Sometimes, a mother is committed to breastfeeding but will give her baby a bottle every once in a while. She may do this for various reasons: out of convenience, pressure from others, or because she's worried that the baby may still be hungry.
Though it may seem that giving a bottle every once and a while is harmless, in actuality, it can begin a downward spiral in your milk supply. Your milk supply is established by the baby suckling at the breast and emptying the breast. If the baby is sucking on a bottle or pacifier instead of your breast than you may not produce enough milk for your baby. I emphasize "may" because some mothers give a pacifier and have plenty of milk for their babies. However, to ensure that you will make enough milk for your baby you should avoid using pacifiers and bottles at least until your milk supply is well established.
If you are supplementing with a bottle, determine why. Is the baby really hungry, do you have enough milk, or is he just fussy? A baby fusses for many reasons - not just food. He may be cold, wants comfort, or is tired. Find the root of your baby's discomfort and address that. If your baby is truly hungry, then by all means feed him! Just make sure that when you give him a bottle you are increasing your milk supply by pumping. You may find that feeding the baby more frequently is all that is needed to keep him settled and your milk supply up.
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