Combining breastfeeding with bottle feeding, How can I do that?
Why combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding?
There are several reasons parents combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. For example, parents often like to alternate the feeding routine, especially at night when it is nice to get a few extra hours of sleep. Furthermore, it can be difficult to exclusively breastfeed when the mother returns to work. It is also a personal preference; not all mothers feel comfortable breastfeeding in all circumstances, or it is simply too difficult to make it work (fully). Every mother is different, and so is her feeding method preference. It’s good to know that there is no “right” way.
Why choose the Difrax LOVI Mammafeel bottle?
The Mammafeel bottle is specially designed to imitate the mother’s breast and to make feeding as natural as possible. For example, the bottle uses a technique that only releases food when your child is actively drinking, just like with breastfeeding. The dynamic bottle teat moves with your baby’s sucking rhythm and protects the natural sucking reflex.
The wide, sturdy base ensures a tight connection between the lips and the bottle teat. As a result, your child can breathe freely through the nose, while the risk of intestinal colic is reduced. The skin-soft silicone ring on the bottle teat offers your baby the same comfort as breastfeeding. The Mammafeel bottle resembles the mother’s breast in shape, texture and dynamics, which helps coordinate the transition between breast and bottle.
When can I start with a baby bottle?
Most babies will need to be fed with a bottle sooner or later. This can be immediately after birth, after a period of exclusively breastfeeding, or a combination of the two. The moment to introduce a bottle varies per family and situation. Your child may have to get used to drinking from a bottle after being familiar with the breast. And it is impossible to know in advance whether your child will find this difficult. It is therefore a good idea to start introducing a bottle in good time. This will help you avoid stress if you want to return to work and your child has not yet accepted the bottle.
How do I introduce a bottle?
Every child is unique and will therefore respond differently to a bottle. Some children get used to it very quickly, while others find it difficult. This is why it is very important to relax and start slowly. It’s normal when trying something new that there will be a period of practise. For example, you can let your child suck on the bottle teat initially without actually introducing food. You can then slowly let a little milk flow through the bottle teat to see how your baby reacts.
Tip! Start with 20-30 ml. It would be a shame to have to throw away all the food if your child does not accept the bottle straight away. If all goes well, you can regularly offer the bottle via a feeding schedule.
The Mammafeel bottle has been specially developed to imitate the mother’s breast, making the transition from breast to bottle easier.
Is there a chance of nipple-pacifier confusion?
Nipple-pacifier confusion can occur if a newborn child is fed both breast milk and bottle milk. Your baby must learn two different drinking techniques for this. In addition, the milk from a bottle teat flows more smoothly and evenly than from the breast. The advice therefore is to only introduce a bottle when your baby is drinking well from the breast, usually at around 4 to 6 weeks. You can also look for a suitable bottle teat. For example, the Mammafeel bottle has a bottle teat that allows the milk to flow when your child is actively drinking, just like the mother’s breast.
Stopping breastfeeding
It is important to stop breastfeeding slowly and gradually. Your breasts need time to get used to the reduced demand for milk and to therefore reduce their production of milk. If you stop breastfeeding too quickly, this can lead to engorgement or even a chest infection. Follow these guidelines to prevent this from happening: decrease in steps of one (replace just one breastfeeding session with bottle feeding) and take at least three days between reducing breastfeeding. Only continue the reductions when you no longer experience painful engorgements. Your child will adapt well if you reduce gradually.
Can I use the Mammafeel bottle without breastfeeding?
You can also use the Mammafeel bottle without breastfeeding. Although the bottle is designed to mimic the mother’s breast, it is not necessary to combine it with breastfeeding. In addition, all babies benefit from the flexible, dynamic teat. The silky soft material means your baby can experience the same softness of the mother’s breast while drinking.
