Are You Worried About BPA?

Even though I am breastfeeding, my baby still has to use bottles at daycare. If you're like me, you're concerned about BPA in bottles.  I'm not a conspiracy theorist or anything, but I think that it is more dangerous than we have been lead to believe.

Right after my daughter started at daycare, I remembered that I purchased some of my bottles at a garage sale and I had no idea when they were manufactured.  Even though, I purchased new nipples, I wasn't sure if the plastic was BPA-free or not.  The bottles looked different than the new bottles of the same brand that I had gotten.  Since I couldn't determine if they were safe, I decided not to use them. 


 Sometimes, it is hard to find out facts about controversial issues from trustworthy sources.  I often wish that there were someone out there to synthesize the information for me so that I could just read an executive summary and make my decision.  But, that doesn't happen very often and I'm  left trying to look things up.  Thank God for journalists (only the good ones though), because sometimes they do it for you.

Today I found an article on usatoday.com that I think is extremely helpful.  Click on the link to go to the article.  I particularly found this report from the Friends of Earth Europe compelling.  This chemical is in a lot more products than I was aware and I've decided to limit the use of those products in our home.  I urge you to read the information here and decide whether or not you should take steps to limit your baby's exposure to BPA. 

I'll just say that after reading the research and reports, I'm glad her bottle exposure is limited and I'm going to avoid heating up food containers in the microwave.

Bottles and Cans

Just clap your hands, just clap your hands...no, actually I'm kidding, this is not a post about cans, or Beck, just about bottles and breastfeeding.

I am very happy to say that getting Baby A to take the bottle was a much smoother transition that I feared.  I've been back to work for 5 weeks now and she's doing great.  It took some work with Grandmas and Grandpa, but she was prepared to eat by the time she went to the babysitter's house.  This was such a huge relief!  I'm glad my baby is not starving!!

I am so glad that she is taking the bottle, but I have to tell you, I really hate washing bottles.  Why does the bottle brush have to spray water all over me every time I pull it out of a bottle?  Why did I pick bottles with lots of pieces to be washed (Dr. Brown's)?  Thank God that most of her feedings don't require any cleanup, unless I start leaking!  

It's not just for the lack of clean up that I prefer breastfeeding, it's also 1000 other reasons (which most people can probably list).  I really am thankful that it has worked out so well for us.  Today, it dawned on me that we are getting closer to the day when she won't be exclusively eating breastmilk and it made me a little sad.  I don't want to give the impression that I totally love being at the mercy of a liquid and a baby's appetite. I definitely have moments when I look forward to my boobs being just themselves again, but I feel blessed to be able to do this for my daughter.  For me, the time and energy that it takes to continue to breastfeed after returning to work has been 100% worth it and 100% rewarding.

The Dreaded Bottle

Honestly, by Adelaide's reaction, you'd think that a bottle was some sort of medieval torture device designed to choke poor little babies.  Actually, she hasn't always hated it and she doesn't always hate it.  I think she is trying to be unpredictable.  For weeks, she would take a bottle whenever we gave her one, without enthusiasm, but she did it.  About 3 weeks ago, I guess she decided the bottle wasn't for her and she acted like we were shoving an object filled with poison into her mouth.  She'd push the nipple out, and for added drama, she gagged on the milk. 

Don't get me wrong, it's kind of flattering that she likes me better than the bottle, but I have to go back to work and I don't think that I'm allowed to bring her along.  I have 2 weeks left of maternity leave and it's time to get down to business on this bottle thing.  It's not as though I haven't been trying, but now it seems more urgent.  

Four days ago, I thought we were back on track.  First thing in the morning, I gave her a bottle of freshly pumped milk and she gobbled it all up.  Only, she hasn't done it since then for me or my husband.  She has one of the following reactions to each bottle: plays with the nipple, spits out any milk that leaks out, pushes the bottle away with her hands, or cries.  It is so easy to get frustrated and I pretty sure that is counterproductive to this process.  We're going to keep trying bottles everyday and hopefully we'll have some success. 

I did some research in the baby books, online, and asked friends for help in getting babies to take a bottle.  I compiled a list of suggested advice.

• Have someone other than you give her the bottle.  You may need to leave the house.
• Try a new nipple
• Experiment with baby in different positions (upright in a bouncy seat, being held, etc.)
• Don't try it when baby is really tired or really hungry
• Warm up the nipple before feeding
• Warm up the milk to an acceptable temperature for baby (apparently some babies don't mind it cold)
• Don't turn it into a battle of wills.  Try 3 or 4 times, if baby won't accept bottle, then wait 10 minutes or so and breastfeed. 
• Slide your pinky under the nipple when it's in her mouth, then slide it out once she gets going.
• If all else fails, then you can use a cup.  There is a transition sippy cup for 3 months+ or you can even use a regular cup. 

Luckily, for the first two weeks, we're having grandparents watch Adelaide, so at least she'll be starving with a familiar person:)  Stay tuned...