[Scout28]

DD is 6 weeks old. Just wondering if she can start having the odd bottle of EBM. I already have a couple of bottles expressed and thought that DH could do a couple of feeds while on Christmas holidays to give me a break. I seem to have a good supply.
Thanks!

[lucky 2]

Hi Scout, there aren't any hard and fast rules in regards to giving a bottle to a breastfed baby although most people recommend you wait until your milk supply is well established and your baby is a proficient and experienced breast feeder, which is what you have done.
Some babies can have problems with bottle use and some don't.
The link below has some great information about alternative ways to feed a breast fed baby, this includes but is not limited to, bottles.
The information is presentedi in a non-judgemental manner and will give pros and cons of all methods.
I hope it is of help to you.
All the best.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding...native-feeding/

[Loz07]

Hi,
Lucky 2 has given you some really good info. If your breastfeeding is well established then I would say give it a try so that your LO learns to accept EBM from an alternative source, not just the good stuff :-)

Also, if you are successful, then I would try to make it a semi regular thing (every couple of days or so) so she doesn't 'forget'.
My DH fed and put DD to sleep the other night when I was out, and commented when I got home how he understood what I meant about bonding when she feeds as she was laying there looking at him - I think that's lovely, and something to be shared with DH if possible/willing
Good luck

[Scout28]

Thanks for the replies!

When is the best time to express, and how often should I do it?

I plan to give one bottle of EBM every few days as suggested by loz07. I only get about 15- 30 mLs at a time when I express (I only have a manual pump and don't want to buy an electric one until I see how DD goes with a bottle). Does anyone have any tips on doing it more effectively?

Thanks in advance!

[lozzylots]

Your peak milk production is between 1 and 4 am so I find that's the best time to do it (unfortunately!). Depends how many expressed feeds you want to do as to how often, you need to find a balance between getting enough for a feed, and increasing your milk supply too much and ending up engorged.
To be more effective, try massaging your breast firmly but gently before/during expressing, or a warm compress prior to starting; breat compression also worked for me when I first started. (BTW it's still the 'good stuff' whether from bottle or boob I have to point out...) There's some great info out there on expressing if you google it, and I've also found the kellymom website helpful.

[Scout28]

Thanks Lozzylots! Yes I was worried about increasing my supply too much. How do I avoid this, while still expressing enough milk?

[lozzylots]

If you can get enough for a feed from one session, you could express while DH feeds. I think the important thing when you are breastfeeding and expressing is that you try to get enough for each feed rather than trying to build up a big stash of stored milk too quickly, that way you are just replacing an expressed feed with a breastfeed IYKWIM. I guess it's hard to know at first but with time you'll work out how much bubs needs and just express that amount. Sorry if that's not much help!!