https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 21:46:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2608766 Mon, 22 Aug 2016 23:05:44 +0000 Melody3619 2608766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for the great info! This was extremely helpful and I will be using a lot of the suggestions/advice given. I already feel a lot less anxious about it since reading your replies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607701 Sat, 20 Aug 2016 11:49:57 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2607701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on your baby and successful breastfeeding journey so far!<br /> :heart:<br /> Breastfeeding is the perfect example of supply increasing to meet demand, so the more baby eats (or you empty your breasts with a pump), the more milk you will produce. Starting by pumping (even just one breast) in the morning after a feed and count an ounce or more as a success. Try not to pump too much initially (having enough for your first day back to work ~1-1.25oz per hour you will be gone should be plenty-- this can create an oversupply and increase your rush for blocked ducts and mastitis. You do want to take advantage of nighttime feeds, since these can help keep your supply up and try to make sure that you are emptying your breasts to match the milk that baby is taking from a bottle (when my DS was tiny, he would sleep on his daddy's chest for the first hours of the night, while I got some uninterrupted sleep...but we didn't really graduate to longer stretches or his daddy needing to feed him at night. I think a lot of couples have dad get up to bring baby in to feed...manage MOTN diapers, soothing if baby doesn't need to eat, etc). As above, Kellymom is a great resource and you want to definitely practice paced feeding with a level 1 or preemie (slow flow) nipple! Sorry if that was disorganized or an information dump! I really feel like I've learned a lot since DS was born just over a year ago! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607549 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 21:37:59 +0000 Kemma 2607549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you checked out the KellyMom website? Lots of good information about nursing, pumping and returning to work!</p> <p>And just something to be aware of during the early days but night time feeds, particularly those between 1200 and 0600, are really important for establishing supply as they take advantage of the higher prolactin levels in the early hours of the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607540 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 21:12:11 +0000 Jammamma 2607540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi there,</p> <p>You've gotten a lot of great info so far but wanted to add one thing that may be helpful. Look up paced bottle feeding. YouTube has some good videos on it. The idea is to mimic the breast with the bottle. I SO wish I had known about this with my DS. I just popped the bottle in his mouth and let him suck away. He LOVED it and I had a difficult time getting him back to the breast. If I had to do it over again, I would try paced feeding with the bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607509 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 18:58:04 +0000 DesertDreams88 2607509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the previous posters, and adding a comment about timing / supply:</p> <p>I pumped 1x a day weeks 2-6 while also EBF. In the beginning I didn't get much, but my body quickly acclimated and soon I was freezing 2-4 oz each time. Then, I kept pumping daily, and only fed LO a bottle every other day. At one point I had 160 oz frozen (now I'm down to 70). I feel that pumping REALLY helped me build a healthy milk supply that more than met my LO's needs months 0-6.</p> <p>I usually fed LO, ate breakfast, and pumped as he played near me. If that didn't work out, I'd feed him when DH got home, shower, then pumped (while DH watched him). Morning sessions got the most. Supposedly the hot water &amp; relaxation of the shower stimulates the letdown reflex. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607455 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 17:13:46 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2607455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome!</p> <p>I am wondering how much she should be eating each feeding with a bottle? Perhaps 2-3 oz since the bottle will replace a boobie feed. If you have a baby scale at home you can weigh your DD before and after a feeding just to see how much she's eating.</p> <p>Will pumping negatively effect my breast milk supply? I don't think so: I pumped a lot, and then practically EBF for a while. My lactation consultant did say babies are more efficient than the pump in getting milk out, but you will still produce.</p> <p>How do I work in pumping if I am still nursing her in the same day? That's the sucky part. Some you're feeding the baby so much you will have a very similar pump schedule. You might find yourself engorged and leaking if you skip a feed &amp; delay pumping.</p> <p>Will she still want to nurse, or will she get so used to the bottle that she won't want to anymore? Heck yeah! My baby went from bottle to boobie a lot and always preferred boobie. Even now when I pick him up from daycare and he just ate he still wants to nurse when we get home.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607433 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 16:27:29 +0000 kiddosc 2607433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome! I successfully BF my first LO for over a year and he got bottles while I worked full time and he was at daycare. My second LO is almost 6 months and we're doing the same. To answer some of your questions: </p> <p>I am wondering how much she should be eating each feeding with a bottle? Start out with just an ounce or two in the bottle while you're getting her used to it. You don't want to waste milk if she doesn't take to it. When my LO's started daycare around 12 weeks, they were getting 4 ounce bottle about every three hours. </p> <p>Will pumping negatively effect my breast milk supply? Not usually. Just make sure to pump in place of any feedings that your LO gets a bottle for. This is kind of what makes bottle feedings for nighttime difficult. If you're only doing it now and then, then skipping a feeding/pumping session shouldn't hurt your supply. If you plan to do it every night, then there is a real possibility that it will effect your supply. </p> <p>How do I work in pumping if I am still nursing her in the same day? I started pumping around 3 weeks for LO #2. I would pump in the morning about an hour after her first feeding, since she usually took a longer nap about this time. I would just pick a time that you're usually available and commit to pumping around that time, in between regular feeding times. Your body will adjust to make milk at that time for the pumping session and to replenish by your LO's next feeding. </p> <p>Will she still want to nurse, or will she get so used to the bottle that she won't want to anymore? I've never had a problem with nipple confusion and both of my kids BF, took bottles, and used a pacifier. They both still love the boobie. We only ever used the newborn flow nipples. This ensured that the flow from the bottle was slow and that the kiddos didn't get used to a flow that was faster than the breast. I also think it's important to nurse as much as you are available to. LO will still associate you with food and comfort. </p> <p>I would probably try to introduce a bottle now, instead of at 6 weeks. I would only give like an ounce and then finish the feeding at the breast, and do that for one feeding every other day or so. This way LO gets used to the bottle right away and there's less of a chance of her outright rejecting it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-the-bottle#post-2607421 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 15:57:49 +0000 Melody3619 2607421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I am new to Hellobee and this is my first post. I am a FTM with a 3-week old daughter. I have been exclusively breastfeeding her and planning to do so until she is 6 weeks old, and then I want to pump and introduce the bottle so I can finally get some sleep and let my husband share the responsibility of feeding her and also prepare for when I have to return to work. I still plan to nurse her the majority of the time and just use the bottle once or twice at night and when I am at work. I don't really know where to start and how to do this, and have anxiety about introducing her to the bottle.</p> <p>I am wondering how much she should be eating each feeding with a bottle?</p> <p>Will pumping negatively effect my breast milk supply?</p> <p>How do I work in pumping if I am still nursing her in the same day?</p> <p>Will she still want to nurse, or will she get so used to the bottle that she won't want to anymore? That is my biggest concern.</p> <p>Any/all input would be great as I have been worried about this for the past couple weeks now and feel very confused!</p> <p>Thank you :) </p>