Is it too early to try and introduce a bottle?

[LindsayLucas]

My DS was born on July 2nd. I'm currently breastfeeding with the plan of eventually being able to pump a good portion- switching back and forth between breast and bottle so my OH can feed him more at night and I can sleep!. I know it's early since my milk just came in but i'm trying to start a good stash, today i've currently pumped 3 oz(1.5oz in 2 different sessions). My question is I'm going on a mini get-a-way this saturday and breastfeeding would be incredibly hard so i'd like to just introduce the bottle (starting maybe tonight to try and get him use to it). I've heard of nipple confusion and everything and I'd still need to be able to breastfeed b/c i'm not going to have a lot of milk pumped. Opinions?

He does use a pacifier with no problems breastfeeding too.

 

[Janers]

Are you sure you won't be able to breastfeed while on your mini vacation? My personal opinion pumping and bottles is a pain in the butt, especially when your away from home. Cleaning, sterilizing, keeping milk cold, and pumping. If your LO nurses, everything is ready on the go!

Otherwise I know its not recommended to pump before your milk is established, so around 6 weeks. That being said, I pumped from day one when my baby was in the NICU and it never seemed to bother my supply.

I imagine the occasional bottle won't hurt your breastfeeding relationship, so if its easiest for you give it a shot.

 

[fieryphoenix]

It's not recommended to introduce bottles or pacifers before six weeks to prevent nipple confusion. I would personally wait until then. My lo had bottles at the hospital for jaundice and it was a five week battle to get him back into breastfeeding again.

 

[optimistic1]

I introduced a bottle around 3 weeks I only give her one bottle once in awhile not even every day and she transitions between my nipple and warm milk to the bottle nipple and cold milk and back to my nipple and warm milk perfectly fine...I think its helped that I gave her a pacifier since we've been home from hospital. The pediatrician that took care of her in the hospital told me as long as my baby has a good latch and breast feeding its doing well meaning absolutely no issues than they should not get confused. Its up to you when or if you want to introduce but keep in mind that there is always the possibility that your lo will have nipple confusion or prefer the bottle more or not even take a bottle at all.

 

[Janers]

I second what FieryPheonix said, I spent many weeks trying to get my baby off a bottle and back to the breast after she had bottles in the nicu.

It was very difficult, and (personally) I would never risk it if I had the choice.

 

[seaweed eater]

Honestly I wouldn't. Your LO will probably be totally fine. But it is a risk.

Also please be careful with pumping. Your supply is very sensitive right now. 3 oz in a day is totally fine IMO, but if you start noticing that it gets much easier to pump more, I would hold back. Oversupply seems like a blessing but it can lead to issues like mastitis if you can't continue to empty your breasts often enough.

 

[LindsayLucas]

Thank you guys!
Do you guys think pumping just 1x/day is ok for now(both breasts at the same time) ?would really like to stockpile-paranoid about work. When can I start pumping more?

 

[seaweed eater]

I think 1x a day should be fine. If you start getting a ton of milk during that session then I would focus on the quantity rather than the time. It's actually not a bad idea if you are going back to work -- you may want to have a manageable oversupply anyway. Just a small one, though. I started pumping around 3 weeks PP and have tried to maintain a 3 oz/day oversupply since then. That has worked well for me -- I haven't had any problems due to the oversupply even when I've occasionally had to skip a day on weekends (although I really do my absolute best to get 3 oz every day), and so far I haven't been unable to keep up with LO's bottles. So you could aim for something like that. That said, I don't respond well to the pump relative to many other women. There are women who actually respond so well that even pumping to keep up ends up increasing their supply. So you just need to be careful with it.

After 3 weeks or so your supply will start to regulate and won't be as sensitive. Some people will tell you 6 weeks, but IMO that's better for moms who are only going to express and give a bottle occasionally. If you're going back to work you can start a little earlier.

Also note that the freezer stash may not be quite as useful as you are imagining, if you want to BF for the long term: https://www.workandpump.com/freezerstash.htm

 

[jinglebear]

there is no such thing as nipple confusion, at least no scientific evidence to back it up, there is however such a thing as nipple preference. i introduce a bottle to my newborn on day 10 and she was a little unimpressed at first but now takes it really well. i think personally if it is ur plan to use bottles as well as breast the earlier the better to get them used to it. if u leave it too late ur baby may not take to a bottle very well x

 

[optimistic1]

I only pump once or twice a day and it works well and I don't have over supply (I did for awhile after 3 week growth spurt cause I was pumping but after blocked feeding its back to normal)

 

[firsttime83]

I started pumping around 3 weeks. I knew my LO had a good latch and felt confident in her nursing. I introduced a bottle and let OH feed her usually once a day. Either to get an extra hour of sleep or to have a glass of wine and unwind.

She has never had nipple confusion. The only thing I noticed when I try to give her the bottle instead of OH, she does turn towards the boob so I think it is her preference.

The only thing I would worry about by feeding her from your stash of milk, without expressing it could lower your supply. Even when she has a bottle I make sure I pump (even for a little) just to keep up my supply. If I do miss a feeding my boobs get very full!