Author Topic: Moving from breast to bottle (Read 6848 times)

mimi21 · « **on:** August 19, 2013, 09:43:29 am »

Hi all,

Just after some advise please, my DD is 8 weeks tomorrow and I intend to stop breastfeeding her at the end of the week ' (she has 8 week injections tomorrow so want to help her through them)
My question is how often should she have a bottle - we currently do 2 bottles a day, one around 12 ish and the other early evening.
She can't seem to go more then 2 to 2 and a half hours in between feeds, sometimes less (breast or bottle). I also struggle to get her to take more then 2.5 oz!! she doesn't sleep great, but we are working on that and I am exhausted.

Would like some sort of routine and ideally have her feeding every 3 hours, but no idea on how to get her there.

Here is her feeding for last two days
8.15 am
10.30
12.25 - bottle 3oz
3.10 - right
3.25 - left
5.50 - bottle 3oz
8.00 - right
8.15 - left
10.08 - introduced dreamfeed bottle 1oz
1.00 am - right
1.32 am - left
4.34 - right
7.50 - left
9.25 - right

Any thoughts appreciated :-)

Lolly · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2013, 13:31:02 pm »

Have a look at this link, it's got some good advice and ideas! Breastfed babies and bottles

Most of the babies here on bottle feeding were bottle fed from birth, so if you still need some help I'll get some of the breast feeding ladies to pop on!

What flow teat do you have her on at the moment? It could be that she needs a faster teat to be able to suck more efficiently so that if she takes more at a feed she should be able to go longer, we don't usually suggest faster teats as babies can develop bottle preference but if you are stopping breast feeding that won't be an issue! You may find that once she is fully on formula she will be able to go longer between feeds, formula is less easily digested so does keep them feeling fuller a bit longer.

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2013, 14:24:13 pm »

Hi, thanks for replying -

She is on the first stage teat of the Dr brown bottles, did think of moving her to next stage but wasn't sure if this was too early - she managed 3.5 oz earlier but this took a long time, with a break in between and a small breastfeed as she was screaming -this was at 12 and then she wanted another breastfeed at 1.15!!

I have had a look at link, thanks for that and have some ideas, we are currently replacing one feed a time, just unsure on where to go next?

Feeding so frequently takes an awful lot of time and I feel my 2 year old is suffering as I feel I am constantly telling her in a minute I am feeding your sister etc xx

Lolly · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2013, 14:27:01 pm »

A bottle feed shouldn't take any more than 20 mins max, if it's taking a long time for her to drink a few oz then she does need a faster teat!Breastfed babies tend to have a stronger suck than bottle fed babies too!

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2013, 17:04:36 pm »

I guess it takes longer then that, its not really the length of feed but more the frequency - she'll do 3 to 3.5 oz slowly and then want another feed 2 to 2 hours 15 later?

Lolly · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2013, 17:52:27 pm »

It more likely that because it's taking her too long to have the first 3.5oz she's too tired to take anymore so she's hungry sooner because she wasn't really full from the first feed.

On a faster teat she should be able to take 4 or 5oz within that 20 mins and then she will be full and last longer. How much are you offering in a bottle at the moment?

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2013, 18:09:16 pm »

Am offering 4oz at the moment and she's only finished that once, will buy a faster teat tomorrow, hopefully that'll make some difference.

Thanks

mimi21 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2013, 18:15:59 pm »

She should be able to go closer to 3hrs shouldn't she??

Lolly · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2013, 21:20:29 pm »

Quote from: mimi21 on August 19, 2013, 18:15:59 pm

She should be able to go closer to 3hrs shouldn't she??

Possibly! Some babies do and go longer between feeds younger than Tracy suggests but some do need to feed more frequently in the early weeks even on formula.

How are things today?

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2013, 06:18:27 am »

Umm, not really much change tbh. She is still feeding every 2 to 2 and half hours.
She took 3.5 oz twice yesterday.
We are trying to introduce a third bottle but not sure for what feed?
She has a bottle at around 11/12 and another between 7/8.

mimi21 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2013, 17:57:38 pm »

What a rubbish day - eating every 2 hours, sometimes struggling to get there!!

