Breast flow bottle was designed to work by compression, not vacuum /  That's why you see what you see.  SO if you have a baby that has learned to breastfeed using the tongue properly and exerting variable vacuum based on mother's flow rate (volume), that baby will not like the breastflow bottle.  If a baby is not breastfeeding well (compressing the nipple) he will love the breastflow bottle and reject the breast pretty soon.  Better flow from the bottle with his poor feeding technique.   Same for any bottle that works mainly by compression. 



-----Original Message-----

From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Amy Peterson, BS, IBCLC

Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 7:44 PM

Subject: Re: Bottles



Hi Fiona.



Breastflow has some very lofty marketing claims.  It is patented to "alternate easily between breast and bottle."  Really?  A company can patent that?  In my experience, the nipple texture is too squishy, and many babies end up compressing the nipple with their lips.  Also, the nipple length is very short, and many babies end up sucking on the tip or keep the nipple in the front of their mouths which is quite different than breastfeeding.



As for flow, we had to disqualify this nipple from our flow study because the nipples do not have a consistent flow.  In fact, our study found that this nipple has a similar flaw as is typical with orthodontic nipples and confirmed in Nowak's studies.  Once the nipple tip is emptied (about 5 sucks/draws on the nipple), the bottle stops flowing until the tip refills.  This is very different than breastfeeding as babies with a healthy suck swallow pattern have more than five nutritive suck/swallows in a row.  



Maybe you can watch the baby feed on this bottle with the mom and see if it mimics how the baby feeds at her mother's breast.  As a general rule, though, I would not recommend this bottle as the first to buy and try.



Amy Peterson

co-author Breast and Bottle-feeding: Reaching Your Breastfeeding Goals breastandbottlefeeding.com



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