The short answer is yes, a bottle can ruin breastfeeding. But it’s more complicated than that. We can take a whole post discussing when a bottle will ruin breastfeeding and when it won’t.
Exlusive breastfeeding is the best thing for your baby and for your body if you want to make it work. But that’s not always possible. Sometimes there’s trauma at birth that takes babies away from their moms. Sometimes a mother’s or baby’s anatomy make exclusive breastfeeding undoable. So then what? Do you have to give up on breastfeeding? No, you can still make breastfeeding work.
Why bottles get in the way
Mom’s body needs signaled to make milk
The main reason that exclusive breastfeeding works better than trying to breast and bottle feed is because baby suckling and removing milk tells mom’s body that the milk is needed and it should make more milk. Any time that a baby is given a bottle and the milk waiting in the breasts doesn’t get used, the body assumes it’s not needed.
That’s not too big a deal when baby has been nursing for 3 months and mom’s body is already used to baby needing more sometimes and less sometimes. But it is a huge deal in the first 48 hours of baby’s life! Those first 2 days are a crucial time to be emptying the breasts on a regular basis. A baby’s mouth, when it’s formed in a healthy way, is the most efficient way to get that milk out.
Baby needs to get used to breast before bottle
Sometimes a bottle ruins breastfeeding because baby learns to prefer the bottle nipple. Most bottles are made in a way that baby has to make little to no effort to get the milk out. That’s just not the case with breastfeeding.
When a baby is breastfeeding, they have to suckle for about half a minute to signal a let-down in their mom. A let-down is when the milk is let out of the ducts and into the area where baby can get it. Most of the time after that there is a steady stream of milk for them for several minutes. When that breast is empty is a good time for mom to switch sides. But they can trigger another let-down if they stay there and suckle longer.
So, when baby has a choice between getting it now from a bottle, or working for it at the breast, they’ll usually choose the quick and easy way. Isn’t that how most of society is at this point? But things that we work for are usually more rewarding.
How to make breastfeeding work with a bottle
As I stated in the beginning, sometimes trauma at birth causes mom and baby to be separated. Other times mom’s or baby’s anatomy is such that breastfeeding is very difficult, and almost impossible. Here’s what to do when you need to use a bottle.
1) Feed the baby. If you can, bring baby to the breast and let them feed as well as they can. Then finish filling up their tummies with the bottle. Pumped breastmilk is best, but if you need to use formula, that’s ok. That is formula’s true purpose- to feed the baby that can’t get breastmilk.
Use a wide, slow flowing bottle nipple to help reduce nipple preference.
2) Keep up the milk supply. You can keep up your milk supply by pumping and/or hand expressing as often as you would have fed baby. Newborns each have their own unique time table for eating. Try to pump breastmilk every time your baby has a bottle. If that’s not possible, pump every 2 hours, except for one longer stretch of about 6 hours each day.
Getting a good pump will help. Hospitals often have very good double pumps available for use at the hospital. Insurance companies will often pay for a good double pump that you can use at home. If you feel like you need a good pump, ask your healthcare provider to prescribe you one. Hand expressing along with pumping can help you get more milk.
3) Figure out the problem. Sometimes the problem with difficult breastfeeding is obvious, and other times it feels like a mystery. Do your best and do your own research. A lactation specialist or a mom with lots of experience can be helpful resources.
For more about breastfeeding see How to Start Breastfeeding.
I hope this is helpful. Thanks for reading my post. Happy parenting!