We are breast feeding then at next feed giving bottle, she now takes nearer 4oz but even with that only makes 2 hours. Last night was awake an awful lot feeding.
Its just crazy, I feed her at 4am and at 5 she wanted more and took a 4 oz bottle.

Not sure what to do for best :-(

Lolly · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2013, 18:20:02 pm »

Could she be having a growth spurt?

What about reflux - is she showing and signs, she may be comfort eating. Reflux 101 - General reflux information

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2013, 18:25:53 pm »

Could be GS - 9 weeks On Tuesday?

Don't think its reflux, she isn't showing any signs, think she may have colic though.

mimi21 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2013, 18:01:00 pm »

So we've moved to faster flow teats - stage 2 on Dr brown bottles, but she is still only taking 3oz at a push - she is sick after most feeds but not huge amounts - not sure where to go from here.

She is sleeps a longish period from around 9/10 to 1/2 am but then is up every couple of hours and I cannot get her back in her basket/chair/cot from when she wakes.

Very tired and running out of ideas.

Although she is sick, tho not too much she doesn't pull her legs up. She does have moments when she screams but it's not constant.

What else to try?

Lolly · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2013, 18:05:41 pm »

I will see if I can get some more eyes for you - I'm not sure what's going on for you.

How many breastfeeds and bottle feeds are you giving now?

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2013, 19:14:20 pm »

Thank you

Am feeding alternate feedings, so both breasts and then next feed is bottle

it almost seems like she holds of on bottle feeds, takes the 3 oz but will still want boob if offered an hour later

She is really gassy too.

*happy* · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2013, 20:02:56 pm »

we didn't start doing full feeds with DD until she was much older, but it used to take her *ages* to take a feed from the bottle!!!when we moved to a faster flow, she used to throw up loads, so we never really moved to a proper "fast flow" iykwim?
not sure if that helps....just my experience...we ended up just accepting defeat & allowing the 30mins for the bottle-feeds!!!!

mimi21 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2013, 21:10:53 pm »

I don't mind how long it takes, but we can be feeding for ages and she'll on have taken a few ozs

She has always been sickly, on slow flow teats or breast.

*happy* · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2013, 21:14:26 pm »

Does it matter what position you feed in?

mimi21 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2013, 03:28:38 am »

Nope, or who feeds her.

mimi21 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 26, 2013, 07:17:27 am »

Could it be the formula? Is it worth trying a different type? Shea currently on aptimail.

*happy* · « **Reply #21 on:** August 26, 2013, 07:34:55 am »

Sorry hun,im not much use to you.
We used aptamil stage 1&mam bottles.
Hopefully someone else can help out.

Just thinking out loud...did you ever think about getting that
special bottle from medela with the weird long teat?
I saw Tracy use it in 1 of her tv episodes.

mimi21 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 26, 2013, 08:41:06 am »

We used that with my first and just couldn't get on with it - used another type of medela bottle but that didn't make any difference.

Will maybe try HIPP Organic and see if it makes any difference ' can't hurt, can it?

Ima shel Alon · « **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2013, 12:16:55 pm »

Hi mimi!
We moved from breast to bottle when DS was the same age as your LO and we were finished with BF when he was around 10 weeks.
What I did is replacing the feeds that were more "inconvenient" for me, but not too close to other feeds. So like you we had one feed in the middle of the day changed, then the BT feed, another feed at night and slowly we changed the rest. What I did find, and I think this is what's happening with you, that the transition was quicker than I wished for (I wanted to continue combining for a long time) because my milk supply went down drastically. I think that if you want to prevent that from happening and continue with the BF then you need to pump for a while.
For us it was just one day - DS just refused the breast and wanted only bottle.
And like with your LO, he could not go very long between feeds, even when he was fully on formula. Like Laura said, some babies take a while till they can manage longer stretches between feeds.
The faster teat can take a few feeds till they start throwing up so I would give it a try for a day or two before you decide if it's working or not.
I thought that DS will never get to 3h between feeds, but I can tell he did! And if it happened to us it will happen to you as well, just might take a while longer than other babies.

