Problem with supplemental bottle....

[jerseygirl07067]

DD is now 6 weeks and is exclusively BF. Occasional bottle feedings (three times a week) have been going well...until tonight. DH is the one who gives her the bottle and she seemed to take FOREVER to drink the EBM from the bottle. I stayed in the other room like I usually do and she was very fussy and crying. It took her a really long time to drink the 3oz. She then finished it, we gave her another ounce and she would not finish it, but she was crying and fussy, and kind of sticking her tongue out to reject the bottle. Since she can be quite the eater (and our patience was lost), I breastfed her to make sure she was satisfied and full before bedtime. Well, once I nursed her, you would never have guessed that she already drank 3 oz! She sucked hard and drank efficiently from one whole side!! I offered her the other side and she was apparently full at this point! She then was out like a light.

My question is, is it possible she needs a faster flowing nipple? My milk does seem to come out fast/or she is just a very fast, efficient eater now, I don't know. I know her suck is a lot stronger now and she does empty the breast WAY quicker than she used to. Also, how long should it take the average infant to down 4 oz. from a bottle? (She initially could down the bottle in 10-15 minutes when we started the bottle)

We have a wedding to go to in three weeks so I can't afford for her to start rejecting the bottle!!

Mary

[deborah_r]

It's generally recommened to not increase the flow of the nipple for a BF baby. There was a point early on where I thought DS was fussy because it was coming too slow, but really I think he just really became aware of the difference and was letting us know he'd prefer the breast. I'd say keep trying and there are some things you can try like warming the nipple before the feeding. For my DS we found he wanted the milk really warm and that did the trick. Good luck!

[jerseygirl07067]

We will try that. Thanks, I didn't think about that!

Mary

[HelenD]

It might just be something as simple as the fact that you were in the room while the bottle was being given. My DD won't take a bottle if I'm in sight or if she knows I'm around. Also, remember that BF also has comforting factors as well as the nutrition part. Your DD probably enjoys BF much more then taking the bottle.

The previous poster is correct, most lacation specialist do not recommend that you go to the faster flowing nipple ever. I've found a LOT of really good informaton and advice at Breastfeeding.com's discussion forum.

http://www.breastfeeding.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

I highly recommend looking in the archives at some of the reference posts.


Anyway, good luck!

[Momof3Labs]

6 weeks is also a growth spurt, so you would be better off nursing her for the next few days and skipping the bottles - it will help your supply increase to meet her future demands (the whole point of a growth spurt)!

[sadie427]

We had exactly the same problem at 8 wks and actually tried the faster flowing nipple but it didn't work. Warming the milk and the nipple helped a lot, as well as giving the bottle pretty regularly--he got better with the warmer milk, then when he started getting bottles 2x a wk from a sitter plus 3-4 nights a wk from DH, he became a pro. But as a previous poster said, don't rely on bottles in a growth spurt.

[sarahfran]

We had this problem a couple of times, and finally clued in that the milk in the bottle was a bit spoiled! It was horrifying to us... DS was obviously hungry but rejecting it. I smelled the milk and it smelled fine. I tasted it and WHEW was it nasty. It had only been in the fridge for a day or so, but apparently it had soured along the way.

Just thought I'd mention in case you have run into the same situation. Good luck!
-Sarah
Mom to Dylan, 8/18/03

Motherhood is such a joy!