Transition to bottle - hunger strike ... how long?

[MrsGplus1]

We seem to be having a problem with no 2. on the transition from breast to bottle. She will happily take it from anyone else but not from me.

Long story short, we started off on breast feeding introducing a bottle at 7pm at around 1 week so either my husband or I could do bed time, she happily took that from me. Then for a number of reasons we were just about to introduce the bottle all the time - and had started to introduce a second one, when she had a very bad reaction to her first set of immunistions. We ended up in hospital and she was fed through a pipe for 24 hours. When we came home she fed from me but was very reulctant to take a bottle - I put this down to what she had just experienced so took things gently and on the advice of the hospital we kept breast feeding and bottle and we're now in the all clear. However during that time I noticed she didn't really take the bottle well but I put this down to the comfort of breast feeding from me and whilst she could smell milk or still got some breast feeds she would always prefer to hold out for that.

So starting again on the transition I've had someone else give her the bottle for a couple of days to ensure she was happy with the type of bottle and milk. She has been taking well and been happy. So today we started with me giving the bottle - and oh no we are not happy!!! As soon as I put the bottle to her she fights it off and roots for my breast. I've allowed my milk to dry up a bit over the last couple of days so the smell shouldn't be as obvious as before.

I don't want to go back to mixed feeding a) I think its confusing her and b) we have to wean at some point and have gone some way down this path already, so I'm OK to ride out a hunger strike but any one else had this experience or can give me advice on how long it may take for her to take the bottle from me? Also any advice on the balance between me giving the bottle (and her not taking it!!) versus letting some one else give a bottle from time to time over the next few days so she doesn't actually starve (or will this prolong the agony??)

  All advice welcome!!!

[* Paula *]

Hugs sorry your lo has been poorly.

A lo does not have the capability to starve themselves.  I would probably pick a feed where she is at her hungriest, i.e. the morning feed, and persist with that one.  Once she has started taking that feed well from you, you can think look at doing the next feed, and so on.

[MrsGplus1]

Thanks Paula - we cracked it over a couple of days. I feared it would be longer and was amazed at how quickly it actually happened, as you said no baby will starve themselves but its hard to imagine on the first day! I just posted a couple of comments on Louiemum's thread so I won't repeat them. But to anyone who is starting off down this path - good luck and honestly perseverance over a couple of days and it does seem to work.

[* Paula *]

Fantastic news, I am pleased that the transition went smoothly.

Keep us posted.