Author Topic: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle  (Read 4692 times)

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Offline ~Jen~

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Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« on: March 05, 2015, 22:35:57 pm »
I'm trying to get DD2 to take a bottle - she has done it a few times when she was younger but the past week has flat out refused. I try and offer at least once a day but just cries now.  After it is offered/refused, should I just go on and breastfeed her? Or wait a while so she doesn't think she can refuse the bottle and get a BF?  I've read the FAQ on getting them to take a bottle but was just curious what you think would be best to do when she refuses for that feed?



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2015, 23:21:26 pm »
Yes I would BF her if she refuses the bottle but I would offer the bottle more often. If she refused it you can stick the bottle back in the fridge and try again at the next feed.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/reusing-expressed-milk
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2015, 07:16:11 am »
I feel like she is never going to be very interested in taking the bottle if she refuses and then gets a breastfeed?? I've been BFing after as I agree that I should be doing that but I just don't see how the situation ever changes?



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2015, 12:44:50 pm »
Different things work for different people but i know some people on my his site have offered every feed for a week or two (and then BF if refused) before baby has drank a bottle. You can have a little gap between offering the bottle and offering the breast if you prefer but I wouldn't let her cry if she is crying for a feed by that point.

What sort of teat and bottle are you using?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2015, 13:13:36 pm »
I definitely agree and don't want her to cry/get upset and start to create a negative association with the bottle.  I will try to offer the bottle more consistently at each feed and just be patient that it will come. 
I've been using Avent bottle/teat. I admit I've been lazy to  try a different one as I have so many of them from the other kids but probably makes sense to buy a different one and give it a try - any recommendations?



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2015, 13:15:57 pm »
We like Medela but I have also had success with Mam and Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2015, 20:04:24 pm by *Ali* »
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2015, 13:22:21 pm »
Thanks!  I will give one of those a try tomorrow and see how we do... fingers crossed as I could definitely use a break.



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2015, 20:04:46 pm »
Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline LovelyLilyandJack

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2015, 21:21:17 pm »
My little boy refused the bottle for ages - I had to offer it before every single feed for almost 2 weeks before he accepted a full feed from it. I used to leave a break of a minute or two between the bottle and breast if I could / remembered, though most of the time the two were pretty close together. Now he's 2 and I can't get him off the bottle and onto a cup for his bedtime milk!  He'll accept any liquid at all in a cup, just not milk.  Stubborn boy!



Offline *Liz*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2015, 03:16:27 am »
I'm a huge fan if MAM for this.... The silk teats are so much smoother and more skin like. Also shorter and more like a nipple.

I did breast to bottle at 5.5mths with DS (to mix feed), and at 9 mths with a stubborn lady. That was a fullin breast to bottle out of medical necessity in a kid on solids. But it only took 2 days  :).

Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2015, 15:03:54 pm »
Still no luck with any bottles over here... stressing about this now.  We are having trouble with mucous poos and reflux.  She is dropping percentiles and her paed is wanting her to do a Neocate trial for a week starting next week.  I told him that she won't take a bottle and his answer was if you don't feed her and she is hungry enough she will take it.   :-\     I started to cry in his office. 

I have one week...  help!



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2015, 17:57:20 pm »
Have you tried an elimination diet if the paed thinks she has an intolerance?

It is ultimately up to you if you want to try other things rather than formula. You don't hve to do what the paed recommends.

What have you been doing about offering the bottle since you last posted? Offering it every feed? What happens?

My DD will take a bottle in her sleep if she refuses at BT. Have you tried when she is really sleepy?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2015, 19:37:15 pm »
Yes, I've been dairy/egg free for at least 2 months and as things got worse I've taken out egg/soy/gluten/nuts/shellfish for past 3 weeks.  I posted on the CRC board for some help on diet ideas.  I had to do this same ED with DD1 as well but I am finding it harder this time probably because I have so much less time all around.  My weight is also dropping so not surprising that Caia's is too. 

She had a stool tested with a Calprotectin test and it came back really high so we are retesting next week but he believes the gut inflammation is being caused food intols/sensitivity.  He wants to do Neocate trial to see if things improve if you take me out of the equation.   >:(   I don't want to stop BF her.  I managed to keep going with DD1 despite her food intols but she wasn't losing weight.  I don't want to compromise Caia's growth/development but I still think BF her is the best thing.  Once the paed saw her percentiles dropping the sirens went off.   Do you think there is something else I could do?   

We've been offering her the bottle at each feed. We've tried at least 5 different bottles.  She will push it out with her tongue and more recently with her hands/arms.  She will lick it a bit; she must know it is EBM but will not suck.  The one thing I haven't tried is giving it to her at night when she is sleepy.  We can try that next.   

 



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2015, 20:18:53 pm »
Wow, you have tried so much. Kudos for sticking at it in such difficult circumstances. The mamas with experience in the reflux and allergy boards would be better to give advice on EDs than me so I won't even try.

