bottles- to own them or to not own them - Page 2

[loraxc]

Well, DD and I had major nursing issues, so it's a little hard for me to comment, I guess, but I want to make sure I have a hand pump, some breastmilk storage bags, and a few bottles on hand, and we will introduce a bottle of EBM around 6 weeks or so. I actually needed to pump to relieve engorgement a fair bit in the early days, and you might as well save that stuff! It's nice to have some in the freezer just in case you need to be out without babe for some reason or in case an emergency comes up.

I have ZERO plans to have formula on hand, though--that, I'd say no way.

[Mindi22]

If you're sure that you're not going to need them right away, wait until you see what your baby is like before getting bottles. You might have to try a few different kinds before you find one that baby really takes to.

ITA with the pp's who mentioned getting a stash of milk in your freezer ASAP. DS had to have formula a few times because of my schedule and the lack of EBM all ready (that, and I really didn't let down well for any existing pump). Also, we had a very rocky start with nursing (DS was at one point drawing out blood clots through a nipple shield which I wasn't told how to use properly). But more importantly, we recovered, and once we got the hang of it, nursing went quite well.

I think that you can get away with not having them, but I don't think their presence alone will destroy your nursing relationship. Even with the early formula feedings, DS nursed until he was 19 months, and I was pregnant at which time my milk supply dropped and I think probably tasted funny, because he stopped of his own volition.

[Nikki Christina]

i will introduce a bottle to my baby once we are comfortable with nursing

my oldest dd i worked very part time ..i went back after 6 weeks & she stayed with dh
there was also other times in the first 7 months (after that she started using a soft spout cup) that i left her for a few hours , even a few days (for my sons trach surgery..allthough i saw her about an hour each day)
we nursed for almost 3 years (34 months)

my 2nd dd i worked FT, my dh was a sahd & i went back to work at 8 weeks. when she was 9 months i left work & dh returned to work
at 10 months my dh was in a very serious motorcycle accident & i was away from her alot (she was with my SIL)... she was allready used to a bottle so i didnt have to worry about her (& she REFUSED Bm from a cup).
we nursed untill last month (30 months) ..she would have been happy to go longer. but i was DONE & needed a little break between her & the new baby (im not interested in tandem nursing)

this baby..i work PT..but at the ymca nursury ..so my kids go with me. but i will still be introducing a bottle & i WILL be planning to leave her (with my mom or SIL) for time out to dinner, or a movie, or whatever with my dh after a few months old..

[anj7]

Add me to the list of people who was so glad to not have had bottles around the house in the first few days/weeks. Even with the cheering squad that I had and no supply/latch issues, I remember with my first in the middle of the night in the first 2 weeks, just thinking that bottles would be easier. Luckily my DH got up with me for every feed and cheered me on that night and said if I still feel the same way in the morning we'd look into bottles. I changed my mind by morning, but I'm so glad that we didn't have any in the house that night.

That aside, I did buy a Avent Isis pump that came with a couple of bottles. I used them when we started solids, as I mixed EBM with the solid foods. DD1 never took a bottle (not for lack of trying), she went straight to a cup at 6 months of age. DD2 took a bottle for 24 hours when I had to go in for surgery when she was 2 months old. I did pump a small stash for that event and we never used bottles after that (she also went straight to a cup when she was older).

So, based on my limited experience, I'd say you'd be OK without bottles.