What I want to question about flow rates in bottles is the method of
testing.  Babies do not use ONLY vacuum, they also use a little
compression, isn't that so?  And from Hartmann's lab research, they use
a variety of vacuums throughout a feeding.  When you are testing bottles
for flow rate, you are using a pump and a flange.  This is not the same
as a baby.  I found that out when I did my own tests on all the bottles
I could find.  The flow rate TOTALLY depended on the vacuum applied AS
WELL AS the type of nipple and it's hole size.  If you check out
multiple flow rate bottles, the thing that controls the flow is the size
or number of holes.  In the specialneeds feeder, it is the compression
the baby exerts on the nipple that opens the hole up to the preset size
that the nipple is set to.  If the baby is NOT compressing, the flow
rate is driven by the vacuum strength.  I agree with Susan on the
bornfree bottles - terrible - have had several babies coming in that
won't open for mom, just chew on the tip.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susan Burger
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: Bottles

Dear all:

Just like any artificial device, different bottles work with different
babies.  Bisphenol A 
free bottles are just one component of reducing risk.  The Born Free
bottles have a very 
sharp drop off from the fat part to the nipple part so most babies end
up on the skinny 
nipple part.  This may not be appropriate for some babies.  Furthermore,
it has EXACTLY 
the same flow as the Avent and the 1st Years Breast Flow bottle at 8-10
ml per minute.  
On the range of bottle flows from those that are 0-2 ml/minute and those
that are 10-12 
ml per minute, this is near the top of the range.  So, for some (and I
would argue many) 
babies this may be too fast.  

Some of the Medela nipples are pinched.  Every time I go to a conference
by speech and 
occupational therapists, the pinched nipples are always mentioned as not
desirable.  If 
you look at a pinched nipple and look at your own nipple and think about
having your 
nipple look like the pinched nipple, I think the conclusions are
obvious. One of the Medela 
nipples is just as fast as the Avent, First Years Breast Flow, and the
Born Free bottles. 

There are less expensive bottles that are also free of Bisphenol A, but
not advertised as 
such.  They don't come with pinched nipples or the cliff-hanger drop
from the nipple base 
to the skinny part of the nipple.  

However, the reason why I will never put in writing any sort of
conclusion about any one 
bottle is that it depends on the baby what type of tool I will use until
that baby can do 
what it needs to on the breast.

Best, Susan Burger 

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