Paced Bottle Feeding Technique:(New Baby 101 – pages 49-50)
The traditional image we have of bottle feeding a baby typically has baby laid back resting in the crook of the carer’s arm, with the bottle and teat held at an upright angle, which fills the teat with milk. It was believed this positioning ensured baby did not take in air while suckling the bottle teat. When bottle feeds are delivered this way the milk is usually ingested quickly, and the baby has no control over the rate she takes the milk, or the volume swallowed.
We now know this traditional bottle feeding method can lead to overfilling baby which can increase posseting and vomiting, and baby becomes accustomed to the sensation of a very full stomach. Research indicates this lack of control affects baby’s ability to recognise comfortable fullness and self-regulate by ceasing or pausing a feed, in the way a baby self-regulates intake when breastfeeding. Instead, baby is usually coaxed to finish all the milk offered in the bottle, which can lead to overfeeding. Research has confirmed there are many benefits for a bottle-fed baby if the Paced Bottle Feeding Technique is used.
The Paced Bottle Feeding Technique is almost the opposite of the traditional method described above. Instead, baby is held in a more upright position, and the bottle is held in a position horizontal to the floor with the teat half-filled with milk. The baby’s cues, and suck/ swallow/pause pattern are observed closely. The bottle is tilted back slightly each time baby pauses, allowing a brief period without milk flow, until baby reinitiates the suckling action and milk is offered again.
Regardless of what type of teat is used, pacing the intake of milk to correspond with baby’s sucking and pause pattern mimics the natural sequences observed in breastfeeding babies. The baby is then able to take the milk at a rate that is comfortable for him, and can respond to his feelings of fullness by pausing or ceasing the feeding.
A paced bottle feed is likely to be given in a few instalments in response to baby’s cues, similar to how a baby takes a breastfeed. Allowing for burps, cuddles, nappy changes and rests, the time taken to complete a feed will be similar to a breastfeed – about an hour. Most importantly, the baby will be in control of the volume ingested, and can develop his self-regulation responses. The baby is also more likely to digest the feed more comfortably.
This YouTube video demonstrates paced bottle feeding: “The Milk Mob – Paced Bottle Feeding” https://youtu.be/OGPm5SpLxXY “New Baby 101 – A Midwife’s Guide for New Parents” also provides guidance about choosing bottles/teats, formula choices and safe cleansing/sterilisation of feeding equipment , so visit www.NewBaby101.com.au to get your copy which answers ALL new parents’ questions in one concise book. #Bottlefeeding #Pacedbottlefeeding #Babyfeeding
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