Seeking Advice From Experienced Mothers

[painted_pony]

I have decided to attempt to breastfeed our baby since it is healthier for both of us. This is my first child so this is an all new experience. I know that I would prefer to pump whenever i had a free moment, and fill bottles to put them in the fridge. That way my husband can help feed the baby while i can catch up on some sleep during the night, or if we are in public. Are there any particular bottles that would be good for this situation? When we are home, Id like to exclusively breast feed but sometimes he will be using a bottle. Ive been researching online tonight, and I honestly dont even know what to buy. Im so confused. Ive read BORN FREE and DR.BROWN bottles are the top rated baby bottles but are they suited for the situation im describing? Also should i go plastic or glass?? HELP!!!

 

[aliss]

I would recommend glass because they last longer in a proper state (plastic bottles, over the years, can get a bit worn). I have a massive amount of Dr. Brown bottles (plastic) and will be purchasing glass ones next time.

Dr. Brown bottles come in many components (the bottle, a tube, a tube filter, screw top, nipple) and are a pain in the bum to clean, but the reason they are so highly rated is because they reduce air intake quite a bit which is good for especially gassy babies. Born Free bottles are fine for the 'average' baby. I had both but my son has acid reflux and needed the reduced air intake.

Check out the breastfeeding section for more info about when to introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby, you'll want to avoid it as much as possible in the first few months (ie. 8 weeks) as your baby will stimulate better milk flow and to prevent nipple confusion. If you don't feed from the breast when your baby is hungry, then your supply can go down/stop (ie. if you skip a feed while your husband gives some stored milk), particularly in the first 6-8 weeks of establishing your supply. Good luck!

 

[Girlnextdoor]

It sounds good in theory, but having dh feed her a bottle in the night might not work well, unless it is rarely. Any time he feeds her a bottle, you need to pump to keep up your supply. If your body gets used to just not feeding at night and not pumping either, your supply will drop during that time.

Now, you could do a combination of breastfeeding and formula where you bf during the day and do formula at night. That way your supply will just adjust to nt feeding at all during the night. I wouldn't try that until after 6 weeks though once your supply is established.

As far as bottles, we used Avent and they seemed to work fine My BFF used Dr. Brown's and loved them.

 

[maybe11]

The only bottle my dd would take when bf was closer to nature ones. I didnt combination feed, dd wouldnt take my milk out of a bottle but would take a little water.

I had expressed a supply in freezer bags for when lo started nursery but she wouldnt entertain it.

Saying that, my dd only had one night where she didnt sleep 8 hours so I guess had I been awake 4-5 times a night I may well have resorted to formula at night.

 

[lalitas charm]

I used avent bottles which I only used with DD if I was going out for the evening and left a couple of bottles of EBM with my mum for her. But when she was about 12 weeks she refused to take anything out of a bottle and still only drinks water out of a cup!!

As others have said you'll have to pump when your OH is using the bottle to keep your supply up and there are different times of the day when your hormones are highest and help you produce more EBM when pumping. Some people (me included) struggle to pump more than a few oz of ebm at a time so it used to take me days to pump enough for 1 bottle!! lol

 

[GraceyB]

im thinking of doing exactly the same. have you seen the new tommee tippie closer to nature range ? they look pretty good ! and also on sale at the moment

 

[Anna B]

I breastfed and tried to feed our daughter formula as well.. it backfired badly. Her tummy was totally used to my milk that she got really sick and started to have blood in her poop!
So we stopped after the advice from the hospital.. she had to go in.

 

[Ashlee B x]

I used tommee tippee closer to nature for my son while attemptin to BF and bottle feed, he much preferred the bottle than me and my milk ended up all but stopping to formula fed anyway but ive bought them all new again this time. They were plastic and arent marked at all or worn i just didnt like the thought of them sittin in a cupboard for a couple years and then re-usin them so bought new ones

 

[Glowstar]

I used agent bottles and breast pump. I have heard nothing but good things about Dr browns though too.
Good luck with breastfeeding, its an amazing experience.

 

[Glowstar]

That should have said AVENT (stupid phone!)