Bottle feeding help
I never thought in a million years that I would ever have this problem, but I need some suggestions or advice.
My daughter is 10 weeks and exclusively breastfed. I went back to work on Monday and now Aubrie stays home with daddy during the day and is bottle fed breast milk. The problem is this-he can't get her to eat from a bottle. She HATES the feel of a fake nipple and won't take a pacifier either (not that it's a bad thing on the pacifier). But, I nurse her in the morning before I leave for work and then throughout the evening and night if she wakes up. Hubby tries to feed her throughout the day. She refuses to take the bottle. He can maybe get an ounce down her, but she fights it the whole time. We have literally tried every nipple I can find and she won't take any of them. By the time I get home, her soft spot is sunken in more, so I know she is dehydrating. I don't know what to do. Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks in advance!
By the way, we did start trying to bottle feed her at around 5 weeks just to get ready for me to go back to work and it's been this way the entire time we have tried to get her to bottle feed.
My daughter is 10 weeks and exclusively breastfed. I went back to work on Monday and now Aubrie stays home with daddy during the day and is bottle fed breast milk. The problem is this-he can't get her to eat from a bottle. She HATES the feel of a fake nipple and won't take a pacifier either (not that it's a bad thing on the pacifier). But, I nurse her in the morning before I leave for work and then throughout the evening and night if she wakes up. Hubby tries to feed her throughout the day. She refuses to take the bottle. He can maybe get an ounce down her, but she fights it the whole time. We have literally tried every nipple I can find and she won't take any of them. By the time I get home, her soft spot is sunken in more, so I know she is dehydrating. I don't know what to do. Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks in advance!
By the way, we did start trying to bottle feed her at around 5 weeks just to get ready for me to go back to work and it's been this way the entire time we have tried to get her to bottle feed.
Gosh, usually it's the other way around! Then you have a hard time getting them back to the breast.
Have you tried using a cup or spoon or a medicine dropper? Maybe she'll take it from something like the medicine dropper and at least get something in her during the day. Don't have him completely give up the bottle though. If she gets hungry enough, she'll drink out of it, but he can try the other things in the meantime when the bottle just does not work. Is coming home at all during the day, maybe at lunchtime an option? You ought to ask her ped what they suggest too. Weird predicament you have! I hope ya'll figure out a solution!
Have you tried using a cup or spoon or a medicine dropper? Maybe she'll take it from something like the medicine dropper and at least get something in her during the day. Don't have him completely give up the bottle though. If she gets hungry enough, she'll drink out of it, but he can try the other things in the meantime when the bottle just does not work. Is coming home at all during the day, maybe at lunchtime an option? You ought to ask her ped what they suggest too. Weird predicament you have! I hope ya'll figure out a solution!
All of these are good suggestions - maybe also try sticking the bottle nipples in your bra for a while so they smell like you as well.
And if she'll only do an ounce at a time, have hubby offer it more frequently.
And if she'll only do an ounce at a time, have hubby offer it more frequently.
Banded 03/22/06 276/261/184 (highest/surgery/lowest)
Sleeved 07/11/2013 228/165 (surgery/current) (111lbs lost)
Mom to two of the cutest boys on earth.