Breast & Bottle Feeding Question...

Hi Courtney,

The type of nipple you want to use really depends on your own letdown reflex. I had the same issue. It's a little hard to tell, but when I pumped I kind of watched how fast the milk was coming out. Then I squeezed water through the nipple to how much came out at once, and just compared them. Also, I went by my son...he was obviously getting frustrated with the really slow nipple. We ended up using the Avent size 2 nipples, and the Playtex fast flow ones. But it depends, I've heard of women whose letdown is so fast that their babies need the fastest flow nipples possible.

You do have to work to keep the milk supply up, but even if it's easier to get milk out a bottle, your baby might still prefer to nurse. I know mine does...seems to be the best part of his day, LOL! It's not just about the food, he nurses for comfort and snuggling too. Good luck!

from what I learned from the several breastfeeding consultants I worked with (I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding-but made it 1 year!), it is always best to use the slow flow ones, especially in the begining. They all told me that the breast requires more suction and is very slow flow. They said that it was often the introduction of faster flowing nipples that made baby want the bottle instead of the breast. I used stage 1 until my daughter was about 6 months, then switched to stage 2.

Hi Courtney!

From what I have heard the breast is very slow flow. I think keeping the slower flow nipples on the bottles is the best idea. In fact I went back to work and after a 2 months my daughter stopped being interested in the breast all together. My daycare lady said that it is very common since the baby gets used to the bottle and has to work so much harder to get milk from the breast.

On another note, a mistake I made that you might want to know about: nurse when you are with your baby as much as you can (no more husband feedings) and pump at work as much as you can. First, she will be feeding so much more with the bottle (while you are at work)and she is going to get used to that...so you want her to maintain being used to nursing and not get tired of it (it is much harder for her to nurse then drink from a bottle). Second, just being away from her will make your milk suppply go down...and pumping (vs. nursing) will also make your milk supply go down. So pump at work as much as you possibly can. I was so proud to get through 6 hours without pumping and then realized that my milk started only coming in every 6 hours and came in much less.

I know you didn't ask for all this advise (sorry). I just didn't know all this when I went to work, and I was really bummed when after 2 months of working I wasn't producing enough milk and my daughter wasn't interested in nursing anymore. It is a pain to pump, but I regret not doing it better, it is so much better for the baby and WAY cheaper then formula.

Good luck! :)