Working & Pumping Introductions & Chat
Introduction & bottle question
Hi all! I am reintroducing myself... I was here about 3 years ago when I had my daughter, and now I 've just returned to work after having a son, and find myself needing help again so I am back. My son, Andrew, is 8 weeks old and I've been back to work for 1 week. He's at a small daycare center while I work, and it's near my home but not near my work so nursing on lunch is not an option.
So now to my question. I have a very fast letdown. When he nurses he latches on for about 5 to 10 minutes and then burps and is done. He usually goes about 2 to 3 hours between feedings. He is a gigantic baby, he was born avg size but is now above the 98th percentile for length and weight. So I know he's getting lots to eat in those quick feedings. However, he doesn't behave the same way with a bottle. He only takes 2 - 3 oz per feeding, about 3 feedings per day, and it takes a while and a lot of work (so I am told) to get it in him. His caregivers tell me "he doesn't really like his bottle." And regardless of what time he's been fed, he is always hungry when I get home, and nurses both sides as soon as we are together (which, before I went back to work, he only ever nursed one side per feeding)
I've tried Gerber, Dr. Browns and Playtex Drop Ins. Slow flow nipple on all. I was told he really didn't do well with the Dr Browns but did a little better with the Playtex. When my DD was a baby she only ever took the playtex drop ins with the slow flow nipple. Now I am wondering if my letdown is so much faster than his bottle nipple maybe he is frustrated? Is it "dangerous" to try a faster flow nipple at only 8 weeks old? Is there a different brand of bottle I should try?
Introduction & bottle question
Hi all! I am reintroducing myself... I was here about 3 years ago when I had my daughter, and now I 've just returned to work after having a son, and find myself needing help again so I am back. My son, Andrew, is 8 weeks old and I've been back to work for 1 week. He's at a small daycare center while I work, and it's near my home but not near my work so nursing on lunch is not an option.
So now to my question. I have a very fast letdown. When he nurses he latches on for about 5 to 10 minutes and then burps and is done. He usually goes about 2 to 3 hours between feedings. He is a gigantic baby, he was born avg size but is now above the 98th percentile for length and weight. So I know he's getting lots to eat in those quick feedings. However, he doesn't behave the same way with a bottle. He only takes 2 - 3 oz per feeding, about 3 feedings per day, and it takes a while and a lot of work (so I am told) to get it in him. His caregivers tell me "he doesn't really like his bottle." And regardless of what time he's been fed, he is always hungry when I get home, and nurses both sides as soon as we are together (which, before I went back to work, he only ever nursed one side per feeding)
I've tried Gerber, Dr. Browns and Playtex Drop Ins. Slow flow nipple on all. I was told he really didn't do well with the Dr Browns but did a little better with the Playtex. When my DD was a baby she only ever took the playtex drop ins with the slow flow nipple. Now I am wondering if my letdown is so much faster than his bottle nipple maybe he is frustrated? Is it "dangerous" to try a faster flow nipple at only 8 weeks old? Is there a different brand of bottle I should try?
My first was like your DS, a very fast eater at the breast. She wasn't a huge bottle fan. But honestly, even though it's more of a pain for the dcp, i wouldn't change a thing. 2-3 oz every 2-3 oz is *perfect* and totally normal. Going to faster flow nipple risks baby getting over fed bc he can't control the intake as well. 20 minutes or so for a bottle is ideal for baby to avoid over feeding. If he gets more than he needs during the day, he likely would cut back on BF at home which can negatively affect supply.
And nursing right when you get home may be just as much for comfort as food, since you've been separated all day. It's a great way for you both to relax a little and reconnect. My 20 month old does the same thing. I know it can be frustrating if you're trying to get something done, but most things can wait 10 minutes for a little mom-baby catch up
I can't add my links from my iPad, but check out kellymom on bottle feeding the BF baby and read about paced bottle feeds. Seems your very smart baby is pacing himself! don't fix what isn't broken
BTW, Maya is beautiful!
Thanks so much for your reply! I can't see siggies for some reason, so I wasn't aware that mine was even on! LOL I wonder what picture of my daughter you are looking at... iVillage keeps changing and I haven't kept up!
I'm not frustrated about nursing right when I get home, but just concerned that he's not eating as much as he needs during the day and saving up for when I get home. I pump *tons* so it wouldn't be a hit to my supply if he drank more at daycare. I pump as much as he drinks in one day (or more), in my first pump of the day. Then I pump two more times just to keep myself from getting mastitis (which I did get on my second day back to work! So awful!) I mean, he was growing so incredibly well, I'm sure it wouldn't be a concern to his pedi if he slowed down a tad, but I wouldn't want him to not be getting what he needs just because I'm back at work. Yesterday he saw me and instantly got hungry, even though there was an unfinished bottle still sitting warm on the table where my DH had abandoned it. So it's not about frustration, just concern that he's hungry and not interested in taking a bottle and maybe he needs more lol. <-- typical concerned mom blabbering I guess!
I agree with Spencer that I would just keep it like it is. It was nice for me to know that he prefered the breast and I never had to worry about him giving it up or prefering the bottle.
I'm an oversupply mom, so I know how it is to pump so much and not need it. But honestly, this is only a problem if DS isn't eating much and is unhappy about it. If he's not eating much but is happy and not fussy, then it isn't a problem.
As a matter of fact, my 2nd refused all ebm after about 7 months (even overnight when I was in the hospital for surgery when she was 11 months). She just ate solids at daycare and nursed with me. I ended up donating 13.5 gallons of ebm to a baby whose parent had a mastectomy.
Your DS knows where to get the good stuff
