2 weeks of daily trying, and a whole lot of patience, to get DS to the point where he would begrudgingly take a bottle. Obviously if there are nursing problems and the chance for confusion you might want to wait. Otherwise, Tammy, you (or a friend) might want to try offering Lauren the bottle sooner rather than later so that by the time Evan comes home she'll already know what to do---and be willing to do it!
Paula, Mama to Dante 8/1/02
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b33a3c3de467
LucyG
04-24-2003, 02:58 PM
My dd is nine weeks old, and we started with bottles of ebm at 5 weeks. We have given her one every third day or so since then. She has fussed a little up until yesterday, when she took the bottle right off the bat with no problem. Her nursing has not suffered at all. I would suggest, as others have, starting now. When your husband gets home (and I hope it will be soon!), she should be used to the routine. My dh always gives her the bottle, as I read somewhere that a baby is more likely to take it from someone other than mom. They associate us with nursing, so may balk. At least that is what the article I was reading said. Good luck!
PS - I'd start with just an ounce or two in the bottles. You have to throw away whatever she doesn't drink, and you'd hate to waste several ounces if she doesn't get the hang of it right away. You can always add more later.
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