The Effects Just One Bottle May Have on a Bfing Relationship

That just one bottle can have serious consequences for both the mother and baby? Unfortunately, it is very easy to give a breastfed baby "just one bottle" and the reasons for giving a bottle often show concern and compassion; e.g.,

Letting the mother have a well deserved rest after a long delivery.
Settling a hungry baby who is difficult to feed.
Give the mother's sore nipples a rest.

But studies show that "just one bottle" can be harmful to both the mother and baby by:

1. Increasing the likelihood of serious allergy to cows' milk protein.
2. Increasing the chance of bowel infection and diarrhea by changing the pH of the bowel. It may take up to a month to return to normal, safer levels.
3. Causing nipple confusion--having difficulty latching to the breast.
4. Affecting the delicate supply and demand balance.
5. Increasing engorgement by not emptying the breasts.
6. Decreasing the mother's confidence in her ability to feed her baby.
7. Reducing the duration of breastfeeding.

But studies have shown that "just one bottle of formula" can be harmful to both mother and baby by:

-Causing nipple confusion, flow confusion or flow preference. Bottles and breasts don’t feel the same in the baby’s mouth, nor do they flow at the same rates.
-Affecting the delicate supply and demand balance. Delays in feeding at the breast will result in a decrease in production of mother’s milk.
-Increasing expectations of an infant for “more”.
-Changing the infant’s suck (may not be as effective at breastfeeding)

In susceptible families, breastfed babies can be sensitized to cow’s milk protein by the giving of just one bottle, (inadvertent supplementation, unnecessary supplementation, or planned supplements), in the newborn nursery during the first three days of life.

In susceptible families, early exposure to cow’s milk proteins can increase the risk of the infant or child developing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Artificial nipples should not be given to the baby. There seems to be some controversy about whether "nipple confusion" exists. Babies will take whatever method gives them a rapid flow of fluid and may refuse others that do not. Thus, in the first few days, when the mother is producing only a little milk (as nature intended), and the baby gets a bottle from which he gets rapid flow, he will tend to prefer the rapid flow method. ...Many health professionals, who are supposed to be helping you, don't seem to be able to manage it. Nipple confusion includes not just the baby refusing the breast, but also the baby not taking the breast as well as he could and thus not getting milk well and /or the mother getting sore nipples. Just because a baby will "take both" does not mean that the bottle is not having a negative effect. Since there are now alternatives available if the baby needs to be supplemented why use an artificial nipple?