The NW or if there are difficulties with naps can be because of her routine, maybe something needs tweaking? It's not necessarily that she wakes up for food at night. If you want you can post your day in an EASY format and we can have a look at it

.
Hope that helps

.

mimi21 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2013, 15:46:31 pm »

Hi

Thanks very much for your reply.

like you have said I have found today that she has refused breast at two feeds today and cried until I gave her a bottle. It does make me a little sad that she is pushing on faster then I would like, I still have plenty of milk too

She is only taking 2.5 to 3 oz every 2-3 hours, we got to 3 hours earlier as we were having cuddles and she slept but she still only took just over2.5 oz, should she be taking more?

she seems to be handling the faster flow teat just fine but it's not made a difference to the amount she takes. Been on the teats since Saturday.

I will keep a note of our day tomorrow, tbh only keeping track of feed times at the moment as her naps can be irregular and short unless held
I cannot get her to have a decent nap anywhere other then me even at night sometimes if I am lucky she will sleep in her chair. Have posted on sleep board about this too

Ima shel Alon · « **Reply #25 on:** August 27, 2013, 18:03:39 pm »

If you are getting advice re routine on another board then I wouldn't want to give advice so you won't get contradicting advice and that we also don't go OT here on the bottle feeding board

Quote from: mimi21 on August 27, 2013, 15:46:31 pm

It does make me a little sad that she is pushing on faster then I would like

Reading this threw me away 2.5 years ago

I remember vividly this feeling and I send you (((hugs))). It is sad

I would say that she *could* take more than 2.5oz... maybe she got used to feeding every 2h? Would you be able to hold her for a day and only feed every 3h?

mimi21 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 27, 2013, 20:25:11 pm »

I can certainly try, tho not easy with a toddler too.
Even on the times we've got to 3 hours or more she will still only take 3 to 3.5 at a push

We've changed formula today so will see if that makes any difference over the next week

Will post our general routine tomorrow, would love to get extra opinions if poss.

mimi21 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 28, 2013, 17:52:12 pm »

Well today we've had 3 bottles at which she has taken 4oz

We've had to let her have as much as she'll take, have a little break, about 15 to 25 minutes she'll take the rest
feed is taking about 40 minutes in total.

breastfeeds are becoming less and less and I imagine this time next week it will be no more.
Not sure if the change in formula has helped or not but pleased she's taking more.

now just to sort sleep out, she's very over tired.

Lolly · « **Reply #28 on:** August 28, 2013, 18:05:47 pm »

I'm glad the feeds are getting better that's great!

Just one thing to watch - 40 mins is a long time for a bottle feed, they should be finished in about 20 mins or you end up with them snacking and not getting properly hungry enough for the next feed. You can get into a cycle of not getting hungry enough so taking a small feed then needed the next bottle sooner but not taking a full feed etc.

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 28, 2013, 19:00:56 pm »

I believe she's been snacking and that's why she was taking such small amounts every few hours today we've managed to space her out to 3 hours. Her last feed at 6.30 she took 4oz in 25 minutes, so getting better.

Lolly · « **Reply #30 on:** August 28, 2013, 19:03:23 pm »

Definitely getting better! Well done both of you!

Laura

mimi21 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 28, 2013, 20:07:54 pm »

Let's just hope it continues, wonder if her tummy just needed to stretch a little as she's been used to breast milk or maybe the new formula is a little more gentle on her tummy.
time will tell

Thanks for all the advice

mimi21 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 29, 2013, 14:45:12 pm »

Well, turns out those few feeds were just luck.

After a visit to the doctors this morning as she has a gunky eye, she thinks she has slight reflux, she's gaining weight well tho and we are just to monitor her weight gain.

She did recommend a thicker formula - any advice on this?

Lolly · « **Reply #33 on:** August 29, 2013, 17:56:35 pm »

For mild/ slight reflux thickened formulas can work really well. Depending on where you are (UK?) will depend on what's available. In the UK there are reflux formulas available in supermarkets - Aptamil do one, but the Easy Digest/ Comfort formulas are also thicker than normal first formulas so that could be good to try first (can't remember what you are using now, sorry!).

My two refluxers both had Enfamil AR (Enfamil AA I *think* in the US) which is available on prescription in the UK but can also be bought OTC at pharmacies.

If you do switch you will need a much faster teat, even if she seems to be doing ok it will be easier for her with the fastest teat available as I learnt

Laura

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Author Topic: Moving from breast to bottle (Read 6848 times)