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EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: NWalshaw on May 29, 2006, 19:22:10 pm

Title: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: NWalshaw on May 29, 2006, 19:22:10 pm

Hi Everyone

I'm new to the board...my LO, Erin was born on 1 May 2006. So far, so good...BF going well, generally on a 2-2.5hr EASY! I introduced a bottle of EBM about 2 weeks ago which she took brilliantly. I have done this a few times, and was wondering how often I should give her EBM by bottle so that she doesn't "forget" how to take a bottle. Is once a week often enough?

Thanks for all the welcome messages and advice

Natalie

Title: Re: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: daisymelan on May 29, 2006, 21:57:44 pm

I'm not sure if there would be a norm.  I think it more depends on the baby because each one takes to the bottle differently.  We went with a bottle every second day or so and never had troubles.

Title: Re: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: jbepko on May 30, 2006, 00:58:52 am

It depends on your situation. I went back to work at 6 and 8 weeks with my LO's and both were EBF. I introduced bottle around 4 weeks and once I saw they took the bottle, I only used it when needed (maybe once every 10 days) until I returned to work.

Title: Re: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: nattymarsh on May 30, 2006, 13:26:14 pm

Hi there, personally I would give a bottle more often than once a week.  My LO was doing great on breast and with exressed milk up until 10 weeks when she began to refuse a bottle.  I was only giving her a bottle two to three times a week.  She's now almost 5 mos old and has not taken a bottle since she was 10 weeks old.  If I could go back and do it again I would probably give her a bottle once a day until she was about 6 months old and really firmly established  (I know pumping's a pain, but it's even more of a pain when you end up throwing away all of that milk everyday while trying to get your LO back on a bottle!)  Even if you just gave a couple ounces by bottle a day it would keep your LO familiar with the bottle.  You can read more about what happened to me here:
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=62099.0   
Good Luck!

Title: Re: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: Nay - Mateo's Mom on May 30, 2006, 13:33:32 pm

Hiya!

Personally, I give Mateo a bottle at least once a day. Even if he just takes one ounze.
Now that he's on solids, he gets a bottle with each "meal"... he probably takes a few sips, but at least he takes it.

I think it's better to keep them used to it, just in case!

Title: Re: Giving EBM by bottle...how often?
Post by: nattymarsh on May 30, 2006, 17:07:22 pm

I had another thought on giving the bottle.  You may want to try it at different feeding times too until your LO is well used to it; that way you can be sure your LO will take it no matter what time of the day.