{"id":15373,"date":"2022-01-26T08:36:51","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T14:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=15373"},"modified":"2022-06-13T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T18:27:34","slug":"introduce-the-bottle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/healthy-pregnancy\/breastfeeding\/introduce-the-bottle\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Introduce the Bottle"},"content":{"rendered":"
Once breastfeeding<\/a> is going well, your baby can begin drinking your breast milk<\/a> from a bottle. You should avoid bottle feeding your baby if there are any problems with nursing at your breast because it can confuse your baby and increase the breastfeeding difficulties.<\/p>\n After about four weeks of breastfeeding, begin pumping after one feeding a day where your breasts still feel a little full. The goal is to pump some breast milk \u201cleftovers.\u201d Freeze this first batch immediately and add other leftovers to it after they have cooled in the freezer.<\/p>\n Based on your baby\u2019s weight, you can calculate the total number of ounces your baby takes in each day. If you’re uncertain, ask your pediatrician, doula or lactation consultant to help you calculate.<\/p>\n Once you know baby’s total feeding volume over a 24-hour period, divide that by the typical number of times your baby feeds for a target volume for the first bottle.<\/p>\n Example volume for baby’s first bottle:<\/p>\n When you have stored enough to equal a typical feeding plus just a little more, you’re ready to introduce a bottle.<\/p>\n Many babies prefer drinking from certain bottles and nipples; you may need to try a few brands before you discover your baby\u2019s preference. There are many options for nipple size and shape. The flow rate is determined by the size of the hole at the tip of the nipple; the slower flow bottles have a smaller hole. It is best to start with the slow flow (smallest hole).<\/p>\n To introduce the bottle it’s best to hold baby in an upright, almost sitting position that is similar to your sitting position. Hold the warmed bottle at an angle tilted just enough to fill the nipple. This tilt allows baby to keep control of when and how fast the milk comes.<\/p>\n The first few times your baby drinks from a bottle, ask your partner or another caregiver to hold your baby to do the feeding. If you are holding your baby, it may trigger the habit to breastfeed and make introducing the bottle more difficult.<\/p>\n When baby is finished, you will pump to create a bottle equal to what the baby consumed. Remember that the baby is always better than a pump! If you do not pump as much as the baby took, it is more likely a pump issue than an issue of not enough milk. Just pump after another breastfeeding and add that amount to what you pumped to get the amount baby took.<\/p>\n Begin introducing the bottle 1-2 weeks before you return to work or school. Your baby will need time to learn this new skill, so\u00a0do a trial run or rehearsal of the new routine. Plan to leave your baby for 1-2 hours before you go back. Head to the grocery store or gym and leave your baby with the chosen caregiver. You can return early if you need to, but this helps you and your baby prepare for the new routine.<\/p>\n Continue breastfeeding as often as you can, and pump only when needed. Nursing your baby stimulates your body to produce more milk, so putting your baby to the breast keeps your milk supply strong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Compiled from the following References:<\/strong> La Leche League International.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Once breastfeeding is going well, your baby can begin drinking your breast milk from a bottle. You should avoid bottle feeding your baby if there are any problems with nursing at your breast because it can confuse your baby and increase the breastfeeding difficulties. Preparing to introduce the bottle to a breastfed baby After about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[58],"tags":[],"faq-categories":[8401],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPreparing to introduce the bottle to a breastfed baby<\/h3>\n
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Selecting the bottle and nipples<\/h3>\n
How to introduce the bottle<\/h3>\n
Want to Know More?<\/h4>\n
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\nNewman, J. (1990). Breastfeeding Problems Associated with the Early Introduction of Bottles and Pacifiers. Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 6.
\nBrown, R., (2007). Can Bottle-Feeding Really Mimic Breastfeeding? Journal of Human Lactation Vol 23
\nLyford, E., (2011). Bottle-Feeding the Breastfed Baby<\/a>. Kellymom.com.<\/p>\n