Weaning - Albany,CA

I know you don't want to pump, but if you can pump a little it will make the transition easier. First start by giving all breast milk in bottles. The baby may resist at first, but it will get hungry and take it eventually. Try having someone who is not mom offer the bottles. Once you get the baby to take the bottle, start adding small amounts of formula to the breast milk, slowly increasing the amount so the baby can get used to the new taste over time. That said, my boys took both breast and bottle from birth, with only formula in the bottles, but since they were used to getting both from the start of life it was never an issue switching back and forth. Once the baby gets used to the bottle he may prefer it. My boys both self weened off the breast at about 3 months.

You will need to get her to take a bottle. Consider the Tommee Tippee or Brestflow, but my DD took the plain old Medela nipples.

Is there a particular reason you haven't tried pumping? Some people provide formula for work hours and still nurse all other times (my neighbor, who is a pediatrician, did this). She will need either breastmilk or formula til she is at least a year old. Were it me, I would try pumping to introduce the bottle and go from there. If you are transitioning to formula, mix the milk with the formula over a period of time til you are giving just formula.

If you want a good workhorse pump, consider the Medela Pump In Style. I have also heard decent things about Purely Yours and the Lanisoh Double electric. Pumps are often covered by insurance and if not, they pay for themselves (can of normal formula being $25 or more per can, more if the child needs special formulas). If your pump hurts, adjust the suction and/or get a different "horn". Size matters. I'm not a full figured gal, but I needed to go up a size.

kellmom.com has info on bottle feeding a baby who nurses.

Weaning slowly will help your body adjust with fewer issues. Don't go cold turkey to formula. Replace the feedings slowly.

There is no reason you have to 100% wean... your breasts can allow breastfeeding while at home and not while at work. As for pumping, I had a sore experience doing this with my #1, with #2 I found out it was so painful because I was using the smaller breast cup than what I needed. SO with #2, I got the largest cup and pumping was a breeze!!

Definitely make sure she'll take a bottle before you start weaning. I tried from 6 weeks of age up until now that she is 8 months old and my daughter refuses to consistently take a bottle from anyone. I'd recommend breastflow bottles since they are more like the boob. Once the baby does take the bottle consistently, drop one feeding at a time to let your body adjust slowly.

If she is 4 months I would get her started getting used to a bottle. Cause you need to know if she will take it or not. I would start now cause you want to do it gradual.

Good luck and God Bless!

With my son, I used the "MAM" brand bottles/nipples.
You can get it from Amazon.
Not expensive.
Natural nipple.
It is also BPA free.
Not commonly found in USA stores.
Used commonly in Europe.
My son, took this bottle. The only bottle he would take.
I loved, this bottle/nipple and brand.
And he was also breastfed.

You need to try and offer her a bottle... to see if she takes it.
My daughter would never take a bottle, for example.
And you also need to: see if she will take Formula.
Not all babies will.

You might try skipping the bottle part and going to a sippy cup. I skipped bottles altogether. However, this was so long ago I can't remember how old my kids were when I introduced them to using a cup. I think it was between 6 and 8 months. I also continued nursing. Your body gets used to your time schedule. Really, there are many ways to handle this. Do what is best for you and your family. Believe me, one day it will all be a big blur and your biggest worry will be your kids driving habits.

It sounds as if your previous pumping experience wasn't a great one. As such, and being a breastfeeding counselor (with Nursing Mothers Counsel in the Bay Area), I'm not going to try to talk you into continuing breastfeeding. When to wean is a very personal decision.

However, each experience is different, and it sounds like you didn't have the proper size of flange during your last expressing experience. If you don't mind a recommendation, try finding a lactation consultant who has experience fitting pump flanges. Part of successful expressing is pump fit, and that includes the type of pump. I helped a mom a couple years ago who found it easier to hand express, and I have a great video if you're interested in that: http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression...

If you're intent on weaning, go slow. We recommend 1 dropped feeding every 3-5 days to allow your body and baby to adjust. Have someone else give the supplement (expressed milk, formula, etc), so baby doesn't get confused and refuse the alternative feeding source (bottle, medicine dropper, cup, etc). Not everyone uses a bottle, but it is generally easiest on the caregiver.

We never recommend a particular brand or nipple, but try to use a straight bottle that will hold about the same amount of milk that your baby will drink. i.e.: use a 4oz bottle if baby will eat 2-3oz at a time. This decreases air in the bottle and decreases the chance that baby will ingest too much air, causing gas. The nipple should be soft, not rigid, and should have a longer teat on it.

kellymom.com also has great information: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

And here's just a great article I came across a couple of years ago that I share with any breastfeeding mama :) Every month matters, so great job, mama! http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/if-you-nurse-your-baby.html

Well, if you want to introduce formula in a bottle, may have better luck if someone ELSE starts it (like Dad or Grandma). All three of my kids took both, but at first would NOT take a bottle from me. Plus I pumped and mixed mostly BM with a little formula.

But even if she takes bottles while you're at work, you can still nurse when you're home, you know? Supply and demand.

Can't beLIEVE that baby is 4 months! Hope you're all well!

:)