bottle options...help

I am 32+2 and am in final stages of getting bits together, I am planning on breast feeding but want to express so my bf can feed him too so am looking at breast pumps. I have narrowed the bottle option down to 2 and was wondering what you think are the best and why between tommee tippee and Phillips advent?

[Hidden]

Hiya,

I'm am almost 34 weeks with my first baby and I'm wanting to do the same thing. I have bought Avent bottles, sterilizer and warmer as I have used them previously and they were good. So I've also got their manual breast pump but for expressed milk I am looking to try Medela breastfeeding bottles-as the teat is supposed to be very similar in shape to your nipple when you breastfeed and so the baby may take to them easier. No idea if that will be the case as it's my first baby and I've never had to breastfeed before but I'm going to give it a go!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I was looking at avent more than the tommee tippee ones and yeh this is my first too so am just trying to get some advice before I make my purchases as they aren't cheap. I have seen the medela bottles but wasn't too sure if they wud actually fit in the avent steriliser?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

As far as I could see they would fit...but I've not bought the Medela bottle as yet. The steriliser I have has quite a bit of room so I think it should fit fine. They do tend to make allowances for different types of bottles and sizes. I'm just hoping the baby will be happy with my choices lol

[DrFluffy]

We're using Tommy Teepee bottles, they seem really good and Sam got on with them straight from the start - again, the teat is designed to be close to the human nipple.

I have a Medela mini electric breast pump, which is easy to use (expressing as I type! TMI? :-p). They suggest you don't introduce expressed milk for two weeks, and hold off for longer with night feeds (that's when your supply is at it's best). As Sam was jaundiced, we had to give him top up feeds with cows milk, so I've substituted these for expressed. He still feeds from me first.

[cheekymonkey3791]

Hey ladies,

I was planning on all of the above until I went to antenatal this Sat & the midwife said not to confuse the baby by doing some breast feeds and then bottle feeds on top (i too though good for my partners bonding and give me a break) as they are going through a steep learning curve and she says it is why many women struggle with breast feeding, getting sore nipples n so on with bubs not latching on correctly etc. (maybe old school view?)

I don't know now, I think I might hold off on purchasing and stick with the breast & see how that goes. Bottles, sterilisers, pumps all readily available so will suck it & see as they say xx

[bubbs in reply to cheekymonkey3791]

apparently its ok to introduce the occasional bottle once breastfeeding is well established. Using bottles and dummies can cause what they call nipple confusion which can make it difficult for baby to attach and difficult for u to see when baby needs to feed. If baby is in the right position and is attached well you shouldn't get sore nipples at all. loads of mums also want to give the bottle feed at night (to let the partner have a turn and give mum a break) but if you don't breastfeed between 12 midnight and 4am it can actually reduce your milk supply! Mother nature can be a right B**** sometimes x

[DrFluffy in reply to cheekymonkey3791]

We've been quite lucky in that, touch wood, breast feeding is about the one thing that has been text book so far! I was upset to be told we needed to top up feed, and felt like a bit of a failure, but there was no way colostrum alone was going to be enough!

I've also taken an expressed feed out with us on the few trips we've had out, as there is not always somewhere to feed, and I'm not feeding my baby in a toilet! Gives me peace of mind LO will be ok!

Need to 'up production' over the next few days, as going to my friends wedding this Sunday, so Daddy will be in charge! Glad she's getting married in London though, else don't think I would be able to go!

[EmmaS]

We have Avent - bought the full electric pump on deal in m'care but only as i had Tried a hand pump 1st. Hand / electric 1 is supposed to be good - probably better than full electric. Was told older style Avent bottles don't fit newer pump - but this is rubbish...they do fit. You won't be ale to mix ranges but you can always just decante pump milk into other bottles - but would reccomend against it, more washing up!! I have expressed since baby 1 week old - purely because she was lazy on boob...seems fine & growing rapidly! Nice to know exactly what she's having

[newdad2013]

After one very difficult month of breastfeeding we moved to exclusively bottle feeding with expressed milk. To do this we hired a hospital grade Medela pump (£45 per month) which worked wonders.

[Hidden]

cool, thanks for ur responses, I wont be using the expressed milk straight away, once I am in a routine with the breast feeding presuming that goes well then I would like to express so my bf can help out with feeds but as this stuff is all quite expensive I just wanted to get an idea of what people thought was best before I spend my pennies although have seen a great deal online for steriliser and pump for v.cheap. x

[DrFluffy in reply to Hidden]

Which is a great place for reviews x

[minime61]

I am currently breastfeeding my 6 week old. I can understand you wanting to let your partner bottlefeed but I don;t see how this is practical.

If I 'skipped' a breastfeed my boobs would be so full and painful.

Expressing can be a right time-consuming pain in the bum - if you're expressing, you might as well do the (breast)feed. ( Big well done to the mummy exclusively pumping and bottlefeeding though). Honestly breastfeeding and expressing is not a simple task.

I include my husband by letting him do the burping and cuddle after a feed (when he wants to!!).

Wait until baby comes and you may see what I mean x