is it ok to pump the breastmilk out and feed in bottles?

[Caraxie]

My breastmilk is more than enough for my baby boy (37 days), and the flow is too fast. It's ok to breastfeed him when he is really hungry, but after about 5 - 7 minutes he starts being anxious and crying when I try to feed him more...Any solutions about this? And is it ok to pump out the breast milk and feed him in bottle? He seems more comfortable with the bottle...

[Erin M]

Hi there!
He honestly might be done after 5-7 minutes, some babies are just really efficient feeders (especially if you have a fast let down).  It is ok to give him a bottle, but if you do you need to realize that be might start preferring the bottle over you and if you are just pumping it's difficult to keep your supply up.  It is recommended that you use a low flow nipple on the bottle so that your baby doesn't get used to the faster flow. Is he generally content after feedings?  Able to last a decent amount of time between them

[SabrinaD]

When I met with a lactation consultant after DD was born she had mentioned I may have a fast let down so I tried different positions. The one that we liked the best was kind of like an uphill position. she slowed her feed down and seemed more content when she was done. i wouldnt recommend exclusively pumping. i thought that it would work for me but it ended up being soooo hard we ended up having to stop breastfeeding completely because she decided the bottle was what she wanted. Good luck! stay strong!

[~Sara~]

You could always pump a little bit right after your letdown so that it's not to fast for him. I agree with the previous posters that if he's lasting 2.5-3h (sometimes only 2, it happens, right? ) between feeds, then he's doing okay.  However, if he's fussing after just a little bit and with your fast letdown, it might be a trapped burp in his tummy.  My LO has done that a few times, when normally she never fusses if she's got even a little something in her tummy.

I do pump and give the milk in a bottle.  I can't do it all the time, but it's a nice option to have to keep my supply up for the time here or there I don't/can't breastfeed.

[becj86]

I had this same problem. After 6 weeks of agony (he developed a shallow latch to cope) I figured out that lying back in a recliner worked to help with the flow, then the LC I had an appointment with after I'd pretty much got it sorted told me I was doing this: http://biologicalnurturing.com/

I found latching while lying back quite hard, so I latched sitting up in the chair with my legs ready to push back and the second he was on, back we went. It meant that he could cope with the flow (and the second letdown which seemed to be worse for him that the first as he expected the first one when he latched but to be drinking happily and then have the flow increase instantly was a bit much for him) and also that I could sit up in the evenings when my supply was lower.

I did express and bottle feed for a few days at a time several times during the first 4 months. It is hard work, especially if you're at home by yourself. I called it 'detouring' rather than expressing because you have to feed, then pump, then wash up & sterilise rather than just feeding. It did work wonders for DS re: foremilk/hindmilk balance and wind and I actually credit the fact that I did bottle feed EBM with the fact I'm still BFing him now at 8 months.

DS actually did prefer the bottle at one point because it had a slower flow than me - I just gave him a faster teat on the bottle and suddenly I was slower than the bottle and he liked me better again