Bottle to breast; help! 🥺

Hi all!

Has anyone had any luck with going from bottle feeding, back to exclusively breast feeding?

Long story short (as much as possible), my bub had to be mix fed with formula from 2 weeks old, he’s now 16 weeks (tomorrow). He will drink from all sorts of bottles, but refuses my breasts during the day! He arches his back, moves his head away and screams. He will have two full feeds overnight and sometimes I’ll have to top him up with a bottle of formula when he just won’t re-latch but is still hungry. I’ve tried going in a dark room, keeping distractions to a minimum, hand expressing a bit beforehand etc. I don’t believe it’s a supply issue, but my breasts just don’t like being pumped. I’ve tried 3 different pumps and sizes but I only get a maximum of 90mls per day (after multiple pumping sessions). Ideally I want him back on the breast and only using bottles as a last resort as I initially did, if and when I can build up a supply. He’s also on reflux formula at the moment so I do have to continue using bottles for a bit until that subsides.

Anyone in the same situation or has been, and can shed some light or advice? 🤍

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This sounds like a strong bottle preference and stuck in the formula top-up trap, long road ahead I’m afraid but if you’re determined you might be able to get back to exclusively breastfeeding. Lots of things are usually at play here= likely reduced supply due to reduced demand on milk and baby developing a flow preference of the bottle teats (much easier to get milk from and they don’t have to “work” as hard compared to boobie).

Absolutely doable but you will need help from an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and a plan- which might include a supplementary feeding system (SFS) to help baby associate the flow of milk he likes back to boobie and away from bottle 😍

Have you had someone assess you correctly for flange size?

Do you use slow flow nipples? I have found that the ultra premie Dr Brown’s nipples bought online have a very similar flow rate as my breasts. That has really helped me maintain breastfeeding while supplementing and building supply as well.

I'm in the same situation, but the opposite way, he will not take a bottle whatsoever

I had a similar situation. I couldnt solely breast feed as he has a high palette. I started with bottles and pumped every 3 hours. I only got 60mls both breasts. So i had to give formula. But then i got on lactation biscuits. You can either buy them or make them. I did both. Making is alot cheaper. They absolutely work! Within 3 days my supply increased. I started by.pumping every 2 hours for 3 days. 20 minute pumping sessions. Ate the cookies all day. My breast milk now is 150mls per breast at each pump. I pump every 4 hours day and once at night. So now baby is solely on breast milk.
I really hope that helps you on your journey

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