Btw if you do do the trial of neocate you can always pump to keep your supply up in case you decide to go back to it. I know of someone who tried formula and it made it worse but she had stopped BFing and pumping completely and then found it difficult to get back to it. Her LO was a tad older though. Just an idea.

I hope the sleepy feeds work. I also had success tonight with walking around holding my DD in a cradle hold whilst patting her bottom with the hand I was holding her in and shushing her. I then left the tip of the teat just in the corner of her mouth while she fussed and cried. She did eventually start sucking on it and drank the whole bottle. I found if I held the whole teat in the middle of her mouth she pushed it out with her tongue or gagged. No doubt you've tried this and everything else on the FAQs but thought I would mention it JIC. :)
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Domestic Engineer

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2015, 21:41:26 pm »
I'm no expert on intolerances, but I would suggest that if you are losing weight yourself because you've cut back your diet so much, the easiest thing to try is to count calories and make sure that you're getting enough food for yourself, plus breastfeeding, every day, no matter what. Your milk might be poor quality if you're malnourished yourself. :( Are you eating plenty of meat? Lamb is supposed to be the most allergy-free meat - maybe you could get a couple of lamb roasts while they're on sale for Easter.

As to the bottle, my baby was so, so resistant and finally took on when I left the house before he woke up in the morning. DH was the only one home, and he only had a bottle to offer, and I was so surprised when he called me and said that he took the whole thing! Of course you don't want to be cruel and starve a baby who's already struggling with weight gain, but go out one morning and see what happens.

I've also read that some desperate mamas go on a diet where they only eat a few very safe foods for a week or two - I think I read it in a book by Dr. Sears, and I can look it up for you if you're interested. Then if that still doesn't solve the problem, you know that modifying your own diet isn't going to work. And if it does solve the problem, you can slowly add things back in.

Also, if she's not gaining enough, you might want to go back to more frequent feedings even if it throws off her routine.

Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #15 on: March 25, 2015, 12:58:12 pm »
I think a person would have to be incredibly malnourished for milk to be affected...and I don't think an ED would do that to a person. I did a similar ED with DD3 (never did figure out exactly what it was, but I did lose some weight myself) and I was far from malnourished. I was considerng the drastic one like mentioned above but then I did see improvement (DD never lost weight though) so did not bother.

Neocate is supposed to be quite nasty tasting stuff so if she won't even take ebm I am not sure how that would even work. How far did her weight drop?
Heidi




Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #16 on: March 25, 2015, 21:53:14 pm »
I agree Heidi. There is more info here http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-diet/
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #17 on: March 25, 2015, 22:27:36 pm »
Thanks Heidi and Ali.  I feel better about my diet and made sure today I ate proper meals and drank plenty of water.  I think I am grasping at straws trying to work out what is causing the slow weight gain.  She hasn't lost any weight yet but hasn't gained anything in 3 weeks.  She has dropped 2 centile lines from birth.  I agree and I know she is not going to take the Neocate.  Doctor told me if she won't take the bottle we would have to feed her by cup or syringe. 

I noticed today that I think she has a lip-tie.  I can't tell on the tongue-tie - I wonder if that could be causing the weight gain issues.  I was reading symptoms and she has most of them.. I think I have to see someone about it to know for sure.  Could be why she is gagging and can't properly suck the bottle. 



Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #18 on: March 26, 2015, 02:15:35 am »
Ok well not losing weight is something at least, ebf babies do tend to have a slow down in growth compared to ff babies - is your Drnusing the growth charts meant for bf babies?  Lip tie &/or tongue tie could for sure be a factor, and definitely worth getting checked out.
Heidi




Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #19 on: March 26, 2015, 12:43:08 pm »
I'm sure it would be the up-to-date WHO BF-based charts Heidi as all UK mamas have the same ones in a red book called My Child's Health Record. We have to take it for all weigh-ins, scheduled check-ups and imms etc. So weight can be plotted and vaccinations recorded and so on. They have been correct in that book since at least 2009 when my DS1 was born.

If you suspect tongue tie I would defo get it looked at as that could certainly cause problems with transfer of milk and therefore weight gain. I think the gagging is just a mechanical response to having a bit of plastic stuck in their mouths when they aren't used to it. My kids all did it and none has feeding issues otherwise.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline ~Jen~

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #20 on: March 26, 2015, 14:08:25 pm »
Ok good to know on the gagging with bottle. Does anyone know who I could speak to in London about a possible TT and/or Lip tie?  Should I try and find a lactation consultant or just speak to our GP? I've been reading it can often be overlooked or not correctly diagnosed. Are there specialists for this?



Offline *Ali*

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Re: Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle
« Reply #21 on: March 26, 2015, 14:20:07 pm »
There is info in this FaQ (see the UK link) on places you can get a TT seen to. You normally need to be referred by a medical professional. I imagine your gp could refer you on. Information on Tongue Tie in babies and children
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011