Negative effects to starting bottle?

Question

If I’m exclusively breastfeeding but want to start bottles to have extra help is there anything wrong with that? I’ve heard people say that it confuses the baby’s latch?
I will not be using formula, only breast milk.

Answer

I think the phrase nipple confusion is better put as nipple frustration.  Babies are pretty well programmed to suck when you put something in their mouth be it your nipple, bottle, finger, pacifier, toy, etc. Bottles tend to have a faster flow than your nipple and that can make baby frustrated when they switch back to the breast and the flow is slower/it takes some effort to get the milk flowing. The important thing with bottle feeding a breastfed baby is to use the slowest flow nipple you can and pace feed.  This helps baby stay use to milk flow that is closer to what they are getting at the breast and not expect the milk to come so fast and without effort. The other issue you can have is if you wait to long to introduce a bottle, baby may not take one. Or it can be very hard to convince baby to take a bottle.  If you’ve it a solid breastfeeding relationship established, use the slowest flow nipple you can, and pace feed, you’ll probably do just fine switching between bottle and breast.

Answer

Definitely discuss with your pediatrician, but mine told me it’s best to introduce the bottle at 4 weeks. Now that my daughter is a month old I’m definitely going to do one bottle a day to get some help.  But my first kid was in the NICU and was a combo of bottle feeding and breastfeeding from day one and she had no issues with nipple confusion.

Answer

My nipples are like super nips (they stick out when stimulated, almost the same as a nipple on a bottle), so I’ve been using bottles and binkies since day two. The LC told me I could be causing nipple confusion, but I honestly wasn’t convinced. I’ve had my little peanut for two weeks now, and I’ve never had a problem with “nipple confusion.” Being able to use a bottle has been AMAZING, especially when she’s cluster feeding and my nips are super sore!

Answer

I did it and as long as you use a bottle that’s shaped like a nipple/boob it works pretty well. I used Phillips Avent. Dr Browns confused her. Also invest in nipple shields!

Answer

I go back and forth. Like when hubby wants to take baby to see his parents or I want a drink 🍷 it two. She hasn’t had any issues. I pump it and she drinks it and goes back to boob with no issues 🤷🏽‍♀️

Answer

I don’t see why it’s a problem, I breast feed and bottle feed with no issues whatsoever ever. But what works for one mother and baby may not for another so it’s best to chat to your dr :)

Answer

I also introduced a bottle (we only use it at night) and it's been so helpful. Hubs can feed him and it keeps him fuller longer (I BF first then hubs gives him the bottle). It's also nice because I can leave the house without worrying because there's a bottle in the fridge!

Answer

If you are wanting to do both I would suggest a very slow flow nipple for the bottle. I did both with my son and around 5 months he refused the breast. If the flow on the nipple for the bottle is bigger/faster than your breast milk comes out your baby may prefer the bottle as it’ll be an easier quicker feed.

Answer

Introducing a bottle ruined breastfeeding with my first, but he wasn’t good at latching to begin with...I only gave him one bc he was so frustrated around 12 days old but I swear the second he drank from that bottle there was no going back, he loved it and it was so easy for him so why keep trying to breastfeed? I had to exclusively pump and continually offered him breast but he didn’t start breastfeeding again until he was 4 months old and I guess much stronger/bigger for latching.

Answer

I was told by a lactation consultant that the risk is actually in waiting too long to introduce a bottle, because often babies will refuse it. Talk to your pediatrician for sure! With my first we waited a month. It might have to do with establishing a supply too.

Negative effects to starting bottle?

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