Talking to Your Employer
Returning to Work
Storing Your Breastmilk
Stockpiling Your Breastmilk
Where to Pump
Introducing a Bottle
Mother-Friendly Worksite
Mother-Friendly Legislation
To quote a friend of mine: I don't think a mom chooses to breastfeed her baby, she just can choose not to.
Allison Kennedy
Breastfeeding Mother
- Let someone else, such as your partner or your child’s caregiver, give the first bottle. Many babies won’t take a bottle from their mother. You might need to leave the room, if not the house, while the bottle is being offered. Many breastfed babies won’t take a bottle if they can tell their mother (and her breasts) is nearby.
- Show whomever is giving the bottle your baby’s favorite way to be held during nursing. That way, they can hold baby in the same position when offering the bottle. If your baby is fussy during the bottle feeding, ask the feeder to try several different positions. They can even try offering the bottle while baby is in her car seat if that is a comfortable place for her.
- Leave a piece of clothing you have worn with your baby’s caregiver, such as a t-shirt that has your scent on it. This will comfort your baby and encourage him to take the bottle. Some Dads have had success using the Mom’s nursing bra draped over the baby’s head and eyes to convince the baby to take the bottle.
- Try offering the bottle when your baby is showing early (not late) feeding cues, or a little before her regular feeding time. You want her to be hungry, but not so hungry that she doesn’t have patience for trying something new.
- Put a few drops of breastmilk on the nipple. This will encourage your baby to suck.
- Don’t worry if your baby chews on the nipple. By playing with it, she might get comfortable enough to figure out how to suck it.
- There are many kinds of bottles and nipples—if baby resists the first kind you try, try a
different kind. - If your baby refuses the bottle, try again in 5-10 minutes. If baby refuses again, do not breastfeed him right away. Take him outside, change his clothes or give him a bath before breastfeeding. You don’t want to see breastfeeding as a reward for refusing the bottle. Try the bottle again the next day or in a few days or weeks.
