Alternative Feeding Methods

So you're going back to work in a week. Today, you busted out the bottle and the 85 million nipples you bought....and none of them work. Baby is refusing to take a bottle and nothing is going to convince her otherwise. 

This happens a lot. And it's impossible to know which babies will take a bottle gladly, which babies will develop nipple preference, and which babies will refuse to take them. It honestly doesn't matter when you introduce the bottle, although some IBCLCs suggest 4-6 weeks being an ideal time to try if you are planning to go back to work or school. Some babies just don't want an artificial nipple once they've tried the real thing.

A couple of tips to try and get baby to take the bottle:
--Have someone other than the owner of the boob attempt to bottle feed. If baby knows the boobs are there, they'll likely want it from the tap.

--Sometimes having dad or grandma bottle feed while wearing a piece of mom's clothes helps baby to settle

--It may only be possible to get baby to take the bottle if mom leaves the vicinity entirely. Take this as an opportunity to get your nails done, enjoy a coffee and a couple chapters of your favorite book, or park somewhere and call a friend who you haven't been able to get more than 5 minutes on the phone with. When you get back, you'll know if baby needs the boob or not (if baby takes the bottle for a full feed at this point, remember to pump so as not to negatively effect supply). 

--Try offering the bottle when baby is sleepy (just before bed or upon waking up).

http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Breastfeeding/Becky/breastfed_bottle.html

http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

If baby will absolutely not take a bottle, please do not add this to the list of things us moms have to be anxious about. There are other ways to feed baby while you are at work or school. Please read this over and over again **YOU ARE AN AWESOME MOM FOR CONTINUING TO OFFER YOUR BABY BREASTMILK WHILE YOU ARE WORKING OR AT SCHOOL**. How baby gets this milk may vary and that is OK!!!!!! 
http://www.medela.com/IW/en/breastfeeding/products/breastmilk-feeding/special-feeding-devices.html

Here are some alternative way to feed an infant breastmilk:

By cup - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZCm_MhP39M Not only is this baby super adorable (my poor ovaries), but this video clip is an awesome example of feeding a baby by cup. Start with a small amount of milk. .5-1oz is plenty to help baby get the hang of it. You can always add more milk. This process should be slow and at baby's own pace. Hold baby in a semi-upright position and bring the cup to rest gently on bay's bottom lip. Slightly tip the cup so that baby can lap or sip the milk, but do not pour the milk into baby's mouth. Make sure baby is calm, maybe even a little sleepy, when starting this process. Do not wait until later hunger cues for this method.

By syringe or dropper - Again, hold baby semi-upright and make sure baby is calm and possibly a little sleepy. Fill syringe or dropper with milk. Place the syringe or dropper to baby's lips to encourage baby to open their mouth slightly. Pushing the syringe/squeeze dropper very slowly so that just drops come out. Baby will "suck" milk into their mouth, and may try to suck on the syringe or dropper. This process should be very slow and at baby's own pace. do not put syringe or dropper far into baby's mouth or release more than a few drops at a time into baby's mouth.http://www.mother-2-mother.com/refusingbottle.htm

By SNS/finger feeding - This can be done with an SNS and tubing, or a syringe with tubing. http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/pdf/breastfeeding_finger_feeding_feeding_tube.pdf This article does a great job of explaining the process and easiest way to finger feed with tubing.
Also http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5%3Afinger-and-cup-feeding&catid=5%3Ainformation&Itemid=17

When finding a caregiver for your breastfed baby, this is a really great "skill" to look for; an individual who is experienced in alternative feeding methods rather than just bottle feeding. This can also be helpful if mom chooses not to introduce the bottle to avoid nipple preference. Many moms go back to work or school and never introduce a bottle, only using the methods described above for alternative feeding when not at the breast. 

http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/alternative-feeding/