Bottle Advice

[MilkforMacy]

I have a 4 week old baby girl. I do not make enough milk so at every feeding she nurses on both breasts for a few minutes (until empty) then I give her a bottle of donated breastmilk. I started with a Medela Haberman Special Feeder bottle. She does well with that bottle but swallows a lot of air and gets a bit gassy and burpy. I then tried regular Medela bottles with the 0-3 month nipples and she drowns. When she isn't drowning, she is gulping and swallowing a lot of air. So then I tried an Avent bottle and same thing happened. Any suggestions?

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by MilkforMacy

I have a 4 week old baby girl. I do not make enough milk so at every feeding she nurses on both breasts for a few minutes (until empty) then I give her a bottle of donated breastmilk. I started with a Medela Haberman Special Feeder bottle. She does well with that bottle but swallows a lot of air and gets a bit gassy and burpy. I then tried regular Medela bottles with the 0-3 month nipples and she drowns. When she isn't drowning, she is gulping and swallowing a lot of air. So then I tried an Avent bottle and same thing happened. Any suggestions?

Why do you think your breasts are empty?

[MilkforMacy]

Her pediatrician (the doc that I work for) specializes in Breastfeeding. We have done pre-feeding and post-feeding weights and she only takes in approx 1/2-1 oz of BM after nursing an hr. When I was exclusively nursing her weight dropped fron 7lbs to 5lbs 11oz. Yes, I am taking supplements and Dom to help increase supply but still not much more than an ounce at every feeding.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by MilkforMacy

Her pediatrician (the doc that I work for) specializes in Breastfeeding. We have done pre-feeding and post-feeding weights and she only takes in approx 1/2-1 oz of BM after nursing an hr. When I was exclusively nursing her weight dropped fron 7lbs to 5lbs 11oz. Yes, I am taking supplements and Dom to help increase supply but still not much more than an ounce at every feeding.

Have you checked out this site:

http://www.drjacknewman.com/

And I've found this site to be packed full of breastfeeding info:

http://www.kellymom.com/

Has your doc ordered any testing to look into a supply issue? (e.g. are we talking about PCOS here?)

What did the IBLCE conclude? Did she find the same issue?


One thing I would be concerned about in your situation is that the interference of a bottle will sabotage your efforts to increase supply. She needs to be suckling frequently to increase supply, in addition to any supplements or drugs you are taking. I would also want to start pumping regularly as well.

If I had to risk a bottle, I would try this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Adiri-Natural-.../dp/B000VUN41G

[PatioGardener]

Have you thought about supplementing at the breast? That will mean that baby still breastfeeds, but gets any extra milk at the breast and will get your milk at the same time.

There is a video of this at Dr. Newman's website that a PP posted above www.drjacknewman.com

[cristeen]

I would second supplementing at the breast. We had a similar problem, and my DS started refusing the breast because he got used to the flow rate of the bottle. I didn't even try to start supplementing at the breast until my milk had completely dried up, and I really regret that. I've spent the last 2 months trying to relactate while supplementing at the breast.

If at the breast isn't possible, I'd suggest trying the Born Free bottles - you can hold it upside down and it doesn't do any more than occasionally drip.

Have you had her latch evaluated? In order for breastfeeding or supplementing at the breast to be effective, she has to have a good latch. We didn't find out until he was 6 weeks old that he was tied - my midwife looked at him nursing and said he had a good latch - turned out he didn't.

[texmati]

DS is 4 months old, and has just now been able to take a regular bottle without chokeing (we used the breast flow before this). perhaps try finger feeding?